2K5 ROCKZ

From the deserted station, we began tracing steps to the as yet unknown Murudeswaram temple. Basically, we have to complete our journey with a meager 1400 rupees and could not afford to take an auto to reach our destination which as we understood was 2 kms away. So we stood in wait for a bus not even knowing what the boards in Kannada read.

And their started the rain, lashing its wing all over us nearly wetting us wholly. We boarded the first bus that came after exchanging some sign languages with driver and conductor who did not know what 'temple' meant. So had our breakfast and started to walk to the temple trying to find any malayalee who could help us in our journey.

The magnificent site jostled our eyes. The high reaching gopuram of the temple stood too high above us and sea waves splashing water over us. It was a temple situated actually into the sea. But we have not yet seen the site of a life time. The grand big statue of Lord Shiva, which as we heard is the largest of his in the world. And we were just a few big ants before it. Leaving behind the crawlers aka Ajith and Ajay, we moved to the temple and saw through the beautiful statues that stood around us. Meanwhile not forgetting our friend: rain, who was periodically pulsating over our heads making us worry whether or not to open our umbrellas. And once you opened the umbrella cloth gets overturned with the winds.

The sea was bursting like a demon over the pillars of a hotel that stood into the sea. And you know we found Bow Bows friends there and that too in flocks and flocks.
Trying to get away from the rain we stood under the shade and within minutes a security guard began to wave lathi at us and we ran into the unending rain.

Now we walked through the beach which was scattered with things that the sea splattered all around, and we could get some photos which didnt capture those dirt and garbage around us. And walking back we wondered why the car with two people in it parked near the beach was jumping and at last we decided not to learn any Kannada (theris) during our trip and walked back to find our next destination over which heated discussions followed....

Strolling through the roads strewn with cow dung and endowed with street dogs, thevadi was blessing those motherfuckers who are always late and walking far far behind. Options before us to our next destination was too limited in this ****ing beautiful place. As a means of transportation we have to go either by the tourists way of hiring a taxi, or get the local way of buses. Here we understood that what they call private bus are the trip vans we see on our roads. And we jumped into the first van we could find being parked there. Adjusting our seats to get our breaths for the periods of asphyxia which may follow sooner or later when the small van gets packed with dozens and dozens of pure local Canaras.


And now we understood we are chasing the monsoons and the thing which brought misery to our games and school life is what we were enjoying the most. The nature could not have more beautiful, the green could not have greener, the brown blacker and the rivers so lively if the rain did not came before and with us....

When I opened my eyes, we were crossing a river. But it has been 3 or 4 minutes we have been crossing the river. And after 5 minutes we reached the other end of the bridge and we read River Saravathi. The magnificent site was more than enough to fill our stomachs for the noons. But we realised that mind may betray our body and went into the Kamath restaurant (in our new home: Honaver) to relish the Kannada thaali which actually became our staple diet for the whole 5 days.

And now we started on our 1 1/2 hour long journey to the temple town of Gokarnam also famous for its Om beach. With the same lush greenery and a bit more thicker woods before our eyes, almost everyone slipped into an afternoon nap and none could get out of the place of Om beach. And we had to stroll through the Gokarnam beach which was no way different from our previous.

Seeing the temple at a far corner over the hills, someone got the grave idea of climbing it all up and everyone had to set forth. But the beauty which lay before our eyes was unbelievable. The sea water soaking the road over the hill and the breeze which sweeped our worries to get back.


The clouds began thickening and we had to find a way back as the last bus was only minutes away. Somehow we managed to get to the stand through the temple passage. And came behind us Manu, who bought two laddoos to get our stomach filled (actually his) and grasped 20 whole rupees from our common account. Reaching the stand, we could only find a Ultra Deluxe Rajahamsa to fly us to Honaver in the night. Finding no other way we got seated with our water dripping clothes onto the cushioned seats. Cameras flashed to the surprise of other passengers as we had to show we were too lavish with our journey.
Shrieek....the bus has stopped in the midnight in the midway in the midst of some forest. Sone accident has happened and all the road blocked. Wondering whether we could eat something in the night we just looked outside to see a Kerala registration lorry which had found its way into a stream of water nearby hanging from the road above.

It was the conductor who wake up as we had told him to get to Kamath Restaurant. Only as the bus passed before had we noticed that this is some other Kamath and we understood this place abounds with this name. We walked and walked and seeing some familiar surroundings walk
ed into the right place and got seated to be the last being served (perhaps he got sympathetic for us). We jumped onto our beds and got our clothes hanging to get dry. Making and changing plans for tomorrow went till late night when everyone was on their tummies drifting into deep sleep with dreams about Jog ....