Month: March 2017

Hampi- Remnants of an ancient era (Part 2)

Posted on by Girl in the green $hrug

Our enthusiasm and curiosity to explore Hampi had resulted in sore foot and tardiness the next day, hence we woke up late and started off at noon. If we were aware of the sights that awaited us on the other side of the river, we wouldn’t have slept the previous night out of sheer excitement.

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Patches of paddy fields on one side and large boulders and lakes on the other. If this isn’t heaven, I don’t know what is!

On the banks of Tungabhadra river, a ferry service is available that can carry 20-30 people (along with a scooter or two) at a time, across the river at a minimal price. Upon reaching the other side, we rented a scooter and rode west, in the search of Sanapur lake. Unsure of the route (Absent-minded too, since we’d forgotten that we lived in the 21st century and Google maps were a thing!), we asked an elderly man walking by the road for directions but he pointed us in the opposite direction. Taking a U-turn, we rode back, hoping to confirm our direction with another local. A cozy looking café caught our eye and all the neurons in my brain screamed “Fooood”. It was a shack, with a board in front that read “Good Music and Home-made Food”. So, we entered the café, forgetting all about Sanapur Lake.

Now, let me tell you something. All that civilization, architecture and fine art that the Vijayanagara dynasty had built and let go? You won’t catch a whiff of it, once you’ve crossed the river. Which is why, Hippies and foreigners from all over the world prefer to rent huts and shacks on the other side of Hampi.

The tiny café had a few musical instruments (mostly broken) lying around. To my surprise, there was a finely tuned guitar with all its six strings in place. I picked it up and strummed a few chords that I knew. The aunty who owned the café had busied herself in the kitchen and within 10 minutes, an uncle (who, I presumed was the co-owner of the café) popped inside and sat in our opposite table. He patiently waited a few minutes until I stopped playing the notes and inquired our whereabouts. Once upon a time, he worked in the music industry and played with several groups, for several music directors. He was proud enough to proclaim his love for music but was humble enough to accept that it didn’t end well for him. It reminded me that,

“Talent, is not genius”- a quote from one of my favorite books- Little women.

On our request he played a few songs, while aunty served us delicious, warm food.

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Dum dum da rum da dum…

The day got interesting when a man named ‘Gaali’, dressed in a loose cotton kurta and jeans, having shoulder length hair and a dark complexion (mercy of the hot sun), entered the café. Gaali runs a musical instrument shop by the river bank, and jams with the locals and foreigners at sunset point. He mentioned that he had a sliver of opportunity to perform at the Hampi Utsava (I hope he did. It must have been wonderful). He sung a composition of his own, written in the honor of Kannadambe (Mother Karnataka).

If you ever visit Hampi, spare your evening to watch the sunset jam, where locals and foreigners gather to play music and sing along.

We bid goodbye to the wonderful trio and made our way to the Anjaneya temple, Anegundi- the birth place of lord Hanuman. A flight of steep stairs (approx 570 steps) takes you to the top of the hill that offers a panoramic view of the landscape. From afar, large boulders appear like tiny pebbles strewn across and acres of paddy fields resemble pieces in a jigsaws puzzle. Later that evening, we took a diversion from the highway and headed to Pampa sarovar (Lakshmi temple)-a world of its own. It’s believed that Shabari, a devotee of Rama had waited for his arrival there. An abundance of Gray Langurs can be found in its vicinity. Unlike its mischievous cousins, these docile-intelligent beings kept to themselves and studied the visitors from a safe distance with a pair of eyes that could probably see through you. In front of the temple is the Pampa sarovar, protected by tall boulders on all three sides.

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Spend a few peaceful moments here and I promise you, you can feel the cracks in your heart mend. (PC: Madhu)

After spending a few calm, refreshing moments there, we embarked on our journey towards the final destination of the day- The Durga temple which is built on top of a hill, surrounded by giant boulders (I was paranoid the whole time that one of them may collapse downhill and would crush me like a grape). Near the entrance of the temple, is a small cave that remains cool throughout the day. It is believed that Lord Rama once took shelter here. A large tree, whose branches were laden with colorful bundles bearing coconuts (as a token of the devotee’s wish), stood magnificently in front of the temple. Paying our respects to the deity, we headed back, as the ferry service to take us across the river would cease at 5.30.

Hastily, we returned the rented scooter just in time to catch the last ferry (which was extended to 6 p.m, thanks to the visiting season) and witnessed a spectacular sunset by the river. That same evening, we moved out to Hospet, collected our Luggage and boarded the bus back to Bangalore.

Until next time,
The Hippie Soul

Hampi- Remnants of an ancient era (Part 1)

Posted on by Girl in the green $hrug

The decision to spend a weekend in Hampi was a spontaneous one. On a whim, I asked my bestie to join me on a weekend trip. The destination was vague. She agreed, as she always does! Quickly, I did a little research and the tiny signs pointed me towards Hampi. We left Bangalore the following midnight, and due to some mysterious reason, all of Bangalore’s traffic was accumulated in the Majestic- Yeshwantpur junction. Our mighty bus took 2 hours to cover a km of the toll road. Though our ETA at Hospet was supposedly 6 a.m., we arrived four hours later. (Our driver had chosen an impromptu diversion. Spontaneity- A trait, I DID NOT appreciate in drivers).

Now, the ideal place to stay while visiting Hampi is the hippie islands, but unaware of it then, I had booked a hotel in Hospet (a half hr ride away from Hampi). After freshening up, we caught a decent brunch at a local hotel in Hospet. An absence of fellow travelers was clearly obvious as the occupants at each table were either men-catching up on old tales or families having a quite meal. And then there was us- two girls, oblivious (at least, we pretended to be) to all the curious looks shot our way.

An hour later, we found ourselves in Hampi talking to a rickshaw driver who had jumped into our moving bus while it was being parked. He sure was keen on catching a customer, and after a bit of haggling, we agreed for a tour of the city at 500 Bucks (Which, by the way is tad pricey as I later realized). Our auto-driver had sworn to be worthy of the price, or else there was a complete-refund policy (Yeah, right. We all know how that ends).

We started off with Sasivekalu Ganesha (Translation: Mustard seed Ganesha; only because there was another idol which was fairly larger in size, as compared to this), moving on to Hemakunta hill temple complex- a large expanse bearing many temples, with no idols to worship in them (Emphasizes, why the city is now called Ruins of Hampi) and offers a generous view of the Virupaksha temple and its surroundings.

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For miles and miles, you see rocks, boulders, sculptures and trees that have witnessed the glorious years of Hampi. (PC: Madhu)

Built on varying leveled platforms, this art of architecture set in stone, with carvings on every inch is simply astonishing. It seemed to me as if the hill stood like a lone soldier, helplessly watching the catastrophe of a war that laid waste to the land, destroying everything familiar. A carefree evening on these hills, in the company of loved ones watching the golden crown of sunset, talking about life, sipping tea was all I wanted at that moment.I vowed to return, determined to capture every bit of the wondrous smithereens in a sketch.

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Even time pauses here for a moment, imploring Hampi to re-tell its story. (PC: Madhu)

One thing I found in abundance in Hampi, other than the buildings of course, were the brown squirrels, skittering about willy-nilly.

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The Guardian of Hemakunta, savoring his meal- a tasty peanut! (PC: Madhu)

Then on, we paid a visit to the Shiva temple and the partly-destroyed Ugra Narasimha. The original sculpture had a small figure of Goddess Lakshmi, resting on his lap. It was mutilated when the Mughals raided Vijayanagara Empire in 1565 A.D, also marking its downfall.

We met a man, who once was a former member of the archaeological committee. Now, an artist who carved out beautiful sculptures out of Soap. He explained that during the restoration, a few features were added to the sculpture (such as the large distinguishable mark on the chest of the sculpture) an addition made to make the idol more stable.

Awesomeness in progress
A few specimens of his work
Rivers or rainfall, ditches or muddy water. Kids know how to celebrate life!

The second section of the city is the palace ground. One of the major attractions was the Lotus Mahal (a.k.a Chitragani Mahal or Kamal Mahal). A mesmerizing example of the Vijayanagara architecture, built solely to serve the royal ladies of Vijayanagara Empire. The structure was originally surrounded by four Watch towers, of which only three can be seen today.

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Every monument at its best. It’s as if the craftsmen competed against each other and filled every inch with their soul.

The foundation to a queen’s palace (which was never built) can be found near the entrance. An elegant-long building with beautiful domed chambers that once served as an elephant stable, now was being adorned with lights. The reason being- The infamous Hampi utsav. We were visiting only a few days prior to festival, and hence the city was bustling with foreigners and local tourists, while the major attractions were embellished. A stage was being set up for the performances and plays scheduled for the festival. The air was charged up, as actors rehearsed their roles and carpenters busied about, building wooden platforms and beams. We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the forthcoming celebrations of a fabled empire.

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Break time! What’s happening around the world?

An archaeology museum laid within the same premises- a treasure trove to all the architectural artifacts, relics, coins, tools, miniature paintings, ivory items, copper plates and several other things from the glorious era of the Vijayanagara Empire.

We then headed out to explore the Pushkarini (temple tank)- an ancient step well, located near the Mahanavami Dibba (a.k.a Dasara Dibba) constructed by King Krishnadevaraya to celebrate his victory over Udayagiri (Modern day-Orissa).Later, our Auto dropped us off at the final location of the tour- Vijaya Vittala temple.

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One can choose between availing a government facilitated utility vehicle (at a fair price) or taking a good ol’ walk uphill, for about a km to reach the main entrance of the Temple. A ticket bought to enter the palace grounds, also can be used to enter the Royal temple. But, being the goofball that I am, I lost it somewhere on the road and had to buy it again.

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Not the only goofball here! (PC: Me)

Vijaya Vittala temple is the Taj Mahal of Hampi. The amount of effort, craftsmanship, creativity and art that is poured into every inch of the ensemble is exceptional. The stone chariot is an artistic marvel in itself, and bears a striking resemblance to the stone chariot situated in Konark Sun temple, Orissa (Incidentally, Krishnadevaraya was fascinated by the aforementioned chariot whilst his war against Udayagiri and thus, ordered an establishment of one such chariot in his own empire). The musical pillared temple is yet another marvelous contribution of the Vijayanagara Empire. Among the other structures are the shrine of the Goddess (a.k.a Devi shrine), Maha Mantapa (a.k.a Sabha Mantapa/ congregation hall), Ranga Mantapa, Kalyana Mantapa (marriage hall), Utsava Mantapa (festival hall).  Even in the middle of such loud ambience, I found a moment of tranquility in the Vittala temple, by the closed gates watching a horse graze peacefully. The winds whisked away my thoughts with their stories about distant lands.

The sunset point, at the Matunga Hill is one of the most sought out places in Hampi. But, we neither had the stamina, nor the will to mount a hill!

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Gateway to heaven. Care to venture? (PC: Madhu)

On our way out, amongst many children who sold photographs /postcards of Hampi, I met an adorable little boy- Abhi (Abhishek).

As it was the deepavali weekend, all kids had the week-off, ergo a golden opportunity to earn some extra cash. At every major tourist hub in Hampi, we’ve been pestered by children to buy postcards. (I for one ain’t a fan of it, but a friend of mine- an old soul, loves postcards for souvenirs). Unlike other children, Abhi didn’t badger us. Instead, he politely requested us once, took one look at our camera and before we could respond, uttered bashfully “Okay, thank you. We don’t want it” in an attempt to imitate every other tourist. His quick wit intrigued me, so I struck up a conversation with him, examining the postcards. A moment later, a family walked past us, as Abhi walked along with them. The older woman spoke kindly to him, laying her hand on his shoulder. I watched them walk out of sight; surprised that he would leave behind a stack of postcards in the hands a total stranger. (What if I ran away with it?)

Few minutes later, he returned with a grim look on his face, stating “She just wanted to feel good about herself by talking to me, but had no interest in the postcards”.

Smack! Truth slapped on the face.

I felt sorry for him, but at the same time wanted to convince him that the world is not all black & white!

As we walked back to Virupaksha temple, vaguely in the route of Kampa- Bhupa’s path- a walk along the rocky, boulder strewn trail by the banks of river Tungabhadra; Abhi opened up about his family. A drunk-abusive father that he resents, a mother-struggling to make ends meet, a sister- who’s quit college and is expected to be married off soon. The society burdens us all with its expectations and here was a boy sharing the burden of his family, trying to earn a little to ease the lives of the living. His dream? To become an engineer one day, move to the city and earn good money. I realized, this is the dream of most children in Karnataka who live in villages or rural areas. Their dreams- our reality. Yet, here we are trying to escape it. I wonder, if it’s the lack of imagination or support that refrains children from dreaming large, colorful, powerful dreams- that means something to them, instead of choosing the regular career path.

A moment of a beautiful sunset graced us at the banks of Tungabhadra, while fishermen rowing coracle boats made their way home. En route, Abhi pointed out a fascinating spot, one that contained neat piles of stones. Apparently, it is a belief that by doing so, one’s wishes would be granted.

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A castle of wishes! (PC: Madhu)

We parted ways at the temple. He followed a supposed customer, and I took a tour of the Virupaksha temple. It boasts of a huge elaborate structure with an inner sanctuary, a large courtyard, an open pillared hall, 3 ante chambers, a stable for an elephant- a delightful little creature who accepts coins from your hand with his trunk and in return plants a kiss on your head, as a blessing.

At night, the monuments of Hampi are lit up in shades of multicolored lights, intensifying the beauty of its intricate carvings. Seated atop the Hemakunta hill, we watched the mystifying dance of the lights on various structures, as the sky full of glowing stars reminded us that this wasn’t a city in ruins, but a testament to remnants of a grand era!

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Abracadabra! (PC: Madhu)

Until next time,
The Hippie Soul

A day Tour in Mysore.

Posted on by Girl in the green $hrug

Mysore!

The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word Mysore is Dasara. The grandeur of heritage and architecture of Mysore is well known to everyone. An empire left behind by the Wodeyars, stands proudly, boasting of its magnificent history, royal palaces, museums, and art galleries. Though Dasara is the peak visiting season in Mysore; it still remains the best time to visit Mysore, as one gets to relieve its history. Oh, the glory of the durbar (royal assembly), the Jambu sawari (procession of the royal sword and the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari on a golden throne) is majestic.

Our visit to Mysore was a short one- on the third day of Dasara (luckily a weekend), assuming it to be a safe bet with regard to the coterie of tourists. We caught an early morning train from SBC (Bangalore) to Mysore that took approx 2.5 hours to reach. During our journey, we had the privilege to befriend this little angel- Janvi, who loved playing the game of choosing a different name for herself as per her whim.

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The world is full of happiness as long as there are children-smiling!

 A friend lived in the city and let us crash at her place, also allowing us to borrow her scooter- A boon in disguise. The major attractions are spread across the city, and having a vehicle at your disposal reduces the efforts of advanced planning. Having begun our exploration at noon, we decided to randomly ride across town, instead of playing the tourist.

The first thing that captured our attention was Karnataka Kalamandir standing in solitude, across the Mangalore-Mysore highway. It hosted a display of paintings, photographs, miniature models by different artists.

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A click of a picture, in the game of reflections and shadows.

The surroundings of the gallery were embellished with sculptures and a larger than life sized peacock- built entirely from wood and coconut branches.

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Majestic, ain’t it?

In the very same campus exists Rangayana- An institute that promotes theatre and stage craft.

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Dancing along with the sunlight to the melodies of the wind!

Vividly colored bamboo sticks placed vertically at various points imitated a maze like pattern and scintillating head-shaped clay pots were positioned on the ground or were hung from poles across the entire path which led to an open ground where we caught a glimpse of the scenes of an act, played by a small gathering of students.

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Caught in the act… (PC: Madhu)

Their mentors’- two women, one in her early thirties and the other in her late twenties, emanating an aura of wisdom and discipline guided and corrected them, by and by.

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Show! Don’t tell. (PC:Madhu)

The play was to take place each night during the Dasara festival in the open air theater- Vanaranga. The wonderful decorations were set up to create a wonderful ambience when lit up by bright colored focus lights at night.

After a satisfying lunch, we rode to the Mysore palace- the first overcrowded destination of our day. The scorching sun didn’t allow us to explore the grounds.

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A royal evening is being awaited, as the clouds play peek-a-boo with the sun. (PC: Madhu)

Hence, we chose to take shelter inside the walls of Jaganmohan Palace, dipping our senses in the ocean of paintings, monuments, grandiose architecture, and history. I would never be able to justify in words, what I witnessed in reality. If you are a true lover of art and architecture, history and monuments, you’ll realize that the Palace itself is too small to encompass the richness of the Wodeyar Empire. On the outer gardens of the Palace, one can take a small tour across the grounds on an elephant, or hunt for souvenirs in gift shops.

Later that evening, we proceeded to the sand museum, located on the way to Chamundi Hills. Intricate sculptures of Srikantadatta Wodeyar, Jambu sawari, Lord Ganesha, Goddess Chamundi, Laughing Buddha, Islamic Culture, Geetopadesh, ancient civilizations and tribes have been molded in the sand with fabulous precision. The interesting fact is that the artwork was created by a budding art student- MN Gowri, in 5 months. Unlike most sand sculptures that are put on display for a temporary period, this museum is here for the long run.

A day in Mysore can never be concluded without a visit to the enchanting Chamundi Hills. Since it was Dasara- the peak tourist season, the cops had blocked the way to prevent private vehicles from traveling uphill, as it would cause congestion. Instead, there was an alternative option of traveling via the royal public transport- Buses. We waited in line for more than an hour, until we could finally board one (My only concern was that we would miss the sunset at the peak, thanks to all the waiting). Just, a few meters away from our boarding point, the government had stationed a landing pad, and a Helicopter facility that offered rides (at a fair price) across the city. Though, it was post sunset when we made it to the top, the view was breathtaking. Colorful miniature lights adorned trees and street corners, creating a festive atmosphere.

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Light up the night! (PC:Madhu)

The soothing wind combined with the pleasant music playing from tea stalls made our short visit magical. I befriended a dog, after I shared a lump of my ice-cream with her. But she kept following me around with no remorse, as if I was the gingerbread man. (Isn’t it shameful, when one can’t even shoo away a dog?) On returning, we made our way back to the Palace grounds to witness the marvelous view of the palace lit up at night, backed by a carnatic music concert.

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These hallways were once the witness to an entire generation of a royal dynasty. But now? (PC: Madhu)

Every building in its own shadow proclaimed its stories into the dark that night- A tale of a royal dynasty thriving through centuries ruling an empire witnessing love, loss, curses, wars and famines. One whose love for art and architecture transcended boundaries, whose richness and prosperity was a common knowledge to people, even across the oceans.

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Mysore- An empire that once attracted awe with its elegance, heritage and richness. It will continue to so, for generations to come. (PC- Madhu)

Until next time,
The Hippie Soul

Souvenirs from Wayanad!

Posted on by Girl in the green $hrug

Wanderlust is something that was buried deep in my soul, a long time ago. But it’s only now that I fully see the vibrancy of its enchanting colors & ‘Wayanad’ was on my bucket list of ‘places to go’ for over 2 years now. If you compare the past 20 years of my life v/s the last 2 years, it would be evident that I wasn’t much of a traveler before. A tourist? maybe! See, there’s a difference between visiting places, and exploring places- and that’s what distinguishes a tourist from a traveler.

I have never traveled alone/ with a group of strangers before; at least not without the company of a close friend. Though, this time I was traveling with a group of 45 people, who belonged to the same organization as I. This idea had initially frightened me, as I barely knew any of them. I know that a lot of people go on adventures with complete strangers, but I was never one of them. Crowded places, large gatherings or get together unnerves me, though I can be the chirpiest and liveliest person you’ve ever known, on one-on-one interactions. But in groups- I am no different than a lost puppy. Anyhow, I had to go, because exploring Wayanad was far more important than my innate fears as an ambivert.

We started from Bangalore on Friday night in a bus that could put a Discotheque to shame. It was painted in bright colors with a caption on the side of the bus that read ‘Are you ready to Dance?’ The interiors of the bus were covered in mosaics of funky colors, The bus had large speakers that could boom loud enough to wake up an entire neighborhood. Various disco ball lights flooded the cabin of our bus, converting it into a retro dance floor.

It felt like I was back in college having one of those trips when life was simple, reckless and carefree, when the prejudice and conditioning of the society still hadn’t seeped into our hearts. For a change, it felt good to be away, along with perfect strangers who knew very well, how to celebrate each moment. No one slept that night until the wee hours of the morning. We celebrated the birthday of a friend, danced mindlessly to the beats of the music, swapped Hulk & Dora masks like 13 y.o and sang along awkwardly to every song that emanated from the giant speakers but barely slept for 3-4 hours. When the first rays of Sunshine peeped through the foggy clouds next morning, we stopped by an old petrol bunk. A few of us stepped out and rid our body & mind of motion sickness by playing football while the others slept peacefully inside.

A few hours later, we reached our dormitory- PI residency in Kakkavayal and quickly scattered to our rooms to freshen up. After munching on a minimal breakfast, everyone was recharged and we set off towards Meppady through the narrow winding roads where only one large vehicle can pass at a time. Incidentally, we encountered a large bus (alike ours) en route due to which our bus had to roll back for at least half a km, to find a decent spot to let the other bus through.

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A bouncy- magical ride through the slopes!

On reaching Meppady, our large group dispersed into packs of 8-9 and hopped into jeeps which took us via Chembra tea estates to the beginning of the trail path. One has to walk 2 km, via tea gardens to reach the trek starting point.

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Oh! What I’d give to live in this moment forever!

The difficulty level of the trek is moderate, though the path is a lot slippery during monsoon (a few friends dared to trek the entire path in slippers and sandals). I, being not a regular Trekkie, took a lot of breaks to catch my breath while a few of my groupies jumped across rocks like acrobatic monkeys. Halfway through the journey, one can find a large heart-shaped lake (believed to have never run dry) named ‘Hridayasaras’. Past that, the trek gets easier as it is just a steep path uphill. It took us almost 2 hours to reach the peak, and there is yet another lake at the top. Though, there are multiple peaks visible from the top, most of them have restricted access.

 

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An enchanting view of Chembra tea estates.

From the top, one can see almost all of Kalpetta and Meppady covered under the clouds, draped in lush greens. We got drenched several times during the trek and every single time, I had to encase the camera which felt like an annoying charade. The playful fresh wind and the timid rain showers along with the breathtaking view soothed our souls. We spent a little time by ourselves in peaceful silence, until the others made it to the top.

Descending downhill was much easier, since we slid most of the way down on our butt, thanks to the rain showers that had turned the steep paths all the more slippery. We took tiny breaks, exchanging jokes, poetry, philosophies, bits and pieces of our own life stories, our dreams and fears. In a group of 48 people, I found a tiny family-even if for a small duration and I’ll always be grateful for that experience.

At the end of the trail, we treated ourselves to several cups of lemon tea and a tummy load of pakoda’s (compensating for the lack of a proper breakfast and lunch). As our group was the first to complete the trek, we waited until the others reached back and finished their share of hogging. Magical as the day was, we were lucky enough to spot a faint rainbow across the sky.

Thereafter, the jeeps drove us back to Meppady. Later, we visited Lakkidi view point (a scenic spot on a busy hair-pin curved highway), just in time to catch the sunset.

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Hues of Blue at Lakkidi

After a much satisfying dinner, we headed to our dorm, while most of us dozed off in the bus-drained from the physical strain from a long day. Thankfully, our group was full of enthusiastic people who wouldn’t let the night end that way. So, we started a bonfire, gathering around its cozy warmth, played games, sang and danced. As the night grew dark, everyone resigned to their rooms, one by one.

 

Next morning, we were ready and replenished by 11 a.m. Though we had plans to visit Kuruvadweep and soochipara falls, they were both closed due to the rainfall. A quick breakfast later, we reached Pookode Lake and spent the afternoon there, exploring the fish museum and trailing the lake while a few tried the communal fish spa (Though, I enthusiastically turned it down, for I pitied the fishes that had to nibble down all that dead skin).

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Spreading joy into the wind. Bubbles that carry the memories of our sweet childhood.

After skipping lunch later that day, we traveled to Meenmutty falls. The water was extremely cold, the surrounding rocks were slippery and the current was strong. Undeterred by such challenges, we spent our evening frolicking in the water. The walk back to the bus (almost 2 km) was memorably fun as we were drenched from head to toe, cold & shivering, hungry, with no change of clothes in hand. Yet, that didn’t stop us from slurping delicious-hot Maggie and tea on borrowed money.

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Meenmutty falls in all its glory!

There were no specific changing rooms in the area, but we found an old-uninhibited house in ruins that solved our problem. I was so madly in love with Kerala, as I knew that I could spend my eternity in that old shack.

As we returned, our driver raced the bus like a hurricane to the Karnataka-Kerala border at Bandipur since the police closes off the check post at 8 p.m., (which didn’t deter the singing, dancing and the havoc that was being created by us inside the bus). Luckily we made it in time, but unluckily we were held up in a long queue before the checkpoint and worried that the guards wouldn’t let us through as it was almost 8 p.m. But, after an anxious wait, we crossed the border and witnessed an elephant cross our paths (Which, let me remind you was the only ‘wild life’ we spotted on our entire journey).

On reaching Gundlupet, we were delighted to find a hotel that was open at 10.30 p.m. Without a second thought, everyone rushed in and emptied their kitchens. At about 11 p.m., we vacated the premises (with not much option) as the police had rallied down, demanding to shut down the hotel (Since, there had been a few riots in the area over the past few weeks).

The journey back to Bangalore was mostly uneventful, since most of us slipped into deep sleep while the ‘ever-enthusiastic’ bunch cracked jokes, gave speeches and awards (imaginary ones, of course) under several categories.

At 4.30 a.m., our driver abruptly started playing songs over the speaker (Apparently, that was his way of saying- Good morning. We’ve reached Bangalore!), much to our annoyance. Angry girls yelled at him at the top of their voices while astonished boys stared at the outburst. If the music hadn’t woken us, the abuse that followed, definitely did. I bid goodbye to my new endearing friends and made my way home, as I had to go back to office a few hours later.

Just the way the right book, finds its way to you, I believe the same goes with people and places. When it’s not the right time, even the right people or places can’t serve their purpose in your life.

Like a caterpillar that reincarnates into a butterfly, my understanding of this world has changed, now that I see the world with a different pair of eyes. There are stories woven in every city, every street corner, every sunset, behind every wrinkled face, in every tide of the ocean, in every breath, every sigh, behind the twinkle of an eye that has shed a million tears, behind every smile that masks a million emotions and if it deems you worthy, those tales will be woven deeply into your memories.

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Reach out, and you’ll find your tribe!

Until next time,
The hippie soul!