Chintapalli Trip

When I told my roommates that I wanted to go on this trip, they joined too. 2 roomies, 1 sister of a roommate and me – gang of 4 started around 4 from where we stay. Went to NAD junction in Vizag and took a bus to Paderu around 5.30pm. Bus was crowded and I got a seat in 1st row btn 2 other ladies while these 3 had to go to last row. When they asked and I told I was going to Chintapalli and started without any plan to stay, they were horrified. One lady was a pastor and offered to sleep over at Church at Paderu and start to Chintapalli early in the morning. The other lady insisted that we get down in her village and resume journey upon dawn. It was raining by 6pm and almost dark outside. So, I agreed to stay in Paaderu as I was not alone and couldn’t take a chance. I offered her dinner at a hotel of her choice – she was happy :)

So, like I said it was pouring heavily and very dark outside throughout the journey. I was given window seat and then the wonder began. There were lightenings and thunders with thunderbolts for a large part of time. I could get a glimpse of the beauty in the lightening. It must be experienced – just cant explain in words. Then I realized the meaning of the words – to understand and appreciate light, you should know what darkness is! God is amazing – such a beauty can be made only by him. And He alone can make me feel what I felt at that point of time. We are all worthless egotists before him. One particular lightening lasted for a second long for me to see the hills, clouds, tress, fields and the reflection of the light in a small crook! That image shall stay with me forever. As I was almost blind (due to darkness), I felt my nose was sharper – I could smell custard apples, pines, turmeric, trees, flowers, sampengas and a lot many distinct different smells.

 

We got down around 8.30pm and went to a small place to eat our dinner. Then we started uphill where her house/ church was located. It was pitch dark, raining and so had no clue where we were going and no option but to follow her.

Her husband was a Pastor and was killed in an accident abt 5 years back. Eldest daughter is married and two younger ones are studying in Govt Hostels. So, we spoke at length over night and she shared her experiences as a young bride when she first met the tribal people and the development over the years. Cockroaches, rats and crickets gave us company :) I woke up at 4.45am and saw that the rain stopped. I got ready and woke up the rest to get ready. We dropped Rs.500/ for church and started to catch bus.

 

View from the church we stayed

The journey was incredible with many wonderful scenes. Tall trees with peppers creeping around the bark, coffee plantations, hilltops clouded and invisible….rains and temp as low as 8-10 deg temp made me rich with memories.

Peppers which were majestic and beautiful

The smells were great too. Turmeric along with paddy and pulses are cultivated at large here. It was about 3 hour journey and each view was a feast to eyes. After getting down around 9am, we had breakfast at a small place there and then started exploring places around. We went into the turmeric fields, coffee plantations, walked along a brook, played in rain water (we were getting drenched for a good part of the trek ;) ) and did all things crazy.

Turmeric plant in bloom :)

 

We wanted to see the Paderu ghat road in day light so we started back early. We came back to road hiking and stopped a bus on way to Paderu. It was raining like hell then and we stopped the bus in middle of forest with our backpacks fully drenched – so the curiosity levels of the passengers were pretty high. We took the last seat as that was the only empty row and were giggling whenever the bus fell into pitfalls. Apparently we almost walked for about 8KMs from Chintapally :D

One of the magnificent views we were blessed with on our way

The scenes were amazing – but sad part was that as most of our day was in rain, I couldn’t click as many pics as I wanted to. Even the clothes inside our bags got wet completely. Such was the rain. We had our lunch at Paderu and took bus to Vizag at 3pm and reached around 6.30 when it was still pouring.

No cold, no fever – we were all safe – just lots of smiles and memories. 

My 9/11 memories

When people talk about 9/11 every year, it evokes many thoughts and memories. I was 21, married at 20 and just delivered my first child. My 1^st son was born on 9/3, 9 days earlier after 48 hours of labor. My MBA 2^nd semester exams started on the same day – 9/11. As in all orthodox Hindu families, I was sleeping separate from the regular family with my Mom and sisters helping me manage my son. I remember that I put my foot down for the first time ever in my life about going and writing my exams so as not to ruin my academic year. May be it was my fate, it was a shock that I voiced out my intention for the first time or they just wanted to please the new mother – whatever is the reason, I was allowed to go and write my exams. I remember my mom fretting about my stiches, my sisters eager to look after my son in my absence, my mother-in-law offering to come to look after and my 84 year old grandmother who rarely touches the newly delivered offering to give me company as I write my exams.

I woke up early, expressed milk to store so that the kid can be fed when I was away and got ready for my exam. My blood pressure was high post-delivery and my gynecologist had given me some medicine to lower it.  I fed my son and left to write my exams with my grandmother on my side and my husband driving anxiously. Was I feeling sad about leaving my new born alone? May be no – as I know my mother can take good care of him. I told him before I left, “This is for us – you want a more confident and happy mom right? Please bear for few hours, be a good boy and I shall be back soon. I shall not discuss the exam paper with my classmates after the exam as usual but would rush back to you. You just sleep.” I could smell my victory and was happy with my self though anxious about the paper as I was not allowed to read ( you will get headache which will never go! Was the reason given).

At the examination center (which is not my college) I got to know that the exam hall was on 3^rd floor and there was no lift. My grandmother said I would not take stairs at any cost. I spoke to the college Principal who was very understanding and I was given a room beside his office to write my exam. My ammamma just waited out with a flask of hot water and tea bags to give me at intervals and ensure I don’t faint. I felt so happy that my college management had already spoken to the exam center and asked for a special provision to me. Ganesh Sir, Sathish Sir, Subhash Sir, Srinivas Sir, Sudha Ma’m – indebted to them forever. I don’t remember any pain – maybe I didn’t pay attention to it or perhaps I had not experienced it; all I remember was I was not ruining my career and that was the biggest thing to me. I remember my classmates looking at me in wonder (I’d like to believe that way – not stupid ;)) and brush me quickly before they ran to take their seats. Thanks to Bhargavi, Shilpa, Avanthi and KP, I wrote my exam and returned home.

There was a power cut since morning – almost for 12 hours that day till 8pm and my son was sleeping throughout the day. At first I thought he was dead or something – may be God wanted to punish me as I left him to write exam. Then mom said its natural as kid also is on medication as he is fed my me and I shouldn’t worry. But I really did. I guess all the restyl I took went to him indirectly and I felt guilty. Then, the power came – when TV was on, I saw the planes getting into the towers – the horror unfolded slowly with all news being absorbed. I was moved – I cried. My grandparents, parents and husband all said I shall not watch TV, I was not allowed newspapers almost for a month but sisters shared the news slowly in whispers. It was horrible. I was devastated, exhausted – both physically and emotionally. I slept.

The dawn told me this is going to be a long fight – both to me and the US. I made up a small race in my mind. We both shall win – who shall win first was a question to be answered. As the USA started its fight against terrorism since then, I too had to fight my war – war of my life: to stay independent, to pursue  higher education and to make a mark of my own.