Saturday, May 3, 2014

Travel Diaries - Part I

Summers are always a good time to take trips. No professional obligations, no deadlines to meet, no assignments to turn in. Plus, it gives you something to look forward to other than the unbearable heat. This summer proved to be no different than the rest. Hot and full of excitement. So there I was standing on the platform at Kacheguda Railway station, Hyderabad, India. I remember feeling anxious, excited and nervous all at once. Trips tend to do that to you. They are so exciting because they offer an alternative to the monogamous schedule of life, they offer new sights, people and experiences.  They teach you lessons in life that no classroom ever can. But more on that later.


source:http://www.theprospect.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Summer-iStock_000012730140XSmall.jpg

So there I was, suitcase in hand along with my grandparents and brother waiting the arrival of our train. I was returning to the place of my birth, the city which I will always fondly call my own; Bangalore. Our dual purpose in visiting the city was to attend a relatives wedding as well as the more anticipated; tour of the state. My grandparents called Karantaka home for 25 years, however they had never really explored this beautiful state of theirs. So after nearly 3 decades of residing in Karnatka my grandmother suddenly developed a hankering to go on a tour of the state' more specifically the grand temples it boasted of. And we were invited along for the ride. And 'why not?' I thought when my mother first proposed the idea to me. I have never been one to turn down an adventure and somehow I had a feeling that this trip would be nothing short of one. 


source:http://www.world-guides.com/images/bangalore/bangalore_city_map.jpg

Train journeys are always on the whole an enjoyable experience for me. The Indian railway is a study of contrasts. After trying unsuccessfully to gauge whether its merits or demerits dominate I have reached the conclusion that like with everything in life the Railways too are neither totally good nor bad, but bits of both. 
It is true to most people the Railways are an experience they'd rather avoid. The stations are dirty and unkempt; beggars, pickpockets and stray animals being their permanent residents. But the hustle and bustle of the railway station has always managed to impress rather than repulse me. Sleeper class is considered to be something of a nightmare to the average affluent Indian. And it is, to a certain extent. The compartment offers no privacy nor protection from the scores of beggars and eunuchs who crawl in and out of them aggressively demanding your attention. The stench of the toilets make it impossible for you to go about your business and you hope to God you don't catch something infectious from them. The Ac coach seems like Paradise in comparison. 


source:http://static.indianexpress.com/m-images/Mon%20Aug%2012%202013,%2016:33%20hrs/M_Id_409780_Indian_Railways.jpg

But despite all that I always prefer sleeper class for only one reason. The superb view it offers. In AC it is impossible to let the windows down and feel the air on your face. Most of the time the tinted windows of the compartment don't even offer you a decent view of whats outside the train. And for me that completely defeats the purpose of travelling by train in the first place. I've read somewhere that if you want to see India, do it by train. And for the most part I find that to be true. The railway routes take you through some of the most scenic and breathtaking patches of nature and show of the stellar wildlife off India to its best advantage. And for me the visual treat I receive during these journeys are more than enough to make up for all the physical inconveniences a hundred times over.   


                 (This is a photo taken by me, during the said train journey)

We reached Bangalore without event and I was awash with a sense of Deja Vu. The familiar sights and buildings seemed like old friends to me and my brain fought to accommodate the changes which had taken place as well. Bangalore, today boasts of being one of the most developed metropolises in the country but at the same time I feel the city has lost some of its soul and has become cool and impersonally 'organised' to a certain degree. Hyderabad's chaos and earthiness lends it a certain warmth that I felt was lacking in Bangalore. But hey, then again maybe that's just me. 
We attended the nuptials which like most Indian weddings took place in a temple and then from there proceeded to meet up with relatives who stayed in the city, most of them who were elderly and delighted to see us. 


source:http://www.colonrectal.net/images/old_people_group.png

An interesting observation I made about old people during this trip. The things they insist on talking about will undoubtedly be some or perhaps all of the following;
  1. The various ailments that plague them.
  2. Comparison of the price of various household commodities if you are visiting them from another place. 
  3. And then; all the family gossip. They sit there and go all like;
'Did you know Ritu's uncle's maternal aunt's youngest daughter went to the U.S to study for her doctorate?'
'Malini's sister-in-laws, stepmothers third nephew just got a promotion!'
'Accha, is Rakesh's nephew's 3rd daughter married yet? My neighbour's son's friend's brother is a good boy! Shall I send the family his horoscope?'


source:http://www.najknjiga.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/horoscope2013.gif

And I sit there with a dumb expression on my face going like, 'Who are all these people? Are they even related to me?' 
But with all due respect, the elders in the family are a pleasure to hang out with. They shower blessings on you freely and delight in listening to you talk about your life. They insist of giving you money and often dispense random tidbits of advice with the intention to help you out in some way or the other. I'm glad we took the time out to go and visit these people. They give freely and love unconditionally. They make me proud of the fact that I belong to their family. 
And so, after finishing up with the commitments we had in Bangalore, My grandparents, my grandfather's elder brother, my brother and I set out on our tour of the majestic state of Karnataka. 

TO BE CONTINUED . . . . .