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Paradox Paradise

Would you still call it nonsense, if sense exchanges its meaning with nonsense?

Monday, September 17, 2007

Another thousand miles

Blisters on your bum can do wonders to your mind. Surprisingly in a good way, provided that you earn those burning blisters in the right way. There are quite a few such good ways on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border. This borderline runs across the Western Ghats, which geologically is not a true mountain, but a faulted edge of the Deccan Plateau. Still, at elevations of 3000-6000 ft, the ranges sure give you a true feeling of the mountains. And monsoons are the time to ride through them, if you believe your skin is naturally waterproof.

There are ten excellent routes across the 600 km long Ghats that we have travelled, of which six are on the Kerala – Tamil Nadu border, and the rest four on the Karnataka border. Two of these routes, the Teni-Munnar and Athirapalli-Pollachi, are so frequented by us that we know them as much as we know the streets we ended up living. So much so that, the teashop owners on the route know us, and greet us with ‘It’s been a long time!’ when we pull up. Well, this time, it had been a long time indeed. Even the guard at one of the check posts exhibited his familiarity by asking, “Veettil poyittu varua, alle?” (On the way back from home, eh?) It’s a great to feel home, while on the roads.

If you ask me which is the most beautiful of these ten routes, I’d be fighting in my mind for an answer. Either the Athirapalli-Pollachi route, which has countless waterfalls by your left and right along its 40 hairpin bends, or the Bathery-Ooty route lined with majestic, centenarian Eucalyptus trees could be called the best. Then, the Teni-Munnar and the Udumalaipettai-Marayoor routes are equally good. The Tenmala-Tenkasi and Kumali-Kambam ones are not any less good. The Mysore-Mattannoor and Madikeri-Badiaduka routes too equal in their beauty. It’s a tough time deciding, and an easy time riding. By the way, there’s this overcrowded National Highway 47 that takes you from Palaghat to Coimbatore, through the dried-up, plain land gap in the Western Ghats, which we would never consider taking. All these Ghat routes are pretty much deserted. This time, we hardly saw two or three vehicles, while we were crossing the uninhabited stretches of the route.

There were a couple of unpleasant incidents too for us. In one, we tore our jackets at the elbows. No great fun. But we were happy that we didn’t buy the Rs. 17,000 jackets we had plans to buy. Then the next day morning, we maimed a son-of-a-bitch. A very bad feeling for another few hours. Still, was consoled by the thought that it didn’t tear more of our jackets, or killed that son-of-a-bitch, which didn’t listen to its mommy and was looking only one way while crossing a two-lane National Highway.

Apart from that, and a broken clutch cable – which we changed in a record time, the bike was in as good mood as ours, with its engine sounding like a song. With a puny 350cc engine that’s placed too high on the bike, a Bullet may not make a decent cruiser. Still, the machine is simple and sturdy enough to make a real good companion on the road. It rarely gives problems, and even if it does can be fixed by yourself. The only instance it gave a serious trouble in the 50,000+ km long company so far, was when one of its valves got screwed up. It took an hour to find a mechanic who knows to work on a Bullet, and he took the whole day to change the valve, granting us a great time with chilled beers after chilled beers on that boiling-hot day. The next day morning we woke up and changed the route we had planned, only to have a pretty nice surprise. Instead of a Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore-Ooty-Chennai, we ended up doing a Chennai-Bangalore-Mysore -Madikeri-Bangalore-Chennai. Nothing to complain. The general rule we follow while riding – to ride half the days you have in one direction, and then find another route back, avoiding the roads you already have taken – proved to be the best riding plan. The extra beer was only a treat we deserved. Hope, the roads will never run out.

During monsoons, the greenery of the Western Ghats, especially the South Western montane rain forests, is contagious in every sense of the word. The lush green life almost vaporises into the air, filling it, and filling you in turn. And when the drizzling stops, the mist comes folding you in its cold, moist comfort. As the roads take you winding the hills, one after the other, cute dark green pyramids of little hills turbaned with light, lone, white clouds, play hide and seek with you. When you are riding towards west, there’s nothing much of a chance with the South Western monsoon. It will come pouring, when you least wanted it, right when the wind had dried your wet clothes from the previous shower. But when you are riding to the east, you can play chase with the hovering rain cloud, and can even beat it. On the plains, you have a better chance of winning, than on the hills where every alternate turn will take you back under the clouds. And if you stop for a tea, like the legendary, lazy rabbit, the cloud will take you over, and wait for you to finish the tea to splash its grace on you. And there are times, when you think you have almost left the clouds behind, but still at your heels, and the road takes a right turn, right in to the middle of the cloud. Right then, with a childlike excitement, the clouds shower the rains, and the losers grin a stupid grin, warning each other to be careful on the slippery road.

Once the Ghats are left behind, you are out in the scorching sun again. But, during monsoons, the clouds cover up the sun most time of the day and give you the best riding climate possible on that terrain. Still, the plains are boring in comparison, even with the fresh greenery of the fields, and swelled up rivers that unless stay as depressing stretches of sand dunes most part of the year – credits to over 50 dams that are on the South Western Ghats. When you are back on the National Highway pestered with trucks, and buses, and cars – all of them believe asphalt roads are not for bikes; bikers don’t pay toll at tolled roads, after all – there’s only one thing to look forward to, other than a truck coming against you on your lane. The evening, and the drink.

The drinking dens in Tamil Nadu are very different from the ones you see in the neighbouring states. I have written about them earlier, still they are worth telling again. Through out India, one can find same services offered in different classes, under the same roof. An economically viable colonial hangover. In trains there are up to five different classes of comfort – or discomfort, depending on the end you are looking at – provided, obviously, at five different rates. At a bus station we have three or more different ‘types’ of buses that commute the same routes – equal distances, almost equal speeds, but very different rates. At a restaurant, one can find the cheapest self-service counter, slightly expensive service area, and a premium priced air-conditioned dining area. To substantiate the price difference, and the faithfulness to the colonisers, the plates and uniforms of waiters are kept to match the each class. The food served though, is from the same kitchen. Bars are no exception. But slightly different in Tamil Nadu.

Alcoholic beverage marketing is under the complete control of the state government in Tamil Nadu. All the retail shops are owned and operated by the government, with its employed staff. They are called Wineshops for some strange reason, and sell every alcoholic beverage except the wine. These places don’t serve alcohol, as a rule, but only sell you bottled drinks. There will inevitably be a small shop close to it selling disposable cups and water and cola and pickles. Though, drinking in public is an offence punishable under IPC-268 and IPC-502, I never have heard of an instance of the invoking that law in front of a Wineshop. Apparently, IPC-502 says, Whoever, in a state of intoxication, appears in any public place, or in any place which it is a trespass in him to enter, and there conducts himself in such a manner as to cause annoyance to any person, shall be punished.” You can actually sue someone for talking nonsense, if he/she is drunk.

In contrast to these retail shops, the bars that are licensed to sell and serve alcohol are luxurious. With cosy couches in an air-conditioned hall, and 5 to 6 varieties of snacks on the house with the drink. They also put low wattage bulbs in different colours to lighten up this luxury. The bar we walked into went a step further. They serve every drink, except beer, in wine glasses, may be with the same allusion as of the Wineshops. No, not even brandy glasses. That too with stirrers, which are logically placed upside down in each drink. While paddling in the rum and water in our glasses with the broadened end of the stirrer, my companion said, “the laughs are on the house!” “Very entertaining place,” I replied through the laughter. And there were no more miles to go before we sleep.

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14 Comments:

At Tue Sept 18, 12:16:00 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is always good to record the things.

1) We(I) may forgot things,and it will be nice if it put in a nice(very much) way.

2) you have got the things that my two 50mm lens(not a single piece, cumulative) and mono audio system missed.

I wanted to see you with a notepad and pen in your hand always to note the things without missing a thing.

 
At Tue Sept 18, 10:46:00 pm, Blogger Arun Meethale Chirakkal said...

Ever taken the Ooty-Masnagudi road which has 36 hairpin bends? Or is it just the one you mentioned as Ooty-Batheri route? I had been there recently.

Yup you did write about swinging doors and bourgeois bars...I had first hand experience about the quality of alcohol (Old monk)in TN.

Bishwanath Ghosh in his Sunday column in 'Express'once described it as 'sub standard'.

Are you the desi version of Phaedrus?

 
At Wed Sept 19, 12:36:00 am, Blogger clash said...

Interesting.. never knew that you are an ardent biker! :D

 
At Wed Sept 19, 11:32:00 am, Blogger dharmabum said...

brother, this is a splendid account. felt nostalgic, i have indeed done some of those routes u talk of. a pulsar though, 70 K odd kms and still going strong. kinda a bullet is still a distant dream, with my kinda physique :)

it would be a pleasure to get together with u sometimes, over a drink maybe, and unplan a long ride?

 
At Wed Sept 19, 01:14:00 pm, Blogger Jubin George said...

sebin: It's not about documenting, I believe. More of experiencing, and re-experiencing through a sort of simulation. Through writing, and/or reading.

arun: That's the same road till Gudalur. Haven't taken the Gudalur-Vythiri/Gudalur-Nilambur routes yet.

Quality doesn't come in quarts. (Phaedrus would agree to that LOL) All the quarts, and half the half bottles you get are bad. But full bottles, and drinks at bars - which usually are served from full bottles - are good.

clash: I don't own a bike. The guy who commented first owns the bike. My role is mostly of the navigator and cleaner/mechanic.

dharmabum: 70k is cool. Pulsar is not a bad bike, have done a 1000 km ride on it with a friend once. Bullet, of course, is much more comfortable. Bullet is easier to ride in terms of balance, handling, and comfort. And trust me on this - it has nothing to do with the rider's physique, unless you have a flat tyre, or you ride into a beach to get stuck in the sand. I don't own a Bullet. The bike I used to have was an M80, which very much matches my physique.

Will try to meet you next time when I'm in chennai or pondy. Beer tastes its best in Ajanta. :)

 
At Wed Sept 19, 06:03:00 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

One more for the road :)
shanks

 
At Wed Sept 19, 11:08:00 pm, Blogger Ridwan said...

Jubin George thanks for taking me along on the ride. I needed to feel you write those words ... it has been more than a year since I saddled up and took my bike for a ride.

Last time I can remember was a five day trip to central and eastern Oregon.

My bike then was a CB750. I remember meeting an old man outside of a cafe and he looked at me an said "that motor scooter is too small."

I thought huh? 750 is plenty big and I had fun passing all the Harleys with their 1200 cubics on a few of the passes.

It was after a hundred or so miles that my 'pride' let go and I remembered that in the US big is a state of mind.

A delusional one mostly.

You will find folks saying: This is the greatest country in the world!

If you ask them where else they have travelled, some will say "no-where except these states."

And more than you would think, some would say "California" ???

OK, so I enjoyed this piece and I found the pictures of the 350 Bullet I took at JNU.

Black and new.

I love that bike. Wanted to buy one and take it to SA but the hassle is bigger than a castle.

Still, there is a fan club in the US and one growing in SA.

OK, so keep writing. I hope maybe one-day we can take a bike trip together :0)

Peace my brother,
Ridwan

 
At Thu Sept 20, 01:47:00 pm, Blogger Jubin George said...

shanks: And I want more :D

ridwan: Bullet is a beautifully simple machine. It's a field bike, rather than a cruiser. And its half litre engines are pretty good. The sad thing is, the company never seriously thought of giving it a chance with sensible redesigning. I wish the engine was placed a little lower, and had a lot more legspace for the rider.

I'm not really concerned about speed. It can be easily taken to 110kmph, and I know people who claims to ride at 150. I fall into the snail-rider category. An 85 is what matches my pace, and I don't want to ride more than 400-450km in a 10hr riding-day.

It was great to hear from you, Ridwan.

 
At Fri Sept 21, 08:17:00 am, Blogger Ridwan said...

I imagine that 85 is enough ... I love the way those bikes sound.

Sweet.

Hey Eugene and Rhonda are gettting married this weekend.

See my latest post. There is a message for you in it ;0)

Peace,
Ridwan

 
At Fri Sept 21, 01:50:00 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

that line cracked me up "..if you believe your skin is naturally waterproof."

Maybe you've already visited this one,still .. http://60kph.com/

love
scout

 
At Mon Sept 24, 01:13:00 pm, Blogger Jubin George said...

Ridwan: That's a great piece of news!

Scout: Great to see you here :)

I have seen that site. Never been to a group ride. And I don't think I'll ever be going for one either.

 
At Sat Oct 06, 01:39:00 pm, Blogger dharmabum said...

burma's is such a sad story. thanks for putting up the free burma form. haven't signed it - not sure how these online petitions help. btu i appreciate the intention.

 
At Mon Nov 19, 09:50:00 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

randum koodi pinnem poyekkuva.. ithu pole oro pottatharam ezhuthi koottan allathe entha :-P

 
At Tue May 20, 04:32:00 pm, Blogger Unknown said...

If you do read the comments other than for the ego trip ... very nice read.
Ajay

 

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