Thursday, February 8, 2018

An eventful third day in Idukki.

Had got up at a half past 6 and gone about my chores. Hot water wasn't available and there was an inordinate delay in the bearer supplying us two buckets of hot water. One of them was very lukewarm and I'd used it because I didn't want Maman to bathe in cold water. Chambu decided to skip the morning bath altogether!

We left Cheruthoni by a half past 8 and were at Adimali an hour and a half later. Breakfast was at the Janamaitry Police Club soon after which we'd the reception programme. It was a nicely conducted function and an hour later, we're off to the next point of reception. The panchayats that we'd our trysts with today were:-

   (a) Adimali.
   (b) Munnar.
   (c) Pallivaasal and
   (d) Muttam.

Early in the morning, we'd a problem with our 'Book Mark' bus that necessitated its admission in the workshop. It seems to be having a serious problem and its substitute will be joining us during our 'parikrama' of the Ernakulam district. The Janamaitry Police team, that's accompanying us with its street play act, had a problem with their bus and they're sent back to Thiruvananthapuram, by evening, so that the bus could undergo urgent repairs and join us the day after tomorrow.

The reception and the interaction with the folks at Munnar and Pallivaasal were very spontaneous and nice. Our lunch was in a nice eatery at the picturesque Munnar. Unlike yesterday, the rain fell around lunchtime. Our next stop was at Pallivaasal. I've given a task to the secretary of the Pallivaasal panchayat to get me connected with my old classmate, Sydney Stephen at the Holy Angels' Convent, Thiruvananthapuram. This was because he hailed from Thiruvananthapuram Pettah and Sydney's also from there.

No sooner had we passed Adimali and were on our way to the Muttam panchayat when disaster struck in the form of a state road transport corporation bus' tail hitting us on our right bow while negotiating a hairpin bend. We could have tumbled down into the valley but thankfully, none of that happened. Felt bad that the car had taken a bad hit. The four of us, within the vehicle, had a miraculous escape with not even a scratch. I was witness to the tail of the bus swing towards our car as I was on the pillion seat but there was no sense of panic!

Consequent to it, our programme at Muttam had to be called off. We're at Thodupuzha by a half past 6, which was our night halt.


Tailpiece.

1. From tomorrow it's gonna be Ernakulam district for the next three days.
2. The car will be admitted tomorrow at the Indus Motors and we shall get a car-on-rent for the next three days. The show must go on! 

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