October 5, 2007 – Friday. Calicut to Wayanad

Off to Wayand. The route took us through many villages, towns and plantations. We were plagued by bad roads here as well, but then, we knew this time we were on route to exiting them.

We stopped for grabbing a bite a small joint midway. The place was clean to sit and have a bite and tea. The famous Parotta’s came hot along with traditional mallu gram curry. We hogged like never before. The serving boy put two glasses of colored liquid on our table.

When I asked what it was. I found out it was drinking water. Yellow colored! This is the water all of them consumed. And we talk of literacy levels and communism and equality. When the bloody state can’t offer people simple clear drinking water, the rest of the promises and festivals is complete hog wash and nonsensical. Gods own country my foot. All this amidst plantations ... twistin by the hill side.

I suddenly hated myself yet again. What are we as a civilization? What have we become? This was worse than stone age. And here we’re spending a few crores on cricketers? Shame on our souls. I wished I could do something about it.

Waynad was spent in brooding over my own soul. Dark and grim thoughts in mind.

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October 4, 2007 – Thursday. A Theyyam look see and to Calicut

Up at 5:00 but could make it out of the door only at 6:00 wifey opted to sleep it off. So it was a solo ride of about 18 kms to the temple in the forest village.

Long winding lanes after a reasonable Mangalore – Kerala highway I found myself in a temple like surrounding. What struck me was the cleanliness of the place. And the absence of touts and I was just yet another tourist.

By the time I reached the main abstract of the ritual was over and there were two fully dressed people (made up like in the kathakali) standing in front of the actual deity. People were clamoring to talk to them for advice and blessings…

No photographs allowed. So for the time being it has to in writing till I get to sight a full theyyam and click it.

Went back to the hotel and we decided to move to the next town.

Calicut that day enough of Kannur. At least chill in the sun and sand of the beach.

Kerala roads are bad. Real Effing bad. More potholes than roads. And that’s not just about highways, but also city and town roads. Dirty, polluted, potholed and messy. And to add to misery the road signs suck bad too.

So after losing our way a couple of time we finally hit the right track and into Calicut. This was only about 90 Kms but took us about 4 hours. And we were exhausted too.

Lazed about the town in the evening. Hung out at the beach. And soon came the topic where next. While this was a more prosperous town than Kannu, this was no chill joint.

So, the forest is what we knew was possible and we could head back homewards as well as the holiday was coming to an end.

Wayand would be it. And lucky again one night’s stay available there. A distance of about 100 kms to Bethery or about 90 Kms to Kalpeta, which seemed doable regardless of whatever roads stretch came our way.

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