Memoirs of Mallu-Land

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.

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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).

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

VIEW FROM THE CHERUTHODI  DAM

 Specter of unknown :

 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. 

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.

TRYING TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT

Finally I conclude holiday was short and taut. Fulfilling and heart content.