early morningWe entered the mystic whiteness and as it surrounded
us, it washed us clean. A feeling of orgasmic exhilaration was the only sense I
was aware of. Faint forms formed and dissolved all around us with a gaussian
smoothness. We were floating through a dream. Gliding through this surreal
fastness, we passed random groups of people clustered together in total ecstasy
and trying desperately to completely live the moment as if in fear of loosing
it. Screaming and gyrating and running around insanely.
And then we
glided out of that sacred cloud and into reality. A 20 minute emotional
orgasm.
I think I am very lucky. It all started the earlier
day. I needed to get out - leave all the frustration and confusion behind. I got
the chance. We started late. The night was wet and we chased the rain. Dinner
was at a sidy joint near the Kalyan fata. One quarter of a querter of rum and
some biryani and we headed on. The night was silent. The rain driving all but
the most unfortunate (or adventurous) to their beds. As we silently passed
through village and town, the temperature dropped and do did the unrest.
We
were headed for a small tribal village with a waterfall. About 20 minutes from
the village heavy rain came down to drench us and remove the last of the dryness
from my soul. The cold water splashing on the face, awakening, refreshing... It
the beam of the headlamp I could see a sliding road with thick green on both
sides and the thick rain all over.
We found the tribals, Vitthal and
family, awake when we got it at about 0330hrs. Dry clothes. We settled down in a
room with a door. The door led to a small gotha. There were 2 calves and several
hens there ... and lots of firewood. Sleep wouldnt come as there was some
invisible thing moving on our faces. And all over the body. Tickling. Vitthal &
co just giggled and said it was a new kind of
matchhar & that they had'nt
slept for the last two days. They turned out to be almost-microscopic white
thingies which crawled all over us...
So we went out to watch the
dawn break.
Watching the day break is an amazing experience. And more
so for us as we hardly witness it. You can feel the energy flowing into the body
as the world magically lights up around you.
Breakfast was several
things. First "aalu paan" and uddid flour steamed together. Then rice bhakri's &
uddid pithla with fried green chillies and zunka and some fried papad.
We
went to take in the falls. This place is special for me, I fell in love here.
We
were on our way up malshez ghat. That wonderful road with the mountains visible
so near and in such majesty.
One of the bigger falls was being blown
up from midway back into the clouds by the strong winds. We could see the water
going back to the clouds ... reverse rain... We headed further on ... towards
the top and through the tunnel. Then on to Khireshwar. We had some nice tea and
wadas and bhaji's out here. The shack was small ... deep ... with a low roof so
that the wind wouldnt blow the rain inside. There were some senior villagers
sitting cozily here .. with their tila's and gandhi topis .. very different from
the tribals at the bottom of the ghats ...
We headed back.
Instead
of taking the road via Murbad and Kalyan, we went from the inside and got out at
Shahpur. Maybe I was called there :) ...
At the Bhivandi fata we got
a scare as a large mob of crazed people was stopping cars and bikes. There was
some stuff burning on the edge and spewing off thick smoke. My balls were in my
forehead when we passed through them.. almost touching them and their
sticks...
She was always with me. I guess I have become comfortable
with the image of her I have in me. I know it is unrelated to anything real and
I accept it as it is, I guess ... Life finds a way. Always.
p.s.
The
above text may seem disconnected. It is. Some of it was written before the
blasts. Some later. I have no more mood to write about my happy trip.
update 2020:
Sometime in the last couple of years, Vitthal, our friendly host was killed in a hit and run case on the inner country roads. He was pillion on a bike and a Scorpio belonging to local politician mowed them down. He died. He was the only bread earner for his family. How utterly sad. :( I shall never forget his innocent smile and warm hospitality.
cows in a cowshed. she would have loved it.
watching cows as they do what they do
the dawn breaking
off to graze
young paddy fields
Vitthal, our tribal host (photo by Vasu)
Vitthal's children & gang (photo by Vasu)
the home
the waterfall where I fell in love
malshez ghat
malshez ghat tunnel
further on...note : all photos taken with the Sony Erricson w800i cellphone
camera.
If you can so far, you may enjoy these too:
The Old Fool and the Hot Road
Aimlessly to Matheran
