Memoirs of Mallu-Land
This blog is dedicated to Tony. Senior &
Friend. Marxist (maybe) & Hedonist (100%) . Bibliophile and Chaotic puzzle.
Finally my host to this trip.
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| HOST & GUEST |
For
many days I wanna visit his place called Painava. Painava nestled in western ghat region of Kerala. I
have chosen his place to popular tourist spots of kerala as I was on short of
time and Impatience for cliché. I went with no plan nor expectation. Just with
curious bent of mind. I really wanted to see how/what kerala is : "The land of
Sashi tharoor and Shakeela the oomph actress. Gods own country yet ruled by
Godless Marxists". Thus this blogpost is photography, travelogue, storytelling and
exaggeration. All rolled into one.
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| BEGINNING OF KERALA STATE. PIC FROM TRAIN |
Journey : “Your holiday
begins the moment the journey starts” thus spake Sri Sri. So I literally
started to enjoy the entire journey than concentrating on the destination.
Train (Kerala Express) was late by hour. So this gave me opportunity to see the
transition of geography and topography between Andhra , Tamilnadu and Kerala as most of my journey was after daylight.
Early morning was greeted by tons of coconut trees and typical kerala building
architecture where buildings have sloping roofs. The reason I learnt was that
this land receives heavy rainfall hence the sloping roofs. From Ernakulum to
Thodapuza to Painava. Plains to Mountains and City to jungle . All through
rubber plantation and huge houses funded by Gulf money. While returning, I
choose not to trust train and booked flight from Kochi airport. Paradoxically I
just made in nick of time as this time I was late.
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| MORNING WALK |
I
never visit many places at once as it complicates my tiny brain. I would
rather have depth of experience of single place/event than breadth of
experiences in visiting multiple places. Relish one place than a hurried holiday.
Hence only one place I choose to visit.
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| Add caption |
Place: Like
I said I generally don’t prefer popular sightseeing places. I would rather
prefer rough unknown tracks and places. My guest house was nestled in forest
land, enclosed by barbwire and huge gate with spikes jutting out. All the
security to prevent wild animals especially elephants. I just visited Idduiki
dam which is one of the biggest source of power to kerala . And these inter
state waters are also responsible for bitterness between tamils and mallus. Photography
is prohibited but managed to sneaked in the phone.
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| MORNING WALK TO HILLTOP |
Food: i am quite fussy
about food. Too many Do’s and Don’t’s.
But here I totally relished local food. Though Malayalis eat plenty of
non-vegetarian of all kinds, I restricted myself to basic veg food. Though my
host wanted to get white rice , I was more than insistent to have authentic red
Rice which infact is more healthier and fulfilling. Coconut oil and grated coconut
seems ubiquitous to kerala cuisine.
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| RED RICE, SNACKS |
I
had some street food like stuffed idli dumplings, coconut barfis, banana bajji.
Actually none are named so but their malayali names would send my tongue in
knots while pronouncing. I found malayali script amusing. It appeared as
jilebis and murkus. (well all south Indian scripts are more or less twisted if
I may add).
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| JUST PIC WITH FEW OF BOOKS |
Books: like I referred initially, my host is bibliophile and his home has tons of books. One of main reason for my visit is to deliver few books which I didn’t want to send my post. His collection is immensely overwhelming with diversifying genres. Checking those books is ultimate aphrodisiac for me and visiting such collection is pilgrimage to aficionado like me
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| VIEW FROM THE CHERUTHODI DAM |
Like I said this place is on top of hill. Mornings
I spent walking and exploring around the hilltops. Top of hill reminded me of
my stint in Mizoram which has similar terrain. The place is surrounded by
jungle and deafening silence. Silence often broken by whooshing wind and
insects chatter. Swaying of flora is captivating. I tried to absorb as much of
silence as I could and retain it. However its futile as one moment is taken
over by another new moment. Impossible to capture the moments of bliss. You eventually
have to give up the ownership and go by flow.
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| SPIKES TO PREVENT ELEPHANTS CRASHING INTO HOUSE |
I
was only soul living in guesthouse. Even smallest noise creates huge echo. Creaking
doors gave eerie feel. On one night I was trying to meditate when I head sudden
sound of electric switch going On and sounds of someone walking up the stairs which led to me to
think whether I latched up the door down stairs. I rationalised that some local staff seeing unlatched door walked in. I walked out to see no human
presence expect howling wind. Did I imagine
it as I read lot of spooky stuff or hallucinate it in meditation. I don’t know.
My host concluded it broken door at top floor . Well, I don’t wish to dwell much
on it.
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| TRYING TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT |
Finally I conclude holiday was
short and taut. Fulfilling and heart content.
