I wanted to write about this since a long time now. This story took place when I was in my engineering final year, when we 7 friends together had gone for an outing to Bangalore. None of us had a good touring experience until then.
Since it was our final year, we all decided to freak out together and capture these valuable moments for the rest of our life. It is tough to meet up and get together after college when all the messy creatures like office, family, money, investments, taunting bosses take priority in the short rational stuff called brain, the topmost portion of our body.
So here we were, Manesh floated the idea and we all agreed to it. Manesh being the more organized fellow among us took the responsibility of making this trip happen. Sandeep gave an Helping hand to him, while we all were given the job of environment creation which meant we were supposed to stay excited always about the trip scheduled in December.
With the date now decided Manesh came to us to show us the tickets of the Bus from Goa to Bangalore. Now we were on Cloud number nine, especially me, because I was travelling for the first time out of Goa without my parents. I was sure it will be a good experience besides a lot to learn about touring and the bad bad world outside which we were going to be a part soon after our engineering.
As the day approached I had already become a good listener as my parents are very good orators. All the instructions, lessons, chapters, do’s and don’ts were imparted on me and taken care that they were revised at least once a day. My mom said “See you all boys are going….Do not get too excited and do wrong things there. Be careful of robbers and be alert”. My father with his deep voice said with authority “And do not waste too much money there”.
Our bus was to depart from Ponda and we all, from different parts of Goa, which is of course small, decided to meet at Ponda. The bus arrived on time with the driver quite a friendly chap welcomed us aboard. We looked at the driver as a lord and our whole sole, one wrong gear or an extra pressing of the accelerator instead of brake could do the next worst thing to engineering. The Bus roared its way through the usually empty roads of Goa.
All excited and looking forward to our first morning in Bangalore. We were not aware of what the destiny had in our plates as soon as we reach Bangalore. Will write about it in the next part of the Blog.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
God's own country - Part 3
After experiencing the beauty and thrill of Kerala, we were next onto Aleppy back water cruise which is one of the surely to do things in Kerala. As planned, early in the morning our driver, Marcos was on time and did not give us any single opportunity to complain. He always had a good smile on his way all through the trip and today was nothing different. With an "Okay Sir Okay" attitude he was always prompt on any task.
So here we were on our way to Allepy boat cruise, our last Kerala activity before we leave for Pune. Marcos took us to a boat owner for negotiations and we were on the boat with the intentions of having a relaxed time. initially, the backwaters looked dirty and with all the dirt closing in at the shore and why not be with we humans not sparing anything be it land, air or in this case waters. The start was not as we expected, however we were under the hope All is well that ends well.
Our boat started taking us deep into the waters and as the water started surrounding us, we were starting to enjoy every moment of the boat ride. It was pleasure to see the life on the shores of the backwaters. There was everything in it, that we did by staying on land. The children playing all around, the women gossiping, men having a good chat or working hard to improve their boating skills, so that they win the next boat race tournament that may happen in their "in-water" society. Children making the most of the waters and playing hide and seek. They went under water to hide. The business man and shopkeepers were busy attracting customers by either giving a loud shout about the attractions or by displaying enticing banners outside their on the shore shops. It was just the same, as if they did not feel any barrier due to the water. The land might be a barrier for them, but not the water flowing. The water also did not interrupt the neighbor fights. The ladies were shouting on the top of their voices from one shore too another with our boat cannoying through the middle, i just hoped that we were not the targets just in case they decide to declare war against each other and flung coconuts across.
We also got to see the paddy fields, now you might wonder, where the hell did paddy fields come from when there is all water around. The Boatman told us in Malyali which Marcos translated for us that those are floating paddy fields and since paddy is a kharif crop and requires good water and hence is just the crop suited. No wonder, Malyali's eat a lot of rice in their day to day food.
Another wonderful thing during the cruise was the boat races we witnessed. Since it was Onam day, there were many activities all around, one of those was boat race tournaments. All hefty and strong men, flexed their muscles to be first and reach the finish line in record time. It was amazing piece of team work and coordination on display. Boat race is all about team work and single goal focus. One fellow cannoying a little slowly can make a difference of minutes in the final result. One thought ran through my mind. Aren't we all Indians as well cannoying in the same boat? Then why slow down our boat or rather progress, by dividing ourselves on the basis of Muslims, sikhs and fighting within us. It is like all people in a single boat are cannoying in many different directions equally and hence we feel we are progressing, however, we are still at the same position.
So here we were finally at the end of an enthralling trip and at the airport waiting for our fight to Pune. Thank you Kerala. Will visit you once more for sure!!!!
So here we were on our way to Allepy boat cruise, our last Kerala activity before we leave for Pune. Marcos took us to a boat owner for negotiations and we were on the boat with the intentions of having a relaxed time. initially, the backwaters looked dirty and with all the dirt closing in at the shore and why not be with we humans not sparing anything be it land, air or in this case waters. The start was not as we expected, however we were under the hope All is well that ends well.
Our boat started taking us deep into the waters and as the water started surrounding us, we were starting to enjoy every moment of the boat ride. It was pleasure to see the life on the shores of the backwaters. There was everything in it, that we did by staying on land. The children playing all around, the women gossiping, men having a good chat or working hard to improve their boating skills, so that they win the next boat race tournament that may happen in their "in-water" society. Children making the most of the waters and playing hide and seek. They went under water to hide. The business man and shopkeepers were busy attracting customers by either giving a loud shout about the attractions or by displaying enticing banners outside their on the shore shops. It was just the same, as if they did not feel any barrier due to the water. The land might be a barrier for them, but not the water flowing. The water also did not interrupt the neighbor fights. The ladies were shouting on the top of their voices from one shore too another with our boat cannoying through the middle, i just hoped that we were not the targets just in case they decide to declare war against each other and flung coconuts across.
We also got to see the paddy fields, now you might wonder, where the hell did paddy fields come from when there is all water around. The Boatman told us in Malyali which Marcos translated for us that those are floating paddy fields and since paddy is a kharif crop and requires good water and hence is just the crop suited. No wonder, Malyali's eat a lot of rice in their day to day food.
Another wonderful thing during the cruise was the boat races we witnessed. Since it was Onam day, there were many activities all around, one of those was boat race tournaments. All hefty and strong men, flexed their muscles to be first and reach the finish line in record time. It was amazing piece of team work and coordination on display. Boat race is all about team work and single goal focus. One fellow cannoying a little slowly can make a difference of minutes in the final result. One thought ran through my mind. Aren't we all Indians as well cannoying in the same boat? Then why slow down our boat or rather progress, by dividing ourselves on the basis of Muslims, sikhs and fighting within us. It is like all people in a single boat are cannoying in many different directions equally and hence we feel we are progressing, however, we are still at the same position.
So here we were finally at the end of an enthralling trip and at the airport waiting for our fight to Pune. Thank you Kerala. Will visit you once more for sure!!!!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
God's own country - Part 2
Hush!!!! finally i have taken up Part 2 to write. It has been quite a travel filled month and just could not spend anytime for blogging.
So here I am to narrate some good experiences during the Kerela trip. I have already narrated the Munnar experience in my last part. I was pretty much excited after that because I had begun to expect more and more out of the world stay in Kerela. It is just a normal human tendency, when it gets better, he expects the best further up. Though this is not true always, this time in the God's own country it was surprisingly true.
After leaving Munnar the next morning, our plan was to attend "Madhu's" wedding the next day and have a look at Athirapally waterfalls. Here I also got an opportunity to see what a mallu wedding is like. Mallu's are believed to give education the utmost importance and that could be easily seen during the wedding. All Aunty's and Uncles had come up dressed with the best saree and the best lungi on the special day. All the Aunty's were busy engrossed in praising each other, obviously these praises were flowing in the expectation of return praises. Surely so women around the world, whether be it India or any other country this gossiping and praising stuff will always be there. All Uncles were busy discussing some political stuff in Malyalam and i regretted and dissappointed that I did not know Malyalam.
It has been said somewhere in the Purana's that Boy is interested in the girl's look, girl is interested in the Boy's strength so that he can protect him, girls father is interested in the Boy's bank balance to ensure that his girl will be happy and finally all others are interested only the food offered during the wedding. So as per this saying our eyes were searching for the finger biting malyali food. But that was not to come until all the rituals were completed. I always feel pity for the couple as they have to smile throughout the wedding even though they are tired. I must say Madhu has loads of energy and i respect him for that, even in those tiring times he had some humour to spare. When I was on the stage to congratulate him on his achievement, he whispered in my ear "Thanks for Representing everyone man"... This was a stinging bite to all his close friends who had not come for his wedding and unknowingly I was representing them all.
Finally all the rituals were done and we all headed towards our favourite destination, the dining hall and my god we were absolutely awestruck by the way it was arranged. We had banana leaves arranged and all were supposed to it on those. We sat without wasting any amount of time. It had in all 24 items on our plate ohh sorry on the leaves. We were in a state of confusion. We had to decide on what to start with. I imagined myself to be in an examination hall and I approached the food in a similar manner, eating with precise judgement as to which one would be the easier to eat so that I remain motivated to eat the rest of the food.
Finally it was time to bid good bye to the new couple and have them wished for their good future. There was some photo session as well, with Krishna boasting his new camera, though his photography skills are still under the scanner.
So here we were at our next destination, the athirapally waterfalls. I have not seen such huge waterfalls in my life (I know it is still a short one). It is here that the lovely aishwarya Rai and Stud Abhishek were shooted for their movie "Ravaan". If you remember the song "Beera Beera", yes you got it, thats athirapally. Krishna, was not in a good mood here and was not much interested even after he saw the waterfalls. Could be that he had met some of his history in the wedding. Not to go into the details, this is not the right channel. I was enjoying to the fullest extent and he did not object to it. I also respected his privacy and thought not everytime that a person can be happy as ever, downtime cannot be avoided each time. We had a nice time at the waterfalls and came to our hotel in the evening at a place close to Cochin from where we were to head towards alapuzha or allepy water cruise the next morning.
Thats it in this blog, will complete the final part with the boat cruise and the philosophical thoughts I had during the boat cruise.
So here I am to narrate some good experiences during the Kerela trip. I have already narrated the Munnar experience in my last part. I was pretty much excited after that because I had begun to expect more and more out of the world stay in Kerela. It is just a normal human tendency, when it gets better, he expects the best further up. Though this is not true always, this time in the God's own country it was surprisingly true.
After leaving Munnar the next morning, our plan was to attend "Madhu's" wedding the next day and have a look at Athirapally waterfalls. Here I also got an opportunity to see what a mallu wedding is like. Mallu's are believed to give education the utmost importance and that could be easily seen during the wedding. All Aunty's and Uncles had come up dressed with the best saree and the best lungi on the special day. All the Aunty's were busy engrossed in praising each other, obviously these praises were flowing in the expectation of return praises. Surely so women around the world, whether be it India or any other country this gossiping and praising stuff will always be there. All Uncles were busy discussing some political stuff in Malyalam and i regretted and dissappointed that I did not know Malyalam.
It has been said somewhere in the Purana's that Boy is interested in the girl's look, girl is interested in the Boy's strength so that he can protect him, girls father is interested in the Boy's bank balance to ensure that his girl will be happy and finally all others are interested only the food offered during the wedding. So as per this saying our eyes were searching for the finger biting malyali food. But that was not to come until all the rituals were completed. I always feel pity for the couple as they have to smile throughout the wedding even though they are tired. I must say Madhu has loads of energy and i respect him for that, even in those tiring times he had some humour to spare. When I was on the stage to congratulate him on his achievement, he whispered in my ear "Thanks for Representing everyone man"... This was a stinging bite to all his close friends who had not come for his wedding and unknowingly I was representing them all.
Finally all the rituals were done and we all headed towards our favourite destination, the dining hall and my god we were absolutely awestruck by the way it was arranged. We had banana leaves arranged and all were supposed to it on those. We sat without wasting any amount of time. It had in all 24 items on our plate ohh sorry on the leaves. We were in a state of confusion. We had to decide on what to start with. I imagined myself to be in an examination hall and I approached the food in a similar manner, eating with precise judgement as to which one would be the easier to eat so that I remain motivated to eat the rest of the food.
Finally it was time to bid good bye to the new couple and have them wished for their good future. There was some photo session as well, with Krishna boasting his new camera, though his photography skills are still under the scanner.
So here we were at our next destination, the athirapally waterfalls. I have not seen such huge waterfalls in my life (I know it is still a short one). It is here that the lovely aishwarya Rai and Stud Abhishek were shooted for their movie "Ravaan". If you remember the song "Beera Beera", yes you got it, thats athirapally. Krishna, was not in a good mood here and was not much interested even after he saw the waterfalls. Could be that he had met some of his history in the wedding. Not to go into the details, this is not the right channel. I was enjoying to the fullest extent and he did not object to it. I also respected his privacy and thought not everytime that a person can be happy as ever, downtime cannot be avoided each time. We had a nice time at the waterfalls and came to our hotel in the evening at a place close to Cochin from where we were to head towards alapuzha or allepy water cruise the next morning.
Thats it in this blog, will complete the final part with the boat cruise and the philosophical thoughts I had during the boat cruise.
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