Creeping
June 1st, 2006 | Published in dispatch | 10 Comments
I’ve found myself creeping into many cities at unearthly hours of morning, long before the crush of traffic in the metros sets in. I realize that’s my favourite time, and way, to arrive. Coming in late at night feels too much like crashing a house party when the party’s shut down.
Between four and seven in the morning, it’s slow. Leisurely. The air is cool and you’re one of the few people awake. Surat Thani, Thailand, at 4.30 in the morning, looks exactly like Ahmedabad, India, at the same time. At this time of the morning, the thickness of your kafe in Surat Thani, wafts through the cold morning air. Your nose prickles. The only mad rush is the mad rush of your sleepy squabbles with the auto-rickshaws, and trying to find a decent bed to crash into. A year later, you’re fresh off the bus or train in New Jalpaiguri, Agra, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, and this morning - Bangalore - still squabbling with auto-rickshaws (except they’re not called tuktuks here), still trying to find a decent bed to crash into.
The thickness of your chai wafts upwards from its terracotta cup, and even as you strike it against the corner of a wall, it still smells every bit as sweet. All the more sweet when you realize that two mornings from now, you creep home, to that familiar but by now alien smell of kopi C and teh O, and whatever they bring with them.
June 1st, 2006 at 6:21 pm (#)
Hahaha.. I think unconciously we got into the race start by Bir :p Im the first for this post, hehe :p
Since long time ago never awake at those silent hours.. I miss the peacefulness it brings.. enjoy the ending of your trip thoroughly :)
June 1st, 2006 at 6:50 pm (#)
well done Night:)
Vellara eh? good location.. rock on!
June 1st, 2006 at 9:51 pm (#)
DAMN..I think I’ll have to attempt this ” Great Singapore first-to-comment challenge”. And Adri (now I’m obviously your good friend too — can you feel the familiarity?)…have you ever watched Basha? Now there’s an autokaran you wouldn’t wanna squabble with.
June 2nd, 2006 at 12:32 am (#)
sometimes the early morning hours are the most lonely no? there is beauty in this but also much self-loathing. sorry sweet if this is overly dramatic. drink and bitterness make for poor companions is the wee hours.
June 2nd, 2006 at 8:59 am (#)
hi !
starhub not working at home !! NO TV NO INTERNET !! THOSE GUYS WILL COME ONLY ON SATURDAY TO REPAIR. NO ONE AT HOME !!
I am not happy STARHUB !!
BORED !!!!
Well i cant forget the great taste of ahmedabad tea… 3 years, 6 final exams. The smalll cups…. the rich tea…….
June 2nd, 2006 at 1:40 pm (#)
Not much to see in Bangalore. If you had the time you could’ve gone to Mysore.
Still, the best places to hang around: Food Street in VV Puram (close to Basavanagudi), Chamarajpet, and Malleswaram. All old-world Bangalore. If you like rock-climbing you could go to Ramnagaram, around an hour’s drive out of Blore.
June 2nd, 2006 at 6:56 pm (#)
erm, this might seem totally random. ..
you see, i’ll be bagpacking for the first time. any advice on the sorta luggage to pack? like would it be more advisable to bring 1X enormous bag or 2 smaller ones and like carry one in the front and one in the back like the stereotypical backpacker>?
June 3rd, 2006 at 3:20 am (#)
go to peecos for a beer if u can
June 3rd, 2006 at 3:21 am (#)
go to peecos for a beer if u can and say a hi from me to everything there
June 3rd, 2006 at 2:37 pm (#)
dev, I didn’t have enough time for all that though I imagine my next trip to India (the South) isn’t too far away…
J: how long are you going for? and where to? i usually just stick by one huge backpack and one smaller daypack, for everyday use.