Jaunt Down Kerela and Pondy




So,my latest venture was Waynad,Kerela and Pondicherry.Had been planning for quite some time to head out and the work was killing.So I checked up with my friend about a place in Waynad and took off.Had never been to Kerela and the expectations were high.This was the first time I was travelling alone in India so the jitters were also high.Anyways,took a bus to Tellacherry from Majestic at 9 in the night.The driver must ve been in a huge rush or must have been drunk,in all probability the latter.Coz,the bus just sped like crazy all night long.I couldn’t sleep coz the roads were bad and our man didn’t bother about it much with his foot on the accelerator.Reached Tellacherry at about 6 in the morning.It was all planned,all sorted out.Bus to Tellacheery.Then Tellacherry to Mananthwadi and get down at Periya on the way.But then,my first trip alone,topped with jitters,topped with Malayalam illa,Kannada illa and no freakin’ south Indian language on my tongue.I had the most pleasant surprises of all…..Bus strike madam.Lovely!There was one bus going somewhere and I just hopped in it.It was supposedly going to my destination but with a different route.I slept and woke up after 2.5hrs at some vague bus stop.No buses again so sat in a jeep.Looked quite comfortable.4 people at the back and me and driver in the front.We headed out of the bus stop but stopped at a million places within a stretch of 10 meters.By the end of it ,we had 7 people at the back and 5 in the front.Driver,old guy,another guy and another one.Well,if you are looking for me,I was somewhere sandwiched between the driver and oldie.Now,THAT is something you shouldnt ask me about.Thankfully,Periya was not too far and I got down.
It was raining and smart Preeti took out her umbrella.(I had bought an umbrella specifically for the trip…impressed ,aren’t u?) I had to go to Gurukula Botanical Sanctury and the 3 kilometer walk till there was an amazing rush. I just knew it was going to be one of those walks I would never forget. With all the people,buses,roads left behind…Just walking along the lush green mountains,smelling the freah air in the drizzle was inexplicable.Walked along the mountains,then walked up the mountains,then walked along the tea garden,walked in the slush,walked in the leeches.Finally reached the place.Gurukula is a huge botanical sanctuary where a family and a few friends live.Amazing place and amazing dogs!Was greeted by 6 HUGE dogs charging at me.I’m sure my screams could ve been heard till the road,down the hill.Met the family.Had some food and slept in a small wodden cabin.Woke up to the pitter patter of the rain.Went out,had some food again.Checked out all the species of plants and ferns preserved there.Couldnt go deeper in the forest due to the rains and the leeches.The highly affectionate leeches were sticking to the wound on my toe and it wasn’t the most pleasant of sights to write about.Well,brave me,ignored the leeches and went down to the paddy fields.It was good fun,getting into the knee deep slush,barefoot and digging the earth.All I got was mud in my hands,face and everywhere possible.I splashed some mud by mistake on the farmer next to me but he was sweet enough to smile back.After the paddy session,we headed back to the rooms and I had a grueling undergo with the leeches all over me.After I was rid of em ,I took my time reading a book and having some tea.Helped in cooking the dinner and hogged like a pig.There is no electricity there so we had torches to go to the loos which are quite a distance from the rooms.As if I wasn’t freaked out enough about the leeches,dogs,loo too far that when I enter my room,I am greeted by a lovely HUGE BLACK spider sitting right in the middle of the room.I crept to my bed and kept an eye on the spider for hours;didn’t want it climbing over my bed.Donno when I dozed off.Was woken up in the morning as I had to catch the bus back to Bangalore.Had some lovely coin parathas and curry for breakfast.Got into a ready-to-fall-apart bus and swayed my way till mysore.Got into a much more comfortable bus at mysore and headed to Bangalore.Reached Bangalore at 5 or so.Called up all my friends asking if they would want to join in for my pondy trip.Got tickets for pondy and the same evening I was in a bus to Pondy,all excited about seeing the ashram and the beach at last.Reached pondy the next morning.Went to the ashram area and looked for a place to stay.It was quite difficult as everything was booked due to the long weekend.Got a room,crashed for a while,got fresh and headed out to ashram.Walked around the ashram area,checked out some books,walked around the beach and was quite hungry and tanned.The place was burning.It was almost 35degrees.Anyways,had a nice long lunch and crashed out after that till late evening.Woke up and went again for a walk looking for a place to have good dinner.But then again,all the places were quite full.We had almost lost hopes when one sweet old watchman told us of a new eatery.we headed there and had a huge dinner.Next day we checked out in the morning itself,and went to a chettinad place for lunch.wasnt too impressive.Bought some candles and incense from the ashram store and then headed to a so called boathouse.It was a horrible place and the sun was killing ,so headed back and sat at a restaurant till it was time for our bus.Got into a comfy bus and were in Bangalore by next morning.Nothing much to say about the Pondy city but the ashram area with all the white colonial houses and beautiful roads is quite pretty.Also,I must mention the numerous antique furniture outlets there.Quite interesting.I took an instant liking for a Grandpa's clock and it wasnt too expensive either but then...didnt buy it.Maybe Next time.Was quite a trip.Next destination – Goa (Yipeeeeee!! Tatoosss. Here I come..)