I was supposed to take my family for vacation during Diwali. Where to go, how to go, how long to go, etc..... was not finalised for reasons best known to me only. I knew that exactly during that period I will be very occupied with an assignment which will go beyond Diwali vacation. Mentally, I prepared myself for the assault which will be meted on me and at the same time, I was also checking out the calender for a weekend disappearing act from unending office work to make it up.
This happened exactly as predicted. Even on the Laxmi pujan day, I was in office. This of course resulted in lots of fire works at home without buying any. The only thing that saved my skin that time was my announcement that we definitely will be going somewhere in last week of December, positively...pukka....100%......very sure.
From then onwards, I scheduled all my work in such way that I will be free during that time, starting with sanctioning my leave as a first step. Then I wondered where to go and settled for somewhere on western coast. But when I started checking the travel booking pages, I realised there were so many like me rushing out at that time. A the same time I also realised my school alumni decided to hold the get-together around same time. Still, with the memories of previous assault fresh on my mind, I went ahead and booked an accommodation in a place called Diveagar. I had never ever heard of this place before. When I read the comments of various travellers who had been to that place, I felt this should be an ideal place. It was sufficiently far away from office to be called even during emergencies like "Puraa system crash hua.....turant aao" like situations. With train booking status remaining stagnant, I thought well driving down 350 kms should be fun. Someone described the place as far away from the maddening crowd and stretches of long, less frequented beaches with betel nut palms all around........ That was enough for me. This was going to be my hideout for last week of December!!!
My better half is a great organiser when an outing is planned. The only problem is that I have to stove away half of the things put on the list. She plans like we are venturing out on an African safari and the size of luggage needs to be halved then only the travellers get some space for themselves in the car. Three bermudas, couple of T-shirts, shaving set, cell phone, charger and debit card was all I needed even if I really were to venture on an African safari. I better not describe what they were carrying. I could see almost everything from badminton racquet's to mosquito repellents.
After the usual haggling and finally after separate argument over each item, most of them went in packing and ended up in the boot leaving me some decent space for rear-viewing. It took great effort to explain to them that we are going on a short vacation and not going and setting up a residence at another place.
My daughter, aged 10, had lost atleast two days sleep due the excitement of a long drive to sea-shore, reminding me of my own childhood when I spent sleepless night before any family journey was planned. She kept asking umteen questions about the trip right from the moment we told her about it. She could barely wait for the day to arrive.........
And finally the D-day arrived or rather the V-Day for me arrived when I could just forget the whole world and immerse myself in nature. I really didn't mind the 9 hour drive of about 350 kms to my destination. In fact, I too was taking a break, a real break, after long time and was looking forward to this since last two years or so. But due to hectic schedule at work and home it simply never happened. Then we made up our minds, come what may at least one annual break is to be planned henceforth. The more farther the better. If we keep putting it off, it will never happen. The idea is just to fix a time frame when all the concerned members are free and then work out later on the destination, etc. If we try to plan too meticulously, it never materialises. This I have learnt from all the great plans made earlier. They simply remained as plans.
My first leg of journey on Agra-Mumbai highway was upto Thane. A frequently travelled stretch. After Thane, we left the highway and drove towards Panvel. We began to get the feel of Konkan only after reaching Panvel with the landscape changing. The lunch break was just after Panvel at a restaurant called "Gomantak" known for his Malvani cuisine. Ah! Thats the way to start vacation to Konkan side with desi murgi and sol kadhi. The taste still lingers on as I write this...hmmmmmm.......yummy yumm! Driving down Mumbai-Goa highway was also fun filled. The roads were perfect and I could zoom down with no traffic snarls or bumps one normally see on my side of state. We passed through Karnala Bird Sanctuary. Such a nice dense spot, no wonder, the birds preferred to make this their sanctuary. Kids were thrilled at the sight of monkeys on road side, who I think sat their regularly for goodies offered to them by regular travellers on this route. After 5 pm or so, I had to take a diversion from the highway and hit the smaller road. I steered the car with a bit of apprehension, as most small roads were supposed to be nightmarish. To my utter surprise, these were more beautiful. Wow! Ghats, hairpin bends and a smooth tarmac, though not as wide as the national highway. But it did add to my driving pleasure and whatever fatigue had set in from morning just disappeared with the sight of konkan landspace. Now I was just eager to reach the lands end and stare at the Arabian sea. I kept glancing at the watch to see whether I could make it before sunset. But the last stretch was a bit bumpy and I knew I will be missing the sunset. Finally at around 6, I reached Diveagar, the small coastal village and headed straight for the beach. The sight was great with lots of light even after the sun was down. The vast stretches of sand, swishing of warm salt water surf and the sea breeze on face..........Wow! At that point of time, I really envied those living by the sea. The folks on eastern coast can kick-start their day, sans cloudy days of course, with a beautiful view of sun rising above the waves. And those on western coast, after a hard day, watch the golden globe gracefully setting down the horizon. All others in between like me, really need to make great effort to be there once in a while.
Next three days were bliss. The cell was kept on silent mode and checked very occassionally for any calls worth calling back. The room thankfully had no TV. So the isolation from urban life was near-total. The small drives by shore side roads to couple of temples around were great. Half a day was spend at Janzira fort by a ferry-ride. We were lucky to even sight some dolphins frolicking happily in morning sun. All the remianing time was spend sloshing in waves. The quality of sleep I got there was simply rejuvenating.
On all days of my stay there, I visited the local Sree Ganesha diety there. And while returning back, I once again stepped in there and while bowing down and praying for a safe journey back, I made up my mind to visit Diveagar again with more time on hand to spend there. And this is just the beginning of Konkan, there is much more as you go down south......... Hmmm hope vacation time returns early.
