A story from a time gone | Honnemaradu - Trek Notes
Clicked in October 2000 / Honnemaradu / Go here to see the shack at Honnemaradu
On a fascinating morning in the month of October (after an overnight bus journey) I stood alone. It was around 0600 hrs, and I was in Talguppa. I had a scrumptious breakfast of idlis and helped myself to the unclean drinking water locally available. I was glad I decided to finally do the trip despite my friends dropping out.
I chatted with the locals, each one more fascinating than the next. I listened to their vivid stories which were not of the wild or the village, but of slick city boys and girls that passed by this place. I sipped on the tea ever so slowly, it was interesting. I took a long deep breath and my lungs were filled with the scent of the smoke that emanated from wood burning nearby. I longed for a hot bath and reminisced about village life and heating water for a bath by burning wood. I used to spend my summer holidays as a kid in a village called Kalgundi, near Arisikere where my uncle was the doc.
There were two possibilities from Talguppa, a 8km one and the other a 12 km one. The villagers suggested that I hire a vehicle.. they were whispering among themselves for I said that I wanted to walk. I saw a smirk smile form on their faces, probably thinking *yeah city boy is gonna walk* .. and I thought I had all the narrow mindedness and ego 
The shorter route would require me to cross a canal and the water would be too high due to rains. The trail could be submerged for some distance and I might miss it. Well! That was the opinion of the villagers, and they suggested I take someone along if I headed that way. I tried and could not find any enthusiastic soul. Then I asked about the longer route which seemed easier to traverse alone. So, I boarded a bus to the check post/bus stand (can’t remember) 2 km away and started my hike to Honnemaradu from there (as suggested by the locals). And since I bumped into the bus that took me 2 km on this longer route, it became shorter.. hahaha
The great thing is that after the initial visit, I have been to this place three more times, and done the shorter and the longer routes many times with varied company and also alone.. hehe
It was around 0700 hrs and I figured that it would take me nearly 2 hrs to traverse this non-hilly terrain. With half a bottle of water I took off humming to myself, breathing in the fresh air and marching on wet ground. There was a lot of bamboo along the way.
And now, coming to the story I intended to tell, the mandible etc.
I walked in my well practiced rhythm, a warm glow inside. I was excited to be walking to a place where I would be meeting new people and get to learn water sports. I tried to guess what kind of group I might have to join in with, since I was coming alone. Lost in thought and excitement, I felt interrupted by a sense of darkness (and fear) looming over me. I looked around and saw nothing. Then I looked back and spotted the trouble… it was a bull. Not just any bull, but one with quaint attire.
There was a golden-orange bull with large horns and a garland of green leaves treading on the path behind me. I got spooked. I suddenly became conscious of every breath, my heartbeat, and every step I took. I walked quickly, but not too quickly and I kept looking back to see if I was putting enough distance between myself and the bull. This fearful charade continued for a while and soon I was exhausted.
Armed with only a flash, my desire to enjoy the scenery was now corrupted by a stupid fear. I stopped in my tracks, fuming with frustration at myself. The mind knows how to spook itself when alone. I looked back and thought to myself.. hmm.. well.. its a domesticated bull or at least been around humans. And then came the most simple answer. I cleared my throat, took a few steps towards the advancing bull and shouted HAAEEY HAAEY HAAAEY … and… and.. the poor dude scampered away like a scared child. Hahaha!
Damn! I felt happy and stupid at the same time. I walked on laughing to myself, and as I did my eyes fell on this bony mandible (above), probably of a buffalo and I took this snapshot in memory of the events just experienced.
PS: Go here for recent trip reports on Honnemaradu by Anita, Vaasu & Suman.
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