Small towns (First Trip Of This Year !! )
This is the second part of First Trip Of This Year!!...
We reached SriRangam around 10 pm . I had slept all the way so I know nothing as to how we got there. I got up to see a small lane that was flooded with flowers all over. Were we in heaven? I wondered. There were tonnes of flower's of all possible colors around. We got in with our luggage, we were staying at a relatives place, whom I had never met or know (thanks to staying in different towns all life, I only knew 20% of my relatives). As soon as we got in there, we were greeted by everyone in the family. From the 1 year old's to the eldest in the family everyone made sure they spoke to us that was quite strange I mean so many people talking to you like they know all about you. Trying to remind you of moments that you hardly knew. It was an experience in itself.
It was late (10 pm is considered very late in here) and we were served our dinner, again on the banana leaves !! And trust me the taste of the food doubles when served on these tender leaves. The rice, sambar and ghee were such a perfect combination and not to forget the papadams and the pickels. The servings were large and everyone over ate. It was hospitality at it's best. I not only managed to eat full stomach but ate to my heart's content. The tedious journey, food and the nice breeze, now all that I needed was a pillow and warm blanket. I hit the bed and in no time was sleeping all over again.
It was 6 am when I got up the next morning. Everyone was still sleeping and a few snoaring. I wanted to catch the glimpses of the town and the flower market buzzing early in the morning so I took my camera and left on unknown streets. It was cloudy and misty. There was a huge crowd on the street, many people selling and buying the flowers and garlands. I felt more like an alien there but managed to walk through and get into the next lane. Now I had reached the road that led to the temple gopuram of lord Ranganatha. It was still dark, I could see the lighting on the gopuram. Many already visiting the temple. People had beautiful rangoli's in front of their homes. It had started to drizzle and the moment was so perfect. I was all alone on streets of a town I never knew. Seeing new people get along with their lives. I covered my head with the dupatta and went ahead to explore.
Each lane looked simliar, many houses with beautiful rangoli's in front of each. I could see them getting wet in the rain. People were having hot coffee in the small tea stall across the street. And the music from the temple could be heard loud and clear. I walked with a fear of getting lost. The only hope that kept me going was, anyone would guide me back to the flower market. I'm not sure was I being gutsy or stupid but I was definetly enjoying the moment with myself. Seeing more similar people and cattles and tea stalls and rangoli's I reached the flower market again by mistake. So I went back home after a good one hour roaming around.
Everyone was ready, I took a quick bath and had the famous tamilnadu Idli's and sambar with good tasty chutney. We visited the temple amidst the huge crowd of people who were there to get lord's blessing's on the auspicious day of "Vaikunta Ekadashi" just like us. It was 1 pm by the time we were done with the temple. We then had a heavy lunch and left SriRangam to reach home. On the way we visited a few more temple's and reached home at 2 am in the morning. As I went to bed that night I could smell the flower's and feel the crowd around. It was indeed an unforgettable trip.
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