Puri trip

With barely a week in hand, there was no recourse but to plan a trip to Puri, the safest and most traditional haven for Bengalis from time immemorial. Since our last trip was almost 15 years ago, we felt that a jaunt down there was the best we could do at such short notice, specially as the traditional hill resorts were in the grips of various sudden protests and demonstrations with the inevitable road blockades. With our group consisting of senior citizens, the trip had to be planned, comfortable and compact. The new Scorpio was only a few months old and needed a long run after the Gaya trip. So we said "Hell with train tickets, touts and reservations" and started off on Tuesday 23td December at 7.30 Am after the traditional Kolkata fog had dissipated a bit.

We zipped to Kolaghat in fine style,  where a huge traffic jam greeted us on the approach to the bridge.We had taken the left lane and were soon sandwiched between 6 immobile trucks. An enterprising tea seller, considered our mournful faces, shouted at Ganesh(our driver), to quickly turn around, reverse directions and then take the right lane meant for down traffic. "Passsenger cars are allowed through, "he stated. Then in typical innovative Bengali style, he waved and screamed at some lorry drivers, cleared a thin gap in the obstinate line of lorries, goaded a muttering Ganesh to weave in and out, and then tilt the car precariously by the kuccha roadside into the opposite lane. We streaked through, but settled behind a 100 such enterprising cars. The Kolaghat bridge was being repaired(should have been at least 5 years back), and cars could travel one at a time in only one direction. The tea seller merrily waved to us from the opposite side--a Good Samaritan who merely thought that helping people was as natural as breathing or eating.

We swept through to Kharagpur following NH6, took the turn to Belda and zipped to Balasore with ease and style by 1PM. There was a hitch as we entered Orissa, as a group of seedy officials from Orissa Motor Vehicles showed us a Xeroxed government order and demanded Rs 1050 for the Scorpio for 6 months permit to travel in Orissa. We protested, we pleaded, we threatened, we sighed---but we paid this unjustified and probably illegal tax as we had to reach Puri before night.

We stopped at Balasore where we  devoured our egg sandwiches (Pluto gulped down a couple in 5 seconds!!!), swilled down  some Coke and moved on. The road upto Simulia was horrible as they were being repaired with numerous diversions and potholes, but once past that the NH6 widened out and  sliced through the countryside in 4 and occasional 6 lane width. The landscape was flat and unremarkable, unlike Bihar, but the sun was muted enough not to cause any discomfort.

We cruised through Cuttack, had some tea at Bhubaneshwar, before entering the road to Puri after asking a few bystanders. More road signs would have been helpful--but our country NEVER lacks knowledgeable and eager-to-help strollers!!!! We went past Dhauli, and then Pipli, marked by  10 by 10 shops selling colourful cloth handicrafts.

We reached Puri at 5 PM and had to pay an Entrance fee of Rs.20!!!! All in all we spent Rs 265 as toll fee for the entire stretch. Again the helpful byestanders guided us to New Marine Drive and Hotel Prabhupada near the white Lighthouse.

Pluto got out, did his circular jigs, sniffed at the potted plants and wagged his curled up tail. Ganesh breathed a sigh of relief. We marched in with our 18 pieces of luggage ( Bengalis to the hilt are we!!!), only to be told that one of our rooms would be vacated 2 hours later.

The cool sea breeze started flowing as the sun set to the right of us--its rays glinting on the sweat of the fishermen bringing the last catch home. The lights went on, and the lighthouse lamp started rotating, its light bouncing off the incessant waves patterning and then smoothening out the sand on the beach.

Puri awaits for the morrow, but more later.