Trivandrum Memories (2)

Trivandrum Memories (1)

Temple:

There were no temples near the place that I stayed in Pattom. Only 2 churches were nearby, in front of which I prayed a couple of times. On a weekend, I went alone to the Padmanabha Swamy temple, on a Morning. I enjoyed the visit to the temple and the serenity and divine-ness of the temple. Also on my last weekend in Trivandrum, all of a sudden I decided and again went to the Padmanabha Swamy temple.

Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Language:

Malayalam was understandable. But almost everyone there were able to speak Tamil. Their Malayalam accent was also close to Tamil. On the first day, when I went to the nearby Woodlands hotel for lunch, I tried my best to speak in Malayalam with the server, but he replied to me in clear Tamil. Got to know that most of the guys working in the Woodlands hotel are from Tirunelveli. I thought that I will be able to learn a little conversational Malayalam, but never got that chance.


Outings:

I never liked to go out, normally in those days. But once my colleagues compelled and took me to an outing. On that day, it was planned to visit the Kovalam and Veli beach. Unlike the beaches of Tamil Nadu, Kovalam beach was pretty with a beautiful landscape. I enjoyed seeing the beauty of the Kovalam beach. The view of the light house in the Kovalam beach was wonderful. At that moment, I decided that I should visit the beach again with family sometime in future.

Kovalam Beach with the light-house in the background

From Kovalam we went to the Veli beach. The road to Veli beach was wonderful with many beautiful scenaries in the back-waters of Kerela. Especially I like the place where the road was made by digging out a rocky mountain, and the rocks from the mountain were protruding from both sides of the road. I have seen this place in many movies, including the recent ones.

Veli

Strike:

Strikes are absolute strikes there. Every month we have at least 2 strikes and nothing functions on the day of strike. Strike means holiday for us too, except on one particular strike day, our office functioned. On that day, in the morning, we got the company vans to reach office, but the evening we were asked to go back to our rooms on our own. We didn't know how to go back. So, we started by walk through the rear gate of the technopark and after an adventurous walk through an area that almost looked like a forest, we reached a main road and started waiting there, without knowing where to go or what to do. After 6 o clock, buses started coming. I took one bus and after getting into the bus, go to know that it wont go to Pattom. But the conductor gave me ticket to some place in-between and he said that from there I can get a bus to Pattom. I got down in that stop and saw a big Govt hospital and a medical  hospital in front of that bus-stop. I had tea in a shop, which used to be my habit, whenever I visit a new place in those days. Whenever a  bus crosses, I used to ask some neighbour where the bus goes. Finally around 7 o clock I got a bus to Pattom, and reached my room.


Return:

All the training and the final examination got over and it was time to return. The final feedback from our batch co-ordinator Alby was that they expected more from me, and I do have the capability to perform better and deliver more, and that they are dis-appointed on that. Later I came across the same statement several times in my career and got to know that it is a standard template statement delivered by the managers during the appraisal.

The last day was a watershed for many in the batch. Almost everyone was crying. I didn't cry, as I was happy to return to Chennai, for some personal reasons ;-). One pretty girl from our batch kept on talking to me since morning till evening. I couldn't understand the reason, but at the end of the day, my room-mate disclosed to me that he had informed her - for fun - that I had a crush on her. In those days, I was so immatured that I became angry with him and never talked to him again.

We all returned to our room, and the same van which used to take us to our office, took us to the bus stand. I had booked ticket in the bus. It was raining heavily when I got into the bus. I got into the bus at 7:58 PM as the last person, and the bus started at 8:00 PM.


Re-Visit:

Trivandrum was a lovely city, packed with nice people. I always wished to have a visit again to that city, which materialized after 11 years, when I visited with my Friend and Little Friends, accompanied by my parents-in-law. I have written about it here. By this time, my life has changed so much that I even had a couple of relatives in the beautiful city of Trivandrum.

- SPGR.

Video Games

I first got introduced to Video Games while I was in 7th standard. Whenever we go to Trichy town, while walking around in the town, there used to one shop in the corner in Super Bazaar. Always crowded, mostly with school kids, and unusual noises used to come from the machines from that shop. Got to know that it was a video game kiosk. Father used to take us there,  once in a while. There were machines, almost of my height, with a TV monitor and some controls in front of it. My favorite was to the car race game, which had a steering wheel

Car Race Game

If we give one rupee to the man in the game kiosk, he used to give 2 tokens, which we have to drop in the slot in the car race machine, and we can play game. Our car will move from bottom to top on the screen, and lots of cars used to come from the  opposite direction. We have to steer left and right and drive safely without hitting the opposite cars. The cars in the opposite direction will come in random directions. The road also will be narrower as the game proceeds. I never completed that game, but I liked played it. More than playing, I like to watch others playing the game.

I first saw the hand held game console when I was in 10th standard. One of my classmate had brought it to the class. Her uncle had brought it from Dubai. I still vividly remember that game console. It was yellow in colour, about the size of our palm. It had some 5 to 6 small buttons, and a screen above it. The screen was similar to the one that used to be in the numeric digital watches, but this was a bit big in size. It had only one game. When we switch it on, it used to give a lenghy music and one guy used to appear on the screen. When we press a button, he will start walking to the right, and there will be snakes on the way. When we press another button, he will jump and thus we have to safely take him through the game.

Hand-Held Game Consoles

Hand-Held Game Console

In the next level, some eagles will come above his head, and we have to make sure that he doesn't jump when there is an eagle above him, else the eagle will catch him. The game console went around the whole class and everyone tried their hands at it. The moment it came to me, I got addicted to it. I kept playing, playing and playing. I completed all the rounds in the game. And that is the only one video game I ever completed in my life. I got so involved that I continued to play even after our Maths master entered the class. I didnt know how to make it silent or how to switch off all of a sudden. I quickly hid it inside my desk, and it continued to give the beeping sounds for 3 more minutes. There was pin drop silence in the class, with only the beeps and different sounds from the video game console.

Our master looked confused and understood that something was wrong in the class, and walked up and down, to find out what was happening. Though the sound was coming from my desk, everyone in the class looked at the girl, who was the owner of the game console. The master went to her desk and asked her to stand and asked what that sound was. I was in a terrible fear, since I may be caught anytime, and if caught, the master will impart a couple of blows on my back. She spontaneously said that its an alarm in her watch and showed her wrist watch. At the same time, the beeps from the game console stopped. The master said "ok" and started the class. She maintained her cool throughout the class. I was still in fear and didnt follow the class. After the class got over and master went out, I went to her, handed over the game console and thanked her sincerely. I never touched that game console again, but remembered every step of that guy, the snakes, the eagles for years, as it took me to an entirely different world. During my boring train journeys to my native, I wished that I had that video game console, so that I can pass time easily.

When I went to college, there used a section in the library called the CDROM library. I didn't knew the actual purpose of that CDROM library, but I have seen students inserting a CD into that computer and playing games. All the time, students will be playing a particular game, where men with guns will come from the opposite direction, and we have to shoot them. Later I learnt that it was the DOOM game. I tried playing that game once, when after sometime, I felt a severe headache and vomiting sensation, could be because of the quickly changing colors and sounds from the game. I confirmed this, when I got the same symptoms, when i tried to play the same game after a couple of days. I never played that game again in college. So, by God's grace, I developed a natural aversion for video games, which prevented me from getting addicted to video games.

DOOM

When we bought a color TV, I found that there was one option "Game" in its menu. When I tried that option, a game appeared on the screen. Droplets of water will fall from above and there will be a bucket, when we have to move left and right to catch those droplets. With the help of remote, I played this game, whenever I got a chance. In those days, almost all the colour TVs used to have one inbuilt game in it.

I also got a small hand held gaming device which had a couple of games in it. I tried my hands playing a few games in it, among which my favorite was the car game. Once I possessed a computer, I got access to numerous games. The Rash, the Kar, and I played many many games on it. I have killed many boring afternoons with those games. Rash is still my personal favorite, which still runs in my old Desktop computer and I still play it whenever I got a chance. I made numerous attempts to complete the Dave and Mario games in the computers, but I normally gave up after a few levels.

Dave

Mario

As I started possessing mobile phones, I started playing the various games installed in it. Especially I liked the one which came in the base model nokia mobiles.

Vintage Nokia Game

Once I installed a game "Call of Duty", in my new laptop. All the characters and the scenes in the game looked so real that I couldn't consider that as a video game. I disliked that game, and uninstalled it in a few days. I got bored with the video games over time. Thank God, I needn't shell out money on the Xboxes and playstations.

Call Of Duty

As part of my job, I even developed software for the gaming consoles - similar to the consoles in which I played games in the gaming kiosk, some 20 years back.

This wish of mine to pass time in the boring train journeys materialized 20 years later, after I got an Android mobile phone. During my last journey for native to Diwali, I played a game that was somewhat similar to the one I played in that yellow colored game console, some 20 years back.

Note: I invite Dhanesh Amma to write her experiences with the Video Games.
Edit: The post by Dhanesh Amma on Video Games is here.

-SPGR.

Trivandrum Trip

Arrival in Trivandrum:
After eleven years happened to visit Trivandrum last month. That was a lovely trip. By the time we got into the car in Trivandrum airport, it was drizzing. Got to know that it was raining heavily sometime back. 

All set to go for the Trivandrum Trip.

Padmanabha Swamy Temple Visit:
We stuck to the decision to visit the Padmanabha Swamy Temple, though it was raining. The city was clean and the car started moving into the narrow roads of Trivandrum We reached the temple around 7:15 PM. Vehicles were not allowed near the temple and the car has to be parked some 200 mts away from the temple. 11 years back, in 2003 vehicles were allowed near to the temple. After the discovery of treasures inside the temple, lot of new rules had been put forth and there is a high security in and around the temple.

I noticed that in a board, it was written that the Dharsan ends by 7:30 PM. The time was already close to 7:20 PM. We quickly changed dress (or reduced the dress :-)...) near the car, since men have to strictly be in dhothi for entering the temple. So, we almost started running towards the temple. When we went near, we got to know that women had to wear saree. Those who are in Chudidhar have to buy a Mundu and compensate with it for the saree. Just before entering the temple, got to know that we cant even carry the shirt and baniyans with us inside the temple in our hands or in our shoulders. We have to leave them in the cloak room. I collected the shirts and baniyans from all and almost ran to the cloak room where I deposited them for a rent of Rs. 2 each.

In the cloak room, I found that people were even depositing their mobile phones and go to know that mobile phones are not allowed. When I was nearing the stairs leading into the Gopuram, Mama was already walking towards me with mobile phones. I took them and ran again to the cloak room. Along with the mobiles, I gave my new stainless steel ball pen, rather to avoid the risk another run to the cloak room.

Finally we all managed to enter the temple. My friend, little friends and Athai have already gone inside. I and Mama were almost running, when one Poojari told that just 1 minute left. I started running and finally managed to get on to the stage from where we can see the Padmanabha Swami in his Anantha Sayana. Had a nice Dharshan along with family and it was a Divine Experience(No pun intented!!!). We have to see the God in three parts, and eleven years back when I visited the temple in the November or December of 2003, we have walk from the direction of his feet. Now, we were walking from the direction of his head.

Kerela police everywhere inside the temple, bare chested and clad in dhothis, like a devotee, women police in saree. I thought of asking a policeman about the whereabouts of the treasures, atleast I want to know the approximate location of the treasures. But, later dropped that idea. Parents-in-law and my little friends went and sat comfortably in a location near the exit gate of the temple, when I and my friend went for a walk in side the temple. We had a nice time chatting, and I started explaining to her, as if I knew everything about the temple, and how the Royal family had kept the secret of the treasures for generations.

Finally we came out of the temple, and then started to a hotel for dinner. Her Chitapa took us to a hotel called "Arya Nivas". I had a light dinner with 2 idlis and 2 Nei Dosas. Then we started to Karamana, where we were supposed to stay in her relative's home. By now it started raining heavily. we had a warm welcome and had a good time there.

2nd Visit to Padmanabha Swami Temple:
Morning when I woke up, I found that the two Mamas were getting ready to go out somewhere. From seeing both Mama wearing dhothi, I could guess that they have started out to some temple. I thought that they are heading to some nearby temple. But, upon learning that they are starting out again to Padmanabha Swamy temple, I too joined them. I got ready quickly and we there started again to the temple. This time, I had a good Dharshan, lucky enough to spend about 15 minutes in front of Padmanabha's sannithi. We also got Sarkarai Pongal prasadam, while going around the temple.

The Padmanabha Swamy Temple.

A Posh Building in Modern Trivandrum.

Pattom Visit:
When we returned home, My friend was ready for the Pattom visit. I had breakfast of Idly and Sambhar vadai. (In my Friend's native, they have the habit of dropped vadai in Sambhar or Rasam and having it after it gets soaked in it. In the intial days of my marriage, when I saw a vadai immersed Sambhar, I thought someone had dropped the vadai inside Sambhar by mistake). At first, we considered many options to travel to Pattom, like, by car, then by bike, but finally we settled on auto, since I was a bit scared about finding the correct route to Pattom, and also Mama had already scared us saying that the Kerela police penalize vehicles with TN registration, the moment they see them in a one-way road. We caught an auto in the Thaliyal main road of Karamana, which started heading towards Pattom. 

I was exited, and my memories went back 11 years, when I was in the same city around the same time(months of Sep, Oct and Nov of 2003). I could identify all the places, the moment the auto entered into the Secretariat road. There is huge difference now. The area is posh now, with a 4 way lane. As the auto went along the Pattom road, I was explaining my friend, the places I used to come during my stay 11 years back, and also the landmarks in that locality. But I failed to show her the first ATM that I ever operated - an (then)UTI ATM(now Axis ATM).

The Posh Road in Pattom, Trivandrum.

The auto dropped us in front of the "Aruvi Tourist Home", where I stayed in my previous trip, 11 years ago. The tourist home remained almost the same. I showed her the phone booth, from which I used to call her, some 11 years back. Also I could spot the little tea shop in a "Thallu Vandi" on the opposite site of the road, where I regularly used to have tea. Lot of big buildings and complexes have come on the both sides of the road. On those days, just a wall used to be there. We started walking on the foot path from the Aruvi hotel. In those days, it used to a foot path, with stones. But now it is a nice foot path with red-tiles. The wall where there used to a movie poster with Navia Nayar - the poster at which I used to see whenever I cross that place - is now replaced with a posh building. In those days, I used to walk on that footpath, filled with worries and confusions about the future. Its not that now I walk without any worries or confusions. Its just that I now I have a different set of worries and confusions. Life goes on :-).

The Maruthi Suzuki showroom, in the place where a poster of Navya Nayar used to be there.

A Church in Pattom.

We took an auto back to Thaliyal from Pattom. The auto fares here were cheap compared to Chennai. The to and fro trip came to about Rs. 160. In Chennai, one side trip would have cost Rs. 150. On the way back, I tried to talk to the auto driver in Malayalam and he tried to talk to me in Tamil. Neither of us understood what that other said. But still the conversation lasted all the through the way. I just tried to enquire about the whereabouts of the Ajantha theatre, where I saw movies like "Boys" and "Thirumalai", 11 years back. Also, I asked him about the new Mohanlal's movie that was running there.

Upon reaching Karamana, we visited another relative's home on the next street in Thaliyal, after which we all started to the Kovalam beach. Kids seemed to enjoy the new location and getting introduced with new relatives.

Kovalam Beach:
We had to come out of the city to reach the Kovalam beach. Eleven years back, I entered the beach where there used to be a lighthouse. But now we entered through another area. No much shops were there in this place, and hence I missed the shopping that I was planning to have with my Friend and Little Friends.

Kovalam Beach.

After spening about 1.5 hours in Koavalam, we started to Nagerkoil, which brought of Trivandrum trip to an end. We had been planning this trip for about 8 years and we are happy that it materialized atleast now. Mama had told that he is ready to give company for coming by train from Nagerkoil to Trivandrum, for the temple and beach visit. Hoping to have such a trip soon.

- spgr.