A Traveler's Memoir

I couldn't ride far, the story of two friends from the road ended with one leaving home after 1200 kilometres. I tried camping but was guided to Bhairagi Baba mutt. There were 2 old men living there, who were priests at the temple, one was out of town. Another man in his 30s got them necessary groceries and things from the town. They served me a satisfying meal with rice, dhal, potato fry and boiled channa. After a grand meal, I slept on a mat with my blanket, going back in time. It all started in Ooty. I felt like being born there. When I asked dad for a bike in my 11th Std, he gave me 16000 to buy a moped, Kinetic King. I sold it within a month to buy a Suzuki Shogun, later exchanged the shogun for a Honda Shine. That Shine was the most beautiful ride I've ever ridden in my entire life. She was a beautiful story which got stolen by a friend. After Shine was gone I was low, even my parents were in another country. When I told them about the bike, they said it's ok and not ...

I rode through Odisha on the NH 326. The stretch was more of an off-road experience, pure pleasure. I simply stood to enjoy the music of the engine revving. I saw a safe place to camp at around 4 pm. So thrilled that I might find more, I kept riding deeper through the forests but it got dark by the time I found another. The headlight runs on the dynamo, dimming every time I reduced the throttle, making it impossible to ride fast or even have a view of the surroundings to set camp. In the middle of nowhere, I met a few Tibetans stuck with one of their bikes not starting. I checked the bike, looked like there was a block in the carburettor. When I started talking to them, turned out one of the guys was from Bylakuppe! I towed their bike for a few kilometres to help them reach a garage.  As I rode ahead to realise It was Ganesh pooja that day and I was served with mildly spiced Kichidi as dinner by the townspeople who were celebrating. They made sure nobody went hungry that night. I s...

I have to wake up early now, my mother's message is the first thing I read every day, feels good. The alarm rang at 6 and I forced myself out after 10 minutes. It is Ugadi, our new year. I wished my mom and my friend, reaching the restaurant by 6.45, had black coffee to kick start myself, We had two guests on continental plan and another who would check out. While one breakfast was asked to be sent to the room, the other said they would come to the restaurant. A couple came last, I served them and cleaned the table while Raghu was away and had my breakfast. Raghu wanted to leave in the noon today. Hence I had my break till 2. I decided to visit a temple and started walking down from the resort. I asked for a lift and a lady in a Maruthi 800 stopped. She was in her 50's but energetic and had a class. She dropped me near Ganapathi temple in Naidupuram. Since I had time I decided to go to the Bhadrakali temple I had seen en route. Started walking again and another person droppe...