nostalgia ---baths

                                  Nothing is as refreshing as a hot water bath . Today also did it as usual (proves that i take a bath everyday :) )  . But today was nostalgic about my baths of my childhood ..

                                                             Just like varieties of food (oh God when will i stop this food comparison ) each bath was unique in itself . First there was the simple bath where for hours you start playing with the large metal bucket as big as yourself (these traditional vessels were 6 times the size of our present day plastic buckets ) . Hot water if you wanted was made by using firewood under these huge metal vessels . And the merriment increased when the cousins (all kids of nearby ages ) had a group bath with playing with the water and mock fighting .

Then there were baths which were in the open . If you think we were exhibitionists you are partially right . It was on the side of the family well and the touch of cold water from the well was more refreshing than any pipe water . And the exhibitionism was purely unintentional as the open air bath was just that ... open air ... and we were children :)

Then there was the bath in the pond . It was more exciting as some swimming was involved alongside the fishes and the occasional tortoise . But personally though i was not afraid even of snakes there was one unknown creature we were all afraid of .. "crocodiles " .. No , our pond was never infested with crocodiles . But it was a fear instilled by our mother and aunts to prevent the kids (really a naughty bunch ) from going near the pond unsupervised . And the swim was only when the pond was less full as when it was full it was 3 person depth and scary .

Coming to crocodiles i was lucky enough to swim in the place where sankaracharya had his leg bitten by a real crocodile . That was kalady . When not in rainy season we used to go there to have a swim in the river periyar . Its a beautiful river and has inspired countless malayalam songs too .

And last but not the least the beautiful kovalam beach and swimming in the sea . Every weekend when i was a bigger kid and in early teens used to go there and had a swim . Taste of the salt and an occasional tumbling with the waves makes this bath unique as you need another bath at home to clear the sand which sticks to your body after . But in the excitement who cares ...

And the bath in the sea with my girlfriend :)  ( sorry thats seriously a joke ... only phantom did it with diana ) ...I was a child remember  ...