Published

Today got yet another dose of a high... Royal Enfield decides to publish the latest trip on their web site. Read the story here on my blog or there on their site.

The link to the site click here.

The 8 day south side story

Hey as you know a blog runs sequentially in reverse order. The last post coming in first... I tried to construct this trip story in one or two posts, but tough luck, then it ran into quite a few pages. So the only option was to break it up into a few posts and make it by day and place of visit.

As usual lots of things happen when you have an open mind and a restless soul.

To get to this trip story from the beginning click here. Do leave your comments. And thanks for stopping by.

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.

Continue by clicking here.

September 30. A raging bull in Nagerhole.

Trip start point Airport Road
Distance 200 Kms (approximately)
Trip end point Jungle Inn (Nagerhole)
Route Bangalore – Srirangapatinam – Hunsur – Nagerhole
Duration/time 4 1/2 hours (8 AM – 1:30 PM)

This ride was really really repetitive and boring. Done this stretch so many times. Cut till Hunsur. Nothing changes… do refer to my earlier trip stories for more on this route (Bangalore-Mysore).

After Hunsur comes the diversion to the small single road which leads to the jungle. And that’s where everything changes. The road less tarred. Lush greens all around. Cotton fields on either side. Clouds painting sketches in the blue sky. Lone cottages looking serene. The cool fresh air right on your face. And even the mind changes, thoughts change. Forgotten are the frustrations of the city life, the irking traffic, the pollution, the navigation, the deja vu... this is life to be lived, loved.

This is fresh, green, passionate. The mix with the clear blue sky, a canvas that makes the mind go wild… the whiff of natural scents, the flowers blooming, the smell fresh soil which has tasted water… this was the real trip.

Well, it lasted all of 20 mins and the resort sign welcomed us. We dismantle the Bull and walk up to the office where the friendly manager helps us find a place to stay room or tent was a choice. We were lucky he said, normally, this place was packed on weekends this weekend the bookings were a bit low.

We went for the jungle tent which was a contraption hung on solid foundations of course and with a walled up toilet.

Freshening up and lunch went in a flash, we were out on the road to find our way to the Jungle. And it came within 5 minutes… NO ENTRY FOR MOTOR BIKES.

No amount of coaxing the forest guard could change his mind. So I guessed something must’ve happened. On chatting up with the manager later that evening we got to know that some bikers were caught unawares by a wild elephant and had suffered injuries. I am yet to fathom how one could survive an elephant attack though!

Anyway the day went behind finding designs by clouds and subjects by the village folk. Thumped back in the evening to our tent.

The night is different here. Everything shuts down at 7. There’s no light, no music no cacophony of sound. One can hear the sound of crickets, some distant howling, and of course the staff at the resort having a scrap over something insignificant.

After a heavy dinner, a short night walk around campus, and, overhearing a corporate gang's drunken conversation how they should be working (there was a convention on those two days at the resort) we decided to call it a day.

Quick to fall asleep with dreams of getting into a jungle safari the next day.

Read the next part. Click here.