Friday, March 26, 2021

My first mandatory quarantine in Kerala

 

I wanted to visited Kerala and be with my parents for a long time but 7 days of mandatory quarantine, forced me to stay back in Bangalore. I was under the assumption, that one day quarantine norm will be quashed and I will travel. Other reason for me to dodge quarantine was, I am claustrophobic and I wasn’t sure, if I will be able to survive for 7 days in a closed room, all by myself.

Later I realized that this quarantine norm is going off anytime soon, so I decided to visit my parents after a year (longest so far). For quarantine, I zeroed upon my aunt’s house, where my cousin sister had successfully completed her quarantine period.

I landed up at my aunt’s place by evening 6 pm and directly went to the room allotted to me, followed by a quick shower. Since, I was too tired due to exhaustive journey, I took rest for some time and for the l dinner to be served and immediately dozed off to bed.

Next day, my aunt said, full first floor is for you, so you can go to other rooms also, instead of being confined to one room itself. It gave me a fresh breeze of life as I could freely roam to other rooms of the floor without any fear. This made my life little pleasant full as being confined to a room was too monotonous.

I had planned lot of activities for those 7 days of quarantine but nothing materialized. As most of the time my ears were glued to the staircase, as my aunt would get me sometime things to eat at regular interval. Any sound on the staircase was an indication that someone is coming up. Usually I don’t feel that hungry but during those 7 days, I was starving most of the time, hence ate a lot and piled up some weight too.

My only way to communicate with the members of the house was through a glass panel. It was little difficult but good for the current situation. My dad was enjoying this scenario a lot. Couple of time, I felt like a new creature in zoo and people are visiting the place, to get a glimpse of me. But I was happy, in that situation too, as I was in the company of my loved ones.

First two days of quarantine were spend in taking rest as I was too tired due to hectic travel and my right feet was aching too. Since it was travel related ache, I decided to stay away from medicines and applied ice pack at the effect area, it severed the purpose for me.

I was very particular about few things during my quarantine period, first was to meditate daily, drink lukewarm water, eat healthy food at regular interval and take lukewarm water shower. Lukewarm shower because water is little cold in Kerala as they are pumped from well directly and people who are not used to this water, will get cold immediately. And I wanted to avoid falling sick especially during the quarantine period.

My friends and family members would call me frequently to keep a tab on me, so I was usually engaged with someone over call. Evening from 5pm – 7pm, I would at the balcony to get some fresh air and could see people walking down the road along with some vehicular movement. This was my, “me time” when, I didn’t want to take phone calls but enjoy the beauty of nature, as balcony would open to rubber plantation.

Despite all these activities, I felt lonely at times, then I would watch some movie or web series in my laptop. Based on my personal experience, I can say that it’s better to be quarantined with someone. Because sometimes your energy level goes down, there will be someone who will understand your situation better than others. Basic reason for energy level to go down was about the probable outcome of covid test, that people have to take after their quarantine period. This happens usually when are approaching towards the end of your quarantine period.

To sum up I can say that, quarantine period is like spending quality time at a resort where food and all basic amenities will be taken care for you but a visit to the pool or other places are barred.  In totality, I can say that my quarantine period was not that bad as I expected it to be, still I don’t to experience it again unless I have a quarantine partner.

Monday, March 15, 2021

My first road trip from Bangalore to Kerala

I have been driving bike and car, for more than a decade, still I prefer someone else to drive vehicle so that I can sit next to them. My friends were always against this habit of mine but would always give up, the fight with me and take the driving seat. I enjoy sitting next to my friends but if situation arise, I will drive but it has to be the last resort.

Some of my friends had warned me that if there’s situation, when I have to go for long drive, what will I do then? My response was, I will hire a driver. But never in my weirdest dream did I think, I will counter a situation, when I will be forced to undertake a road trip due to family emergency. I was petrified with fear the moment I learned about the road trip and I didn’t have any other option other than the road trip. So with a mixed baggage of emotion, I decided to go ahead with the road trip.

When I started my journey from Bangalore, my legs were trembling with fear and I wanted to go back to my room. Even the roads which I took on daily basis were no less than highways for me but I was determined to reach my first destination, my friend’s house in Salem. That was my only motivating power which kept me going.

I was little nostalgic when I crossed Karnataka border and entered Tamil Nadu, as I was leaving the city after an year’s gap, due to pandemic. Since it was my first road trip, my friends hap kept few systems in place to track my location and also for distress help. So in a way I was not alone in my journey, all my friends were travelling with me, love you guys for your unconditional support and always be the way how you are.

I was under stressful driving till I reached my first stopover in krishnagiri, I got out of the car there, swapped my shoes to slippers (was finding it difficult to drive), drank some water, informed my friends about my stopover and enjoyed the beauty of the place for some time. (My friends had done some research about such stopovers and informed me, so it was easy for me to stop, there for some time and relax).

My journey after this stopover was little smooth as the initial fear had vanished by now and I was confident about my drive forward. My other accomplice during my long and monotonous journey was my pen drive which had few songs, since it was an unplanned journey, I didn’t get time to add songs. I had few songs handy in my laptop which I transferred them promptly to my pen drive. I felt music was therapeutic as it kept me calm and composed while driving, without diverting my attention. 

Every kilometer covered by me brought little smile on my face as the distance was reducing and it instilled little more confidence in me, that I can do it. My joy had no bounds when I reached my friend’s house at Salem, I was much behind schedule but he was happy to see me. I could clearly see a sense of pride in his eyes on my achievement. Then we had lunch together after a long time and spent rest of the day in planning my journey for the next day, as I had to cover around 450 kms in a single day.

My friend suggested the best route for me, after analyzing multiple options Google and said that I should begin my day at 6 am nest day, so that I can reach home at least by 6 pm (inclusive of all breaks). Full 12 hour’s drive, had send shivers down my spine but my friends were confident that I will achieve this rare mile stone like a cake walk. God knows from where they so get much confidence about me, when I was doubtful about myself.

Next day, I left my friend’s house exactly at 6 am and got glued to my phone screen for the location ahead. By 10 am I entered Kerala border through Walayar check post but I still had, a long distance to cover as per Google maps. I had my breakfast there.

Kerala has many single lane roads so I had to be cautious while driving, as I am accustomed to driving on two or three lane roads. This in turn reduced my driving speed and increased travel time. By 2 pm I reached Cochin and was starving too. So had my lunch at a restaurant in Cochin, food was good. I still had four more hour’s drive left to reach home.

Again I started my drive through the roads of kerala to reach Konni, my hometown. At one place, nearly 30 kms away from Konni, I got confused with maps, fortunately I found police patrol vehicle there. I went to them and asked the way to Konni and they guided me the route.  After that I didn’t stop anywhere till I reached my destination..

Finally by 6 pm, I drove the car into my house and got out of it, to end the road trip journey and begin quarantine journey for next 7 days.