It was fun mapping Wayanad. A district known for its environment, ethnic people, sensitive areas, Hills, Forests and of course Rain.

For the very first time, J4v4m4n, Pirate Praveen suggested the idea of pirate mapping parties. To be exact, 5 months before, he started a new thread on Loomio as a proposal to contributing to open street maps as Pirates. Later the discussion lead to mapping parties around Kerala. When Praveen completed Kannur, I asked him for one here in Wayanad. Exactly a week before 9th of this month, Praveen told me, we can host on 9th. I got excited as well as nervous. I don’t know what to do, How to arrange accommodation, where to map, etc. I was really worried about bicycles. I thought cycles could speed up the mapping process. Another headache was whom will help us in mapping. Tada.. Ranjith Siji, Mujeeb, Kannan, Ambadi, Tanzeer, Sruthi, Hemanth came up to fulfill our plans.

Next to resolve was accommodation. Sreejith Koiloth helped us to rent DIET hostel.

Into the real fun

Sruthi, Praveen and Hemanth reached Bathery on 8th. Had dinner from Aravind Mess House. And then headed to DIET hostel. We made some plans for the next day. Discussed a lot of things too. On 9th December of 2017, by 8’O clock, Ranjith Siji, Mujeeb, Kannan and Ambadi reached. I picked Tanzeem and we met everybody at NRS bakery, Sulthan Bathery.

As planned earlier, unto noon, we mapped Sulthan Bathery. we grouped by 2. Me, Tanzeem and Praveen became a group. Ambadi and Mujeeb became next, Sruthi and Hemanth, Ranjith and Kannan and so on. By 12.30, We covered Almost bathery. After that we sat on a bench and discussed about the progress. Kannan came up with a digital SLR camera. He made couple of beautiful snaps. ( He haven’t yet shared any of them. I will update whenever I recieve them)

Next was fooding time. We came back to NRS, Had food. I think me, Praveen and Tanzeem ordered regular rice. Kannnan is a different character. After watching Food Inc, He became kind of insane. He stopped having non-vegitarian. I wonder a documentary is having this much impact! He had a little salad. Sruthi too!! She joined Kannan’s league. I love to have discussions. I am feeling like organizing and participating these such events opens a wide door for dialoges. We discussed about rural network connectivity, intel-minix prob, Food Inc, global warming, cattles and global warming etc. Ambadi was arguing for cattles as major cause for global warming. yea, It was lot of fun. On that table, we discussed about afternoon session. Again we grouped by two and started mapping. Praveen, Tanzeem, Sruthi, Mujeeb, Hemanth headed to Kalpetta. Somebody mapped Meenangadi, some Muttil and people left mapped Kalpetta. they reached back by 7 in the evening. I felt happy that, me and ranjith siji joined as a group and mapped a long area. We went by bike. Center For Social Computing offered a motor cycle and we headed to Pulpally. I personally got thrilled when we added a new road to the map. I told him different myths about wayanad, The origin of Sulthan Bathery’s name, people etc. in shorts, we discussed our thoughts on food culture, wikidata, wiki commons, economy, economics, My AI Fear etc. We reached Nadavayal to have Kappa Biriyani. We headed to Varkey’s Hotel. Kappa biriyani was not that good. but not bad. Anyway, Ranjith didn’t like it much.

10th was the last day of mapping. I was home. I had some engagements. So I directed them to head towards Muthanga. But for the fate, time was over. They mapped something else. Then we planned to map Panamaram. I reached panamaram. By noon, They also reached there. Had some food from MAH hotel. Then ranjith took some photos of river and bridge etc. by 3’O clock, everybody except me and Tanzeem left for home. Then Tanzeem and me covered Panamaram. By 5.30 PM, Mapping party officially finished.