Day 6, 7: Kanyakumari and Vivekananda Rock

As I reached Kanyakumari I knew I was badly running out on time and I would miss the sunset (sorta my goal). I saw the town and without stopping I simply drove towards the sun wherever the road took me to. It cut across the busy streets and then the road went up towards a more calmer, empty area. There I stopped and saw the sunset. I didn't see the ball but I saw golden light disappearing slowly and gently in a cool, blue night. I saw on my right Arabian sea, in front of me Indian ocean, on my left, Bay of Bengal. Man, it was amazing. I was pretty high up...the road was pretty high up and I could see water all around me. One could tell that the earth was round. It's an odd feeling to see the solid like the earth being shaped by a wavy, liquidy surface like water. But that's what it is. I can see it now if I close my eyes.

The next day, I went to yet another temple - I believe Kali temple where Kali is believed to protect us all from demons. I went to the Triveni sangam, the point where all the water bodies merge and took a dip. While taking a dip, I lost my hotel keys. I stayed in Hotel Saravana by the way. And then wasted time in waiting for the guy to come, cut the lock, get my stuff, buying them a new lock and all that.


Vivekananda Rock
This was what I started out for - the small rock island that's the end of India. I wanted to follow the path what Vivekananda took to see what happens. Bhaskar seeded this idea several years ago. He also seeded the Khardung La idea. I first heard of both these places from him.

There's a temple (again) there and a statue of a Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar (133 feet high...one foot for every verse that he composed) and a huge memorial for Vivekananda (there's a huge statue inside) and there are book stores. And there is the dhyan area. I sat and meditated for I don't know how long. It was nice and it helped me to collect and bring together my entire experience into my center. It all came together. I reflected on our country, what I want to do the years ahead, what connects everything, our people, our history, our present, our future.

Kanyakumari-Trivandrum-Kollam-Ernakulam-Paravur

This was my final stretch. I particularly find driving on Kerala's 2-lane highway pleasing. It's developed throughout...through and through...and it's busy with traffic. Hardly polluted compared to the rest of India. Very green. But narrow. I reached home to my inlaws...who were waiting outside the door worried. Both were shocked to see my face...black with soot. My FIL asked if I applied something on my face to protect myself. I smiled. He opened a bottle of beer and I sipped relaxed in now-brown-previously-white Ts and jeans and TV. I smiled.