KRGFamily Reunion Part 3 - Rainbow Cruises

After breakfast at Sarovaram we boarded two air-conditioned Tempo Travelers and proceeded to Alleppey enroute to the Rainbow Cruises Boat Jetty. After a boisterous 90 minute journey we reached our destination. We generated a lot of cacaphony & commotion and had enormous fun during the bus ride - music videos belting out latest bollywood songs accompanied by turbulent dancing/hip shaking by the youngsters. At the boat jetty we all took a breather, a washroom and selfie break. An array of beautiful crafted cruise boats were anchored neatly in a row. Rainbow Cruises was one amongst them and cousin Jayaram happens to be a Director in this enterprise.The management committee of Rainbow Cruise were present on hand to receive us and assist in boarding the cruise boat - a sleek air-conditioned luxury boat with nice rooms and a huge air conditioned conference room on the top deck with a terrific view of the Vembanad Kayal - picturesque and panoramic.We were welcomed aboard with cold towels and "elaneer" or tender coconut water -a perfect drink to expunge our thirst and commence our exotic cruise.The conference room had a long oblong table - just perfect to seat the entire family. We spent a lot time walking the top deck, exchanging pleasantries & exclaiming about our magical journey we were about to undertake on the tranquil backwaters of incredible Vembanad lake. We soon settled down to our chatting and gossip sessions and exchanging notes on what each one had been upto in recent times. Mobile phones were out and clicking pictures and selfies galore. Many in the family were meeting one another for the first time or after a long interval and consequently there were excited squeaks or screams of amazement.
Jayaram officially declared the bar open and appointed himself as the head barman.The spiritually oriented immediately made a bee line to the bar and were served cocktails of Elaneer and Golden Apple Vodka. As the veterans slowly started get inebriated, the quieter & gentler "tee-totallers" too gravitated towards and aligned themselves to the bar and helped themselves to this "soma-amrith" or divine elixir (but firmly declaring that they were merely consuming elaneer). We were having a boat load of fun and kept posting pictures on the family whats app group much to the chagrin,despair & disappointment of those who did not attend
The cocktail session was followed by a grand Kerala style vegetarian sadya served on plantain leaves - served with three payasams - wholesome, fulfilling & awesome. Post lunch some members retired to the comfort of the rooms for a much needed afternoon naps while the rest remained on board and continued their amusements, banter & tete-a-tete.The highlight of the post lunch merriment was a delightful game of "Telepathy" introduced by Jayaram.This game had everyone mesmerized and astonished.Many in the family must still be scratching their heads trying to figure out the philosophy behind telepathy. We were then served hot hot delicious Pazham Poris and tea/coffee and soon the boat reached our idyllic destination after a smooth 5 hour long therapeutic cruise. Our peregrinations on the Vembanad Lake concluded and we arrived at our mysterious destination - The Lake Palace Resort.

Family Reunion Part 2- Breakfast @ Sarovaram

The final few days preceding the Reunion were most vibrant and entertaining. There were fast and furious exchanges on the whats app channel. Expectations were sky high.`Some one realised that Jayashree's name had been omitted; her name was hastily added. Kannan posted the brilliant and melodious Poomaram video clip which was well appreciated and applauded. Sekhar wanted everyone to post arrival & departure programs to facilitate pick up/drops. There were intermittent voice messages from Jayaram providing status updates on program. Question of expense sharing was raised and query posed to Jayaram who cleverly avoided any discussions. Ramu,Naran,Jaya,Radhu,Prathima,Krithika,Priya,Sethu & Sarayu were flying in to Angamali airport and would hire a cab and reach Sarovaram.by 8.30 am. Vinod,Priya,Shobha,Akshada,Arjun,Avilash & Avyuktha were driving down from Bangalore with stop overs at Malampuzha & Trichur and informed they would arrive Sarovaram by 9.00 am. En-route they would visit our family patriarch Rasu Mama/chittappa and take his blessings.
 Ramu,Shobha, mother Ramal & Guhan would reach Ernakulam on 19th night & reach Sarovaram on 20th morning around 8.30 am. Usha & Raja were driving from Palakkad.Jayaram & Aswathy were attending Asianets awards function on 19th night night and would drive to Ernakulam early morning on 20th and arrive groggy eyed at Sarovaram ot greet the family. Jayaram informed that two rooms had been booked at Sarovaram for early birds to check in luggage & freshen up and have their morning cuppa. There were queries about whether some of the cars could be left behind at Sarovaram parking while our group was away at Alleppey.
Minakshi informed that her & Siddhus train tickets were still wait listed & awaiting confirmation. As a contingency measure they would attempt Tatkal booking on 18th. Jayashree regretted her inability to attend owing to unavoidable circumstances..
There were discussions about organizing amusements and games  at the reunion and would some one kindly take charge. There was plenty of talent pool in our family hence ample potential for wholesome entertainment. Suggestions included singing, dancing, skits,games like antakshari & dumb charades. There were talks about bringing recorded music & costumes,chess boards & a game of Taboo (whatever that is-not to be confused with actress Tabu). Vinod & Radhakrishnan unequivocally consented to take full responsibility for all spiritual activities.
Niru responded that at exactly on identical dates she would be in Kaziranga chasing one horned Rhinos or vica versa - whichever the case it may be. Ramu started a frenzy of quizzes to keep the whatsapp channel buzzing with intensity. It all started with the Rhino quiz - "If 3 Rhinos could dig 3 holes in 3 days, how many holes can 300 Rhinos dig in 300 days". Answers for this quiz varied from 98 to 298 to 300 to 30,000.
This was followed by a riddle on sea monsters. Minakshi was on cloud 9 as her answer of 30000 was spot on.
There was a clarification by Shanthi - she was attending a classmate's daughter wedding at Kottayam on 20th at 11.00 am.She was trying to figure out how to reach the venue and join the reunion revelry.
Somewhere in the midst of all these discussions Yash had broken his mobile phone and currently was not in the group.
There still no clarity on where the family was spending the night in Alleppey. Jayaram continued to keep this a closely guarded mystery. The fun and banter continued endlessly. Energy levels were high and enthusiasm levels were peaking.Minakshi finally confirmed her Tatkal Ticketing - in a train reaching Ernakulam at 3.00 am. Sidhu was travelling by bus .
Another quiz about elephants,monkeys, rabbits & parrots all walking towards the beach -wide variance in answers.There were other quizzes on chiming clocks and aero-planes taking off from runways.
Very appropriately some one thought it fit to post Anna & Manni's picture as a profile photo for the whatsapp group. Shanthi remarked about the astonishingly striking resemblance between Anna and Kunjammai.
Sekhar, Narayanaswamy, Megha & Uttara landed in Ernakulam on 19th morning and reported they visited Chottanikara Bhagawathy temple and sought blessing of the powerful deity..
A disappointed Dinu reported the following "I wish I could (attend).Stuck in Hubli with work, house in a mess,luggage in transit at unknown location.Only thing certain is that I will be celebrating WA with wife" ( WA=whatsapp or wedding anniversary or wanton abandonment?
There were reports of Vinod & party reaching Malampuzhai, Sekhar & family going for a boat ride in Cochin and Ramu,Shobha,Guhan, Rama Periammai/Mami reaching Ernakulam and checking into YMCA Palarivattom. Usha & Raja would leave Palakkad by 5.00 pm and reach Ernakulam on 19th night.There were some amazing pics of the Aluva puzhai & exciting boat rides on the Vembanad lake.
All highways,waterways, runways & tracks were leading to Sarovaram, Ernakulam.

20 June 2017: News Clippings - Minakshi following suggestions alighted at Ernakulam Town at 3.00 and proceeded to the a/c waiting room awaiting pickup.
Team Namma Bangaluru takes off fron Devanahalli Airport.Scheduled to arrive at Angamali around 7.00 am.
Anu Sekhar with heavily bandaged ankle recouping at Chennai reading the what sapp messages with a heavy heart
Ranju sends her best wishes for the reunion.
Nirupama also posts pictures from Delhi airport as they are about to take off for their Kaziranga adventure.
Siddhu's bus crossed Trichur at 7.00 am and he will find his way to Sarovaram.
Rama mami/periammai sends her greeting to the family from her room in YMCA Palarivattom.
Family members started trooping in to Sarovaram reception area in batches - between 7.30 am & 9.30 am virtually all had arrived. There was continuous loud chatter all around.Squeals,shrieks & incessant peals of laughter filled the air.One witnessed a profusion of hugs hand shakes and greetings. The excitement and euphoria was palpable. It was all finally happening and emotions were running high. The family appeared frozen & immobilized in a sea of emotion at the Sarovaram reception.
By another astounding coincidence we bumped into Shobha ( Malayatoors daughter - poor thing was confined to a wheel chair being afflicted from a rare disease) and her husband Nagaraj. I was meeting them for the first time.They happened to be staying in Sarovaram and were in the process of checking out.
 The group had to be convinced and cajoled and virtually nudged out of the reception area moved into the first floor dining room at Sarovaram for traditional vegetarian breakfast of idlis, vadas,dosas, uthappams & pooris. My mother Ramal and her escort Lakshmi Mami were served breakfast on the ground floor. In the midst of this gregarious congregation and confabulations Jayaram & Aswathy made an electric appearance - both looking glamorously sensational in strikingly elegant ensembles. The Awards function had been a late night affair and they had driven directly to Ernakulam.