The dusk turned more darker
when we reached the Point Calimere, cause is not alone the arrival of night but
the power cut that shutdown all aspects of this last shore (Kodiyakarai) and
the only visible through candle lit light. Point Calimere is a worst experienced
place for us to go through the power cut which hold to every half an hour
including the regular power cuts of 3 hours in morning and afternoon… the
nights are more unwind for us inside the guest house and the only source of
light was the inverter that light a single bulb in each suite.
First we landed at the Velliman
illam, which is on the main road, to only move gladly to Thambusami Illam
knowing there were no suites available at ground floor which turned gladder
than regret to enjoy the isolated guest house away from the activities of man.
Except the power cut, Tambusami Illam is a pleasant stay guest house where we
enjoyed the cool sea breeze throughout the day blowing outside under the
veranda and portico surrounded by trees.
The forest guest house looks
glorious in the red tiled roof and painted in pale white with bordered red, splendor
by the sight of peacock which is always there! When we reached this place
following the government vehicle in guide of my dad’s ex-colleague from
Nagapattinam Collectorate, who helped for us in booking this guest house and
appointed a person to take us around… it was pitch darkness and had no idea
what happening around except a blink of light from the elevated lighthouse at
next compound.
Only the next day morning we get
to feel the real enhance of this guest house holds around. The sight of
frequent peacocks across the compound is a treat for eyes and sense to behold
the beauty almost clear and near and with bloom of red hibiscuses and fall of
rip leaves blend it more wonderful. Also called as Flamingo guest house, it has
two rooms naming Flamingo and Pelican and a common dining hall, we took refrain
at Pelican and my uncle’s family at flamingo.
Thambusamy illam is a century old
building built by a sea merchant called Mr. O.A. Thambusami Pillai who later
donated the building to the government which took renovation in year 2000 to
accommodate official visitors to Kodaikarai. The
sign board and
rock inscription
on the wall claims the heritage and the rooms are spacious and facilitated without
replacing the original doors and windows and also has open air meeting hall and
umbrella sit-outs which are maintained unusable. Lol
The guard who is appointed to
take care of the guest house and visitors is so friendly and soon become
familiar to share his knowledge about this place and general thoughts on
things. He claims that Point Calimere is nothing but refers to the Point of
southeast and Calimere is the name of who discovers this place and the seashore
of Kodiyakarai is the northern part of Palk Strait that stretches across the
Gulf of Mannar between the India and Sri Lanka, which is 43km from here via sea
and during the war in Jaffna the sound of explosions were heard clearly claims
the guard.
