Ode to Wayanad

The tug of war in my mind was tearing me apart. I needed to spill it out. Like always, I did not know where do find that someone who could give me a fair judgment without judging me.

I was missing a particular friend of mine. I called her to find that she is at her hometown Wayanad and her husband is going there to meet her the next week. On an impulse I said I’ll come down there too. Less than 5 days in hand and that was the most impulsive trip in my kitty. Till the minute the journey actually began, I did not know who all are going and whether it’s on bike or in car.

I had met my fellow travelers once before. They were my friend’s husband, her cousin and her younger brother. It’s needless to say that this trip gave me three new friends.

This was my second trip to Waynad but this was delightfully the most authentic stay. Staying in a typical Kerala home where the bathroom had clay heater installed in the bathroom for hot water. I stayed at a “home” which had a green house, well, pond and a small farm. To top it all the house faced a hill. The scenic beauty was just unreal. I envy those who get to live like that. Simplicity, warmth and a welcome that makes you feel at peace after a long road journey.

Reaching midnight and waking up early morning to the earthy smell of all the plants around you. I was amidst Orchids, Flamingo, topical red and yellow blooms and the big green chillies. I had not seen so many varieties of Orchids before and my personal favourite till date remains to be “dove orchids.”

I wish I had written this piece then and there when the aroma was fresh in my mind because today when I look back, the idiappam, appams and all those fresh curries are mixed up in my mind. For a hard core non vegetarian you would say that staying in a Jain’s home would be defined as disappointing cuisine. But take my words for it that when food is as tasty and homely as what I had, you do not even miss the Kerala fish fry in Kerala.

The vastness in the culture within the communities of a state still amazes me about our country. Having a relative whose origin is in Kerala, I have childhood memory of Kerala synonymed with kerala fish curry. And there I was sitting with my plate full of rice noodles served with the most amazing curry, impossible to believe, to be vegetarian.

This trip took me to all the not so commercial places. A small Temple, at the hill and sunset at the sunset/suicide point. This was the first time I realized that you do not need a flier telling you about all the tourist spots to have fun. I had seen those tourist spots before but this was the time to explore the city as if it was mine, as if I have lived there.

Posing on a rock in the middle of a tea estate was crazy fun. Whenever I see those pictures, I  smile. It almost felt like I have been breathing in that familiar air all my life. It felt real, it felt like home.

The trek to Meenmukki point was the highlight of the trip. That is when I knew I was with friends. We sat at the edge of the hill overlooking valley. It was almost like a world ends here and another starts somewhere right in front of us. We sat at the point with no fear, no fatigue and definitely not as a traveler. We sat there and chatted about random people and our school days. Isn’t that what friends do. Without any effort I was welcomed in the group of friends while my friend was making finger licking food at home.

I learnt that language and culture is not a barrier. I have seen people judging me by my origin, my native place but the warmth in that home told me otherwise. I was welcomed like a family member. I was allowed to cook mushroom^* in that kitchen.

It was the time when I was trying to let go of someone by overwriting another one over it. It wasn’t what I wanted and it certainly wasn’t going well down with me. My second day at Waynad and the over script says that I am irresponsible and carefree coz I chose to go on this impulsive trip when I could have flew down to Delhi to meet him.That day I asked myself why is it that I need to answer and explain myself. I was with my friends who asked me nothing and took me just the way I am. A little difficult, little confused and ready to soak in anything that life would offer. If that makes me carefree then that’s how I am. I had travelled 500km to meet my friends and have a talk with her. Listen to her advice and when I looked around I had four friends laughing on something I had said. Laughing with me as if they have known me all my life. Little did they know that midnight laughter was about to change the course of my life. If I wouldn’t have been there I might have gone ahead with the "over written" guy. I would have given up and give in to the obligations called a girl's life.

The warmth that I felt left me with no reason to ask anyone anything. I did not need a session to be told that I have gone mad. Yes I am a little crazy but I was at peace without any effort. I knew all I needed was to walk. Walk away or may be walk toward, but just keep walking because I knew if I looked around there were people I could call my friends. Thanks to that trip I wasn’t lonely anymore.

Way back, the road trip was non-stop singing from jingles to Maestro Lata for all of 6 hrs and I can’t say how much fun that was. One day I’d go on another road trip just for that sing along may be. Until then that trip remains close to my heart for the warm welcome and coming face to face with myself. Confused, complex yet happy!!! 




*mushroom is not a welcome ingredient in Jain's kitchen