My last vacation was with my friends to Kovalam. Its truly beautiful place and I am in love with Trivandrum ever since. On my way back I was thinking about all the vacations I had had in my life. Almost all of my vacations have been to Kerala. I spent first 21 years of my life in Mumbai and like any other Malayalee family based out of Mumbai we spent all our summer vacations in Kerala.
Those were the days before Konkan railways and tatkal ticketing came into existence. It took 2 nights and 1 day to reach Alleppey from Kalyan. Tickets had to be booked 2 months in advance and one had to stand in the queue the previous night itself for confirmed tickets. Unlike today back then most families would travel only during summer vacation. These days Netravati on Konkan route runs full capacity throughout the year. The long journey itself was a fun prelude to all good things in store once we reached Kerala.
Preparation for the train travel was humungous. Board games, comics, walkman etc were carried to avoid boredom on train. Entire bogies would be filled up with families. Me and brother would befriend other kids seated near to us, exchange Tinkle & Chacha Chaudhary or play Snakes and Ladders with them. Jumping up and down over the three tier bogie would just add to the fun element. Food for the train was also special; back in those days catering on train was absent. Hence most families would carry loads of food with them to last for 2 days. Buying food from platforms was strictly forbidden…. Frooti was only permissible indulgence tht too after loads of pleading!!!! My mom would special train food which typically would be lemon rice, moru, idli, chicken or fish fry etc…The thought of lemon rice and liver fry made for train journeys still makes my taste buds tingle…I could never figure out what was so special about the dishes made to carry for a journey and why they never tasted the same when made for a regular meal at home. Neatly packed tiffin carriers and huge Milton water can were quintessential part of travel to Kerala.
As soon as train is boarded parents would neatly arrange luggage and chain up suitcases while we kids were busy squabbling over window seats. By the time train reaches Pune initial pleasantries with fellow passengers are done with. Later we get down to the very serious business of playing trump cards (remember WWF) or having a game of snakes & ladder. At dinner time everyone exchanges food with each other and almost always other aunt’s fish fry and rice would taste better than my mother’s chapatti and liver fry. Shortly after dinner we call it a day and sleep off happily listening to the chugging of the train.
Next day as stations like Renigunta, Kaddapa, Mantralayam pass by us we would have gala time in the train waving to strangers passing by or teasing monkeys on platforms. Lot of hawkers and beggars enter the train during the day singing out of tune hindi songs or selling fruits, playing cards and other knick-knacks. Amidst all this chaos we happily eat, play, sleep and make merry.
As soon as train touches Palakkad there is visible glee on everyone’s face. Parents are happy to be in their homeland. As palm fringed locales pass by…one by one each family gets down. We say our good-byes and wait with anticipation to meet our uncle who will be waiting at Alleppey station to receive us. Just before train reaches Alleppey station one could see the beach…..already visits to the beach were being planned on the train. Amidst all these talks train chugs into serene and calm Alleppey station…we alight filled with anticipation and excitement about out summer vacation ahead….
As we grew up there have been more train journeys, most without parents, few with friends and many alone. Traveling with friends has its own thrill and excitement. Drinking alcohol on train is insanely stupid thing which we end up doing almost every time we travel as group…next is sitting at the door…I know its utterly dumb and please don’t try it!!!!
The fun element has never been the same without parents though. Ironically as a child I always use to think train journey alone would be adventurous…you can get down at each station…buy food from platform vendors etc. But when I started traveling alone I won’t strike conversations with strangers on train nor do I get down on stations for the fear of someone stealing my laptop…and I keep imagining salmonella floating over each food item sold on platforms.
Still every vacation that I have taken has been fun ….and every journey a unique learning experience. And as someone said it’s the journey and not the destination that matters…..I am grateful for Indian Railways for giving me countless safe journeys and memories to cherish….
Those were the days before Konkan railways and tatkal ticketing came into existence. It took 2 nights and 1 day to reach Alleppey from Kalyan. Tickets had to be booked 2 months in advance and one had to stand in the queue the previous night itself for confirmed tickets. Unlike today back then most families would travel only during summer vacation. These days Netravati on Konkan route runs full capacity throughout the year. The long journey itself was a fun prelude to all good things in store once we reached Kerala.
Preparation for the train travel was humungous. Board games, comics, walkman etc were carried to avoid boredom on train. Entire bogies would be filled up with families. Me and brother would befriend other kids seated near to us, exchange Tinkle & Chacha Chaudhary or play Snakes and Ladders with them. Jumping up and down over the three tier bogie would just add to the fun element. Food for the train was also special; back in those days catering on train was absent. Hence most families would carry loads of food with them to last for 2 days. Buying food from platforms was strictly forbidden…. Frooti was only permissible indulgence tht too after loads of pleading!!!! My mom would special train food which typically would be lemon rice, moru, idli, chicken or fish fry etc…The thought of lemon rice and liver fry made for train journeys still makes my taste buds tingle…I could never figure out what was so special about the dishes made to carry for a journey and why they never tasted the same when made for a regular meal at home. Neatly packed tiffin carriers and huge Milton water can were quintessential part of travel to Kerala.
As soon as train is boarded parents would neatly arrange luggage and chain up suitcases while we kids were busy squabbling over window seats. By the time train reaches Pune initial pleasantries with fellow passengers are done with. Later we get down to the very serious business of playing trump cards (remember WWF) or having a game of snakes & ladder. At dinner time everyone exchanges food with each other and almost always other aunt’s fish fry and rice would taste better than my mother’s chapatti and liver fry. Shortly after dinner we call it a day and sleep off happily listening to the chugging of the train.
Next day as stations like Renigunta, Kaddapa, Mantralayam pass by us we would have gala time in the train waving to strangers passing by or teasing monkeys on platforms. Lot of hawkers and beggars enter the train during the day singing out of tune hindi songs or selling fruits, playing cards and other knick-knacks. Amidst all this chaos we happily eat, play, sleep and make merry.
As soon as train touches Palakkad there is visible glee on everyone’s face. Parents are happy to be in their homeland. As palm fringed locales pass by…one by one each family gets down. We say our good-byes and wait with anticipation to meet our uncle who will be waiting at Alleppey station to receive us. Just before train reaches Alleppey station one could see the beach…..already visits to the beach were being planned on the train. Amidst all these talks train chugs into serene and calm Alleppey station…we alight filled with anticipation and excitement about out summer vacation ahead….
As we grew up there have been more train journeys, most without parents, few with friends and many alone. Traveling with friends has its own thrill and excitement. Drinking alcohol on train is insanely stupid thing which we end up doing almost every time we travel as group…next is sitting at the door…I know its utterly dumb and please don’t try it!!!!
The fun element has never been the same without parents though. Ironically as a child I always use to think train journey alone would be adventurous…you can get down at each station…buy food from platform vendors etc. But when I started traveling alone I won’t strike conversations with strangers on train nor do I get down on stations for the fear of someone stealing my laptop…and I keep imagining salmonella floating over each food item sold on platforms.
Still every vacation that I have taken has been fun ….and every journey a unique learning experience. And as someone said it’s the journey and not the destination that matters…..I am grateful for Indian Railways for giving me countless safe journeys and memories to cherish….
Photos of my Poovar Kovalam Trip
