ooruthendi (ഊരുതെണ്ടി): kolakkuthichaaliyilekkulla yatra [the journey to kolakkuthichaali]

....just a travel note.

Things which appear to me to have least priority will be a big problem later in my life. And I cannot consider everything with highest priority always. So at least one problem will accompany me always. The reason for my short trip to University of Calicut in Kerala on 25 Oct 2007 is one such example.

I had received a certificate from the university couple of weeks back and I gave least priority to the missing information in it. I finally realized the actual priority of the information last week and I decided to visit the university and collect the correct certificate in person. So, I booked a sleeper class ticket to Kozhikode in Yesvantpur-Kannur express which leaves Yesvantpur on 24th.

Part 1 - A journey to Yesvantpur.

Yesvantpur is relatively far from my office. I'm not sure if there exists a bus to Yesvantpur directly from my office and even if it exists, I'll have to wait for a long time. So I boarded a bus to Majestic Bus stand and planned to take another one to Yesvantpur. I comfortably reached Majestic bus stand leaving me enough time to buy dinner and have a cup of tea. I did not find any easy way to cross the road from the bus stand to where there are restaurants and other shops. I crossed the police barrier where an elderly police officer received me... he just ignored me. I had a cup of tea. The non-prompt service of the bearer, who forcefully collected tips from me, did not make me refresh. By the time I returned to the bus stand with dinner it was late. I rushed to the pre-paid auto service close by.

It was already 7:10 ... I started realizing the risk of reaching Yesvantpur railway station before 8:00. In situations like this, I generally remember Mr. Sam, our high school chemistry teacher waiting for late comers (or conducting quizzes) with a metal instrument box on his right hand. The box is to physically stimulate the brain cells by making our skull vibrate. I selectively recollect this memory whenever I am late. Thus developing a different kind of vibration in the lower part of abdomen sometime resulting an urgent need to visit toilet.

Removed to money, I was interested in the availability of an auto-rickshaw who will take me till Yesvantpur. Auto-walas are not given any choice at prepaid counters. That is the reason I stood in the prepaid counters. It will take ages to find an auto-rickshaw by yourself to Yesvantpur. But now, I hated the slow-moving creature sitting inside the prepaid counter fighting with the computer keyboard to press each keys.

I got a prepaid slip from the counter with the destination, the auto-rickshaw number and amount to be paid, which is Rs. 48 mentioned in it. I think the auto-wala I was blessed with was forcefully put into the prepaid auto queue by the two police officers standing near the counter. He started the vehicle and later stopped little far from the counter. I said "boss, 8 O'clock train. swalpa bhega hogi'. He collected the slip from me and said "guru, yesvantpur... thumba distance... 80 rupees agathe...". At that point of time, if I had a rock hammer, I would have smashed his ugly face bone into pieces and fired his 3 wheeler. I felt hopelessly cheated. I rushed to the police officers near the counter. They helped me to get another one immediately. May be because of the time I started from my office or because of the unknown face I saw in the morning, the second one I got was new in his field and he politely asked me the route to my destination. "I should have been born and bought up inside the Yeswantpur railway station!!". For god grace, we reached the railway station at 7:55pm. I gave 10 rupees extra for the effort the newbie has taken and I said a sorry for the trouble I caused to him.

Part 2 - At Tirur:

In the train, I got introduced to an elderly couples. Adv. Varma and his wife, a retired bank officer, were returning to Pattambi after their periodic visit to their children settled in Bangalore. They were very considerate to me and asked to join their dinner. Though I was carrying food with me, I could not resist too much. Thus, I had rarely available home made dinner that night. Adv. Varma suggested me to get down at Tirur to save time and avoid some unnecessary travel.

I had visited Tirur couple of times to see movies when I was doing my B.Tech. in Kuttippuram. The only aim this time here is to get refreshed and then leave as early as possible to the university. When I got down at Tirur, I had two choices. Either to refresh inside the railway waiting room. Or take a lodge room. Since the railway station is under renovation, I didn't take the chance to visit railway waiting room. Also, it is difficult to manage with the luggage and I had to recharge my phone before it dies.

I walked past the town bus stand from the railway station into a decent looking hotel. I asked for a normal single room and they said only A/C room is available which costs me Rs. 800. Miser in me didn't allow me take that room. I was not able to justify that amount just to freshen up. I walked back and found another one opposite to the bus stand. "Hotel Shalimar..". I somehow found the entrance. A small door. I could see a traditionally and neatly dressed old man with a new paper on a chair. When I got inside, I realized that the door is for a staircase towards its left. There is a table near to the old man and when he saw me, he called some name. A boy wearing a lungi, whom I didn't notice sleeping beneath the staircase, got up and came to the so called reception. He asked "double or single? Rs. 80 for single. Rs. 100 advance".

He took me upstairs and showed me the room. The kind of room which you can expect for a rent of Rs. 80...kind of dark room...unclean walls...smell of due to lack of air circulation... the good thing is that it has electricity and the equipments are in working condition. The fan is making annoying sound. The boy got me a jug of water and a glass. He might have gone to sleep after that again.

I put the phone to get charged. I used the European toilet like an Indian one and took a quick bath. I finished everything in less than an hour's time and quickly boarded a bus to university of calicut. When I came down the boy was brushing his teeth. I think this is only a part time job for him. He got surprised when I vacated so fast.... but was happy when I said I might come back in the night. I collected the Rs. 20 balance from him. In Kerala, I am scared to give tips because, from my experience, they accept only big amounts.

Part 3 - to Kolakuthichaali

I reached university at 9:45. While going inside the university academic section I saw a lady wearing an orange and black saree. I thought I knew her. When she passed by, I stopped turned around to see her once again. Is this called deja vu?

I gave the application form at 11:30 and they asked me to come by 3 in the afternoon. So I have more than 3 hours to spend and decided to visit an old friend, who is a mason, living somewhere near the university. We know each other when we both were admitted in a hospital in Ezhupunna for back pain treatment. I was carrying a letter he sent 3 years back. Though he had mentioned the address, the route details etc., it didn't have the phone number. I used to call him in a neighbouring number and I lost that one long back.

The place where he lives is Kolakuthichaali... its near to Oilpram 15th mile bus stop. I collected the best route to reach this place from a university officer and he asked me to take a bus to a place called Idimoozhi and take another bus to Kolakuthi. He added that kolakuthichaali is walk able from kolakuthi.

Reaching idimoozhi was not an effort for me. I bought some fruits and collected the details from where I'll get kolakuthi bus. Unlike city life, people there have the curiosity to know where I am coming from, where I wish to go, whom I want to meet etc. Two elderly ladies were sitting inside a nearby tea-shop asked few such questions. The owner of the shop and another old man curiously listening to the two ladies. I assumed that they are some government officials. I told my intention and they suggested me to take another route. But I proceeded taking 'expert' advice from the university and got into a fully packed mini-bus to kolakuthi. When I reached kolakuthi, I realized that my time management didn't work well and I might run out of it later.

Even though it is the last stop, the road further was still good. The sky was cloudy and I thought it might rain soon. Because of that weather, it was too hot and what I found that have to walk are all small ups and downs. Fortunately, I had only one bag, the camera and the fruits.

"chetta... Kolakuthichaali...Olipram pathinanjaam mile?" (hello, way to Kolakuthichaali ... or.. Olipram 15th mile..)
"nere shelam nadannolee... eschoolinappuram edothottulla bai..." (go straight a little, left after the school)

After some walk, I found a typical village school for primary students. No boundary walls, but fenced. Kids playing inside and some of them looking at me and my camera with curiosity. The tarred road goes straight.. but there is sand road little away from the school towards the left into a paddy field. There are also a couple of shops nearby this turning. I walked few steps inside the sand road and took a photo of the so called 'junction'.

I could see someone walking against me far away. We met after sometime. An old man carrying a 'kutta' (to carry the coconuts). He is a coconut tree climber. (My family might celebrate my 20th death anniversary at his age.) . I just confirmed my route with him.

He asked "ingakkaare kaanaana..?"
"Appuettan..... Appu"

"ML Appu..? nadannoli.... bazhi randaavum"... he then noticed a young lady coming from far.....he said.. "ingalu rakshapettu... thaa olu bazhi kaanicheerum. olde porakkappurathaa onte beedu" (you are saved.. she will show the route. his house is after hers). When I took a photo with his permission, he tried to smile.

The way as Sheela, the navigator lady, pointed the direction and from the speed of her walk, I myself evaluated that the house is very near and later realized that my evaluation is just stupid as NASA calculating the distance of stars.

I already finished the bottle of water with me. May be because of the limited time I have, I felt the road is never ending. Sweat had completely wet my dress. The sand road became mud road and then became narrow sand road with plants on sand walls on either side.

She first showed me her house and the big house next to this. Then she said "aa porente backilaa appuettante beedu. purakottu ponam" (His house is behind that one... have to go behind it).

Appuettan's small decent house. The door was open. She called "checheee....". Appuettan's wife came out.

"manasilaayillallo....?"
I smiled, and tried to remind her where we met..."Ezhupunna hospital-il...".
"Oh........hayyo... aadyam kandappo manasilaayillaaa..." (sorry.. couldn't recognize you)

She informed Appuettan to report home immediately from his work location. I noticed that they have phone connection now. She got me water from the well. It was clean, cold and with hint of sand smell. If I was alone there, I would have jumped into the well. Appuettan came running with 2-3 kinds of fishes for my lunch. They gave me drinks and snacks before lunch.

Clean air. Its all green around me. I think the calm village got disturbed a little. Some of the neighbours noticed the visitor immediately.

I was served an awesome meal.

I explained my travel to them. Appuettan said. "University... bus-il anju minute.. nadannal irupathu minute maximum... bus stop randu minute ivudunnu". (University its just 5 minutes in bus. Twenty minutes maximum by walk. bus just two minutes from here'). She added.... "njaan university academic section-ilaa.... morning shift.... sweeper". I noticed her orange and black saree.

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