This June brought me a trip to my old buddy, my native roots - Kerala ! After a heart stopping scary flight from Mumbai to Coimbatore, I was very close to reaching Gods own Paradise. Yes , flights are scary. I believe people don't admit it. The mere thought of not having a firm grounding beneath, sends me scouting for banyan trees, behind which i can hide so peacefully! Take offs are adrenaline pumping in a bad way and landings, well they are just about finding ground and applying brakes way too hard . I will surely dedicate some day a detailed article regarding the nightmare called Plane journeys.
Coming back to my original story. I reached the winding lanes of 'Nalepilly', a small village near 'Palakad'. With open arms I welcomed the sounds of coconut trees swishing from left to right and then again right to left. The heat in Kerala reduced to a mere negligent level, it felt great to be a part of this side of the country.
I remember how we used to crib as kids during our Kerala trips. My grandmother lives in a very primitive house. Its so primitive that the mud house welcomes all kinds of creepy crawlies, has an anti - tube light policy, is far far away from any restaurant, far from anything city like. We as kids with our half baked Malayalam, snobbish attitudes of being 'Bombaykaras' (people from Bombay) , we used to wait desperately to return by the next available Kurla- Coimbatore express! These memories make me laugh so hard.
This time around it had been a little different. Beginning with my grandmothers tales of Mahabharata and Ramayana, i was once again a kid, listening with awe and an improved concentration span.
I never really cared to observe the rich flora and fauna that my grandmothers place offers. It, being so far away from civil world, the birds in all shapes and sizes and colors flock the lemon tree that stands so tall in front of the house. I wish I knew which birds these were, just like my niece and nephew, who know all the different species of birds that exists ever! Really the birds were a lovely sight and so were the elegant lizards, the chameleons and even the dogs that were housed in the huge bungalows. The bungalows remind me of the short visits we made to all the relatives houses. 12 different ones (Ha! Beat that). Eating and drinking refreshments 12 times in a row, talking about the weather, the next kid to be married off, etc took a whole lot out of me ! I was exhausted by the end of it. A thorough pleasant meet i must say after these many months. Well we 'Bombaykaras' are after all real experts at making these flying visits.
I wonder how healthy the people in Kerala must be, for they breathe oxygen freshly produced from the greens around. They consume fresh coconut oil , do not eat junk food. God bless Kerala !
My cherry on the top of a white chocolate cake moment was when i spotted a snake gliding away graciously around the mango tree :)
PS :- Just in case you wondered what the title of this write up means- well its the number plate of the royal white ambassador in which we roam around since childhood whenever we are in wonderland Kerala !
