Life is an adventure or a journey .... Thats a truth and philosophy but this time i am going to describe two mini adventures i did a few years back . It was when i was working in north kerala as a radiologist . Many weekends i used to go to trivandrum to see my parents . But some weekends i was the equivalent of "home alone " in my apartment . So one sunday morning after a quick breakfast i decided to visit one of my staff . Going by land was boring . So i decided to go by the next means of transport ---water . She had told me that her house was near the badagara river and had given me rough directions . No google maps in those good old days . I went to a shop where i used to have tea once in a while and the shopkeeper had a boat . Boat in the sense that the driver is yourself and there is no motor. Basically a traditional small "vallam " approximately 8 ft by 2 ft . and i had to row all the way . He gave me his boat and i the lone rower set out alone on my solo journey . In retrospect i think i should have stocked food supplies because the total journey to base camp took approximately 7 hours . Initially it was simple .... i kept on rowing enjoying the natural beauty on either side of river . Then i realised there were two problems ...one i was moving slowly inspite of rigorous rowing . Later i knew that i was rowing against the tide as the river was approximately 3 kms from the ocean . Another problem was i underestimated the distance to her house . Anyway once started there was no turning back .... Soon i reached a bridge rather under a bridge . Some people were fishing there and i smiled and waved at them . But the funny part was even after waving they were in the same position even after ten minutes . I realised that inspite of my vigorous rowing the tide and currents near the bridge pillars were making my absolute displacement zero . Luckily i was able to steer the boat away from the pillars were the currents were too strong .
Heat stroke----- i was lucky again --- i never thought about the total exposure to the midday suns heat while i was rowing continuosly . Luckily i didnt get any heat stroke . Rowing continued and suddenly the river became double the size and split into two . We are used to highways were there are boards kept showing directions and people are around . But in a river where is the board and who will give the directions . Luckily i saw a person in the distant bank and i rowed and reached them. They gave me directions and soon (rather after another 2 hours ) i saw my small boat swayed by the waves and in the distance i could see the arabian sea . My journey had not ended . In true kerala style i rowed to the nearest bank , tied my boat to a coconut tree and drank 3 bottles of soda from the nearest coconut leaf thatched shop . Nice villagers they told me the way to my staffs house through land ... i then asked the way through water also as i had to park my "vehicle" .
It was very close in a small canal connected to the river . I tied the boat again and visited her and her family . They were surprised to see the visitor coming in a boat . I had a sumptuous kerala lunch at her home and talked about the local news with her father ...
By around 3 pm i again started rowing back to my base camp . This journey was uneventful because i had now been used to rowing and knew my route clearly like an expert highwayman .
When the sun started to set i reached the teashop where the owner was anxiously waiting for my return . What was supposed to be a 2 hour journey ultimately took the whole day ....Nice man he didnt scold me even though he was very worried .....And for me i am content with my small adventure in the land of Northern ballads ....Badagara ....
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