Finding Strength Through a Solo Road Journey
After losing my beloved wife, Dr. Regi Fernando, in December 2020, life felt overwhelmingly heavy and uncertain.
Moreover, the pandemic intensified grief, stretching days endlessly and testing my emotional resilience. Eventually, I searched for clarity and strength through motion, leading me to a solo road journey. This drive became more than travel; it became part of understanding how to forget a loss in family. Consequently, I chose Dakshina Kannada, framed by the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. To absorb nature fully, I planned a scenic route via Hassan, Bellur, Chikmagalur, and Agumbe. Prepared carefully, I packed tools, medical supplies, music, food, and emotional resolve for this long drive.
Day 1: Night Drive and New Beginnings
Although I prefer daytime driving, I deliberately departed Chennai at 11:00 pm to embrace dawn differently.
Meanwhile, Google Maps guided me toward Vellore as the Thar cruised steadily at eighty kilometers per hour.
The highway buzzed with night trucks, each driver moving with unpredictable rhythm. After crossing Vellore, I paused briefly for coffee before continuing toward Hosur. The automatic transmission felt effortless, allowing me to stay focused and calm. Importantly, this night drive offered solitude, reflection, and momentum toward healing.
Day 2: Ghats, Grief, and Gratitude
By early morning, I crossed Hosur and paused again as darkness slowly surrendered to light. Soon after, the NICE Road welcomed me toward Hassan with smooth, open stretches. As sunlight emerged, it symbolized hope after eight silent hours of night driving. Midway to Manipal, I chose the Agumbe route over Charmadi for its dramatic landscapes. The winding roads through Bellur and Chikmagalur felt both thrilling and meditative. However, absence weighed heavily as I noticed the empty passenger seat beside me. Still, the journey strengthened my understanding of how to forget a loss in family through acceptance.
Arrival at Manipal: Rest and Reunion
Near Agumbe, I stopped at Malgudi Tea Shop for warmth and reflection around noon. Interestingly, I skipped breakfast, absorbed by forests, mist, and shifting green canopies. After fourteen continuous hours, I reached Manipal by 1:30 pm, relieved and grateful. I checked into Hotel HomeTown Galleria, refreshed, and allowed exhaustion to dissolve. Later, I visited Manipal campus to pick up my daughter, now my travel companion.
At that moment, the journey shifted from solitude to shared healing.
Day 3: Peaks, Beaches, and New Perspectives
Early morning, we set out for Kudremukh Peak, rising 1,894 meters above sea level. Although the park remained closed due to COVID, officials allowed limited onward travel. After tea at the checkpoint, we redirected our plan toward coastal exploration. We drove west toward Padubidri Beach, enjoying expansive roads and dense forests.
Unexpectedly, we detoured to Hejmadi Beach, greeted by silence and untouched beauty. The meeting of backwaters and sea created a rare, calming spectacle. Lunch at Sannidhi Fish Park surprised us with incredible flavors and warmth.
Evening Comfort and Youthful Energy
After resting briefly, we headed out for dinner at Eye of the Tiger. The lively atmosphere, large screen, and food revived a youthful spirit within me. Laughter, conversation, and shared presence replaced exhaustion with joy.
That evening reminded me healing can coexist with happiness.
Day 4: Hills, Falls, and Quiet Reflection
Following a late breakfast, we returned toward Agumbe’s mountain landscapes. We explored Jogi Gundi Falls, prepared carefully for leeches along the trail. Due to summer, water flow remained minimal, and leeches tested our patience. Unexpectedly, we discovered Kundadri Hill, rising over eight hundred meters. The steep drive led us to a seventeenth-century Jain temple atop the summit. From there, expansive views and silence offered grounding peace.
Day 5: The Long Road Home
Before dawn, I settled hotel bills and began the return journey. I paused briefly at Agumbe and Hassan for coffee and reflection. Later, hunger led me to stop at A2B in Hosur for a quick meal. Traffic thickened near Krishnagiri, yet gratitude outweighed frustration. By 6:30 pm, I reached home safely, thankful and transformed. This journey helped me understand how to forget a loss in family—not by erasing pain, but by moving forward with purpose.