As I board this train which will take me to my home town in the next twenty-four hours, my heart is throbbing in my body. Thrilled, I can hardly linger to reach my destination.
The excitement has always been there. I remember when as a child I would visit my grandparents and spend my days in total bliss. Today I recall it as a paradise on earth; so naturally blessed with beauty. It is rightly called as ‘God’s own country’.
It’s 10:45p.m when I board the train. I went to bed dreaming of waking to the sunlight hours when I start my days in the serene splendor of my home town.
I wake up the next morning to see the train bustling with people. Many vendors including chai wallas offering hot tea-coffee in the early morning; others were selling garam pakodas and samosa. I take tea and sit comfortably near the window. The train has entered Kerala. As it passes each town I am mesmerized by the exquisiteness of the natural world. The hilly terrain roofed in clouds, green fields as it dances to the tune of the breeze, idyllic cows grazing on them, lakes and rivers curving freely, banana and coconut plantations aplenty - God is such a wonderful creator!
I observed my co-passengers. Many of them with their families are heading for their vacation. I could sense the excitement on the faces of their children. I felt happy too. A few others were local travelers. This place is their home as well as a work place. To their daily bread they shuffle from town to town. A few moments later I notice this girl sitting next to me reading a book. Probably in her twenty’s, she looked striking. Not so pretty face but she appears elegant in her black salwar kameez. Her long and fair thighs are visible in her taut and translucent trouser. She is with her mother and it seems her name is Nandini as her mother uses to call out to her now and then. The rest of my journey is spent in styding her as well as the natural beauty of the countryside. When the train halted at the Trivandrum station -the capital of Kerala, my co-passenger Nandini disembarks. It seems this is her town. Hoping to catch a glimpse of her again, I continue my journey. After few more stations, I reach my destination. I see my uncle who has arrived to receive me.
It is just a two kilometer drive from the station to my native town. I see my aunt, their kids and a few other cousins who are waiting to welcome me. The excitement grows in me as I see all of them. The next few days I look forward to spending enjoyable time with them. Food is one thing which tops the chart on any occasion. Kerala food is worthy to die for. Its taste and quality is unbeatable. Banana is a fruit which comes in various size and colour- green, yellow and even red. It also fetches the prime yield of revenue in agriculture in the state after coconut. The coconut water is a pure thirst quencher. I make sure I have plenty of them. Jackfruit is another fruit typical of Kerala. It is light yellow when ripe. You can have it in various blend - have it ripe (yummy it taste so good), when raw you can make variety of chips. You can also make various types of curries out of it. Oh yes I forgot to mention the banana chips which is famous here. Then there are mangoes. It comes in a lot of variety too. Everybody is aware how mango fruits taste when taken ripe but for having it raw is more adventurous as we climb the tree and pluck it out. We take it after soaking them in the mixture of chili powder and salt with oil (again-yummy!). Sorry can’t help it! Our house is surrounded by all this plants and these fruits which it bears. So literally it’s forested area and who doesn’t love to stay in the lap of nature? Many of these trees are so big that I end up making a tree house with my cousins. We have planned to make a wooden house during the next vacation. Fish is the most edible stuff in this part of the country. Fishery is the largest industry in Kerala. Fish is very good for the health and is an internal part of every meal in my home. I use to bathe almost three times a day. The reason is the lake which flows close by. I and my four cousins and few other friends from that area made it mayhem whenever we take a bath there. It was so much fun! Apart from visiting my relations and few temples, I visit the famous Shankmugam beach at Trivandrum, the beach at Vaaley and the boat houses at Allapuza. It is all so much fun!
I don’t know how the days just pass by and soon my trip comes to an end. The memories are something which will never go away and I will cherish them until the next summer vacation. Hoping for another wonderful summer holiday next year, I board the train to Bangalore.
When I reach and disembark at the Bangalore station, I see Nandini with her mother getting down from another coach. She was in the same train yet I was unaware. (I curse my luck) I look at her wondering whether she has had the same memorable holidays as I have!
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thank you very much for information !
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