Most Awesome New Year Ever!

I had the most awesome new year ever at Goa this year!

Couldn’t stop myself from recording the highlights to look at and relish after 10 years J

1. Staying at a real Goan house; with a dog. And a bird! And a stone ceiling!

2. Driving at the speed of 1 km/hour for one whole hour; and then walking 4 kms to get to the beach; within one hour!

3. Staring at the sea while sipping cola at Baga; and getting a foot massage alongside!

4. Having the second most delicious Italian food & desert in the world!

5. Escaping many accidents while driving to Palolem

6. Fake banana boat ride at Colva before ditching water sports altogether

7. Kayaking in the deep sea towards sunset at Palolem

8. Noisy neighbors at the Koko hut!

9. Traveling back to Mumbai with 15 ppl cramped on a 50 sq. ft train floor; and yet enjoying the ride! And beating some pros at cards a bonus!

10. Escaping from station without a ticket!

Not at all what I would have planned if I were to picture a new year in Goa; but amazing fun all the same! Even as it was everything I would have wanted to avoid in any trip!!!

Guess it goes say the right state of mind and great company can make all the difference!

The South African Adventure

Long time. No post.

Yea. We’ve been busy. Getting engaged. Setting up home. Getting married. That’s a lot of work. But the backpackers in us could not rest. We planned for an amazing holiday at the end of it all.

Just back from a 9-day trip to Kruger & Cape Town. While detailed posts will follow in the next few days, we couldn’t resist posting the highlights. So here we go!

The 10 best things about our South African Adventure:

1. Jumped from an airplane at 9000 ft and fell at 220 km/hr

2. Dived in a cage into the sea with huge sharks fishing for food

3. Jungle Cat Encounter. Played with 3 cheetahs

4. Locked eyes with a Marshall Eagle – the deadliest on earth

5. Saw a lion growl barely a metre away from us

6. Walked up the table mountain with chilly wind blowing against us

7. Watched as a Leopard went around our vehicle looking for its mate that had marked its territory

8. Had a hyena stare at us it was carrying a carcass to its herd

9. Made clubbing plans every evening only to drop dead the moment we saw the bed

10.Went for a drive on the most scenic road on earth with clear blue-green sea on one side and lush green mountains on another

This and more in our later posts.

And as South Africans say, Dia Bonga for your time!

Trek to Kondana Caves

This time around the monsoons are at below average levels. We might be on the brink of drought.

This worried us. Immensely.

Not the drought, but the possibility of lesser monsoon treks. Determined, we decided to make the best of what global warming et al had left us with. And so was planned a trek on the second consecutive Sunday.

This time it was more planned than earlier. Destination Kondana Caves. We would drive to the village and trek up from there. Our planning was exhaustive (we checked out exactly three blog posts). Our execution, flawless (all of us knew exactly what we had signed up for as we started). One way or the other, we started. The ‘we’ here is Vikas, Ankur, Mona and me. By virtue of it being a family trip, we were accompanied by a basket full of home cooked picnic food.

It was an early morning start. I am still amazed at the fact that we started around the time we had planned to. Given that more than one of us was not exactly what you would call a morning person. Guess the starting from home helped.

We took the eastern express highway to Ghatkopar, post which we joined the Sion - Panvel highway; and eventually NH4 to Karjat. It was a pleasurable drive. Especially till Powai. Though I have a feeling my co-travelers might not agree too emphatically. I loved it though; I was on the wheel after all. But having decided that I liked peeping out of the window and making faces at passing cars better than driving intently, I forsook the wheel for the right to relax with my feet out of the window.

The drive was green as ever. The icing on the cake (literally) was Ankur and Mona’s sandwich making skills. Fully loaded, we reached Karjat from where we started towards Kondivade village and eventually to Kondana Village. Imagine my surprise when on reaching Kondana I realized I had been to the exact same village earlier! And this was no de-ja-vu. I realized then that a certain rafting expedition last year had started from the exact same place!

The disappointment though was the presence of about four cars and a bus! Apparently all those people had also trekked up to the caves. Having resigned to the fact that it was going to be crowded on the top, we started our trek. We decided not to carry anything up (except some money and a camera). And it was the best decision we ever made. We got wet in the rain without the pressure to stay dry. Trod on slippery terrain without having to balance weight on our shoulders.



It was a good trek. Green. Not very difficult. Except for the often slippery surface. We took breaks in the guise of “photo breaks” every time we were tired. Result being a LOT of photographs! But we made it to the top. In one piece. Rather four pieces.

The caves were both disappointing and awe-inspiring at the same time. Disappointing because there were too many people; and because the waterfall at the mouth of the cave had little water (given the below average monsoons). Awe-inspiring because it was really something. That architecture carved in a mountain which was not very easily accessible! I felt like it was one of those mystical places; that seekers of nirvana would look for. A cave in a distant mountain; hidden behind a waterfall. Found only by those who already knew of its existence. Where Buddhist monks meditated; for days; maybe even weeks or years.


A little playing the waterfall later, we decided to start our descent; away from the noisy crowd. We decided to stop by another largish waterfall we had seen on our way up. We reached there (wondering all along if we were on the right trail) only to find people there as well! We played in the waterfall anyway. The guys, being guys, picked up a fight; forcing us sensible women to pull them away towards quieter places; meaning the way back.

It was an easy job downhill. Almost uneventful. When things took a turn; we heard an unusual noise. It sounded like a pig, only deeper. And as if it was a grunt; rather than a snort. Inquisitiveness took over; and discovered an Ostrich farm! In our very own Sahyadris. There were hundreds of them. They are quite some birds; an almost dainty stroked neck with very well defined nostrils and ears. And intelligent too. All of them gathered around us; one even venturing out of the fence to get a better look at us. We stood there mesmerized. It took one of us almost getting pecked for us to move.

After a while we reached the village. Wet. Happy. Tired. Content. We found an interesting place to change. Took turns getting dry. And started back. Knowing we could check Kondana caves off the list :)

Monsoons and Mountains

Q: What is better than a perfectly planned trip to the mountains amidst freshly washed green surroundings and the smell of wet earth?
A: An impromptu trip to the mountains amidst freshly washed green surroundings and the smell of wet earth.

That's what it was yesterday. A dream-like drive to Khandala. Born out of an afternoon of idleness and nothingness. We had the most tempting invitation. A crisp day after 30 hours of rain; with just enough sun to brighten the surroundings; warm chill on our skins - where we were aware not only of the sun, but of the rains that preceded it; and the rains that were to follow. The day just glowed on; like the charming smile of a four year old that takes your heart away; leaving you no choice but to smile back; just so you share that moment of bliss and divinity.

We realized at three in the afternoon that we had the day to ourselves. And we wanted to be outdoors. After exactly one point five minutes of pondering over the question, we decided to drive out to the mountains; the destination still undecided.

We took the expressway to Pune; the green around us mesmerizing us into a joyous trance. The freshly washed green fields; the fresh green moss around the rocky walls; the dark tunnels of the expressway; the train chugging through the mountains; the view of the valley as we climbed up; the many small waterfalls that had cropped up along the mountains. It was breathtaking. Almost healing.

Two hours of (sometimes challenging) drive later we reached Lonavla. And as we should have expected we were greeted with a huge crowd and (you will not believe it,) traffic! Leading to what could have been the worst ending to this joyous escapade. Thankfully sense prevailed and we turned back. Towards the less crowded areas.

At this point of time I had resigned to the fact that the drive would be the highlight of the trip. But we stopped for some warm corn. And that started adventure number two. We climbed up mountains. Climbed down mountains. Climbed over a couple of fences we shouldn't have. Strolled on off-limit private property. Almost climbed a pipeline. Almost jumped into a lake. Took pictures by a European looking stone bridge. Ate some more corn. Spotted some igloo houses. Mooed with some cows. Talked. Listened. And started back, knowing that the stopover was really the highlight; the realization that even mundane spots with too many people hold the promise of wonderful experiences.



Drove back by the expressway. Stopped over for some Maharashtra food. And paan. Drove some more. Some parts difficult. Reached Mumbai. Were welcomed by the ever-present Mumbai traffic. Finally made it home. Recalled an awesome day in many ways. Fell asleep instantly.

I woke up today with a smile. Remembering every moment from yesterday. The liberating afternoon. The intoxicating evening. And that's when we decided; that we'd write about these travels. So we didn't forget about them; of how small moments bring joy in our lives; make life worth looking forward to :)

And I almost forgot. Yesterday was the first time I stood out of the car window as the car climbed down the mountain. Its the most awesome thing in the world! :)