Most city slickers like us have had experiences of banks chasing us for personal loans, auto loans, top-up loans, etc. Little do we realise the ordeals of villagers chasing loans.

Twice we came across long queues and crowd in front of two nationalized banks. We first thought it was queue for accessing ATM, since ATMs are rare in these one-street towns. We stopped by and asked one of them. He replied it was the rush to apply for loans.

Makes us wonder if we are cut off from such realities…

True to the Tata tradition, Ginger Hotels (part of the Tata Group) celebrated Independence Day. On Day 9, August 15, we woke up to Ginger’s Independence Day celebrations.The lobby had a pretty rangoli in the shape of India. One of the guests hoisted the national flag, followed by distribution of sweets.

Incidentally, we were in Mangalore on August 15, 2008 as well. It was one of those three-day-weekend-pack-your-bags stuff. We visited Kollur and had an exciting jeep ride to the Kodachadri peak with the 4-wheel drive climbing at 70 degree angle at many places.

School children going for Independence Day parade - in a village on Mangalore-Goa road.

Happy Independence Day

We were always fascinated by forests, and so when we made the route plan, the ever enchanting western ghats became a part of it naturally. We knew it would be challenging, but what we overlooked was the fact that it was monsoons.

Though we have been on the ghats most of the time since Day 2, Day 8 was perhaps the most difficult drive. We started from Madkkeri, enjoying the misty ranges, coffee plantations and the tall trees that flanked the road. But the winding roads were full of potholes, making the drive very demanding. Yet, the road was wide enough to allow drivers to negotiate their paths.

But then, iInstead of going directly to Mangalore, we chose to take a different route - from Sulya, we took a right turn to the interiors - to Subramanya, a small pilgrim town surrounded by forests. From Subramanya, we went to Puttur and again took a diversion to Kasargod in Kerala to reach Bekal Fort. These roads had a different story.

The whole drive of close to 120 kms was through narrow roads (except in the outskirts of Kasargod town), just enough for one vehicle and a turn or curve almost every 20 meters. Rains had washed away the soil on both sides of the road and it looked like gutters full of slush.

We completely forgot that Cedia has a 5th gear. Fourth gear often reminded us to go back to the third gear

Driving through the rainforests however will always be a temptation and it is never enough for us.

We stopped at one place just to record the continuous shrill music of cicadas and other insects in the background of a gushing stream. Check it out ...

On the road from Puttur to Kasargod is this village called Vitla. Just outside the market area, tucked between farmlands and paddy fields is a unique family. When Prasad mentioned about them, we decided to pay a visit. Often called ‘palace’ by the villagers, this large house is anything but a palace. We met Janardana, the current head of the family and spoke to him for a While.

His ancestors were local rulers and the current generations either work as government employees or school teachers. The families maintain separate kitchens, but during special occasions or festivals, food is prepared together. The structure is more than 100 years old and has started crumbling in some parts.