Lone Wolf - Day 9 - Edwin's Journal

I was riding the scooter and was having a blast. The rich air and the smell of the sand was my companion for this lonesome ride. But I didn’t fret because I know that those are the best companions that a rider could have. The sense of letting all loose and being free is the best sensation that many people crave for and having some moments like that are truly memorable.

Left and right and left and straight, the journey felt amazing. The road was empty that hour and that indeed came to me in the form of a blessing. I, now have the whole road to myself. I took a turn and fell down.

“Damn, Wait! What?”

Yes, I fell down. But I didn’t fell down on the road but rather fell down on the floor.

“How the hell did I reach here? I might be dreaming this whole time.”

I was down on the floor with sheets scrambled half over my body and the rest curled up on top of the bed.

My mom came running towards me. Well, what can I expect; she is a caring mother like everyone else. I was actually surprised that she heard my fall and was near me now. I got up and was crumbled with many questions from my mother.

“Are you ok?”

“Let me see.”

“Do you have any pain?”

and so and so.

It was near 6 in the morning, so I thought I’ll stretch out a little bit. The early sun had not arrived yet and so it was still dark. I sat there on the verandah some moment to get off the extra sleep that I had and then got up and walked in the front courtyard of my house.

The sun started its peep to the world. Well, for me actually. Dawn set its first light and it was refreshing. I need to set out on a new journey today and I dearly hope that I won’t fall as though I did in my dream.

I did my morning routine and finally after some talking, wandering around, watching television, I set out. Set out to find new places, new adventures, and new exquisite sights for my eyes. I’ve set out in the Paravoor direction. My college was in that same direction and so I got down at my college and spend some time there.

After that, I rode the scooter off to find Paliam palace. I asked for the direction, looked through Google map and spend time going through all the routes and finally reached the palace. It looked small at first glance, and I was like –

“Is this it?”

I got inside and all my thought changed, for there was much more place inside that what meets the eye. I got inside to see a statue of an elephant in the very midst of the palace verandah. The security told me to go and get the ticket if I wanted to visit it and so I did. I was accompanied by the guide to the main hall room of the palace, where I sat along with other children who have come to explore the palace along with their teacher.

I was watching a video description of the palace when these children came and so we watched, but for me, it was repetitive, for I’ve already watched it in the first place. So the guide took me alone to see the insides of the palace. I climbed the stairs to find many royal rooms that were still beautifully furnished and well preserved. I saw many archeological materials, old furnitures and utensils, manuscripts and pictures of the high kings. The rooms were well swept, the windows were open to let the cool air inside and the overall design of the whole palace was so impressive, the position of the windows to let air circulate forth, position of the door that coincides with the windows and other doors, the use of particular woods for the bed, towers and the furniture were all so phenomenal that I think that ancient era had more knowledge in many designs and construction than today.

After visiting the main palace, I went forth to visit the Paliam Nalkettu, a traditional homestead where several generations of a family mainly women stayed. It too had a fantastic design and the overall beauty was very well understood when one enters inside.

After spending some time inside Paliam Nalkettu, I went forth to my next destination, “Vypeekotta Seminary”, a seminary lost within time. I asked for the direction and to my surprise, no one knows. I wondered whether no one knows of this place and I opened Google Map and ventured looking that. I went through routes and find myself at that place, but I found none there. I went forth and looked at nearby places for some help. But found none. I wondered whether it had been removed for new houses to be built. I saw a church nearby and went inside to ask the official there to find my way. But the church was closed and no one was to be found. I wandered across to find anyone there, but found none.

All hopes lost, I was about to set forth to my next destination when my eyes caught hold of some rubble place and to my surprise, that was the seminary that was looking for. God was looking at me after all.

“Thank God!”

I went forth and found that place was all fenced out and prohibited from entry. But I had come a long way to see it and so I crossed the fence in hope that no one finds me lurking inside. It was a totally abandoned and destroyed place, but had a place in history and that history had made me realize that the old is still gold.

With heartfelt happiness, I set off to my next destination – “Kottapuram Fort”. I had to go across the waters to reach the place. Going through the bridges was one of my favourite things. Riding between the waters, the cool breeze that hits my face, houses and trees on the side shores and many small boats here and there and water, where the eyes could see was truly a remarkable sight for all.

I went forth towards Kottapuram Fort asking the locals there and soon I arrived. But at that moment, the rain had started and everybody had covered the artifacts and the excavation spots that lay there. I had no other choice rather than to venture across seeing the place as I can as well as enjoy the chilly sensation during that hot time.

Next, I went on to see the Azhikode Lighthouse, but I was disheartened to know that there is a bee hive on the steps to the lighthouse and no one is allowed to visit there. I talked to the worker there for some time being, asked about his life, whereabouts, family and all and told mine too. We talked for some time and later he told me the way to Munnakal Beach and I set off.

I arrived at the shores of Munnakal beach and walked through a park. I looked at the ticket counter and saw the lady there looking at me. I wondered whether I had to take the ticket and so I did, but soon I understood that the ticket was for the park, not for seeing the beach. I was all indeed ashamed and asked whether there is any refund and she said that she can’t and so with a sigh I walked to the beach and sat there by the shores for some time watching as the waters strike the shores. There was a rocky surface where many people were fishing as well as sight-seeing. On one side, the lands were filled with trees mainly pine. I spend some time there walking through the sandy shores as the dusk’s light was soon approaching and so I too had to go back.

On my way back, I got off and went to have a look at Pallipuram Fort which was old, abandoned hexagon shaped fort and the olden one ever built. I stood in the middle in the dim sunlight and felt a though fear and epic had both came inside me at the same time. It was all too dynamic at the moment. After staying some time there, I set out back to my house. On my way, I tried whether I can get a chance to visit the Muziris Heritage Site. I spend many times wandering around the place, but soon reached to find that the visiting time was over, and so I left.

And concluded a day again, filled with immense happiness and well-ventured satisfaction.