The Khichdi Trip

My first blog of the year and what other topic than the super awesome trip I had with my office friends. The planning started along with the Christmas party. Actual plan was spending the 31st night somewhere outside Bangalore, my plan was camping but that did not happen, a house party did not seem possible and camping at some unknown place ourselves was not a good idea. But then Shalini planned this trip to Kerala, to Vimal's house actually. And Alleppey was nearby so how could we miss the house-boats!

For the first time I was not planning anything, it feels good when others do the hard work. On 30th December 2010, we were all set. The Tempo Traveler was awesome, push-back seats, DVD video, and full-time AC. We waited too long for the vehicle to arrive, but it was fun. After one round of revisiting my house, two rounds of paanipuri and loads of laughter we left Bangalore at about 9 pm. The group was the same Christmas Party group with addition of Vimal, our tour guide.

We took he longer but faster (though I didn't find it that fast) route of Hosur-Krishnagiri-Salem-Erode-Coimbatore-Kochi. Lots of restaurants are there on Hosur road, we had our dinner in one of them. The journey was awesome, roads are really good (you pay a price of about Rs. 300/- for that), then the company was awesome. Songs, Khichdi jokes and leg-pulling ruled the lot. Except Shalini and Shafiq no one slept well, as morning crept in everyone's tiredness came into picture. For me it was normal, but for many this much journey in a small vehicle was creating problems.

Thankfully, we reached Vimal's house (near Thrissur) by 10:00 am and everyone was relieved (literally). The house was really nice, and Uncle was there to welcome us (Aunty was in hospital under observation). We quickly hit the showers and after a sumptuous breakfast of hot appams and stew (vegetables in coconut milk) we were all set to Athirapally Waterfalls.

Our first stop was the check dam. The place was got some awesome water reflections, lots of group and couple photography here. Then we reached the actual waterfall. The falls provide a great view when the river Chalakudy falls about 80 feet. Manirathnam has a fascination of these falls and it invariably features in most of his films. The walk downwards was nice, but the uphill (or up-stair) walk was really hard for Prasidhhi and Shalini (and they wanted to go to Wayanad, haah!). After catching up on breath, we rushed to the Cherai Beach.

But we got late in having our late lunch (since it was 31st and all kitchens were preparing for the big night). Alas, we missed the sun set and reached the beach at about 7 pm. But still it was enchanting. I was in a beach after about 2 years and this was my first meeting with the Arabian sea. The wind and the sound of the breaking waves in itself is so refreshing, I think I would not have complained if I had to stay there whole night. The beach was crowded as it was 31st night. It was nice to see ample amount of policemen to keep everything in order.

In no time we had our shoes off and were soaking our feet in the waves. The sand under the feet felt awesome. We found some place and started building our sand castle. By the end of it we had made three castles. Now that is teamwork! All the other people were curious what these old guys are doing. It was fun digging the sand to make a tunnel, making walls to protect from the waves and then breaking the castle by jumping on it. Found out practically that it is really easy to break things than build them, just as it is with relationships. By the time we were complete sand soaked it was time to get back. We got our dinner packed and went back singing and dancing and anticipating the big night.

The night was not better than the Christmas night as everyone were tired. But it was not bad either. Vimal’s brother Vineeth and cousin Justin joined the celebration too. They quickly decorated the hall with coloured paper strips and we got busy with the balloons. I got some Mickey mouse balloons and they were really hard to blow. Even when I tried hard they were making some weird shapes which I can’t explain (you know that!). Only Syed was able to do justice to the balloons. At 12 o’clock we got the cake and the candles and the party poppers. It was nice, guess I was having this kind of celebration for the first time. Called up my dear ones, some didn’t pick up, some did and some were so drunk that they were repeating that they love me multiple times. But, anyway, it is always nice to hear their voices whatever time it may be. After the plum cake was eaten, Shalini started her favourite game ‘dumb charade’! Though I was not that much interested, yet joined in. It was fun as the movies were in Hindi and we had three participants who were not that proficient. The best one was “Albert Pinto ko gussa kyun aata hain”. I also don’t know how I guessed it correctly.

The journey was tiring so we did not continue for long and the next day is going to be the best day, so we packed up, cleaned all the mess and went to sleep. Manish was feeling feverish, but he is so much enthusiastic that it did not show. Hoped that he will be alright after the rest.

Woke up by 7 am the next morning, Manish was feeling ok-ok. Good to see everyone were almost awake and were getting ready. Nothing makes me happy more than people following the time on a trip. I had a round of Vimal’s farm land of rubber, areca nuts, nutmeg and pepper plantations. Collected some samples too, how cool it will be when you get your spices from your garden. Maybe someday I will also own a farm like this (wishful thinking!).

By the time we were all ready it was about 9 am. Bid goodbye to Vimal’s house and were on our way to Alleppey. We met Aunty on the way in the hospital, Prasiddhi was miraculously silent at the hospital for some unknown reason. The next bit of travel was uneventful, just that everyone were thankful to the AC vehicle. We reached Alleppey backwaters by 2 pm. After little bit waiting, our boat came and it was wonderful. Three bed rooms with attached baths, dining deck in front and a top deck too. Though it was motor driven, it was nice, got used to the sound of the motor in no time, the breeze of the waters cooled us down and AC was not required at all. Vimal had all plans for the dinner, in no time he got huge lobsters (Rs. 700/- a kg) and king prawns (pity the vegetarians!).

In sometime lunch was served. It was good, especially the sambar was so local, tasted different and great. After lunch we were on top deck for our games. The memory game with animal sounds was funny, no one could beat me and Vivek in memory game. The sun was setting over the waters in a bright golden hue, managed to get some shots of the people in the golden light. All of them came nice.

The evening date was set on the Alleppey beach. There too we reached late and missed the sun. It was feeling bad, but then the sand of the beach lightened my mood. This beach is not good for bathing as it is a bit deep, no one went near the water as it was time for high tide too. Instead, we played kabaddi. And it was awesome, though I tore Vimal’s t shirt and had sand all over the body, but still it was nice. Never played kabaddi like this where I was not a bit fearing falling over, since the ground was soft here. Lot of fun and shouts in the two games, specially for Vimal since even three of us could not keep hold of him, and Prasiddhi too who was playing this for the first time (OMG).

Back to the boat, it was ‘Khichdi’ time! The boat even had a LCD TV! Though almost everyone had seen the movie, it was being specially played for Vimal so that he gets the jokes we crack. It is fun to watch, especially with a nice crowd. By the time movie was over, we were done with our dinner too. The lobster was awesome, I got tired eating it, it was so huge. Other than that loved the sour prawn curry (with Malabar tamarind), the pumpkin curry with coconut also tasted awesome. After dinner it was time for Bingo. We were again on the top deck and the cards were distributed. Just Prasiddhi and me got lucky. Then again started Shalini’s favourite game. But this time we decided to have it on advertisement products instead of movie names. And this was fun, everyone was trying to get old Doordarshan ads and make it difficult for the other team. After lot of product advertisements from toothpaste to sarees to fodder, we called it a day and went back to our rooms for sleeping. Now the AC was on and it felt nice. Though the boat was not moving, yet it was a different feeling sleeping in a boat. After all it was a boat and it was floating on water.

The next morning we went on an island in the middle of the lagoon, but not very great one. It was small and wild, good place for camping but not for doing anything else. We got bored and were back to our boat in no time. It was time for packing up and leaving today. After a breakfast of hot puttus and channa curry, we were aboard out TT and bade farewell to the beautiful Alleppey. The house-boat came out quite cheap for all of us, it was Rs. 13,500/- inclusive of the food and Rs. 350/- as tips.

The plan for Wayanad was cancelled and we were going to follow the same route as we came. On the way picked up Tina. Felt nice to know that she knows me and Manish (photography has its own benefits). We were running late anyway, so only a short stop at a dam and a ropeway ride, we were on our return journey. The usual leg pulling and singing and games were on. Little bit of mishaps on the return journey. Manish suddenly had very high fever, and I got hurt badly on the head, and Vimal was with someone. Wait, Vimal with someone is not a mishap, my head was gone! I don’t remember anything like that happening to me in recent past. After medicines and food, Manish seemed ok, and we were back on track (road). Everyone was sleeping on the way, our driver was really great as he drove all the way responsively, he even paid all the tolls without waking us up. By 5 am we crossed Electronic city on NH7 and I was the first person to get a drop at my home.

It was like a haze for me, just brushed and fell on the bed. Woke up at 10 am and went to office, it was like a hangover for me.

So, finally I managed to finish the blog, yes it is boring, it is like a documentary and not a commercial movie, but let me assure you the actual experience was way better. Finding people who gel so well together is really great. Everyone was so accommodating and compromising that it made the overall experience a happy one. I have been to many trips with 6 and more people and found all of them dissatisfying in some way, sometimes one person will think sleeping is more important and some other person will think having a lavish lunch is more important. Well, that was not the case here. And I hope Shalini will never narrate this trip like she does for her Goa trip. To sum it up, I would not have dreamt of a better start of 2011. Hope the sweetness of the first day remains till the end of the year (though I know a lot of things is going to change in the next 12 months).

P.S. Photos to be added soon.