My Way On Highway: Day 51, Google And Yahoo Mouth Fresheners

I am sad. No, the MyWayOnHighway Road Trip couldn’t have been better. But like all good things, it too is gradually inching towards an end. Only 13 more days to go before we hit Gurgaon! Okay, shaking off that feeling for the time being, let me tell you how Day 51 went for us on the road. 

The Long Drive to Vizag

Glad we caught a few extra winks yesterday because today, we were up and driving towards Visakhapatnam aka Vizag in Andhra Pradesh from Warangal in Telangana at 7 am in the morning. We took the Warangal – Khammam – Rajahmundry – Chebrolu – Vizag route. There was slight anxiousness mixed with excitement because this would be the longest hubby Tariq would have driven at a stretch in a day. Yes, the 540 km drive was long and the roads bumpy in parts. There was a patch on the Aswaraopeta-Jangareddygudem Road that actually had craters so deep that we saw a truck get stuck in it. We all waited with bated breath as the driver nervously got the vehicle out.

Zindagi Ek Safar

Even the folks at Google wouldn’t have dreamt of this additional line of business being credited to them. Well, I am talking about the mouth fresheners we spotted at a local eatery en route that carried the brand name of the internet moguls. There was a Yahoo brand of betel nut too. We had a hearty laugh while enjoying a humble breakfast of idlis and chutney for me and dal poori for the husband. The truck drivers were very amused to see our UP car number plate. Tons of questions followed in broken Hindi asking us what it is that we are up to! 

We crossed many a truck carrying big squares of granite rocks. Upon asking the bystanders we were told that granite export is a major industry in Andhra. The one featured below was being sent out to China.

Under The Spell of Yellow

I think I have a thing for mango, especially the Banganapali kind. Even after having consumed it in plenty in Hyderabad, just couldn’t say no to the offer of eating some more freshly plucked from the mango orchards. We got them rather cheap accompanied by toothy smiles. The mango seller even cut the fruit for us and we savoured its juicy taste right by the highway. #StillInAStateOfBliss

Bridge on the River Godavari

Witnessing the second longest river in the country (after the Ganges) that too at its widest best was a sight we shan’t forget. I am talking about the Godavari, a river that is rooted in Maharashtra, nurtures life in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh only to meet in the Bay of Bengal. We drove right over it courtesy the quarter of a century old bridge in the city of Rajahmundry. Fishermen were busy getting the catch of the day!

We had been on the road for 8 hours when we lucky enough to spot an eatery to grab a late lunch at. The Andhra Meal was worth the wait as Tariq and I attacked the several servings of different kinds of dishes on large-sized paper plates. Life seems so much better on a satiated stomach, isn’t it! That’s all from us tired souls today. Come back tomorrow to hear more about the hotel we will call home for the two nights courtesy MakeMyTrip, and our adventures across the city of Vizag.

(Pictures courtesy Tariq Khan)