Dear Ammu, it’s been a fortnight already! I cannot fathom how time flies so fast!
Hello World !!
Well, what an overwhelming time it has been since you set foot in this world. I am unsure if I should deem you to be my greatest strength now or a Kryptonite that I go weak about. But being the mind that constantly rambles and debates, you are undeniably my new attention and a lucky charm! The families on either sides, are blessed to have your around and are ecstatic on your arrival or rather safe landing! Fervent prayers, testing times of apprehension, an intense mix of nervousness and excitement, the endurance and the final reveal!
Your first companion – the honey nectar pacifier/teether!
I am not the usual father material by any metrics. If you had asked me whether I was ready for this pristine phase or not, the answer was a blatant no. Honestly, I wasn’t. But such is the beauty of life. I welcomed the moment, slowing waiting for the world to build up the momentum! When it was time, I was blinded by the excitement and the surrealism. ( Also, lack of sleep and was half dazed.)
A day before you came into our lives!
I cried hard within myself when I heard your first cry. I leapt in joy too. It has been a mixed bag of emotions. I rushed to the N- ICU where the doctors lay you bare, under the sweltering UV light and heat. You were plump-red, like a fully blossomed red rose, crying your heart out in a melody, with occasional pauses. I couldn’t help but stare in awe. You are definitely my “snuggle fest”🥰. I couldn’t resist clicking pictures of you, and my camera wept in pain that day due to the incessant calls, multitude of messages, clicking of many pictures of you, sharing the joyful news to the world, answering umpteen calls, draining my energy and the battery too. Phew!
Sleeping beauty!
Of course, I was tempted to hold you but was denied. Honestly, I was utterly scared to touch or hold you! I came out of the OT with tears welled up in my eyes. I was momentarily speechless, numb, overwhelmed, transfixed and all things that count as extreme joy!
My father was the happiest to hold you in his arms. He waited for countless years!
What followed next was a slew of near and dear ones thronging the hospital to see you and of course, your mother. She endured the toughest pain to pop you into this world. ( which is generalized that every mother goes through that phase but I beg to differ) I was around to witness the pain that your Amma went through, holding on, gripping herself, trying to gain strength and enduring the “marathon” events of walking briskly, climbing stairs repeatedly and doing squats like it is the end of the world. I could see her crying out of searing pain and despair. The nurses compelled her to do a so called “natural birth” which is ironically unnatural. I can go on and on but this would never stop. After nearly 11 hours of endurance and emotional battle, you were the result! A gift from the Gods!
Ammu with Amma!
Back to the unending guests, they merrily came down to see you, meet and most importantly, bless you. It was surreal to receive and greet them, as I was visibly happy welcoming them. My happiness knew no bounds.
Ammu…your pedha nanna, nanna and aththa!
Well, God bestowed courage in me to hold you, but, still the fear lingers in me and I still shiver a bit while taking you in my arms. After a couple of days, I started to carry you to the hospital lawn for basking, the morning sun’s first rays were your feeding! More like sun bathing! You would sleep sluggishly and snuggle a lot. See, you are basking in the glory already.
Cutie Pie
Also, as a generational trend, you were diagnosed with jaundice and the doctor advised you go thorough photometry. You were kept under a UV light shed and my dearest, you passed your first exam in flying colors! ( well, blue to be precise! )
My Baby Blue!
Well, you eventually got better with time and are now our bundle of joy, our eye candy and teh center of our world!
You are a pretty miniature me! Look at us maa!! We are going to have a blast!! Welcome to our world, Ammulu!
Note: All the photographs that you come across in the below travelogue are shot and edited (when necessary) by Nikhil Chamarthy. Remember the name folks. He is out to shine!
The Nikhil Chamarthy Project.
A year ago, I had hardly imagined or expected that I would move out of my house and reside with an ex-colleague and his friend and his friend’s friend. Confused already? Well, on that note allow me to introduce you all to “Roomies”! We are a pack of four folks, namely Nikhil, Jagannath (fondly called Jagga), Gautham and me. Nikhil was my colleague at Google and Gautham is his friend from their formative years of graduation. Jagga and Gautham are thickest of friends from childhood, deep-rooted from their native land of Orissa. How we all came together and formed an indelible bond amongst us, the camaraderie that we built is just serendipitous. Maybe we were destined to meet, hang out and share our ‘slice of life’ stories!
Take a moment and ponder….
The mundane corporate lives that we lead hardly offer us time to catch up except over the weekends. At times that is impossible too, depending on the shifts at work, personal commitments, etc. Cut to the chase, we all were yearning for a holiday, a getaway, a break. Nikhil and I decided to go to his hometown, Vizag, on a three-day holiday. Thanks to the Telangana Elections for gifting us a holiday in addition to the weekend.
I vividly remember the chaos and the excitement the day prior to the journey. We went to the newly opened Sharath City Capital mall which is a few minutes’ walk from our crib. It’s unassumingly massive and dazzling with glass facades all over. The place was a feast for Nikhil as he wasted no second in pulling out his camera to capture its beautiful perspectives and mesmerizing symmetries. A few onlookers stood still, amazed, watching him in weird postures like crouching at one corner for his ‘creative capture’, shooting a close-up of an object, etc. Not many would get the antics behind photography, I guess. 😊
Is that how you jump in a mall?
After a few hours of wasting our time at the mall, we rushed back to the room. Being weekend, the traffic was at its usual peak with vehicles clogging the roads and I logged off from office at the nick of time, wading through the jam-packed traffic, almost missing the bus to Vizag. I remember a visual of grumpy and tensed Nikhil, calling me umpteen times. 😊 On board the bus, we settled in our cushy seats and killed time with hilarious conversations.
When auto poses with you!
With the excitement clearly showing up on his face, Nikhil planned to show me a host of places to visit, sharing the special memories associated with them and their long endearing tales. The journey through the night flashed by amidst the bright glare of TV screen playing loud a mediocre Tollywood film, shrill sounds of heavy vehicles zooming by on the highway, our endless giggles and banter.
Vishakhapatnam has always found a fan in me. Digging my memory bank, I remember I was in Vizag a decade ago with my graduation buddies. Years later, the Cyclone Hudhud had shattered the city, leaving behind a huge task to rebuild and reform. Now, as I was nearing to the city of destiny, cutting through the thickets of greenery, the glimpses of the progressing city through the windows of the bus brought a smile on my face. I was excited like a child to explore the new built-from-scratch city with its blooming cafes, social joints, the beautiful and encompassing Andhra University and above all the long stretch of beaches, coastal line and the warm people flocking to grab some fresh air.
As expected, we hardly caught any sleep. With sore eyes, ruffled hair and over-grown stubble, our appearance was more like convicts who dashed out of a prison.
Day-1:
Don’t picture a scene where we would make a grand entry like a hero who returns home to settle differences with his past. 😀 (For those cinema illiterate/non-filmy buffs, I am talking about Megastar Chiru alighting a chopper and kissing earth in Indira! **Teary emotional background score**) Well, just like any commoner with no fancy close-up or slow motion swag, we got off the bus to the yelling of the driver loud enough to wake up everyone in the bus, crossed the road to find a charismatic man with a dashing personality waiting to pick us up. Ladies and gentlemen, this man needs no formal introduction. Rama Krishna garu is Nikhil’s father who defies age with ease. He is like rare wine that ages gracefully! Hip and cheerful, he greets us with warmth and aplomb. We drove to their apartment called Prashanti Mahal. Little did I realize that I would change the name to Praasa Mahal 😊 Yes, you read it correct. RK garu’s flair for word play (praasa) is no less than genius. He infuses humor in his lingo, and I guess his brain works like that of a cruciverbalist (A skillful crossword creator or solver). 😊
The charming world of the Chamarthys
Glee and wide smiles welcomed us from the balcony. (Don’t be surprised that I will refer to this place often in the travelogue). Nikhil’s granny and mother, Usha Amma, were excitedly waiting to receive us. (Not that we returned from the Kargil War!) 😊 They were shocked to see us in unkempt hair and the shabby beards. We quickly dumped the bags and zoomed off to one of the oldest and popular salons in Vizag called “Toppers” near Diamond Park. Nikhil recollected and expressed animatedly how he would tag along with his father for a haircut at Toppers.
Top lechi podhi! ( I mean literally, they cut your hair on the head)
After a grand makeover and an exorbitant bill, we came back home as dapper gentlemen and no longer barbarians. Haha! The magnetic smiles of Granny and Amma were a proof that we were officially welcome to the house of Chamarthys! Their simple house is adorned with beautiful antiques and artefacts, some dating back to hundred years (YES, a century!), preserved and conserved with care and passion, passed on from one generation to another. All those priceless vintage objects carried great stories to be shared. I was left jaw-dropped in amazement when Nikhil took me on a tour down the memory lane. He excitedly showed Usha Amma’s fragile veena with strings almost wearing out, his grand-father’s grand old trunk full of memorabilia, smudgy idols of Radha Krishna belonging to yesteryear generation, an old radio still functional and being used by granny, a wooden chair that witnessed few generations pass by and a rusty table fan which stood the test of time. Not to forget, he showed his own collection of childhood treasure: A stack of Cheetos Tazos, a collection of GI Joes – those flexible action toys, a stunning and enviable range of Hot Wheels, rock music cassettes and CDs, hand -written lyrics (of EMINEM, LINKIN PARK, etc. ) on sheets of papers tucked in between school books!
At a moment, I felt I was in a museum. 😊 I remember telling Nikhil and his family that their house can easily be transformed into a museum! In fact, they just a need a ticket counter at the entrance of the house! 😊 Granny was all exuberant sharing her stories of her family linage recollecting her travel stories with her beloved! 😊 Well, while listening keenly to the heartening tales, we had breakfast and off we went on the moped exploring the beach city. Every time we got out of the house, Amma and granny would wave at and watch us from the balcony. No kidding! 😊 That’s unconditional love and affection of mothers! Jai Mata Di 😊
Vizag has progressed with time and transformed into a beautiful city. The roads are spic and span with saplings and plantations lined up along the dividers. We covered all the prominent places like the vast Andhra University, the shopping malls, Dutt Island, Beach Road and RK beach.
At a rock concert!
Stepping into the gushing water of the Bay of Bengal, feeling the chill of the effervescent saline froth, the tides flapping one’s feet, watching the endless water body resonating with its ebb and flow, the gigantic ships parked on the ocean’s belly almost touching the horizon, the setting or the rising sun emitting sharp light and such spectacles are sheer moments of unbridled joy one must experience. There is something magical about nature and its abundant offerings. The magic truly lies in the small and generic details 😊
Vizag is home to a kick-ass rock band called “Against Evil”. And Nikhil, being a metal head himself, is a close pal to that bunch. I was lucky to catch up with them at Bean Board, a new coffee shop that’s admittedly a cool place to hang out at. So, we talked great deal about the music scene, laughed out loud discussing about people with weird habits, gags and we all got to play with the little fluffy munchkin, Siri’s daughter. From there we drifted to Vizag’s first ever drive-in, eponymously called, “Vizag Drive -in” near MVP colony. The atmosphere there is serene with dimly lit open arena. And, I had the best Shawarma there! 😊
Your time here will be memorable!
We were back home late in the night after a tiring tour of the city. But still, the family was waiting for us so that we all could dine together. Such is the love and bonding of staying with family, that no money can ever buy. Home-cooked food is what we crave for back in Hyderabad. So, we gorged on home delicacies for the three days of stay at Chamarthys. After a sumptuous meal, Usha amma shared her experiences of travelling to the USA to spend time with her daughter and her grand children. I know how much Nikhil and their family misses them. We went through the photo album and I was moved by their electric familial love. RK uncle’s humor is infectious. We helplessly break into boisterous laughter at his cool jokes. No wonder, he is the king of Praasa Mahal. To sum up, Chamarthys are warm, congenial and loving. 😊 Thank you, beyond words, for hosting me.
Day-2:
Atu chudandi…Some random pose!
After crashing late in the night, filled with heart felt conversations, we woke up late in the morning. With no agenda for the day, we set out to Kambalakonda Adventure Park. Excited that he and his mother went kayaking there, Nikhil lured me into it. But to my fate, the lake was dry and deserted.
I was supposed to go kayaking here. 😦
Empty boats/canoes were abandoned at one corner. Not to get dismayed and to make the day adventurous, we took a short hike in the jungle (unfortunately there were more love birds/ couples than animals), walked the oscillating and shaky Burma Bridge, fought the fear of heights and zip-lined in style to cheering crowd. One our exit way, we spotted a deer. It was lost from its herd and was trembling in fear and anxiety. A closer glimpse of it was a surreal experience. 😊
After he aced the Burma Bridge.
Nikhil conquering the shaky bridge.
Across the road, after a few kilometers, lies the Indira Gandhi National Zoological Park, home of the wild animals. Time just flew by in the zoo where we walked quiet a long distance. Initially, we were excited on watching the animals and their antics behind the cages. Nikhil clicked and captured some beautiful postures of animals. But later, we could not help but sympathize for their ill treatment, their malnourished state of being and their poor maintenance.
The lone ranger.
Someone shed their clothes!!
We rooted for their well-being and felt sorrowful as they were caged like prisoners. Nonetheless, it was a memorable trip to the zoo to reflect upon our treatment to animals. Before we could exit the zoo, we realized we had reached the wrong gate and had to walk back a kilometer amidst panting and gasps. Sore but fun! 😊
Day-3:
On the final day, we went to Kailasagiri. Just as the name loosely translates to, its home to Shiva and Parvathi. It’s etched on a hill which offers bird’s eye view of the sprawling city of Vizag. We took the wobbling cable car/Rope way to reach the top. The view of the beach line is a spectacle one should not miss. A gigantic sign erection like Hollywood in LA, California is unmissable! (No, I have not been to USA, but many Hollywood movies took me there 😊). An otherwise wise advice: Watch movies for worldly knowledge! BAM!
Giri! Kya Giri? Kailasgiri.
The place was teeming with people that we could hardly manage to click a picture of the deity in white. Some folks were talking selfies with god. Like Really! Kalikaalam started! Pack your bags and exit the planet fellas! The spectacular view from the viewpoints is breath taking. To beat the humidity, a can of Monster, an energy drink came to our rescue. We befriended two kids, but they suspected us to be goons! 😊
Rushikonda!
Beach please!!
Long curves of the coastal line.
We got off the hill and its chaos. We whizzed off to Rushi Konda beach which is strikingly beautiful and elegant like the curves of a slender woman! I just compared a beach to a babe! Wah.! Nobel Prize for literature here I come! (The Nobel committee face palmed in disgrace).
On our way back home, after spoiling the eco system of the beach (don’t ask me how), we spotted DC car called Avanti. Don’t go by the petit Indian name, picturing it to be a traditional car. It’s a sexy, sleek, bad ass and classy roadster. We made a U-turn just to flock it. And by the way, to all my friends, if at all you are in MVP colony, rush to SLG sweet shop and get me some of its special mouth-watering sweets! Time is money for this tiny shop. The mad rush at its evening hours is unlike any I have seen. God, how?
Next time you are here, grab one box for me.
I am a master of last-minute management. Be it exams, assignments, bills, or just life, I mastered the art of being lazy and getting utterly tensed in last minute. I guess many of us are. Thanks for the undeniable company! So, the last evening at Vizag, we rushed to buy home furnishings, precisely curtains and drapes. We did our bit to make the house a little more colorful. Well, as a token of gratitude, the family gifted me a cool Captain America tee shirt! It was an ecstatic moment as it was presented to me by Her Majesty, the ever-graceful Granny. I wonder what I will receive on my next visit. 😊
I am officially Captain America!
in a jiffy, we packed our bags, rushed to the bus stop and met RK garu who gave an uncommon send-off: A selfie in the bright light emitted by LED sign board. Thank you Chamarthys for teaching me to celebrate life.
Hello Bala! Happy to bump into an old friend 🙂
Travel tales should be worth the experience. Sometimes they ought to be simple, adventurous, unconventional, silly and memorable. My trip to Vizag was an assortment of the above. 😊
Some incidences in life leave a lasting impression. Some actions, no matter how small or large, ignite a sense of happiness and leave a feeling of heaviness that affects us deeply. They linger for while and one cannot help but live with that state of mind. A Malayalam movie, Kumbalangi Nights, made such a deep impact on my mind and soul (if there is any).
A movie-buff friend was raving about it extensively. It was unlike any rave. It was the one with the utmost genuine display of his love for cinema. So, on his persuasion, I went along with him to watch it. I revelled in it getting stuck in a loop of glee and amazement. As I was penning my thoughts on the film, I could not help but smile to myself and experience a feeling of warmth and joy. The movie stayed with me from then on.
I had always found the Malayalam cinema to be intriguing. They explore and excel at the cinematic technicalities telling cult, bold and simple stories with a heartwarming social message. The list of movies that captured my attention is endless but to name a few, the movie Charlie was so beautiful that it was more like a lesson on Cinematography. Premam and Bangalore Days were high on beautiful storytelling and a delight to watch considering the role time plays in our lives. I am yet to watch some highly recommended ones which am sure would fill my appetite for movies from the God’s own country.
Lately, one such movie that was high on emotional quotient was Kumbalangi Nights. Realistically, Kumbalangi is a fishing village and tourist hot spot near Kochi. The movie is based around a house on the outskirts of that fishing village. Its a simple tale of four dysfunctional brothers who cannot keep their home as a regular habitable home. This very home without doors and liveliness forms the most important prop of the movie. Saji and Bobby are utterly aimless in their careers and just laze around by the sea or engage in bar fights. The third one, Bonny, is a mute who is headstrong and gets the two of them back to the track after a brawl. He is fond of his younger brother, Franky, the last one in the band of brothers and is always on the lookout for him.
I can talk a great deal but it would be like a freebie or a giveaway. Few scenes stayed with me forever like Shaji weeping his heart out to a psychiatrist, the scene where Bobby catches a rare Murrell baby fish, Bony whacks Saji with a boat oar for slapping Franky showing his love and care for the younger one, Franky gleefully giggling when he asks, out of innocence, if Nyla is getting married to Bonny and the powerhouse actor Fahadh Faasil ‘s display of patriarchy. He is a revelation and deserves worthy praise.
Back to the storyline, the movie comes a full circle when they get their shit together and sort it out. How they do it and what do they do forms the heart of the beautiful story. It’s an off-beat story devoid of
a) unwanted routine stock of commercial masala,
b) the coerced and cheap slapstick comedy,
c) the extravagant display of heroism,
d) unimportant and weak women characters.
All the above tropes would only make the movie-watching experience distasteful.
The film undeniably set the standards high and raised the bar of cinematic excellence to a whole new level. Be it the poignant yet powerful screenwriting, strong character arcs, spirited and independent women displaying flamboyance, the soothing music, everything fell in place to make it a perfect concoction.
A word of praise for different departments:
Cinematography: The movie is visually rich and colourful like a palette. There is a perfect use of light in the day ( like the scene when Sathi comes home like a guardian angel or mother Mary holding a baby) or in the night ( like the strobe of lights shimmering on the water when Saji kicks the football and its floats along). Like my friend said, the DOP Shyju Khalid is DOPE. He remarkably captured the beauty of dawn by showing how light travels by focusing on toys in the house and Franky’s horde of certificates. His work is so delightful that even getting a glimpse of cactus wasn’t boring. Music: Sushin Shyam’s rendition for this feature is soothing, pleasant and mostly foot tapping. The score seamlessly fit in. It’s a finely created music comprising a blend of fingers snapping, soulful humming, acoustics that are like slow ripples on a calm water surface and whistles of sheer bliss. Backing vocals are heavenly and transcend you to a place preferably a placid lake filled with silence, calmness and peaceful at best. It would be an exaggeration but I can’t deny that ever since I watched the movie, I play the seven tracks at least once a day.
Screenplay: Scenarist Shyam Pushkaran has done an incredible job with the amazing story he penned which took him years to materialize. He gives every character an important dimension and role which makes it more gripping to watch and holds one with bated breath as to what mystery unfolds.
He draws parallels between sensitive subjects like caste, religion, women suppression, familial roots and tackles them with ease making the audience think loud.
Direction: One cannot ask more from such a stupendous debut from the first time director Madhu Narayanan. His vision is crystal clear and hence the great story was told with ease, taking the audience on a jolly ride. Also, he clearly mentioned in his post-success interviews that attention to detail is important for a movie watcher and cinema lover. Indeed, I could not have agreed any better. The dots get connected only when you focus on the storyline.
I don’t understand Malayalam language but I try hard to understand the cinematic language if there is any. KN taught me the best of human relations, values and lessons of integrity. The beauty of time and how it moulds and transforms one into. The flight of courage needed by the faint one to take at one point in life. The movie is a push for the most dreaded step that you have been cowardly languishing to take.
Kumbalangi Nights is a marvellous movie filled with rich drama, realistic inclinations towards the struggle of underdogs and their peculiar but interesting way of lives and a great lesson on Integrity!
This marks my first ever honest review of a Hollywood film. Hope you enjoy it. Thank you.
Plot:
A team of astronauts aboard International Space Station is on a mission to discover and experiment the existence of life in an organism collected from Mars.
We are not new to the genre of movies dealing with alien invasion, space expedition and the galactic fantasy. Life 2017 can be related to a slew of movies like Alien trilogy, Event Horizon, The Last Days on Mars, etc (to name a few). The director Daniel Espinosa sets the show running with the high-speeding dock from Mars landing on ISS and one of the team members, Rory, bravely flying out in the space and almost colliding in its path, successfully collects the potent research subject/elixir of Mars – a Paramecium like cell with hairy flagella and rapid movements of the cytoplasm displaying features akin to the human cell. The highly intelligent and adaptive qualities of the cell intrigues the cellular biologist Hugh, giving him hope of discovering extra terrestrial life. The team encourages him and shares his excitement in learning about the foreign object of research. Some unprecedented events lead to a disaster and as partly revealed in the trailer, all hell breaks loose when a mishap occurs and the team is shrinking. How they take the situation in hand and deal with damage control forms the later part of the story and to say, its riveting till the end with a few twists and a climax that left me gaping in awe and dismay. (Sorry fellas,too much revealed already!)
The technicalities of the movie are stunning. The cinematography delivers to the best of its ability in its vertical aptly showing the glistening space, the complex structures of space station, the innards of the docks and the motion capture holograms, the visually alluring sharp depiction of the cell with tentacles engulfing life bearing props and its haphazard movements rising our adrenaline of tremor and inevitability in due course of its actions. Along side,the background score is intense and pulsating.The narrative in tense situations (like the spacewalk when the Russian commander is left to her own rescue) is handled well.
Conclusively,the movie challenges the conscience of our actions when commanded to abide or not to abide by a protocol.
Cast:
I would not say its a stellar star cast with super biggies in the game but yes, for a space travel and inter planetary exploration movie, it was an interesting mix of actors playing roles of scientists, technicians, doctors aboard the ISS on a mission to test and discover life on Mars. It had a diverse cultural feel and mixed nationalities.
Rebecca Ferguson, the glamorous and charming actress of Swedish origin often compared to her country’s great Ingrid Bergman on their striking resemblance, essays the role of a British stem cell scientist and an ad-hoc commander of the ISS.
Ryan Reynolds plays the role of a skilled technician from USA whose major role in the movie was to fix the ship and quarantine in case of mishap, often over-ridding commands. He justifies his small yet engaging role entertaining with his wit and sly humor.
Jake Glyllenhaal, praiseworthy for his selection of challenging and titular roles in his movies, does not fail to deliver what is expected of him. Donning the role of a doctor clocking longest hours in space, he is seen dabbling with terms like body temperatures, radioactive levels, pulse rates and et al.
Hiroyuki Sanada, the Japanese star, plays the role of systems controller where the team banks on him for all things related to the authoritative machinery of the shuttle.
NOTE: Watch it without any preconceived notions. You are bound to enjoy it
I vividly remember a novice me when I had joined Spurthi Vision Care Society (SVCS in short) exactly 9 years ago, all excited and pumped up to be part of an unusual event that I ever came across – The Chess for Blind. The very thought (and sight) of it left me gaping in awe (was more than bewildered), like I kept pondering how would a game between two blind players even go about! That was my first ever association with SVCS and I did not look back from then on.
#intro
SVCS is the product of a dream nurtured by constant endeavor and relentless vision of ‘hip and young’ S.Pushpa Venugopal (fondly called as Granny) whose simple motive has always been to offer social services to the specially abled and the less fortunate ever since its humble inception in 2006. Armed with a team of like-minded people and many unsung heroes whose efforts went a long way in making a difference in the desolate lives of the unfortunate, SVCS has come a long way in its endeavor.
‘Hip and young at heart’
If you hover at the time-line of events organized and conducted by SVCS, we forayed into care for the cancer – stricken children, AIDS-affected,visually impaired, deaf and mute, blind and motor-disability. Meticulously planning and conducting such unlikely events and reaching out to different sects of the needy spectrum has been the modus operandi of SVCS.
Events like Rural Games for the specially-abled, Cricket for the visually-impaired, Chess for the Blind, Quiz for deaf and mute, Art and Craft workshops for the impaired and lastly the one-of-a kind mini-marathon for three forms of disability, stand tall as testimonials beyond time and tide to prove that SVCS as an organization is a beacon of hope to the unfortunate and needy.
The digital invitation!
#the idea
Granny, on her recent visit to the USA, was equally enthralled and inspired by the professionally organized marathons there in the west. She came back with a new vibe and a versatile idea to conduct Mini-Marathon for the children with physical disability. (I still wonder how she has the confidence to pull off such a challenging task!) Fitness events like marathons for social causes, yoga, cycling, Zumba and many other physical activities in Hyderabad have been a trending fad since the last few years. The city wakes up to an energetic day-break on weekends with many fitness-conscious denizens hitting the road and gathering for a cause.
#ready-steady-go
The day of the event was the third Sunday of February. Granny and her son reached People’s Plaza by 6AM sharp to get started with the distribution of the running shoes and the apparel. The participants were juveniles (both girls and boys) from three schools namely Netra Vidyalaya, Helen Keller and Shekinah Foundation. Volunteers started pouring in early and were patiently awaiting instructions and the plan of action. Arut Prakash (a key member and a driving force of SVCS) huddled the volunteers from Cognizant OutReach (to whom SVCS owes a lot for turning up punctually in huge numbers and working selflessly without constraints) and gave them a quick brief of the schedule. All pumped up for a big day ahead, we set forth with high hopes in the serene backdrop of the placid Hussain Sagar lake and the alluring rising Sun.
Initially scheduled at 6:30AM, the mini marathon hit an unexpected roadblock (miscommunication and an untoward hiccup with police permission) but luckily kicked off at 7:30AM. That delay did not dampen our spirit and the bustling energy of the volunteers, the participants beaming with fervor and the perfect vivacious atmosphere of the early morning. Everything sped as per the new schedule.
The children lined up at the start line, looking bright and cheerful decked up in their new attire, holding placards of their respective school names. Noushir Mehta flagged off the event in the vibrant company of Granny, Narendranath, Deepanath and co. The children and volunteers alike ran with same zeal and exuberance! Ravi Madan from Indiana Sports and Noushir ran along displaying grit and thoroughly enjoyed the early morning fun run!
I was held up in a slew of activities and chores when the run kicked off but my nimble feet craved for the marathon! Being non-resistant, instantly handed over my phone to a fellow volunteer and sheepishly asked Granny to let me run with the kids and she agreed with a hesitant nod quipping “Be back soon. A lot of work is pending!” like how a mother dotes on her son to be back home early before dark!!
#fun run
The stretch of road between People’s plaza and Jalavihar was our marathon track covering 3 kms to and fro! The girls especially were jubilant and ran unmindful of the fatigue for they don’t get to do this often! The boys were nimble and rushed in joy to complete the race. A few held back,chatting and walking leisurely! The sheer happiness and wide smiles on their faces show how much they enjoyed the run. As I ran along with Vijay, Nishant and Neelam (which we don’t do often), I felt a sudden surge of excitement! Athletics is a passionate activity for me. Along the terrain, I bumped into Deepanath racing her daughter Tanvi which was an endearing sight! I encouraged Tanvi to save the younger generation!! Further ahead, I noticed two girls panting and were in need of directions to the water station. I slowed down, guiding and interacting ,keeping them lively! Such smalls acts are memorable and chaste!
Water stations planted at regular intervals eased the run offering oranges, water and plantains for quick refreshments! Kudos to the volunteers manning the stations and helping out the children, leading and encouraging them.
#special guest
Post the run, the children assembled at the lawn to a loud applause and appreciation. Their energy was hardly drained despite the run and were euphoric. Tharun Bhascker, the director of the run-away hit feature film #pellichoopulu was the surprise guest. The children were ecstatic on seeing him and interacted wholeheartedly bursting into a peal of laughter.
Tharun kept the audience in splits with his uncanny humor and merry making with the kids. The volunteers and the entire lot were introduced to Tharun by Arut who couldn’t contain the excitement of sharing the feat that Tharun was a regular to SVCS events! There were a bunch of aspiring filmmakers (my cousins and their gang of friends – all glee and surprised) who queued up to meet Tharun and they got the best of their idol!
The children,for their participation,were awarded medals and certificates individually honored by Tharun Bhascker, Capt. Manohar Sharma and Noushir Mehta. It was a great sight to cherish where we all gathered for a group photo with the children and their staff, volunteers included, squeezing for space to fit in the frame !
Team Vijayeesam and Nikhil, the official photographers of the event: Only God knows how you all captured the myriad emotions and expressions of exult !
#treat-for-the-tummy
The 3 hour event culminated with a sumptuous breakfast. It was a pleasant sight to witness the batch of volunteers (from diverse backgrounds and precisely strangers to each other) team up, run around and serve food, water bottles and reload if necessary, without any qualms. That is the innate nature and joy earned when like minded people come together for a cause and work with unconditional love!
bon appetit
“Birds of the same feather flock together” was an apt quote that I felt befits the simple act of kindness.
Time for the feast….
Say CHEESSEEE…!!
The whole team squeezed in a frame!
Final note:
SVCS is deeply indebted and shows unbound gratitude to the following:
The Telangana Traffic Police – for permitting the joy run
Cognizant OutReach Volunteers – for the great care and smooth handling of the entire event (from the marathon to serving breakfast and many in between )
Arut Prakash – the unabashed anchor of the prize distribution and felicitation
Ravi Madan, Indiana Sports – for the lovely apparel and the shoes
Capt. Manohar Sharma – for obliging to be part of the event and gracing his presence.
Team Vijayeesam and Nikhil Chamarthy – the official photographers and their coverage
Paramedics of Care Hospital and Dr.P.Shravan Kumar. – for the handy medical aid
Lastly, all the sponsors who came forward and without whom the show would not have been possible!
The best plans, at times, are impromptu. Like suddenly an idea strikes from the lone corner of your mind and you want to engage in mischief or mayhem, treat yourself to a cheat day! The following is a succinctly painted version of my recent road trip on a Royal Enfield Classic 500. Nope,I was not riding instead played my part as staunch pillion! So,its been an year of joblessness and I even got to celebrate it. How often would one do that? Party over sabbatical? 🙂 Thanks to a special set of friends ,Vishal and Vijay, that made it happen. Well, the new year eve and celebrations were unconventional for me to kick-start so as to say the least. Every year, the world around goes on a frenzy as if its a World Orgasmic Day/ Night,the energy levels shooting up the sky and people getting euphoric,wasted,baked and what not! If I look back over the years,I was part of the bandwagon too. Was witness to the jeering and hooting,wayward behaviour of the exuberant lot and party-till-you-drop scene. But now I became resolute and seek my space with a hand-picked set of friends! The New Year 2017 had an unusual head-start for us, bonding over conversations sans alcohol, chilling over YouTube Jukebox, crooning and dancing,high on a lip-smacking chocolate cake. That’s all! 🙂 Special thanks to an anonymous pal who chipped in at the last minute and made the night memorable. The camaraderie among the four of us grew a notch higher sealing a sense of trust and respect. The day extended by a long drive to a holy church and the usual ritual of luncheon with another set of dear friends that made the first day of the new year unforgettable! Well, that was a quick intro on how my new year went by.
Over the time, I was drifting aimlessly in my head. The bitter truth: I still do. Never lost that! 🙂 So,hanging out with these folks is fun and our plans apart from individual productive work hours, are to eventually kill time. Somehow. Either set on a gastronomic journey by visiting new eateries and joints, go to a far flung place and let yourself transcend time, soak in the beauty of the nature or simply introspect. The recent road trip to my sister’s place was one such event that occurred, one among the many in the offing I hope.
I would let the pictures do the talking. Not in a specific order though!
Day 1. 3:30 PM When we set off on the Royal Ride! 🙂
Jai Mata Di! 🙂
“Jai Bhajrang Bali” or “Jai Mata Di”were our usual lines every time we hit the road. We would shout out loud in sheer joy of an impending adventure!
That how we roll! 🙂 I am sure Vishal’s friends would have never seen him in this avatar – buoyant, jubilant and kid-at-heart!
Huddippa! Bhangra on the pahad!
On the return journey, stopped by at a dhaba to savor..
Gourmet dhabha delicacy !
At the same dhaba, spotted a witty message on a small hoarding that sums up enough!
Apt! Found this at the Dhaba.
The lake and the hill in the backdrop just lured us to stop and capture…
The hill in the backdrop beckons..
We visited a temple perched on the hill and the road was at its meandering best! Proved an immense yet adventurous challenge for us. The off-road champion actually rode up with ease!
The serpentine roadway to the hilltop..
Udtaa Punjab stuff!
The Bullet and its rightful owner!
Another capture of the twisty roadway.
A labyrinthe roadway through the dense woods..
The off -road journey began with a liter of coconut water and the Buddha laughing at us!
Rotund and Happy Buddha !
To kill time,captured this..
Casting Shadows..chasing destinations.
Vishal, as focused as ever, enjoying the ride..
The setting Sun and the velvety road..
Pit stop: A horde of insects lost their lives. Thanks to the heated-up head lamp and the lightening speed of the bullet!
Heated and lighted up!
The famous Sri Ranganayakaswamy Temple in Srirangapur ,built during the 18th century A.D, built by Sri Krishnadevaraya,the Vijayanagar ruler.
Time for divinity..
Basically it was the natural setting of the lake that attracted us, apart from the 18th century old temple!
The main altar and the garbha griha !
The entrance of the temple is an architecture marvel! Fine carvings and etchings on rocks!
Imposing facade of fine architecture..
The radiant blue sky and the ever -luminous Sun!
The silvery reflection of the sun on the blue waters left was gaping in awe!
The shimmering Sun reflects on the lake..
Captured this from the other side of the barrier! Serene and soothing to the eyes!
The scenic temple by the lake..
Another temple called Tirulama Gutta that we visited where we spotted an incomplete work or a forsaken object of art!
Slayed head of a torso..
The hill was so high that it cast a gigantic shadow.
The hill casting its shadow ..
Yep! The temple atop the hill! None to greet you! Not even a priest! 🙂
The Tirumala Gutta temple..
The tedious labor of climbing 90 steps bore fruits by offering this breath-taking view!
The eye catchy hazy beauty..
Some call it beast. We call it a companion. A champion of off-road terrain!
The rusty and tough Royal Enfield 500 Classic that stood the test of time & terrain!
“Korchu korchu Malayalam ariyum” (I know a little bit of Malayalam).This is probably one of the few sentences that I could construct with great difficulty upon setting foot in God’s own country ! Excitement unbound. The unconditional love and warmth laced with the adequate hospitality greeted me at my arrival in picturesque Udma, a sleepy town in Kasaragod district of Northern Kerala. I have daft fondness for Udma as I feel it’s my home away from home. Trust me, I even plan to retire there. 🙂 Such is the magic of this place, simple yet elegant,that it evokes a feeling of “you are home”. Adorned with breath-taking serene beaches , shallow creeks, backwaters, serpentine roads, bricked alleys and patches of lush greenery everywhere, it’s unlike the more popular Southern Kerala where tourists usually flock. The northern Kerala is the uninhabited or , shall I put it as, less explored. I visited Udma twice so far (way back in 2010 and 2013 ) and in both instances, fell in unconditional love with the people ,their warmth, culture and food. Kerala never disappoints me. It offers more joy and memories than I expect.
The aura of setting sun..
Not really….
Just breathe…
Change is the new constant.
Over the years , a lot has progressed in terms of urbanisation and just like any other town in Kerala taking huge strides in modernisation and adopting new-age technologies, Udma too was no exception. Muddy roadways and marsh walkways made way for new expressways/highways, the greenery no longer dense as new buildings cropped up everywhere making way for modernity.The houses in this coconut state are a testimony to prosperity and opulence. Huge mansions with their appealing & artistic facade, the fortifying bricked compound walls, assorted flowers of varied colours filling up the small garden and a massive gate that showcases their well-to-do status, castle-like residences with vast veranda and a fleet of cars is a common sight. But longingly, I still root for the yesteryear Udma with less din and more natural hues. The feeling of being there after an hiatus of 3 years evoked the sweet memories from the past. The whiff of fresh air, sight of natives with their glistening pitch-black heads of slick oil and the effervescent smile of the people, the alluring sight of towering coconut trees,jack fruit and beetle nut trees strewn all around just enamoured my senses.
Rusty,archaic yet soulful
A friend for all reasons & seasons.
Vijay/Ozzy is the guy to whom I owe a lot because Udma is his hometown and I get to visit more often with his family and our “Losers gang “(quartet comprising of Rakesh,Arvind,Vijay and myself) Basically, we are school buddies who retained the same notoriety and oneness. Vijay, however, is my chuddy buddy who clung on to all my bizarre and myriad times since school. So this time around , Vijay and me accompanied his parents to Kerala. Arvind could not manage to get leave from hectic work whereas Rakesh was in an another part of the world. Guys, we missed you much! 😉
The Southern Sopranos.
Kokkal Vallapil’s a huge and wholesome lot.They all live as a joint family with muthappa(elder father) ,muthamma ( elder mother) heading the family chain, comprising of their respective sons (attas) and their wives, a daughter(chechi) along with a horde of bustling children. I was ecstatic seeing and greeting them after so long. The love, care and the hospitality that they treat you with makes one thoroughly complacent. The bonding & camaraderie among the family is simply riveting & affectionate. They treat one & all, old & young, with reverence. They are devout Lord Vishnu devotees . I mention religion at an impromptu as I find them adversely religious and devotional. Its quiet evident as there are murals of Lord Vishnu around .The devotees have a horizontal thilak/ incense paste smeared across the forehead. Houses here are not cluttered like the ones back in Hyderabad and there is abundant space between any two houses. Each abode has a drinking water well (still functional ! ) and an ample veranda with coconut trees and jack fruit trees at every corner and distance. They are well spread and one has to manoeuvre carefully from one house to another!!Enter a caption
Burrpp!
Kerala is the land of spices and the food is definitely a gastronomical delight. It is a challenge for first timers to feast as its a battle with spices, for many cannot stomach the food cooked in indigenous style. Typically served on a banana leaf, the vast spread of delicacies is more a visual allure with neatly arranged line of pickles, dollops of spiced curries, two types of curd and salad, papadams and a power-packed whole-rice overflowing in a pool of vegetable sambar. If you thought that was a lot to savour with loaded spices and rich aromas, make space for desserts, notably the two variants of payasam, in jaggery & fruit!
Also, the spread for breakfast is unlike any I have seen. Idiyappam (steamed rice noodles)relished with coconut milk , ample varieties of dosas, puttu (steamed ground rice layered with coconut) with kadla curry ( brown horse gram sprouts), idlies with fresh coconut chutney, finger- bananas and the accompanying sprouts curry are a feast. Since there is an abundant supply of coconut, banana ,jack-fruit & fish, all these edibles obviously find a routine in their diet. And do note, Keralaites drink copious amounts of tea. Tea here is of the most dilute form ever, but nonetheless, its refreshing!! I missed out on Suleimani , the typical Arab influenced decoction of tea ,mild spices like ginger, cardamom and pepper. The very sight of cola-brown Suleimani with vapours dissipating over the rim of the see-through glass itself is tempting! I almost forgot, but its needless to say, fish is the staple food of Keralaites. Hands down, I had the best-ever roasted fish at Uduma.
Before..
After….
Every time I gorge on fish, I reminisce the satiable lingering taste of the relish.
Enough of food talk, I can go on for ages and leave you (the reader) drooling !!😂
Touch of Nature.
Visual allure
Vijay and me are nature fanatics, adventure junkies, zealots & simply put mad ! We get swayed by the beauty of nature, are intrigued by the natural establishments like the scenic mountains and hills, the torrential seas and it’s beaches, the lush green ecosystem and it’s vast encompass of wonders. Smitten by travel bug, we usually explore and travel the less known ,despite heed advised from elders. Kerala is gifted with dense forests , unending stretch of pristine beaches, shores, the western ghats, vintage forts, innumerable temples. We set out on a mission to cover as much wilderness & beaches as possible. We never planned on an itinerary. The first in our voyage was the “Acheri Sree Mahavishnu Temple”, accessible just five minutes by stroll from our stay.
Its the abode of Lord Vishnu with a glorious history and charismatic architectural structure. Beyond the temple, lies the vast paddy fields into which the back waters of the Arabian Sea foray into the fields as rivulets.There is a small bridge over the rivulet, with barely two planks of concrete, where we stroll around, limber down and ease our minds in serenity, lose ourselves in peace and in the stand-still calmness. It’s scenic and peaceful not just envisioning the view but being there to contain it. Losers gang would agree its our adda at Udma.
the reflected ripples…
Hop on…
as far as the eye can see…
With the stream gently flowing underneath the concrete bridge and your legs swinging in motion atop the water , sometimes touching the water and indulging in little splashing, a clear silhouette cast by the bright sun reflects on the mirror-like stream as we soak in the beauty and aura of the meandering still-water rivulet with the paddy fields beyond reach of the eyes. I feel this is the essence of life, when we engage in friendly banter, unknowingly silenced by the beauty of the surroundings. That’s the effect of nature. It controls you & not otherwise. 🙂 And as if it was a blessing from Mother Earth,we met someone special! Guess what have we encountered at the rivulet?? A jelly fish!!
Unbelievable! First time ever I saw one and it was a beauty!! Vijay and me ran around helter-skelter in joy!!😂
Obviously downright mad!! 😉
Beach therapy!
Beaches and their eternal beauty of unceasing rise and fall of the tides, ferocious & gentle at times, slashing against the rocks laden with moss and sediment. Impeccable creations of mother nature. Astounding. The more I speak my mind , the puny I become in nature’s infinity.
dodge the tide…
serene…
beacon of light…
Let me guide you to the string of beaches adorning Kasaragod. They are namely Kaapil, Trikkanad, Pallikare ,Bekal ,etc around Udma. The Kaapil Beach is our closest getaway as its the nearest from our stay & can be reached by crossing several houses, schools, mosques, until a unmanned vast stretch of beach in the openness catches your vision. Its absolute joy to experience an isolated beach all for yourself. Feels like there is no habitat around. 🙂 I vividly remember we cycled all the way to Kaapil beach on our maiden visit to Kerala, racing to exhilaration & played American football on the soft,seeping sandy beach, writing our names on the shore just to see it getting washed away in an instant by the lashing tides. We shouted in exuberance & dived straight into the sea. 🙂
Temple-hop!
Trikkanad Temple & Beach are quiet a beauty as you find beach on one side of the road & Lord Shiva temple on the other. Pallikare Beach has been transformed into a recreational spot where families flock. Its bustling with activity, cries of children & screaming in joy alike. The Bekal fort overlooking the Arabian Sea is a magnificent structure.This is the utmost popular tourist destination that etches Udma on the tourism map.
Home of the holy..
whats that structure..
Apart from beaches, we went temple-hopping across Kasaragod.
Sri Madanantheshwara Siddhi Vinayaka Temple (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhur_Temple) has an unique architecture. I could not come to terms on my first glimpse at the temple, was left gaping in awe. I was mentally trying to coin a word for the temple structure but found myself dumbstruck. The few minutes at the temple soothed my troubled mind.
Next was the popular Ananthapura Lake Temple.Its truly one of a kind situated right in the middle of the lake. The very sight of a temple surrounded by a water on all sides is itself exciting and adventurous. Legend has it that a huge crocodile is the guardian of the temple,lurching in one corner of the lake. We did see its cage but unfortunately not its rightful resident. 😦
See it to believe it!
The one-of-a-kind MahaVishnu temple..
The lake is home to a school of fish and eels. As we walk along the pathway to the garbha griha for darshan, we can see a shoal of fish wading through the water under God’s observant eyes. Unfathomable? Help yourself: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ananthapura_Lake_Temple
And surprisingly, an eerie ritual must be followed : Males enter the temple shirtless. I was there & did it. Profound feeling of divinity spearheaded in me. 🙂
After the exhaustive exploration of the lake temple, we found succour in form of annadaanam(free meals) which was satisfactorily a simple spread of rice, pickle, dal & payasam.:) And with our recharged senses , we headed to a dilapidated building atop a hill nearby. It was spooky but we explored every nook & corner of it. 🙂
Purpose of life.
Its called “Gadbad”, the chunky ice-cream!
I welcome cultural change with an open heart. I like interacting with new faces, observing new traditions, getting a feel of new cultures, delving into their habits, challenge the complexity of comprehending the language, transition from the cliched. We attended a marriage & a cradle ceremony where I noticed a sea change of rituals & celebrations. Marriages are merely not just a social gathering here but its sacred & ironically an astute indulgence in luncheon. It is fun to see how pacy the serving is done with the numerous assortments on a banana leaf, the huge spread of platters, with several hundreds in attendance waiting to savour. Be there to experience it.Attend a wedding in Kerala if you ever stumble upon a chance. Its crazy and practically a display of shrewd people-management experience.
Call it my innate nature, I am a hit with children & the younger lot. I find myself surrounded & buzzed around by a flock of notorious kids, some pulling my leg, clung on to me and all sorts of merry making. After all, they spread happiness and are a constant reminder to be young in the heart. 🙂
Alvida.
On the last day at the onset of our return journey, with heavy heart we bade good bye to the entire family who factored in making my memories sweeter.
As the train rumbled away from Udma, I could feel a gaping void & felt heavy in the heart like a lump plummet through the gut.
In the day and a half journey by rail, there was a stop-over/transition for 3 hours at Shoranur Junction. Raki & DJ would agree that we can think only of “Aboos” at this juncture.
Its a bakery we have fond memories associated with. Been there on our maiden trip to Kerala but his time around, Ozzy and me were reminiscing the old times of frolic and cheer. Aboos never disappoints in serving its trademark chunky ice cream loaded with dry fruits and nuts at economical rates.
Its bon appetite for ice cream lovers. 🙂
The train journey interspersed with slight boredom and inactivity saw a few moments of exuberance when we erupted in joy at the sighting of gigantic mountains submerged in deep dark clouds offering scenic beauty and visual treat at Palakkad Junction.
The peaks were inching closer to the dark gloomy clouds looming over as if they are playing hide and seek. Worth every frame of glimpse. 🙂
Please bear with me. A few more lines will sum up my experience (as if the above was not enough!! ROFL! ) .
Well, the trip to Udma brought back the sane person in me. It helped douse the rage and clear the clogged inessentials of my slumber, inactive life piling up with the past. I got to look into thy inner self , become more introspective and started looking afresh towards life.
Travel. Rejuvenate. Reaffirm your conviction .Revitalise. Be-reborn. 🙂
Foreword: By now you all know that I write stuff or can say I write what my mind speaks. Admittedly, I write lengthy & brooding stuff. 🙂 Some of my near and dear friends feel it might kill the “essence”,”beauty” or “aura”, but I feel why complain when you can enjoy a long ride filled with imagination and teleportation. 🙂 Not that I do not value the suggestions of my friends, I feel the need or drive to take you all on an exuberant and vivid journey,neatly and exactly drafted through my eyes, just as the events occurred! 🙂
Warning: This travelogue is painstakingly long. But I assure you, it would be worth. 😇😇 Read it in episodes, just like the TV series we watch! 😁Take a break often!😎 9 parts to complete!😜
.14.04.16 – 17.04.2016.
How it all started??
The tiresome job at wee hours coupled with performance pressure and monotonous atmosphere urged Bharat to take a much needed break. Bharat,Nikhil,Neelam and myself used to work together and are a crazy lot! Currently, we branched out to different companies. We catch up often,hang out and chill but something was amiss. We were craving for a fresh lease of air and long travel.
Travel starts with backpack, camera and sheer joy to break free!!
Interestingly, at his current employment, Bharat is armed with two doting friends -Nilo and Sri, both adventure junkies loaded with limitless wit and energy!
So they hatch a plan to get lost in a place of peace, zen and tranquillity! Given his acumen for practicality, Bharat zeroed on God’s own country, Kerala, as this was the apt location to visit considering the time of the year, being April ,the onset of summer! We were baffled to hear from him that he was religiously and duly checking the weather of Wayanad,our getaway, for a week before we hit the road! That shows how badly he needed a break (apart from his commitment to explore and learn of new places) and also,we were living up collectively to our new year’s resolution of travelling once a month !!
After having done a considerable amount of research on the internet, drifting through travel sites,blogs and forums he finally chose Ente Veedu, a home stay in the forest district of Wayanad, Kerala for our 3-day trip via Bangalore. Special thanks to Nilo for being resolute and tolerant in calling Seetha Rajagopal, the owner of EV, and booking the cottage. That was also the moment when Bharat ,exclaiming in joy, promised us that the cottage would blow your expectations. Indeed, it more than lived up to our expectations and was breath-takingly picturesque ! We owe one big time to him, the architect of the trip! Cheers bro!
Backpack, here we go!!
So, we set out,all exuberant and glee, to Kachiguda Railway Station. All the buzz in WhatsApp group (Destino Wayanad – specially created for the tour) was mayhem.:) Doodles, emojis, pictures,travel tips ,check lists and a whole bunch of lol’s made the group even more noisy !! That was our first step to acquaintance! Yaay!
We became a family of sorts with easy connect , no frills and attitude,chucked ego and discomfort. Our vibes matched and there was no looking back.
The imposing Kachiguda Railway Station..
The train journey was quiet memorable and fun filled with all of us talking haphazardly & singing on top of our voices purely out of euphoria, much to the chagrin of the fellow passengers grumbling away all night. But dipshit, who gives a damn!! Bharat and Nilo served us some sumptuous home-made chicken starters, kheema(minced mutton) and Jeera rice.Nick and Sri had to suffice with scrambled- egg. We ate to our heart’s content and without our cognisance amidst the heavy noise of rattling train and our equally high pitched chattering,the night drifted by.
The garden city here we come!!
Driving is a passion by birth for Bharat, who later went on to master the art through sands of time and travel.He knows the DNA of cars and their curves.! Why am I mentioning this? Keep this in mind,for there is a great deal about driving to discuss. If my memory serves right, we hardly slept for a couple of hours in the train. Sri and Nick stayed up all night only to wake up the rest:)
Sleep deprived and sore-eyed, we alighted at Bangalore Cantonment. Bharat ,Nikhil and me got the muscular Scorpio from Zoom Car, cars for hire. The ladies did a bit of their routine – selfies and sugary smiles all over!! 🙂 Thus started our insane drive all the way to Wayanad via the Bandipur National Forest. There is something magical about travelling. The natives and their culture, colourful and beautiful country side,lush green stretch of fields, dhabas, roadside eateries with all their glitzy and gaudy facades just zoomed past amidst the funny conversations and loud music in the car.
Thus started our journey zooming….
With our stomachs grumbling of hunger, we decided to stop over at a cafe for our first meal of the day, breakfast. Incidentally, it was called “Stop Over” that served it special “Thatti Idly“. Excited to explore the local cuisine of Karnataka,which is mainly Udipi, we dared and set out on our culinary expedition. Chole bhaturey and dosa were edible but not tasty as we expected. We tried their special thatti idly, only to throw it away decorating it with the bland sambar and chutney. Our grumpy expressions were enough to post a review on Zomato. Geez! 🙂 Oh,God it was such a menace. So, just a heads-up, don’t “Stop Over”,head out to other restaurants lined up every mile.
After we stepped out of the restaurant, with a brewing coffee and an iota of food in our tummies, we hit the road again for a long drive ahead. We noticed a few wine tasting rooms and wine yards, promising ourselves to drop by if time permits but it never happened. Never mind,next time it is then!!
We entered the woods by mid-noon.The feeling was an unique mix of excitement and fear of being surrounded by wild life and dense forests. Our excitement reached a notch higher with all of us squealing out of immense joy when we spotted a baby elephant with its humongous mother elephant.
“Look Mommy, there’s someone staring at us”…
Such an endearing spectacle, vivid and treasured forever in our core memories!! The roadway through the thick forest was meandering and serpentine,proving a challenge for driving but gladly, we were in safe hands of Bharat, the only dependable one behind the wheel. Sri and Bharat spotted a couple of deer which were almost camouflaged in the wheatish colour of the woods. It was an enthralling experience as we stopped our wagon in the middle of the woods only to soak in the moment and click a lot of photographs.When I mention photography, I have to talk about Nikhil. His love for the lens and knowledge of cameras is unbound. Basically his work does much of the talking!
And we posed in the midst of the jungle…
Our official photog on the road!
Apparently, Nikhil was the first to jump out of the car to capture the long black curvy road ahead of us, the tall ant hills and the deadwood. We all stepped out of the car and stretched out to soothe our cramped legs, got some fresh air and a sight of dense thick green forest that’s unlikely in a concrete jungle back in the metropolis Hyderabad. It was a surreal feeling to be in the middle of a dense forest.
God’s own country!
Our destination is Wayanad ,the forest tract or expanse of Kerala. Significantly, it was like we were in the lap of nature. All you can see around is endless trees, tea estates blanketed in thick green colour. What a sight!
The more you look, the deeper you are transcended..
By the time we reached Wayanad, it was nearing dusk.All of us were a bit weary by the jostling journey so far. We longed for some refreshments and food! I personally found something uncommon about driving in Kerala. The people are rampant and vile at driving.The vehicles almost drive onto you, head on! That was something we realised and dodged through. Nonetheless, it was more fun than challenging.
Our respite came in the form of Wilton! Yes, it’s the Hilton of Wayanad!! 🙂 Wilton hotel and restaurant is located in the heart of Wayanad. To reach there,not only did it test our patience but also the faith in Google Maps!! It just shows nearby on maps but the hilly roads makes it more challenging to reach the destination. Uff.! After a tumultuous drive,we reached Wilton, our faces glittering with joy and succour. The restaurant did not let us down.We binged on a slew of rice varieties and starters. We picked up some lip smacking plum cake from the bakery downstairs. It was spic and span, neat to the core. With such a warm welcome to Wayanad in the form of Wilton, our joy doubled and we only hoped it to get better from here.
Ente Veedu!!
“My home”
With our tummy khush and refreshed faces, we set out to our next stop – Ente Veedu, the cottage/ home stay situated between Kalpetta and Meppady. It is literally situated in the heart of nature. Our love for Kerala sprouted from here. The road to EV is endless and in utmost peculiar direction.One has to do a zig-zag, steep turn and trod a terrain that’s beyond adventure. At a moment, the car was in mid-air where we all screamed in joy and the car touched ground, with a loud thud screeching away. It was ecstatic!! Along the mayhem, it was battle of sorts for Nilo who was our guide ( apart from Google Maps) and Bharat who had to manoeuvre carefully( which he thoroughly enjoyed! ).
After countless turns and twists of the road, guarded by a barb-wired fence on both sides and an absolute picturesque boulevard lies the serene and soulful EV, my own home( literal translation from Malayalam).The leafy green climbers form the arch at the entrance. Limitless sky-high betel nut trees are clustered everywhere. EV is like an oasis in a desert of greenery, a cottage tucked away in pin-drop silence. Its a perfect get-away for a calm,soul-searching trip. The sun had settled beyond the horizon and was nearing dark. When we entered EV, all of us gaped in silence and took a minute to sink in the peaceful setting. It’s basically a beautiful large house that rents out space as home stay, along with two wooden houses. It has a small well-assorted garden overlooking large paddy fields and a badminton court. The recreation arena, which is more a thatched roof or a wooden shack with hay rooftop, houses table tennis, carrom board,chess and wooden swings along with cosy cane chairs that are indeed special. We sat out at the veranda in cane chairs resting our sore backs battered through the journey and sipping warm welcome tea!
Our stay,Enteveedu. Zero Noise.100 % solace
Kerala is definitely the place,known time and again, for its hospitality! The warm reception we received at EV, sealed a sense of comfort in us. We settled in the cottage, dumping the baggage and leisurely ,turn by turn, took long showers thereby feeling rejuvenated and refreshed.
Not many would agree,but I love the local cuisine as I am quiet familiar given the two earlier visits to Kerala. My friends found it a bit challenging to try the dishes and local savouries.The dinner that night was idiyappam with assorted vegetables, rotis,rice, sambar followed by fruit payasam. Not many of us took an instant liking to the food treating it as experimental.
Later in the night, we sat out in the veranda with the breeze gently swaying and pondering how the day went by, gazing at the dark sky filled with an aura of its own, a subtle sense of elation and content filled our hearts. We heartily chatted away that night amidst giggles and smiles of an imminent adventure the next day.
The misty view early morning…
The next morning I woke up early to the sweet chirping of the birds at the recreation arena. I set out excited to explore and my goodness, the glimpse of the cottage in the morning and it’s surroundings, made me spellbound. The air hazy, filled with dew, was slowly dissipating revealing the orangy-plump-red rising sun . I looked at the vast stretch of paddy fields that lay before me and was lost in the spectacle of awe.I guess this is the best of nature, it’s pleasant offerings, the flora and fauna, the scenic beauty and tranquillity. I moved on to observe the colourful ,eye-catchy birds in a cage, chirping and hiding on my proximity.A few chivalrous ones stayed hoping I would feed them. Sadly, I wasn’t allowed to. The squirming guinea pigs on the other side of the cottage drew my attention. Frankly, I felt a surge of happiness on seeing those tiny and cute beings, nibbling and gnawing,displaying their prized possessions- the two bunny teeth.:)
Cuteness redefined…
They, unlike the birds at the cage, rushed towards me in sure hope and confidence of being fed. Unhesitatingly, I fed them handful of thick green grass that I plucked near by. Believe me, the guinea pigs were chomping on the fodder in groups, everyone busy in its activity of nibbling. What a wonderful sight! I video recorded their rapt and ramble movements.
A melange of colours!
The décor at the two-storeyed house is bound to stay etched in one’s memory. Dynamics of landscaping and gardeneering are evident in careful and tactful placing of various flowers, colourful plants,saplings, shoots, swings – a single seater and a large one that accommodates a couple, along with the large trunk of a tree that served as a seating provision.
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There was a small rack that held a stack of books, ranging widely from travel mags to Dan Brown Novels and biographies. Relaxing in the recliners, fluffy sofas and cane chairs would drift one to soak in the calmness and catch a great view of the dense surroundings, prompting you to slip away in transcendence, soothing the bruised heart and rejuvenating your senses. After all, we deserve a break from the mentally exhausting rapid life in the cities.
I believe I can fly..I believe I can touch the sky…
The houses in Kerala found a fan in me. One would spot few houses amongst the dense and thick vegetation as if God has strewn beans in forest and they sprouted to life. Madness I say! They are guardians of nature is what I believe!
The people are warm and welcoming.
They proactively help with any information needed about local travel.I vividly remember a guy who literally followed us on his bike honking and cautioning us to take a detour in order to avoid the road ahead which was dug up for construction. Respect ! We relied on Google Maps for directions to our next big feat, the Chembra peak. It was really fortunate that a chap came out of the blue and guided us as Google Maps was faulty, meaning was not precise or can say not updated dynamically in terms of such trenches in the journey. We are all bound to make errors ,aren’t we?!!!
Chembra Peak and the heart-shape lake atop the hills that never dries!
Visiting waterfalls, dams, hills, view points and trekking were on our to-do list. Chembra Peak, an adventurer’s paradise ,is second highest peak in Kerala. It is set atop the vast tea plantations comprising a few hills & dunes. A blanket of greenery spreads as long as your eye can see.
serpentine rigid roadway through the tea plantation..
We stopped by a cliffy porch at the tea plantation and posed for the shutterbug! The road is unlike any other I have seen. It is rugged, bouncy,ridgy and a literal upheaval. Halfway to the base of the peak, a few of us got off the car, avoiding bumpy ride, and walked all the way up to the starting plane of the trek. The trek brought out the best in us. It was extremely exhaustive and physically challenging as hell. We mentally needed to be pushed. Huffing and panting for breath along with gaining an ounce of strength here and there was the routine. We halted at many pit stops, regaining focus and strength to carry on. It was common sight of us sipping water gulp by gulp. I take pride in saying we stood by as a team, helping each other, pulling up when down. It tested our core patience and persistence!
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Ascending the trek which is nearly 3 kms uphill with slippery trails is not an easy feat. After the gigantic task of reaching the top,we finally found hope in the form of a water body ! Yes, a heart shaped lake sits atop the hills and waits to greet you as a reward for your sheer hard work!. (No kidding, Google the heart-shaped lake Chembra Peak) .The spectacle of the lake ,always brimming with water, with the hills in the backdrop is worth the every step of the trek. Sweating profusely was a constant in the trek as it was sultry and humid.
The view of Wayanad and its adjoining villages along with the Western Ghats is simply absorbing and breath taking!! We braved the heat, the rugged trail and the distance which was a painstakingly slow process, but it was worth the effort of scaling the peak.
Interestingly, atop the peak,its windy and one doesn’t feel the immense heat of the Sun at such altitude. I loved watching the Sun play hide and seek behind the clouds and casting it’s shadows and beam of rays alternatively on the hills around ! We sat at the vantage view point and lost our selves in trance of natural beauty. 🙂
Descending was not an easy task too. It required us to stay firm, nevertheless, we drifted and finally came down to the tea estate where we encountered a group of monkeys, having much similarities to do with our antics!!
Now that’s unbridled joy….
On the personal front, the trek brought out the budding photographer in me. My view towards geographical locales and nature has changed. I am starting to look for artistic inclusions at a subject in nature. Also, the trek feat proved that I am an adventure junkie yearning to explore new terrains, ignoring difficulties and hurdles. Words scuttle around to befit a sentence in my mind. I have to admit I became a little poetic and philosophical at the peak. There was surmounting joy in all of us that we achieved something incredible that day.
Cheerio!
We bunch of folks deserve a pat on our backs for sticking around in wolf packs and making this trek happen.
After the trek, we headed out to the Viewpoint which was steep and trippy. The black roads find a way through the dense green patch spreading across infinite acres and miles.
Crazy night out !!
That night back at the cottage,we unwound playing badminton till late in the night. Neelam and Nick were my ad-hoc , overnight coaches as I never tried my hand at badminton. As the night passed through, we drank, dined and laughed to our hearts content.
The adventurous ,memorable and tiring day made me ignore I existed in real world when I slept like a baby. Lights out! 🙂
Karlad lake zip lining!!
Next morning was the last day of the trip and check-out from the cottage was bound to happen. We may have left the place physically but mentally and emotionally I am still rooted in there. EV has such an impact in our trip.
We headed to an adventure camp ,20kms away from EV. After having trekked the juggernaut peak, we were bolstered and did not think twice to do any daredevilry feat! Nothing’s stopping us. Zip-lining was a test of conquering fear and anxiety for me. Its a great feeling, rush of mixed emotions like anguish, joy, uncertainty all at the same instance, zooming away in pangs of fear and excitement. After the initial scare of few seconds, I kicked my phobia of heights aside and freakingly shouted loud in tandem with my crazy frog antics!! 🙂 Bharat was next in line, who was calm-headed and enjoyed the feat gleefully! Sri danced her way to joy even at zip lining, going merry go round!! Neelam was loud and ecstatic. Nikhil , the metal-head shouted a string of metal band names and uff, the adrenaline was pumping!! And if you are wondering if Nilo missed this, no! She was the one capturing all our monkey chaos while zip-lining.
The Happy Lot!!
After the zip-lining and boating,we resorted to typical staple meals for lunch. When I say staple food in Kerala, it means fish and fish alone.:) I was on a gastronomical delight when I savoured the perfectly fried fish. It was not just a feast for the eyes with its bright roast hues, but also a feast for my stomach, never so happier before.
Adios!!
On our way back via Bangalore, we quickly stopped by at Bandipur National Park to meet the juggernauts of the jungle, Elephants! I was gaping in awe, so up close the first time ever and was dumbstruck for its size, tusks and tough skin.
The Chained Tusker…
my ears have got years…
One was 80 years old and the other 45 years.One was teary-eyed and the other looked curiously at us while we were acting a bit strange in excitement,posing for photographs with the behemoth duo.
A platoon of monkeys awaited us at the car. Is this a Safari,I quipped to myself? !! 🙂 Meet and greet the animals type!! Well it was fun!
P.S: The travel had such a profound impact on me that I took to Instagram by storm. Made my foray (official entry) into Instagram by posting pictures close to my heart.Pictures speak a thousand words they say (as if I did not torture you enough!!).Anyway,I will now leave you all to explore my gallery.
Courtesy of photographs in the post: Obviously,Nikhil 😛
When was the last time you stumbled upon a film review with the headlines in bold,”A gem of a film. Must watch” ? (Courtesy: The Hindu). When was the last time you came across a film-review website that had such rave reviews of awe for a film?
Well, it’s happening now!! #pellichoopulu is the talk of the town, a buzzword that is trending & making waves across the social media.
Whats #pellichoopulu?:
The very thought/idea of pelli choopulu in real life (arranged meet before a marriage) is unsettling & queasy in today’s generation dominated by new-age technology & dating. One cannot arrive at a firm decision that binds a couple for a lifetime based on a mere hour of meeting and a set of questions to shoot at each other. The movie obviously doesn’t offer a straight forward solution but takes you on an incredible journey of comical riot, conviction, belief & vulnerability. Definitely not a run-of-the-mill cliched movie,its fresh with a simple story line,meticulously crafted & handled, an indie romantic-comedy genre unlike the dozens of “same formula” lacklustre movies hitting the silver screens. The movie predominantly sticks to the formula: “Simplicity is the mother of beauty” and the charm works. It boasts of no big actors or a well-to-do production house backing it. A simple and sweet film that sweeps you of your imagination.
Unassumingly, it promises worth the every frame of laughter, emotions and the daily dose of common man’s trivialities with life, curiously full of familiar issues and a relatable theme that the youth of the audience especially, are drawn to connect with the film right from the start, be it indecisiveness in career, mounting pressure at work, disgruntled parents seeking you to “settle” in life, et al .For all the fans (I am definitely one) who have been waiting with bated breath since the sneak-peak teaser, the motion poster release and the unusual yet classic trailer loaded with hilarious dialogues and the alluring retro-fused background score, it surely paid off. Even more so,the film was promoted in an unconventional way, allowing film buffs to watch the free-screening & help spread the word!
Sneak peek:
The movie revolves around a considerably small cast that stars the-boy-next-door, uber cool Vijay Devarakonda (Rishi from Yevade Subramanyam fame ) & the beautiful Ritu Varma (Anukokunda) in lead roles. The protagonists, as evident, meet at pellichoopulu and share their interests, pasts and indulge in a funny conversation over a mishap that lays the foundation for the movie. Here on, its a roll. The parents, on either sides, however are urged to dust off their hands by getting them married, a sight quiet common in middle class families. I wont divulge much details but its about a coming-of-age tale interspersed with wit and humour about a strong-headed woman with industrious dreams and a footloose lazy guy , a foodie, whose only escape is an easy way out.
The film is a surprise in itself as it sheds light on the reluctant youth who are passionate but don’t find the calling,the need a push to outdo themselves. Watch out for the rib tickling comedy, slick dialogues in vernacular slang that pack a punch by the duo Priyadarshi & Abhay, the protagonist’s dear friends/sidekicks. They are super funny and leave you tumbling out of your chair.
A word about the creators:
Vinootha Geetha Media, is a name to reckon with in terms of quality film making. Armed with a talented team of assorted traits and the same pulsating passion for film making, Tharun Bhascker leads the wolf pack. Popular among the short films circuit with his creations like Anukokunda ( 48Hour Film Project Winner & Cannes Film Festival short-listed) & Sainma, the raw local dialect entertainer, he has come a long way.As they say, journey , not the destination, is more important. This statement befits his journey from short films to feature film which itself is a test of struggle,determination & perseverance. Needless to say, he is an amazing story teller who beats to his own creative drum.
Currently basking in the stupendous success, he humbly credits the success to his fun-loving crew comprising of Ranjith Kumar (the witty & jolly Exec Producer), Nagesh Banell (The talented DOP),Praneeth Maddirala (AD & Script writer), Vivek Sagar of Tapeloop for his mellifluous indie refreshing music, Sanjay Das & Varun Venugopal ,yet again from Tapeloop for carrying out the long-forgotten sync sound design, Latha Naidu (Production designer who makes the screen rich & resplendent with pleasing hues), Tanvi Desai (PR), the pack of super talented Assistant Directors (Upendra Varma,Aditya, Anil Boreddy) , Vivek Sudhanshu, Sankeerth,Srinivas Kaushik, Hari Varun, Vijay Kumar,etc who all form an integral part of the film through their individual contribution. Apologies if I missed out on any name.
The live jam at the audio release was one of a kind.
At the audio launch, I was on myriad emotional rides. I zealously tapped my feet to the tunes of live-music by Vivek Sagar & his engaging troupe, was in awe of the speech by Anish Kurivilla (who urged the Telugu Film Industry to refrain from following the regressive form of film making by adopting to dubbing & praised the #pellichoopulu team for reviving the conventional & tedious sync sound ) ,laughed out boisterously by the antics of the comedy capers of the evening, Priyadarshi & Abhay amidst the unceasing shower of praises from Suresh Babu (who personally loved the caption “A New Age Rom-Com”,watched the film & took an instant liking to the fresh concept thereby buying the distribution rights) and guests like Adivi Sesh, Madhura Sridhar, Tammareddy Bharadwaj, Siddu, Lavanya Tripathi,Satyam Rajesh, Sandeep Kishan, etc to name a few.
My eyes welled with tears when Tharun spoke of the sudden demise of his beloved father at the start of his debut feature film. He invited upon stage his mother and wife stating they were his constant support and inspiration. He later touched his mother’s feet,on stage, in respect for all the love she has given which was an enamouring sight. It was indeed a poignant moment and pride for the VGM team.
So, whatchu waiting for?
July 29 was the day when all hell broke loose. It was an instant revelation. I vividly remember the riot of laughter in the first half of the movie. The cinema hall was flooded & teeming with ardent fans, bursting in laughter. My friends spread across in the USA went gaga over it.The whose-who of Telugu film fraternity (SS Rajamouli, Keerawani, veteran Singeetam Srinivasa Rao, Indraganti Mohan Krishna,Nag Chaithanya, Rana etc) are raving about it. Whats stopping you.? Watch it at a nearest theatre!
#pelli choopulu is a journey about finding ourselves internally as we face external struggles, and that is something many deeply relate to.
There is a constant rumble of thoughts going on in my head, irrespective of time or place. Random images of my dazed and confused life ( yea, seriously!), friends, family, movies, novels, characters of an anime or TV series , career ,illusion, travel or just futile contexts show up like a laser beam on to my retina via the central brain. Call it delusional (or) weird (or) psychedelic (or) complicated (if you are compassionate and would volunteer to sympathise for me), it’s something I learned to deal with by getting used to it! 🙂 Sometimes it gets strenuous in the head wherein I resort to moving to an open space. Fresh air. Fresh thoughts. No, I am not claustrophobic, fellas. Save your thoughts! 🙂
Well that was enough of deviation. Let’s retrace to our topic. Yes, neologism or professionally put, etymology is what runs in my head most times. I try to “nomenclate” witty and wry names. I came up with one “Temple” as a name for a bar! It was a short lived happiness as I later learnt that a watering hole by that name exists in Ireland already 😦 .But isn’t it cool. Guzzlers would be like: let’s head to Temple for theertham! 🙂 (a couple of bourbon whisky or scotch shots)
It’s a tradition at least in the Indian subcontinent that munching some savouries like boiled nuts, steamed corn, etc becomes an integral part of boozing! Enter prasadam (munching stuff) ! And when you are happy with the services, you would tip by paying a dime or two which in case here is referred as Dakshina /hundi !:) A lot on such lines can be thought of. No intention of offending any religion or sentimental value.
Chai-pe-charcha: As you guessed, it would be a name for cafe, leisure joint, lounge which gives room for endless conversations, discussions and friendly banter.
Sircar: It would be a name for plethora of car services like washing, muffler service, wheel alignment and servicing. Sir, your car is ready! 🙂
Edible heaven: An eatery that offers heavenly and lip smacking junk food! Keeping in mind the commercial aspects of the fast food era, this name befits and evokes drool over a menu like cheese-overloaded pizzas, deep fried chicken, gelatos, etc
Thrill Tavern: I found this one in a movie that I watched recently, “Rudderless”. Tweaked a bit though.
Inn-to-rest: Yes, it’s broken down from interest! It would be a name for an inn , hotel, home stay etc. basically a lodging facility!
Dithya-Aksharam: This hyphenated word is clubbed from two sources , Akshara – my adorable niece and Ditya – daughter of a dead friend. I would name an NGO by it. Ditya means rising sun and Akshara means a literal word and also imperishable. The NGO would primarily support educational, literacy and speech-impaired programs to the less fortunate and government school going children, alongside wellness and nurture of the specially-able.
Fish in a barrel: Again, this one is well suited to name a bar I guess.
Zany and dumb inhibitions like these crop from my unceasing thinking! Will keep appending when something out of the box strikes!
Its the abode of Lord Vishnu with a glorious history and charismatic architectural structure. Beyond the temple, lies the vast paddy fields into which the back waters of the Arabian Sea foray into the fields as rivulets.There is a small bridge over the rivulet, with barely two planks of concrete, where we stroll around, limber down and ease our minds in serenity, lose ourselves in peace and in the stand-still calmness. It’s scenic and peaceful not just envisioning the view but being there to contain it. Losers gang would agree its our adda at Udma.
Unbelievable! First time ever I saw one and it was a beauty!! Vijay and me ran around helter-skelter in joy!!😂
Its a bakery we have fond memories associated with. Been there on our maiden trip to Kerala but his time around, Ozzy and me were reminiscing the old times of frolic and cheer. Aboos never disappoints in serving its trademark chunky ice cream loaded with dry fruits and nuts at economical rates.
Its bon appetite for ice cream lovers. 🙂
The peaks were inching closer to the dark gloomy clouds looming over as if they are playing hide and seek. Worth every frame of glimpse. 🙂
Tales-From-An-Intrepid-Nomad 