The Last Trip...
.. of the year 2009. It happened quite unexpectedly. My friend and I were to a wedding scheduled to take place in Guruvayur, Kerala. However the invite didn't happen. We'd booked our tickets (via train) and were eagerly waiting for the expected call/mail. When nothing came about we both frantically started calling the person (whose sister was going to be the bride). The phone was out of coverage area (consistently). We assumed the best - that our common friend was travelling.
Despite seeds of doubt in the mind, Praveen (my friend, erstwhile student, my verbal sparring partner) and I left Bangalore on 29 Dec. by Kochuveli Express. Reaching the Yeshwantpur station itself was quite an adventure. We had to forgo our dinner to ensure we'd NOT miss the train! Fortunately the train was late. It was Garib Rath and mine was a side-berth/seat. Yikes!
I bumped into an old acquaintance of mine on the train. Daivasheelan, my MBA classmate. He still looked as young - and I wondered what the secret was! He was travelling to Sabarimala (with his two rather grown up kids in tow). By the time he finished talking to me half the train knew I was in the Civil Services (he called in all his companions - relatives and friends - who were in various compartments to ensure none missed out that he knew someone who had written and cleared the exams). Quite an embarrassment!
The train reached Trissur late. And by the time we reached Guruvayur all the marriages scheduled for the day were over. And, there are over a 100 marriage halls in the small town. On top of that marriages happen within the premises of the temple too. Our language barrier ensured no information would come forth despite going about the town finding out if the marriage of a certain 'D G' indeed took place this day!
Darshan of Guruvayurappan amidst swelling crowds and visits to various other temples became the agenda then. The idol at the Guruvayur temple is believed to be over 5000 years old! But the highlight of the journey was observing Kerala and its people. This gave immense satisfaction.
Despite the humongous population and extreme pressure on land Kerala's still green. You won't find a patch of land that's let to waste. Instead one sees trees or plants growing all around. The modern and the traditional co-exist. No clash whatsoever. Possibly because there aren't too many pseudo-intellectuals! And, possibly Kerala is the least poor state in the country (going by what one sees out there). And regardless of the size of a town you'd find every amenity possible. And, talking of towns and places Kerala also possibly might be the only state where one wouldn't find a traditional Indian village - backward, no infrastructure and poor! Every village boasts of good roads, decent market place, health facilities and even shopping malls with valet parking facilities!
Despite all the brands available in any town Kerala men still prefer - as could be evinced around - shining shirts (possibly reflecting the State's shining status). The latest colour that's caught the imagination of the Keralites is pink. Colour me pink, they seem to say. Pink shirts, pink sarees and hold your breath, pink houses and buildings! Every shade from baby pink to bubblegum pink and beyond can be seen. Even the railway station at Thrissur has pink pillars!
I lost my card holder while travelling by bus from Thrissur to Guruvayur. It had 3 debit cards, a credit card, PAN card, a host of other cards and my visiting cards. I did realize pretty soon that the cardholder was missing and immediately called the bank to block my credit card (and thankfully I remembered my card number). I didn't block the debit cards though. Sometime later in the day the bus driver called up and spoke to me in broken Kannada to tell me that he has the card holder and all its contents. He wondered if there was any money in it (as he assumed it to be a wallet).
In the bargain (of meeting this driver and collecting my cards) I missed the train back to Bangalore. I'm now flying from Coimbatore. Much to the irritation of my FinMin (who's been screaming why in the first place this trip was necessary)!!
I'm having a blast though :)
Despite seeds of doubt in the mind, Praveen (my friend, erstwhile student, my verbal sparring partner) and I left Bangalore on 29 Dec. by Kochuveli Express. Reaching the Yeshwantpur station itself was quite an adventure. We had to forgo our dinner to ensure we'd NOT miss the train! Fortunately the train was late. It was Garib Rath and mine was a side-berth/seat. Yikes!
I bumped into an old acquaintance of mine on the train. Daivasheelan, my MBA classmate. He still looked as young - and I wondered what the secret was! He was travelling to Sabarimala (with his two rather grown up kids in tow). By the time he finished talking to me half the train knew I was in the Civil Services (he called in all his companions - relatives and friends - who were in various compartments to ensure none missed out that he knew someone who had written and cleared the exams). Quite an embarrassment!
The train reached Trissur late. And by the time we reached Guruvayur all the marriages scheduled for the day were over. And, there are over a 100 marriage halls in the small town. On top of that marriages happen within the premises of the temple too. Our language barrier ensured no information would come forth despite going about the town finding out if the marriage of a certain 'D G' indeed took place this day!
Darshan of Guruvayurappan amidst swelling crowds and visits to various other temples became the agenda then. The idol at the Guruvayur temple is believed to be over 5000 years old! But the highlight of the journey was observing Kerala and its people. This gave immense satisfaction.
Despite the humongous population and extreme pressure on land Kerala's still green. You won't find a patch of land that's let to waste. Instead one sees trees or plants growing all around. The modern and the traditional co-exist. No clash whatsoever. Possibly because there aren't too many pseudo-intellectuals! And, possibly Kerala is the least poor state in the country (going by what one sees out there). And regardless of the size of a town you'd find every amenity possible. And, talking of towns and places Kerala also possibly might be the only state where one wouldn't find a traditional Indian village - backward, no infrastructure and poor! Every village boasts of good roads, decent market place, health facilities and even shopping malls with valet parking facilities!
Despite all the brands available in any town Kerala men still prefer - as could be evinced around - shining shirts (possibly reflecting the State's shining status). The latest colour that's caught the imagination of the Keralites is pink. Colour me pink, they seem to say. Pink shirts, pink sarees and hold your breath, pink houses and buildings! Every shade from baby pink to bubblegum pink and beyond can be seen. Even the railway station at Thrissur has pink pillars!
I lost my card holder while travelling by bus from Thrissur to Guruvayur. It had 3 debit cards, a credit card, PAN card, a host of other cards and my visiting cards. I did realize pretty soon that the cardholder was missing and immediately called the bank to block my credit card (and thankfully I remembered my card number). I didn't block the debit cards though. Sometime later in the day the bus driver called up and spoke to me in broken Kannada to tell me that he has the card holder and all its contents. He wondered if there was any money in it (as he assumed it to be a wallet).
In the bargain (of meeting this driver and collecting my cards) I missed the train back to Bangalore. I'm now flying from Coimbatore. Much to the irritation of my FinMin (who's been screaming why in the first place this trip was necessary)!!
I'm having a blast though :)