Memorable Trip….
Honeymoon is i am sure everyone’s dream and its a much awaited event after one’s marriage.
It was the same for us if not for any other reason but mainly for some kind of a relaxation and peace.
Our marriage was a very traditional one and had too much of bhaaga daudi(running around).Especially for Sudhar it was all the more tiring because he had arrived only a week back.And spent most of his timing talking to me over the phone that too till 2 in the morning :) without taking rest…. :)So once we were done with marriage ceremonies and all the temple visits, we headed back to coimbatore.We had a great grand reception waiting for us.We hardly knew anyone.I knew no one,but sudharshan knew few people so it was the ususal thing. And as i dont like posing for snaps, i had minor problems wiht the photographer for which i was upset the whole time during the reception.
Well it also got over and now was the time for us to get ready for our honeymoon.
After long talk and discussions about it, we had decided to go to a small place called “Coconut Lagoon”. Its in Kerala and is situated in an island in the midst of gorgeous back waters.
After lots of running around and fighting with the tiredness, we started packing and to our shock we realised that we havent washed our clothes and sudharshan also wanted to buy few shirts. So as usual last minute washing and running to the shop.
Finally we were done and started around 3am on Nov 10th morning.
Sridhar had booked our tickets in AC. We had to get down in Kumaragam .Its a town in Kerala.
I remember initially we couldnt sleep in the train so we called up chithi and wished her. It was her B’Day.
But slowly our bodies started realising that we woke up at 3 and need some rest. So we slept off.
Finally reached Kumaragam around 11 or may be 12 noon.From there we got into a taxi and it was a drive of about 1 hour to that beautiful place. Again there we waited at the lake front before a guy came in one water taxi to pick us up.
We were all thrilled and looking forward to this much heard about place.
We went through the beautiful kerala and saw all beautiful house boats and the wood houses, which we generally see in TV or read in books. We were lucky to see them live.
We didnt know which side ot turn to, One moment we would be astonished at the hosue boats and at the same time we would want to look to the water canal and the beautiful sun glowing through the tall palm trees.
Well somehow managed and reached the wonderful place.I have never been to such a beautiful place. I dont know what heaven looks like but this was nothing less than that……….we were so happy that we decided to go there.
It was equally expensive but after sometime we realised that it was worth the money we were paying.
As we got down from the boat, a young lady, well dressed in a traditional kerala outfit came forward to welcome us and greeted us with Coconut water and flowers.
As we were waiting for our paper work to be done we saw so many more people roaming and enjoying the scenic beauty of the place.
Mostly they were foreigners who came for relaxation or honeymoon couples.
Well finally paperwork was done and we headed towards our cottage house. The walkway was also very nice and lush grassy. eye catching flowers all around.
There were 3 types of rooms available. One was the normal single bed room. The other was like a small house with a hall downstairs and a bed room upstairs.(this was the one we had taken) and the third was the beautiful whole house wiht dining room and swimming pool included.
We reached our room and were more than happy to see it.
But before we could relax….bells started ringning in our stomachs.
They had this grand buffet with all sorts of food. Indian, eastern, western, veg and non veg you think of something and it would be there.
We reached there and were really excited to see the good variety of food. People serving there were too good, frankly these words are just not enough for them.
Sudhar was a little upset as he had mouth ulcer and was not able to enjoy the food…………poor guy somehow managed with the food.
I remember the best thing about it was the special jeera water they gave us. We literally loved it and got it to our room in a bottle.
And somehow they also knew that we liked it because the moment we would enter the dining hall they would instantly get us this hot Jeera Water.
Among the people serving, One young lady was very sweet and got very friendly with us. Had a very pleasing smile too. There was another woman who was all showing off, and we didnt like her, as she was biased and would only help and talk to foreigners :)…silly people still live with that mentality.
I also fulfilled my dream of tasting RED WINE there.:)
Well as these surprises and happiness came along, we also had a little problem which kept bothering us on the whole trip. Although we never spoke about during that time, I am sure both of us were equally worried about it and that was our VISA!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, sudhar’s visa papers were in the consulate and even after 2 or so weeks we didnt receive it and imd from cochin, we were going to chennai for my Visa Interview…but I need his papers to get mine.
Well not thinking of it we continued to enjoy the wonderful place, the good food and the nice peaceful atmosphere.
Our room was situated just next to the back waters and we could see the happennings in the lake from our room. Occasionally the local fishermen passing thru would stare at us, perhaps wondering how much we would have paid for something they live out everyday.
There was also an Ayurvedic healing centre where we got medicine for sudhar’s throat ulcer.
We also had a hammock tied outside our room so spent a lot of time there too, mostly after dark.
Well we didnt know how the time passed by and finally it was time for us to start.
We also went out in a boat to see the very famous yellow sunset there. It was defintiely an eye capturing scene. we wont forget that moment for sure.
we didnt get any info about our VISA yet, so we decided to cancel my appointment because if we won’t cancel it before 24 hours we might not get an appointment for the next 90 days.
So we cancelled my appointment and headed back to chennai.
We half heartedly got into the boat reached the land exitng the island. The young lady from the dining hall, rushed out to wave a happy good bye to us. It was so nice of her. We told ourselves that we should visit again just for that nice lady’s hospitality. We got into a car at the other end of the lake and after a drive of about 1 hour, we reached cochin airport.
This was my first ever flight trip, but as usual i didnt react much,. I was in a dilemma between feeling happy abt the trip, my first flight, and feeling dull and morose about the visa issue.
We reached chennai and I was in severe ear pain, not bearing the air pressure difference inflight. Spent few days at my home luckily. As we were planning to postpone our tickets, we got a mail saying that sudhar’s papers were cleared and that it will reach us in a day or two.
We heaved a sigh of releif. Again more confusion……….we were never free of it!!!!!
Preponement of the tickets, again reschedule my appointment. Oh My God!!!!!!!!!!!! can’t really express how we felt then.
But we were so lucky that I got an appointment. I remember the day we postponed my appointment there were no dates available inbetween, but fortunately the day we wanted to prepone my interview we got just one date that too 2 days before our original trip.
Another major Block…getting the VISA and by God’s grace I cleared it. I still remember how much we avoided to talk about what would happen if I didnt get the visa. I also remember how impatiently sudhar was standing outside the consulate and was not even able to react even after he saw me smiling while coming out of the main entrance.
But yes i got the visa and the paper back on time and everything had fallen in place at the right time.
We went back to coimbatore, in this running around process we couldnt spend time there with them, we had decided to stay 2 more days there but alas!!!
As also we had another short trip to kumbakonam temple and to sudhar’s native village.
Little confusion…..and it spoilt the whole plan…..We will surely make it up next time…….
After all this, Everything worked out and we reached Newark Airport..That story i shall continue some other time……
I think as sudhar’s friend, ganesh suggested ‘Coconut Lagoon’, we definitely owe a big thanks to him :) for introdcing this wonderful place to us..
I also wanna add something here……….
During all this i missed my grandfather veyr much who left us all just 2 months before my marriage.I know how much he was excited and looking fwd to it .He would have been very happy if he would have been here with us today.But somehow i feel he is with us mroe now, he went up there and requested god to help us and thats how everything is good and in place today.We r together and with us my grandpa is…….
I miss u thatha……..miss you very much..please be with me forever and ever!!!
Bye
Good night