Travelogue ~ Trip to Vizag

It is not just a travel story. It can be called a lot many things – an escapade, a rebellion, an experiment – involving three so-called “grown-up” women (Let’s call them BDY (Bee-Dee-Why) for the story’s sake).

Hence to prove a point, to themselves and to the society (total “bakwaas”!), these three crazy women zoom off one fine early morning from Kolkata airport to Vizag, at the end of a very rainy July.

Day 1: BDY are relieved (not to be admitted in public) to arrive at Vizag and check in safely at the hotel. The room is “chalta hai” types, but they will stay only for a night and they don’t have anybody else to throw tantrums at! After checking in, off they go to Simhachalam, dedicated to Lord Narasimha - part man, part lion. Apart from the architecture, the prasadam consisting of lemon rice and macro-sized ladoos is awesome! 

Food for thought here – Strange as it is, how organized religious places in India can be, and how messed up everything else is!

The rest of the evening is spent strolling along the Ramakrishna Beach, getting almost blown away by the winds, gorging on food at Windies (a beach-side open food joint), taking a tour in the insides of the INS Kurusura submarine, and posing and photographing.

Day 2: Begins with torrential rain on a dark early morning, dragging heavy bags in an open auto and then finally in a wet local train. The only consolation is the delicious idli breakfast on banana leaves. By the way, BDY are going to Araku, to be far far away from the cacophony of the city, to rest and roost in peace! The train snails through the numerous tunnels, climbing mountain to mountain,crossing the lush green valleys, the dense tropical forests, the villages, amidst the rain and the sunshine, making a picture beautiful enough to be a wallpaper. The local people get on and off the train, their attire and appearances changing, as the train nears Araku. In all these five hours, Bee, the Hercules, is hanging halfway out of the train to video record the entire journey, and Dee and Why taking turns to hold her hand and shirt to ensure she doesn’t fall out of the train!

At Araku, things take an interesting turn.

Firstly, Bee-Dee-Why are not all pleased with the unkempt room allotted to them. Chik-chik-chik-chik. Room changed.

Secondly, since three “alone” girls are like “open safe” (as per a very popular Hindi flick), all the local car providers try to exploit them. By evening there’s a situation that none of the agencies in the whole of Araku want to rent them a car. More chik-chik and melodrama (coupled with certain strategies known only to the fairer community!). Car booked. Exploiters kicked well! 

Phew! Life is a battlefield!

Day 3: Return from Araku to Vizag. Happily riding in a “pre-booked car”, sight-seeing at Anantagiri coffee plantation, the mesmerizing Borra Caves, the treacherous Katiki waterfall, more posing and more photographs, and crashing at Rushikonda.

Day 4: Rushikonda Beach is the place to be! The quite clean sea beach, the foamy waves crashing on the sand, the wonderful food joint and the plush resort nearby, are heavenly! BDY are ecstatic on seeing their room. After a wonderful round of sea-bathing, visit to Kailasagiri Park and loads of shopping, what more to ask than spending a quite peaceful evening under the starry sky and singing songs and chatting with friends.

Day 5: Time for three happy and cheery souls to fly back to the humdrum of the city with batteries fully charged to last another six months, loads of photos to be posted on Facebook, and, some vague little point strongly proved!

And now you’ll ask me….

What the damn point is?! :)