Bhogvan

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Tring tring … tring tring; It’s my phone’s alarm. It’s dark outside; there is only a dim light of a street lamp entering the room through the tinted glass of my window. I switch on the light; the eyes take some time to adjust to the sudden burst of light.
Smoking a cigarette also doesn’t make the "morning-ritual" easy, it’s too early for the stomach I guess.

Here I came to shit, but only farted.
Had come happy, but leave broken hearted.

I tie my bag on the rear seat of Chavi (my Bike) and start riding. It’s 5 AM now and I am headed to Pondicherry. I will be passing through Hosur, Krishnagiri, Thiruvanamalai, Gingee and Thindivanam. In total about 300 Kms.
Chavi is happy to be out at this time, she always is. She must be feeling cold for she coughs a few times, but only to remind me of the ‘off’ fuel tap.

There aren’t many people at this time on the road, only a few call-center cabs, sleepy looking car chasing dogs and a few joggers. It’s foggy this morning and I see my ghostly looking shadow in front of me in the air every time a car approaches from behind.

At 6:30 I am welcomed by the humble looking orange sun in Hosur. There is a small shop open and I drink a cup of tea boiled to sticky sweetness in an alluminium vessel. A dog standing next to me wags his tail and I share my bun with him. Chavi looks at me with an “I am hungry too” look and she is also given a tank full of petrol a few minutes later.

The sun glitters on the chrome of Chavi and she is happy for she knows it’s time I open her throttle. With increased visibility we speed up a little and reach Krishnagiri at 7:30. At a small shop I decide to eat something. A loaf of bread is gulped down with a bottle of local cola named “love one”. The air is filled with sweet smell of burning wood used in chullah, a farmer is going to his fields and another one returning, elderly women broom their courtyards, a few crows nibble at a dead rat and kids go to school on their bicycles (occasionally waving and smiling at me). I notice, all of them have green color bicycles. Must be some “go-green” concept.

With a few breaks, I continue riding further. Chavi isn’t too happy now as there are a lot of potholes here. Still, she doesn’t complain and continues.

Why am I going to Pondicherry? This is where I was last year when lot of things in life started getting worse. This city has a lot of memories buried under it’s sandy beaches, a lot of emotions drowned in the it’s waves. They have to be revisited.

Early morning, the breeze blows,
I, on the bike weep…..
Ride to forget the sorrows,
To heal the wounds so deep…..
Thanks Chavi, for being there,
Far, far away, take me somewhere…..

At 11 AM, having crossed paddy fields, coconut grooves, hay laden bullock carts, farmer’s bent on their waists in their fields, herds of goats, Luna’s driven by men wearing lungi and no slippers and lot of kids going to school on their “green bicycles”, I am now about 250 kms away in Thiruvanamalai.
I stop for a small break at a road side shop to rest my sleepy buttock and am told that the green bicycles are donated by Government to school kids.

After about 1 hour I stop for a few clicks at the Gingee fort. Gingee is a small town, It was under the Nayakka rulers from the end of 14th century A.D. for 150 years. During the peak of Krishna Deva Raya's power (1509 A.D. - 1529 A.D.) the Nayyaka rulers, built tall and strong fort walls with granite, tall towers with sculptural workmanship granite temples on the plains and brick shrines on the peak.

Crossing Thindivanam in a hurry with a quick lunch, at 2 PM I reach Pondicherry and check in at a hotel on the way to Cuddalore and freshen up.
Evening is spent at Chunnambur beach and then at Kailash beach, both on the way to Cuddalore.

Chunnambar beach is also known as Paradise Beach and is reachable by a short ride on a boat. Kailash beach is not popular among tourists; it is basically a fishermen colony. I sit alone for a while and read “Khalil Gibran” until the visibility forces me to close the book.

At Kailash beach I meet a fishermen named Suresh, we talk about various things. He understands Hindi (which is rare in Tamil Nadu) because he has spent some time in Mumbai as a construction worker. I am invited for dinner and I humbly accept it. He says he leaves for fishing at 3 AM and returns at 6 AM, I promise him to meet tomorrow morning at the beach again. Dinner is a very delicious fish curry with rice on banana leaf. We eat sitting on the floor. The house smells pleasant with freshly burnt incense sticks. His family is poor but very generous. He has 2 kids and they both go to school. They don’t have green bicycles.

At night I go to ‘Le Café’ on the rock beach. I buy a cup of black tea with no sugar and sit on the rocks with a cigarette. I take every sip slowly; very slowly with closed eyes, humming the song “Lehron ki tarah yaadein, dil se takraati hain” (like waves, the memories crash against my heart). With every sip my face is sprayed by salty water from the waves crashing against the rocks.
It was the early morning mist in Shimla which was on our faces when I and Paree (my lost love) had gone to Shimla together.

The last one year has been painful. Oh, the heartache, those sleepless nights, the feeling of being lonely, the unsuccessful search for peace.

With time, I hope, the sharp painful edges of the rocks of memories will smoothen, like the waves have smoothed these rocks on this beach.

A little far, under the dim light of a street lamp a couple sits, lonely, without much talking, hand over shoulders, enjoying the breeze and togetherness. Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day.

Buying a bottle of port-wine I go back to the room and sleep at about 2 AM. Chavi is parked outside. Thankfully this place is not very cold. She will be comfortable.

14th Feb.

With sleep deprived and wine rich red eyes I wake up at 5:30 and go to Kailash beach to meet Suresh again. The morning is so beautiful on the beach, the colors, the music of the waves, the smell, the feel of sand under the feet.
I watch the sunrise and click a few photographs and after a few minutes see Suresh return on his boat with a net-full of fish. It hasn’t been a good catch today. I share a cigarette with him and bid farewell to him. I give him 2 T-shirts which I had purchased yesterday evening for his kids. He refuses initially but later respects my feeling.

I walk on the streets of the fishermen colony for a while and am offered a cup of tea while taking photograph of a girl making Rangoli in front of her door. This kind of hospitality has died in big cities. How good are these people, how much love they have within.
I buy a lotus from a old lady and gift it to my beloved Chavi. She is happy. A tear trickles down her cheek. I kiss her gently on her belly.

Later in the Noon, I spend some time walking on the streets of the French colony (while Chavi enjoys sunshine at the hotel) going over lot of things in my mind, realizing a lot of things about life, love, money and happiness. How mad have we become running behind the worldly things. We have forgotten to live and to love. Most of us are dead already and waiting to die. How true is OSHO in saying “Everyone wants to be somebody … but no one wants to be nobody”.

I visit the Aurobindo ashram and am filled with a peaceful feeling. A little later, I eat Chicken Salad at ‘Le Café’ as lunch and enjoy the sea and the crowd again for some time. There are lot of couples here today with red roses in their hands. With moist and closed eyes I picture Paree with a red rose in her hand. She is smiling, she must be happy. I go over the last Valentine’s Day and let the tears roll down my cheeks until the waiter comes with the bill.

AT 4 PM I go back to the room to start back for Bangalore. Chavi is happy to see me and starts in half-kick.

I get lucky to see a “KA-03” Tempo Traveler in front of me just after coming out of the city. This becomes my ‘escort’ for the rest of the journey and with effortless driving and just 1 break, I am back in Bangalore at 12 midnight. I drink the leftover of yesterday’s wine and sleep. At 3, I am awakened by a dream. Paree has sent me a Valentine’s gift. I try to reenter the dream but it’s difficult now.

Happy Valentine's day Paree. Khush Rehna.


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Here is some information.


Route -
Bangalore, Hosur, Krishnagiri, Thiruvannamalai, Thindivanam, Pondicherry

Total Distance -
300Kms

Petrol Pumps -
Every 20-30 Kms

Food joints -
Lot of road side shops selling tea,coffee and ciggerettes. Hosur has a small hotel just after the Ashok Leyland factory. The hotel is in a petrol pump. Thiruvannamalai has lot of restraunts including some continental, best being Auro Usha Restraunt. Thindivanam has very small eating joints. Mostly south indian.

Confusions on the route -
Be sure to confirm your route by asking locals once you enter Thiruvannamalai. There are a couple of twists and turns here.

Where to stay in Pondicherry - If you are a rich traveller, you can find plenty of hotels on the Rock Beach (also known as Pudducherry sea shore). They generally charge above Rs 800 but are Extremely good (Recommended to stay here). For budget hotels you can search near the Bus stand. They typically charge about 300 to 600. Other options are to stay in hotels near the Indira Gandhi Circle.


Where to eat in Pondicherry -
La cafe on the rock beach offers good coffee and french delicacies with a superb view
Hot Breads on Nehru street offers some good french snacks
Daily Breads on Nehru street offers good French food.
On Nehru street there are a couple of shops that are famous for chocolates, fresh juices and ice creams.

What to drink - Being a Union Territory, the taxes are low here. You can buy some imported brands for good prices here like Johny Walkers, Jack Daniel etc. One thing NOT to be missed is the port-wine. This is for pondicherry what Fenny is for Goa.

What to do in Pondicherry-

There are so many things to do here. This place has a different Charisma. Here are some things I loved doing here.

-Drinking a silent cup of tea on the rocks in front of La Cafe at Night 12 AM.
-Roaming aimlessly on the streets near the Rock beach and the french colony.
-Taking a dip in the waters near Auro Beach.
-Playing a game of football with the kids at the Kailash Beach.
-Watching the sunrise on the Kailash or auro beach.
-An aimless Drive early morning on the ECR road, reach Mahabalipuram and sip a cup of coffee and come back to Pondi.
-Eating a fish fry from a road side vendor.
-visit the Aurobindo ashram.
-visit the century old churches in this town.
-Boat ride to Paradise beach (also called Chunnambar beach).
-Jet ski ride on the Chunnambar beach.

Note: Petrol is only Rs.43 in Pondicherry. You sure want to get a tank full before you leave.

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@Bhogvan: Please check the links of the first two photographs in this thread (top of your post). You would need to upload photographs either as xBhp attachments, or upload them onto a third party image hosting website before pasting the links in your thread. Uploading photographs directly from your PC won't work.

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sourav2688

very beautifully written ! i loved it ! makes me want to head out to pondi right away

inder.cool

Have a lot abt Pondicherry from my rommate..

Have already added this place in my "Places to visit" list

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need4torque

Nice write up and even nicer pictures, Bhogvan.
Ultimately, what happens, happens for a reason, happens for good.

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RIDE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!
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Praful

I did not read beyond the 'Here is some information' part....for me the thread got 5 stars much before that.

Don't worry Paree is/will be happy! And you will live again... Its the circle of life that we must go through. Don't be too hard on yourself brother. This thread touches a chord for me too somewhere deep inside, if I could pen my feelings as beautifully as you I probably would have.

Live! Breathe! Be Happy! For life has much to offer...

PS:
Some amazing pics..

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joy.911

Could not stop reading the whole story at work !!

wonderful

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Rockkyyy

Man... this is great...
I just the love the way u have narrated it, completely emotional and enjoyed reading every bit of it. Through out the ride Chavi was with you so do your love... You have written it so beautifully... you should write more..

Sorry to hear whats happening to you, but truly I wish you get your Paree... take care bro...

an yeah 5 stars four you , my first vote.. and I am gonna pass it too

an ohh yeah the photographs are just superb...
just one request. please upload them in photobucket or xBhp and embed in the log...

Good Luck

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Yeshu_hyd

Nice log Loved the Photos .

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Bhogvan

Thanks All for the comments .. I am really obliged.
Rockyyy... Thanks for the suggestion. I have done exactly what you suggested

Cheers,
Sonu

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Getting stung by a Bee at 80 KMPH can Double your Vocabulary ....