Mind on Edge - Meraki - Rasasvada - Fernweh - Dormiveglia - Numinous - Vorfreude
Mankind has always had a natural predisposition for exploring. To push beyond the boundaries of what is familiar, comfortable, and safe and embrace the unknown. In fact, the entire history of mankind is hung on a timeline of exploration.
This stretch would be our longest drive, about 62o Kms to home in Bangalore. We decided to leave early as we expected that we would take atleast 11 hours including stops in between. Checked out of our room at 5:30 AM we were able to commence our journey at 6 AM after loading our luggage.
In a short while we were out of Kolhapur and on the highway heading towards Bangalore. The roads were excellent and with very little traffic and this helped us cover 85 Kms in the first hour of driving. Elated with the prospects of a long drive cut short by a few hours we kept on.
A few hours down the road we came across a Kamat, we decided to stop over for breakfast, hot idlies and sambar. We were the only customers that early in the morning and we were back in the car in 15 minutes flat, good timing.
The stretch between Kolhapur and Bangalore is dotted with Kamat Upachars and one need not worry about food on the road.
Is there a reason why there is not much traffic on this road? Or is that all there is?
We lost a about 10 minutes when we getting on to the bye pass at Harikere(?) the bywe pass went through narrow small town roads and soon after entering the road there was a question in our mind if we were on the correct road, as we saw traffic heading towards Kolhapur towards our right. We did not look too keenly for traffic going towards Bangalore :) So we traced back and checked and rechecked and got back on to the same road with doubt in our minds, in about 50 minutes we were on the 6 lane road that we were used to. A signage at this point would have been welcome and saved us a few minutes.
The bye passes and the flyovers and bridges and quality of road and little traffic shortened our time in the car by about 3 hours. We reached Bangalore in about 7 hours. This stretch was typically what we would do on our road trip every day except that it was longer by about 170 Kms but the time taken was only a little longer and not as much as we expected. We were prepared for a long and gruelling 10 hours on the road.
The entry into Bangalore was a breeze, signages pointed us clearly in the right direction and all we had to do was to take the NICE road and head home.
Once on the NICE road we relaxed our pace and headed towards Kanakapura road exit, the Vasudev Adiga restaurant a little further in was inviting and we stopped for lunch.
Karthik, Mukund, Siva, Velu and I came down to Rishikesh on the 13th April 2017, after our trek to the Kuari Pass. On the 14th April morning we were driven towards Srinagar about 10 Kms from Rishikesh where we were dropped by our car. There were many rafts waiting to commence their adventures and there were so many excited humans walking towards the rafts. To access the rafts one had to carefully go down the banks of the Ganges, since monsoon was a few months away the water level in the Ganges was low and we had to go down the dry banks and walk across the dry river bank to where the rafts were. Our Capt. Mahaveer briefed us on safety and we were expected to do, this tool over 30 minutes and later we were thankful that he did his job thoroughly and we listened to him carefully. We were to cross a few rapids in what was to be our 10 Km long rafting experience.
There were many rafts waiting for customers and adventurers. Ajay Bhatt has booked us with “Red Chilli Adventures” and we had Mahaveer who was our Captain. We donned our life jackets and helmets, took hold of the oars and went to the raft. Mahaveer gave us a 30 minute instructions on safety, dos and don'ts and what to do in an emergency while on the raft.
The first few metres were slow and pleasant and then slowly the raft gained speed and we were soon in our first rapid which was not tough. It was at the WALL that Karthik fell into the waters. The raft plunged into the waters and when it came up it did so at an angle causing me to fall into the raft and at the same moment Karthik fell out into the waters. I extended my hand and tried to hold him but was not able to do so. Swiftly Velu took hold of his hand but Karthik was already holding onto the lifeline running around the raft. Mahaveer shouted for me to get back to my seat and in a bound he came to where Karthik was in pulled him into the raft. We did not have time to even be a little scared as Mahaveer shouted out saying “forward forward” rapid coming up. Would we do this again, Yes Yes Yes. I do feel bad that I did not allow the team to jump into the Ganges though Mahaveer assured us it was safe, the shock of having seen karthik in the thundering and swirling waters of the Ganges and so close to rocks had got me worried and I shouted out to others that they were not to get into the water.
You will notice one of the Red Chilli Adventures team members in a kayak handing over slippers to Mukund, these were Karthik's slippers which fell into the Ganges along with him.
Here is a short description of the rapids we went through.
Ganga River Rapids
The Ganga gorge gives rise to 13 adventure-packed white water rapids. All of these rapids have been classified into different 'classes' or 'grades' according to the International Scale of River Difficulty. These rapids have been categorized into Grade I, Grade II, Grade III and Grade IV. Rafters can choose to raft along rapids that fall under a specific grade. Depending on their physical stamina and age, they can select a grade and enjoy white water rafting along the Ganges in Rishikesh. Given below are some more details on each of these grades and what type of river rapids they stand for.
SWEET SIXTEEN
This is Grade I rapid, small and easy. Kids, non-swimmers and first timers can easily raft down the Ganges rapids of this category. Grade I rapids are easy because they offers clear passage to rafters. Apart from a clear rafting passage, these river rapids are also devoid of any serious obstacles. Sweet Sixteen is the right choice if you want to combine a genuine taste of adventure and lots of family fun.
CROSS FIRE
This is a Grade III rapid. It comes along with serious obstacles including multiple high, irregular waves and rocks. Though passages are clear, they are narrow creating difficulty for the rafter. Expertise is needed to enjoy white water rafting along rapids of this grade. The operator of the boat needs to have prior experience and expertise.
THREE BLIND MICE
Much popular among young rafters in Rishikesh, the rapid also falls into Grade III rapids. The river passage along this rapid is clear. However, it features narrow waterway which requires prior rafting experience to sail along.
THE WALL
Another popular Ganga rapid falling into Grade IV is the Wall. If you want to really feel that adrenaline rush and enjoy your expedition at the same time, the rapid is made just for you. Before you start to sail along this river rapid, do consult your instructor for expert advice. Prior experience is necessary if you are eager to run along this rapid.
ROLLER COASTER
These are Grade III rapids. They are longer with high and irregular waves. There are serious obstacles like dangerous rocks and boiling eddies. The passages are difficult to scout. Maneuvering along these requires power and accuracy. The boatman must have expertise while the raft and rafting gear should be of superior quality.
GOLF COURSE
The rapids fall into the category of Grade III rapids. If you are an adrenaline junkie and well versed with the techniques of adrenaline pumping river rafting, Golf Course is just waiting for you. Sailing along this difficult passage of Ganga rapid requires both power and precision of the sport. Before you start to run this rapid, make sure you have adequate expertise and are equipped with all the essential rafting gear.
We were soon back in our rooms changing clothes and in a short while ready to go out into Lakshman Jhula to explore that part of Rishikesh. After walking around a bit I suggested that we walk to the Beatles Cafe for lunch, this restaurant is very popular with foreigners and serves great vegetarian continental food. The dining area is in a room which is open to the Ganges and offers a great view of the rapids. We sat down and ordered our food which everyone enjoyed. We were soon ready to return to the room and we planned that we would rest for a short while and then leave for Hardwar at 4 PM to witness the Ganga Aarti.
All bags were packed, loaded onto the cars and we left the Eternity Resorts and Hotels at around 8 AM so we could reach Yangon early. The food in Myanmar is closer to Indian food than Thai food so many of us in the group were more comfortable with the breakfast, which was served at 7 AM.
The cars were driven in a convoy and would be on the road for about 4 to 5 hours including stops for tea and conveniences.
Three ministers of the Myanmar Govt flagged us off from the Hotel Grade One where we were staying.
View from our room in Hotel Grade One
Part of the Musicians group
Musicians and the ancers
Mahalakshmi having Thanaka applied on her face.
So, what is Thanaka?
The wood of several trees may be used to produce thanaka cream; these trees grow abundantly in central Myanmar. They include principally Murraya spp. (thanaka)[2] but also Limonia acidissima (theethee or wood apple).[6] The two most popular are Shwebo thanaka from Sagaing Region and Shinmadaung thanaka from Magway Region. A more recent contender sold as a paste is TaunggyiMaukme thanaka from southern Shan State. Thanaka trees are perennials, and a tree must be at least 35 years old before it is considered mature enough to yield good-quality cuttings. Thanaka in its natural state is sold as small logs individually or in bundles, but nowadays also available as a paste or in powder form. To know more about Thanaka go to - wikipedia
Scene from Myanmar Highway
A toll booth in Myanmar
The Chassis seems to be extended and an engine fitted in front of the vehicle.
Bridge across Thanlyin river
Orchids in the Hotel Eternity
The drive was long and we drove along the same landscape continuously, Hour after hour. In between we stopped at a restaurant on the roadside for some tea and it so much resembled those in Sri Lanka. We had sugarcane juice here.
Typical Myanmarese home, made of wood and on stilts. Even our Hotel room though of only one floor was raised and built on stilts - Brick and mortar building.
Typical Myanmarese road.
A Myanmarese cart powered by a motorcycle engine, where the rider sits on one side and not in the centre.
We stopped for lunch at a restaurant on the roadside where the vegetarian food was quite alright. The tables were made of teak and so were all furniture in fact.
Both sides of the road one can find rubber tree plantations and in my understanding not as well maintained as one could see in Kerala. Yes we did walk through one for a short while.
We were packed and ready by 7 AM and excited to start our drive.
Ashwin and I at the car, Ashwin was the designated driver for this car and will drive the car from Bangkok uptil Ayuthaya.
Shaymala Ejji and Mahalakshmi at the porch just before departure.
Mahalakshmi and I at the car just before we commenced our journey.
The convoy left Hotel Rembrandt at 7:30 AM and headed towards Ayuthaya, we needed to cover a distance of about 80 Km to reach Ayuthaya and after looking around Ayuthaya we sop over for lunch and then dive onto Sukothai.
Here is something from Wikitravel about Ayuthaya -
Founded around 1350, Ayutthaya became the second capital of Siam after Sukhothai. Throughout the centuries, the ideal location between China, India and the Malay Archipelago made Ayutthaya the trading capital of Asia and even the world. By 1700 Ayutthaya had become the largest city in the world with a total of 1 million inhabitants. Many international merchants set sail for Ayutthaya, from diverse regions as the Arab world, China, India, Japan, Portugal, the Netherlands and France. Merchants from Europe proclaimed Ayutthaya as the finest city they had ever seen. Dutch and French maps of the city show grandeur with gold-laden palaces, large ceremonies and a huge float of trading vessels from all over the world. All this came to a quick end when the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya in 1767 and almost completely burnt the city down to the ground.
Today, only a few remains might give a glimpse of the impressive city they must have seen. Its remains are characterized by the prang (reliquary towers) and big monasteries. Most of the remains are temples and palaces, as those were the only buildings made of stone at that time. The great cultural value of Ayutthaya's ruins were officially recognized in 1991, when the Historic City became an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its proximity to Bangkok make it a popular day-trip destination for travelers from Bangkok.
Ayutthaya is an island at the confluence of three rivers: the Chao Phraya River, the Lopburi River and the Pa Sak River. As the train station is at the east side off the island, most visitors will need to cross the river by ferry boat. Navigating your way around the island is not particularly hard: U Thong Rd is a ring road that circumvents the island completely. Most temple ruins can be found at the northwest of the island, while accommodation and night life is clustered around the northeast. As non-Siamese peoples were not allowed to live inside the city walls, things foreign are found off the island.
On a personal note I must say that the little excursion into Ayuthaya ruins was exciting, imagine going back in time over 750 years and think of the people who lived there, at the rear end there is a large scale model of the palace and the temples as they looked many many years ago. One needs to spend a little time here to soak in the
7th Dec 2016 - Sukothai to Mayyawaddy in Myanmar Our stay was at Paylin Hotel, Sukothai for the night. Not much in turns of facilities but quite neat. The food as would be in any rural Asian Country.
We were packed and ready by 7 AM and ready to go to the Sukothai (Kingdom Historic Park), this was the Capital of the Sukothai Nation and the ruins here go back to the 13th and 14th Centuries.
One gets to go around in trams which have now been refurbished and have electric motors installed. We were provided with a guide and also received black sticky rice a new type of organic rice called RiceBerry as souvenirs / gifts.
The city is a popular tourist destination because it is located near the ruins of the ancient city of Sukhothai, which was the Thai capital during the 13th Century C.E. The historical Sukhothai was the first capital of Siam founded by King Ramkhamhaeng. The province's temples and monuments have been restored and Sukhothai Historical Park is an area with numerous sites of historical interest which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other interesting places include Ramkhamhaeng National Museum, Ramkhamhaeng National Park, Sri Satchanalai National Park, and The Royal Palace and Wat Mahathat.
History
Sukhothai was capital of the first kingdom of Siam established some 800 years ago. The exact year is unknown but according to the Fine Arts Office it was between 1238 and 1257.
Established in around 1238 to 1257, Sukhothai literally means “Dawn of Happiness.” Phokhun Si Intharathit was the founder of the Phra Ruang Dynasty, Sukhothai’s first dynasty. For 120 years as the capital of Siam, Sukhothai was ruled by many kings. In this connection, the most dynamic monarch being King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, who created the Thai alphabet, laid the foundation for politics, monarchy, and religion, as well as, expanded its boundary of influence. Though the golden era of Sukhothai no longer exists, tourists should bear in mind that respect and admiration for the renowned ruined twin cities of Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai is highly valued.
With little time available to us we completed the ruins and the museum in less than three hours and were on our way to the Myanmar border by about 11AM.
In about 3 hours we reached MaeSot which is on the border with Myanmar. Myanmar is across the river Moei from Thailand (MaeSot).
At the ruins of the Sukothai Historic Park
Map of the historic park
Face of Buddha at the museum.
Seed pods in a rural Thai market. Large eh???
Dried mushrooms? With the language barrier I could not find out what these where.
Entering Myanmar on the Thai side.
Entering Myanmar, on the Myanmar side of the border. Note the cars are now on the right side of the road.
Temporary registration of the car I was driving in Myanmar
Going to the duty free shop housed in a Casino cum Hotel
Waiter at Grade One Hotel - Myawaddy.
We crossed into Myanmar and everything went without a hitch, we were expected and were given temporary numbers for our cars. On top of the bridge when you cross into Myanmar one has to switch to the right side of the road as traffic moves on the right side of the road in Myanmar and against the left side in Thailand. So we now have to contend with driving right hand drive cars on the right hand side of the road in Myanmar. The traffic was rather chaotic, not many care here for traffic rules or for their lives. We went to a Hotel cum Casino cum duty free shop where we all bought a few essentials and in about 90 minutes we were driving towards our Hotel - Grade One Hotel in Myawaddy. Again one of those Hotels in a small town in Myanmar, reasonably clean with not so smart decor and taste.
