Friday, April 24, 2009

Mataozm plan for Apr-May 2009 (as usual tentative)

Apr 25
Bangalore - Kolar Gold Fields - V.kota - Pernambut (jedi's grandma) - Katpadi (jedi's parents)
Apr 26
Katpadi-
Apr 27
Coimbatore - Isha Yoga Center(Ananya) | Coimbatore (Jedi)
Apr 28
Kookal (Jedi)
Apr 30
Coimbatore (jedi+ananya)
May 2
Trissur
May 3
Thrissur Puram - Elephant festival
May 8
Coimbatore - Isha YC (ananya + jedi?))
May 12
Coimbatore - Aluva/Nagercoil?/Madurai- Rameshwaram-Pondichery
May 20
Chennai
...

Thursday, April 23, 2009

shoulder testing 1 2 3

disclaimer: am writing anything after a long time, and even i can see that the thoughts are fragmented and bahy but...

after fracturing my right shoulder on the 21st of dec 08, i was laid low with the arm in a sling . it helped that i was living the life of a bum then - i had nothing to do and nowhere to go. the pranayama kept my head up and made the Hampi trip happen. at some point sitting in a rocky crack on anjaneya parvat, mataozm got its basic shape. the plan A of 2007's drug fueled haze was resurfacing, although in a less extreme shape.

chughun, ananya, and I back on the road, without the numbing restrictions of evil time.
i was already jobless and ananya due by march end. but would the shoulder be ready? would the spirit be ready?

I had to postpone my yoga teacher training course (TTC) from Jan 09 to March 09, with the hope that the shoulder would be ready. The doctors had said it would take 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, they said good progress, it will actually take 12 weeks. 12 weeks made it March 21st and TTC started March 15th..

By april, we would have no house either. So i had to take Chughun along.
So on the 10th of March, I left with chughun and head out to Kerala via Katpadi, Madurai and finally Neyyar Dam.

Briefs
  1. Vellore / Katpadi: is where my parents have retired to. Vellore (land of spears) is a really old city by the now dry river Palar and used to be a battleground - hence the land of spears. Is famous for the erm famous Christian Medical College (and Hospital) - CMC and the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT/VEC) - my engineering alma mater. It's mostly a dry shitty place extreme weather and no entertainment other than cinema halls and your own head.
    It's famous for 7 things - 1. a fort without a king, 2. a temple without a diety, 3. a river without water, 4. hills without trees, 5. women without beauty . don't remember 6 and 7. Anyway, met parents and visiting sister and brother in law. had a big 'family discussion' about ananya's and my illegal live-in and how its so terrible for them (which it is) . Vellore on Wikipedia
  2. Madurai - I leave home and head south to Madurai on NH 7 - meet brother in law's brother in law (i think) who's a medical anthropologist (wow) and an adventurer. Madurai is like the london of India, with the Vaigai river bisectiing the city and is the oldest inhabited city in South India (pre 3BC!). Its the land of the Meenakshi -Amman temple, probably the most famous of south indian temples - ok maybe Tirupati also. NOTE: The Madurai railway station has (had? 2006? Joel's wedding trip data) high speed FREE Internet access, when airport, Chennai airport, Madurai airport and all other 'fancy places didn't! Jai BSNL. Madurai on Wikipedia
  3. Trivandrum - reach Thenmalai by evening and slow down to take in the deep forests and old stone bridges and consequently have to travel along the windy Kerala hills towards the Sivananda Ashram - reach the general area around 9 p.m. and just go to Trivandrum (after calling the ashram and finding out its ok to come the next day) and a warm bed. The last time I had visited TVM was when I was little boy and had come to a church member's wedding at Chenganur. Faintly remember going to some church (surprise surprise!) or was that Adoor? Anyway, TVM was clean and lotsa nice colonial buildings - even the temples were different - rather unique. The churches are big and old. The mosques big and imposing. Guess its secular. I break the fast, and head off to Kovalam - might as well considering i'll be in the hills for a month and i'm just 16 kms away. Trivandrum on Wiki
  4. Kovalam: This deserves a separate listing, coz it's a beach :D. But i was shocked. the last time i was here (Dec 2007), it had white sand. Now its crowded and the sand has turned black (in most palces) coz of the motor boats that take you deep sea to see the colored fish and what not. I guess the slowdown in Goa has pushed paying people down south. Checked out Groves, eves and lighthouse beaches (no difference, same stretch, with rocks in the middle) - become hmm hi-tech with red, green flags and whistle blowing lifeguards.
  5. Neyyar Dam: Final destination - the Sivananda Dhanwantari Yoga Vedanta Ashram for my 28 day yoga teacher training course. Am glad I had already visited the Isha ashram in Coimbatore, so i know how an ashram is supposed to be. But still - 3 days is one thing and 28 days! It's a beautiful spot, nestled in the hills overlooking a green lake and a lion's park. Neyyar on Wiki. Every morning, during meditation, u'd get a jerk when the lions' would start roaring. The ashram is full of trees (ayurvedic - with labels) and a set routine, which initially irritating, but at the end, calming. Twice a week, we would go for silent walks - once evening and once morning to the lake and once to Kali para. Some walk photos Made some new and nice friends. got rid of the beard, lethargy, and agitation (yes, i had both) In and Out of the Ashram At some point, I called home and told them about the impending wedding with expected reactions. Every Friday, we would get the day off. During the 4 Fridays off, went to 1. Kovalam, Kanyakumari, 2. Varkala, Kovalam, Poovar, 3. Poovar, Kovalam, Varkala, 4. Kovalam
  6. Yogi Siromani - It's the title u get when u pass the written and other tests during the TTCourse. It means jewel of the crown. Also registered for and got a spiritual name - got it for kicks, now its more fun. They apparently observe u and discuss in staff meetings ang then give u the name. I'm now Omkara (the sanskrit letter, a linga = energy body) Last days at the ashram.
    I have to head back to Bangalore for the paperwork wedding. i have 3 days. Plan is go to Kookal and pop, then bangalore. primary idea is to work the hills (the western ghats or sahyadris) from neyar dam to bangalore via idduki, munnar, Sathyamangalam (land of Verrapan), Dimbam, Kanakpura)
  7. Idukki: It took a while to pack and say goodbyes, and the windy beautiful green hilly kerala roads plus the now 'sattvic' rides, where i don't cross even 60 kph - by 5 i'm near Idduki and settle down in a kerala tourism guesthouse at peermedu - 40 k from idduki. Intention is to score some gold, but recalling a conversation with sabir and a timely sms from him makes the higher mind come into play over the lower mind. Anyway settle down and fall sleep. 240 kms and the shoulder is acting up. Unsure if its the winding roads, or the 108 suryanamaskars done 2 days ago, or both. The next morning, head towards the forest and the dam. Have been passing atleast one dam or diversion something every 50 kms. The idduki dam finally is a kickass V shaped dam. felt like i was in an action film frame. The dam and other return trip photos After some confusion over whether to head to Thekkady (visited already during Kookal - Periyar Wildlife sanctuary - munnar- bangalore roadtrip 2 years ago), i head towards Munnar via the white roads (white roads are the little village roads on the map or not that mostly found after some persistent dialogue with the locals, and multiple dialogues at that - most locals have never even left a 30 km radius - or just travel by bus, and know only the main highways). More beauty and the slow ride helps.
  8. Coimbatore : I eventually reach Coimbatore around 9. (another 300 kms only - for someone who has done 1072 kms in 20.5 hrs non stop - 300 kms feels like going down the road to a tea shop) - Stay at the hotel stayed when the shoulder was broken. in the plains after a month, and its warm and slightly sweaty.
  9. Dimbam: Its on NH 209 and is a ghat with 27 hairpin bends. Nothing great, except that not all bends are labelled, so if ur chilling and enjoying the curves, one of the hairpins will spring up on u and u could fracture ur shoulder. felt rather silly for someone who's ridden the himalayas and both the highest motorable road (Khardung la 18,380 ft) and hihgest motorable pass (Marsimek la - 18634ft), but rode very very carefully.
  10. Bangalore: reached around 8 pm. another 350+ km stretch. surreal ride through evening returning from work traffic. no emotional attachment. just another place. felt weird, so went to SLV and had a few sips of filter coffee. ananya has already reached bangalore airport from Calcutta. Go to vijay's house. end of a 2600 km trip.
  11. Shoulder Status: Sore. stiff. again not sure if its surya namaskars or the ride. but bottom line is if i stick to 200-300 kms per day (on hilly terrain) - all should be ok. also sattvic ride is good fun. Plains are going to be scorching. but mataozm is a definite go.