Alleppey Diaries - Part I

Why alone? The question was incessant and curious. When I decided to not answer myself, I carried on with one gear. If you ask blatantly is there any vehicle with one gear, lucidly, my answer is a camera is called a gear. In minimal light I entered the Coimbatore Railway station, reminiscing the moments meeting the apple of my eye a decade back. As the clock ticked, standing alone, my interest slowly started to hop down to the bottom of the ladder, but an instinct, that these two days wonder would turn out to be in seventh heaven, turned me a queer fish. Midnight 12o clock and my phone’s light was like the sole street light lighted in a 100 feet abandoned road. 4 hours was the travel distance from Coimbatore to Allepey, I asked myself, what? 4 hours? The answer was in the ticket – S4 was my compartment.

A need to travel to a different place made me to leave the only companion for 3 long hours, the platform. Life is such. Compartment was empty and silent except for the growling of few. A mere four hour journey seemed laborious. Venice of the east it is called, I was there breathing some fresh air. Had to ride 10kms to the hotel booked through KTDC – Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. Riding through the coastal area the skin tingled in cold, inhaled pollen rich smell, abandoned boats hopping to the tiny waves of the glimmering lake all these instigated some interest. Mr Sajan with his spic and span, oblong face, fair complexion stood in the reception to welcome me. Entered my room, an en – suite comfortable for a two day stay. I was a dead beat, yet, decided to take the off the beat roads.

Jesudas Etta

I was suggested by Mr Sajan to choose boating in Kuttanad Lake first. Kuttanad? What? Is he subtly mocking my being small?? I had to frown at the irony and listened to his suggestions, which was later executed. Had my breakfast and the boat owner arrived to the hotel to pick me up. My mind was all around my old flame, our memories. I was told that a whale sized boat was mine for the next the 5 hours. I stood aghast, my eyelids slowly expanded, my pupils burst out of my eyes, just like the tom cat seeing its lady love. Just when I foresaw a ride which would be like a mellifluous melody I was introduced to the person who steers the boat named Jesudas. Mr Jesudas, a personification of humility an epitome of loyalty was so amiable (A pic of him is posted beside). I looked daggers at the bed on the boat standing there single, except that I was at rife to start the voyage.

The engine was fed, the motor was triggered, Vroom sound soared, I was all like a dog with two tails, extremely elated. A 20 feet boat sailing on the shimmering lake was like a luscious strawberry ice cream moving through our tongue and food pipe. I was right at the front and Mr Jesudas was right at the back, the waves took us a 20 years back making us play see saw.  It was called backwaters, and I found waters everywhere. A centre dreamy stream with peppermint greeny trees the boat sailed with creaking noise. As the boat glided the gleaming lake it slowly nailed my head makin

g me realize the awesomeness of travelling all alone. I was perambulating inside the boat seeing this nature’s beauty. The Coconut trees cast their reflection on the water making different shaded silhouettes. An artist would have beautifully portrayed with an art.

To be continued....