Night with the Stars

The last time I felt similar going to sleep was the night I was lying at beach in Dhanushkodi (tip of rameshwaram).
Today is the other day where I am in the middle of nowhere, at a school called Pathshala, situated away from chengelpet.
Dry toilets (do look this up in case you have not heard of it!), solar cooker, a micro wind turbine spinning in force, and solar outdoor lights to keep us company.
Darkness seems so dark, as there is no other light till eyes can see. The only bright object is the solar outdoor lights.
Agreeing to make the most, sam and I have chosen to give up the comfort of the room.
The cool winds blowing into my right ear. Listen a bit more carefully, and u can hear the gentle whistling of the wind, running through the shrubs under the granite slab (my cot for the night)
Sleeping under the open sky and gazing at the starts is beautiful and peaceful. A site that is available to all, only if you look.
I will miss this openness while I am at another lodge tomo night!

Missed madurai, stop

Sitting at a very small village shop quite in the middle of no where.
Was on a bus to madurai from coimbatore, but was asleep when the madurai bus stop came at 4am.

Woke up and asked where we were, realised we were 40min away from madurai.
Bus driver stopped at the next stop, asked me to walk to the otherside and take a bus back. Scared me, looked around before I got off, as it was 4.45am and the village was asleep, excepting for the dogs and a few goons I thought. Saw a police station at the stop, with the courage and excitement of a possible adventure, I got off.

Have been sitting on this random stone waiting for a bus, which I am told will come at 6am.

Its nice to see the village unfolding, people waking up to their morning chores. Shops getting ready, people cleaning the front yard, birds getting louder, auto drivers coming out of their house, and of course- the big blast radios starting to come on..

Was a slight bit of fear when I took the leap of faith to hop off the bus. But its just one of the many stories that add up to the colourful travel times.


In a hope that 6am comes soon so that I head to the unkept lodge and catch a wink of sleep, I remain.


Nikhil @ 5.15am