Braving the road trip storm: Part I

Those who have convinced me to take a road trip in my life are well aware of how that is no joke. Some who might be reading this may already be making faces. On road, in a four wheeler-- a car precisely--the thought can sometimes lead me to go in search of a bag (not the backpack but a plastic one for obvious reason).

While a bike trip to Kabini is next on their list (was before this trip but due to signing me up inadvertently or advertently, they are still waiting for it), they decided Rameshwaram, Dhanushkodi and Madurai be the next destinations. And guess what? I was the one supposed to design the itinerary. Why? So that they could very well ignore my sarcasm and breathe easy. 

So, for the first time in my life, I learnt to put AI to good use. Wow! It's really worth exploring. But (sorry to break your bubble guys, it was indeed AI peppered with our dialogues, and not DI), of course, better than any AI, the gang had already come up with a list of places to eat bun porotta, jigarthanda, bun butter, kalki and much else. 

While I tried finding out if one was really supposed to throw away/donate the clothes one wore to the 22 theerthams (sacred wells) at Rameshwaram and wondering what would they be selling at the Kalam house (other than memorabilia-- I was in for a surprise there but more on it later), here they were secretly packing ORS packets, and making plans to keep me "intact" even as we got back home. 

Every time the three looked (out of the four of us who were to take the road trip) at each other when I asked them about the total distance, I knew something was fishy. I didn't dare to Google it either. 

The day finally dawned upon us. After days of planning, secret ones included, we finally started after a busy day of work. I with avomine, a bedsheet and jacket-- because I am probably at a stage in life where nothing/nobody is more important than sleep. More than a journey of 1200 km awaited. 

Jamuns, cut dragon fruit and a light black coffee later, sleep caught up with me (thankfully for them) while the road took us closer to our destination. "Sad jokes" continued while I stepped in and out of sleep-- a smile gently playing up on my lips time and again. What a gang! 

Pamban bridge greeted us after a few hours of early morning spent in search of a decent hotel where one could dig in idlis with ample amounts of sambhar and chutney. What a majestic view! On one side of the road was the architectural marvel called a bridge and on the right, the Gulf of Mannar. Water looked a different colour on each side. Greyish blue on our left, a jade green on our right. 

Pamban bridge and the Gulf of Mannar offering majestic views

After soaking in the views for some time, we moved ahead. I was sure by then that my Vit D deficiency would be resolved by the time we got back home. 

Kalam Memorial

We visited the Kalam memorial after a glass of badam milk that burnt my tongue right when I was planning to let my taste buds prepare for the idlis, dosas, puli kozhambu that awaited over the next two days. 

After landing at our place with quite a thud (thanks to the underground parking at our hotel), we did go idli hunting. Idlis had given way to meals by then. A filling, homemade Tamilian style meal later, we were ready to go hug sleep a little more dearly. 

After a brief tete-a-tete with it, we were ready to go take a plunge and wash off our sins (quite literally) at Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple, Rameshwaram. One look at the sea and I decided that I would rather wash off my sins partly (by washing my feet) there, wishing that the next 22 buckets of water would do their job well. They indeed did some magic for I walked back feeling energetic (after the sun quietly roasted us quite a bit and I found my sweat glands reactivated after the Bangalore chapter). 

Interestingly, those who paid INR 25 (ticket for the theerthams) received lesser water on their palms/heads as compared to the ones who paid INR 100/200 or more for the same. While some sins might have stayed back, we were glad to be creating some reserve for the ones who would come next. 

Inside views- Sri Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple

After changing into fresh clothes, we spent time inside the temple premises. Beautiful pillars, a cute hairy elephant and the fragrance of the sambrani made us forget a lot of hustle bustle that we had left behind for a while. Shopping goes without saying, if I am on a trip. Yes, inside the temple premises too. So, after that, we spent time in and around the temple before heading back to the hotel.

My legs refused to budge post that for dinner. And the convincers landed at the door. 10 mins later, we were at the nearby mess, having idlis for dinner. And the night stroll gave a different feel altogether. 

Random doors and kolams that made me happy

The temple had closed its doors and the deities were probably resting after a full day spent listening to plausible stories-- traumatic and happy ones too I hope.

Sri Arulmigu Raanathaswamy Temple premises at night

 There were vendors selling sarees at INR 250-300. My mind quickly conjured up images of the sarees floating earlier in the sea getting picked up and ironed, awaiting a fresh lease of life. I pulled my friend and walked a little faster just to be stopped a little ahead to admire the beauty of kumkums (sindoor) in orange, red, maroon with tiny, glittering boxes to carry them. Now it was my friend's turn to pull my hand and take me ahead. 

Sleep beckoned even before we reached the hotel after scouting tea shops that would open early so that we could be ready for our Dhanushkodi Ghost Town visit the next morning. 

Special thanks to our little batman for entertaining us with his constant grumpy look

What a day! Nature, rituals, commercialisation, survival skills, friendship-- a lot to chew upon. But for another day! 

Good night for now. I still have clothes to wash and fold. And of course unused packets of ORS to be kept back safely, at reachable places, just in case.