As the new year's eve was approaching, everyone around me was ground working on parties across the city, busy buying tickets, however myself and my friend were in look out for a serene and balmy venue provided a travel time of less than 10 hours from Bangalore to welcome the new year. After spending so much time on travel blogs, we concluded The Place is going to be KANNUR. Also we decided to keep the expense minimum and try out public transport at maximum places possible.
After an overnight bus travel , we reached Kannur morning around 7 am. From the main bazaar (opposite to City Center) we took an auto to our resort located at Payambalam beach road. We had a sense of relief as we saw all the autos charging as per meter (few drivers demand extra on top of meter charge) since it was favoring our plan of using public transport mostly. On arrival to our stay which was located right in front of Payambalam beach, we were welcomed with aesthetic Kerala style vast building embellished with wooden furniture and crafts all over . One cannot ask for a more beautiful and mammoth view of sea from our room and veranda @ Kanaka Beach House.
Although we made an early check in, the hosts were courteous enough to offer us breakfast as the resort is quite far from the commercial part of the city. Have been to various places earlier along with family and friends but never have made conversations with strangers as much as I did in this trip. Perhaps it could be because we were just 2 in number which allowed others to natter with ease. While we were having our breakfast, another guest seated at the other end of the table invited himself to have breakfast along with us and started sharing talks which I kind of felt obvious and harmless when you are in your solo or lean gang trips.
Followed by breakfast and refresh, we headed to Arakkal museum via auto,got to see the antique collections of our rulers of the past.This was planned as Kannur is a very hot place and you cannot spend time out leisurely during noon. Then headed straight to the very famous Odhen's hotel for a scrumptious non veg meal.Beware it is a very crowded place where you need to wait for sometime before grabbing a seat.
The next place in our itinerary was Lighthouse which overlooks the Arabian Sea. It is well maintained, preserved and surrounded by garden where you can witness many locals making their way for spending time. The entry cost for these places are very minimal that Day 1 kept our pocket intact.
We didn't plan anything more on this day and went straight to bed,woke up a while before sun set i.e around 6 PM and rushed to the beach which was hardly few steps away from our resort. Payyambalam beach known for its beautiful sun set view was a visual treat in the quiet evening. Although you happen to see people doing their regular walks and jogs, the calmness of the beach remains undisturbed. There was another family who had checked in by this time, as I already mentioned that I happened to converse with many random people here it happened again. The entire family was up for chit chat,exchanged our whereabouts,meaningful conversations and gestures until checkout .It was a perfect last day of the year!
After long hours at beach, we found a good restaurant called Nawabz Grill & Tandoor within 1 km reach and enjoyed the North Kerala cuisine yet again. Tea is a must try here! Meanwhile the hosts at our resort had arranged for a small party on the eve of new year and offered us with exclusive Kerala desserts once we were back. Along with other guests at the resort we welcomed the year 2020 with cake and crackers.
On 1st January 2020, soon after breakfast , we started to travel to Kavvayi Island at Payyanur. We hired a cab for the entire day since the place is approx 40 km away from Kannur. On reaching the point from where boats will be available to travel to the island , we were once again lucky to find a family to accompany us for the boat ride. Maybe since it was new year day we just found 1 boat operating and he wouldn’t have agreed to give ride only to both of us if the other family had not been there.
We had this island visit in our agenda after reading multiple blogs on it but for sure didn’t expect nature to be this unfathomable in real!! Once we stepped out of the boat , I was walking through a lush green piece of land Which seems to have very few fishermen houses surrounded mostly by coconut trees.As I walked through for another 100 metres hardly, could start hearing the strident sound of waves, with increased pace of footsteps I almost stood still for a moment watching the vast Arabian Sea . It was really a very calm and almost empty beach with none other than us and couple of foreigners. Standing there just recollected the landscape I ventured just in the last 15 minutes. You get down from your vehicle, take a boat ride over the Kavvayi backwaters, again step on a land and within few meters landed up on the beach! God’s own country for a reason! After spending around an hour , the same boat took us towards the mangrove swamp which lies in the middle of the backwaters. We stopped by the swamp and was shocked to see there was not much water around the swamp alone that you could get off and walk normally. From far if you see it, it would look as if people are walking very casually in the middle of a vast backwaters. Not to forget that we were too lucky the entire trip, we got to spot a jelly fish and could even touch it. For all these experiences together, we just paid 150 bucks for both of us and left the place with ecstasy.For lunch we stopped by a small hotel to have typical Kerala Parotta and started towards the next place.
We reached Muzhapilangad beach around 5 PM , had a round of marine drive in our cab and began to walk alongside the beach as the soil here is too different and comfortable for walk. This place too gave us a beautiful sun set treat. But if you want to enjoy this marine drive to the fullest , you need to have your own vehicle so that you get to drive over the water and watch it splash around. With rental cabs, you don’t get to experience this:(
Got dropped at the city centre and we had 4 hours ahead of us before the bus back to Bangalore. Refreshed ourselves quickly in the city centre washroom(very dirty) and began to do shopping. You get to see many shops inside the mall and outside as well along the same road with stocks mostly imported from Arab. Spotted few shops with very beautiful lehengas and churidars.
The very last thing in our list was dining at Cantaloupes restaurant which is also very close by the city centre and bus stand. In the very same building, there is another cozy cafe called Olgutz where we sipped a coffee before departing to the bus stand.
Reached bus stand just 5 minutes before the departure with the satisfaction that we didn’t miss to turn any stone!