Walking it Off : A walkers walk.

Six in the morning, a group of five people walk an empty road  in Mysore. Its mid April, bright enough, the sun will be out soon and so will the heat and sweat. The roads are undulating, a series of crests and troughs. The group currently takes on a gentle uphill slope. A retired University Professor, the leader of the pack, wise, grey haired walking the royal gait, hands crossed behind the back. A young girl, second in line, with a short hair cut, ferocious scowl ready to trip up any of the three behind. A scrawny boy, in the middle of the pack, with close cropped hair and the wit to make a room light up. The youngest in the group, a little girl, falls in right behind, her short quick steps scampering to keep in stride with the leader. A huffing round kid, drags himself at the end of the pack, sneezing and eyes blurred with allergies yet scanning the ground wary of toads. Ever so often there is a sudden rush, a break in the ranks, as a pebble rolling down the road is mistaken for the dreaded amphibian hurtling to grab hold of the precious pair of clumsy ankles.

The walk with Grandpa was a great way to experience Mysore as a kid every summer. On weekdays it was a walk to the park or an excursion on foot to the Mysore zoo or a simple get away for an alternative to Nana's breakfast. I for one never looked for alternatives to Nana's breakfast.I indulged in a double breakfast holiday routine many a time. Its not too tough to guess which of the five was me. On Sundays the walks lead into the city to the St.Philomena's Cathedral for mass and then on the way back, a trip to the butcher shops would guarantee that my prayers for the lunch were heard.

My love for the walk has subsisted since and has fed off some great experiences. A walk in the school farm with a small gang of rebellious boys and girls. A walk along the beach every turtle season for years together at nights, with bag full of goodies. A walk from T-Nagar to Besant Nagar through Kotturpuram along the Adyar. (wow I seriously had no Idea where I was!) A walk (more like a run in the swamps, )I took out of college with a few friends on one of those days I cared two hoots about any kind of authority. A rare accidental walk through silent valley on a memorable road trip.  I miss the daily walks with Ramola and Nikita (my pet Labrador retrievers) around Besant Nagar as little pups, and more recently at the Village.After a long summer day of work on my way for a Frisbee game, I just had a sudden urge to turn around and walk, and a walk I took from 96th to downtown Manhattan.

Have a sense of direction, or walk with some one who knows the locale. Having great company always makes for memorable walks.  Walks are best enjoyed in self silence. Even with great company along you will notice that you will have the urge to keep to your self for a few moments ever so often and every one respects that. Don't hesitate to ask for directions.  No point getting lost. Listen to the surroundings. Even deciding to walk the crowded city streets with no agenda can be relaxing. A photo walk is not a walk, I have realized that since I picked up the camera and a new hobby. No iPod nonsense plugging your head. Be alert and aware of were you are (yes intoxicated walks home are not counted)..

cheers,

Ajay

A walk down Besant Nagar

Yesterday was Tamil New Year’s Day and more significantly a holiday.

A holiday that began and ended with trips to and from Besant Nagar.
A hot morning Frisbee game at the Besant Nagar beach.Rode back home. I go spend some time with the grandparents, cut my hair, and then I spent the rest of the day, catching up on sleep.


Arun texts me at around 5.30pm says he is getting out of work early, we plan to meet up at the beach for a drink.


Bessie is a great locality. A place that I have grown up in and I must say a place I am most comfortable with. It's 7.30 and I am early. I walk the stretch from the Spencer’s daily up to the Vinayaga temple. I walk across the road. Walk left to the bus depot and past Besant’s [a fast food joint.. one of my haunts since turtle walk days back in school]. The Liquor outlet here is horrible; hardly get any thing you want. The booze I was carrying [left over from Saturday night] wasn’t going to be enough. I pick up another quarter [Chef]. I turn around and walk it back down the stretch to Spencer's Daily a bit more conscious this time that I wouldn't be seeing it again for a long time to come.

I stop at Maharaja's Store,walk in and out. Give a smile to the owner, who's probably seen me walk in as a kid many times, and probably recognized me from then. I walk past Vishranti and the little Book cart that used to thrive during the harry potter craze. The pirated books sold faster and than the hot stuff from Vishranti. I look heaven words to Eden's the most overrated place I have ever eaten at. I have a lot of friends who swear by this place but there is nothing like Besant's. I make an quick note to head back to Besant's after the drinking session. I see Varun backing his car into a parking spot at Spencer's to pick up some Groceries. Lekha his wife is around the corner and he is supposed to be efficiently using his time to jump in and out of Spencer’s. I stop him for quick chat. I get distracted. As he talks I see another familiar face, a girl from one of Abhay’s parties. I get back to the conversation just in time to findout that he was winding up. Arun mean while is walking it down from Adyar Bus Depot. I wander around outside till he reaches Spencer’s. We get ourselves two half litre Pepsi pets and spike one bottle on the way to the beach. After some walking we find a half empty spot. Yes we totaly forgot it was Tamil New Year’s Day, large crowds at the beach are expected.

One bottle downed talking about fun stuff. Arun’s girl problems and my lack of as many, my hair and his lack of as many. After struggling to open the second for some time we open it with Arun’s keys [later find out that Arun dropped his keys and lost them that night]. We walk up to the fish stall, and select one and ask the owner to fry it for us. Also order a plate of Kalamari. We wash down the fish with the rest of the drinks. And take a long walk towards Cozy corner. Then we head down towards the Fruit Shop and walk back to Besant’s for dinner. Besant’s has come a long way from being a road side stall. Its got an A/C joint now. We walk in order a chicken noodle and a beef fry and down it.

Having dinner at Besant’s I realized that I had had an amazing round up of Bessie that night. I walk out and send Arun packing in a rick. I walk down to Adyar depot on the way, try calling Shilpa [hard to get at best of times] and send out a bunch of drunken texts to Divya about Besant’s food and not getting a bus. I get a share rick and whiz back home.