It is only when the mind is at rest, that it starts thinking crazy things.
My mind had been at rest enough, as I neared the fag end of a self-enforced six month sabbatical. Inevitably, the mind - rested and restless at the same time - started thinking of strange things to do. There was also this pressing issue of my trousers mysteriously starting to get tighter every day. And, while the sabbatical had been slipping by, one had not had a proper holiday which one could boast of to all and sundry.
Of all this ferment was born the idea of going for a long cycling ride around the hills and backwaters of Kerala - perhaps one of the most beautiful regions that India has to offer its harried citizens.
My friend and adventure travel enthusiast, who runs www.farinto.com introduced me to Kalypso, a set of guys who could organise the bikes for us, and guide us around the state. I also managed to coerce my friend and partner in other crimes, Kunal Bajaj (@kunbajaj) to also mentally unhinge himself, and be my partner in this crime also.
Some negotiations, a little preparation and a thousand rethinks later, the adventure started, a day after I turned 43 - on January 14. Here is the story:
Day 0: Earth
Jan 11 was a pretty day, Jan 12 was beautiful, Jan 13 was exquisite - sun out, birds trilling, bees aflower, etc. Inevitably, Jan 14 brought to Delhi its worst fog ever - in years. Coincidentally and unsurprisingly, it was also the day we were supposed to take a Jet flight to Kochi. The best laid plans of mice and men implied that we leave Delhi at 9.20AM, hop merrily by Hyderabad, land comfortably at 1.30 PM at Kochi and then have a scenic four-hour drive to beautiful Munnar. Some sight seeing, a nice dinner and then wake up next morning to begin our pedalling.
Well, both mice and men were wrong. Our flight never left. We scrambled to catch other flights, managed to board one via Chennai at 5PM which deposited two shrivelled and exhausted human beings at Kochi at 9.30PM.
The sight of three lovely Canondales on a Mahindra Xylo revived us, though. So did Joji, our intrepid and super-knowledgeable driver and Vipin, our guide for the trip.
We found a hotel close by, surreally named Lotus 8, emptied a bottle of red wine between us, ingested some mock Kerala food, slept.
(To follow very soon - Cycling around Kerala: Day 1: Tea)
My mind had been at rest enough, as I neared the fag end of a self-enforced six month sabbatical. Inevitably, the mind - rested and restless at the same time - started thinking of strange things to do. There was also this pressing issue of my trousers mysteriously starting to get tighter every day. And, while the sabbatical had been slipping by, one had not had a proper holiday which one could boast of to all and sundry.
Of all this ferment was born the idea of going for a long cycling ride around the hills and backwaters of Kerala - perhaps one of the most beautiful regions that India has to offer its harried citizens.
My friend and adventure travel enthusiast, who runs www.farinto.com introduced me to Kalypso, a set of guys who could organise the bikes for us, and guide us around the state. I also managed to coerce my friend and partner in other crimes, Kunal Bajaj (@kunbajaj) to also mentally unhinge himself, and be my partner in this crime also.
Some negotiations, a little preparation and a thousand rethinks later, the adventure started, a day after I turned 43 - on January 14. Here is the story:
Day 0: Earth
Jan 11 was a pretty day, Jan 12 was beautiful, Jan 13 was exquisite - sun out, birds trilling, bees aflower, etc. Inevitably, Jan 14 brought to Delhi its worst fog ever - in years. Coincidentally and unsurprisingly, it was also the day we were supposed to take a Jet flight to Kochi. The best laid plans of mice and men implied that we leave Delhi at 9.20AM, hop merrily by Hyderabad, land comfortably at 1.30 PM at Kochi and then have a scenic four-hour drive to beautiful Munnar. Some sight seeing, a nice dinner and then wake up next morning to begin our pedalling.
Well, both mice and men were wrong. Our flight never left. We scrambled to catch other flights, managed to board one via Chennai at 5PM which deposited two shrivelled and exhausted human beings at Kochi at 9.30PM.
The sight of three lovely Canondales on a Mahindra Xylo revived us, though. So did Joji, our intrepid and super-knowledgeable driver and Vipin, our guide for the trip.
We found a hotel close by, surreally named Lotus 8, emptied a bottle of red wine between us, ingested some mock Kerala food, slept.
(To follow very soon - Cycling around Kerala: Day 1: Tea)
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