Unplugged (Karwar Goa Trip)

How does it feel to not think about whats next on the pipeline in the project, How does it feel to not check email, How does it feel to get totally unplugged, that you don even have a backup power. Yes! It was an awesome vacation after a long time. We six of us plugged out from the routine for a most needed vacation. I don know if I would meet the other travelogue :P But I will try to do justice.


How we started:
It all started in 6th floor pantry at Bagmane laurel building. We were sipping our coffee sitting in those long legged chair. I don remember how the converstation started, or it happened to all of us that we needed a vacation (its magic after that thought). Soon, we ran to the desk and looked for free dates for all seven. Being in the picnic committee I made sure that those dates did not clash with our department picnic. Karwar & Goa were the shortlisted route. Soon after the dates where decided, the same evening we blocked tickets for the journey (I learned how important its to remember one's PAN card number). Now the tickets are booked we were all set to go.


How did a US cyclone delay our trip:
But the plans din work out of for few reasons. One of the flight was a delayed from Provo, Utah to Bangalore, India due to a cyclone that crossed. Since it got delayed a transition plan few of them had got extended and we postponed the trips for a week. We had to shift all tickets and resorts for a week. Indian Railways were sure winners with those cancelled tickets. :) After a week and few mails floating we got all things packed and ready. But, I was not ready. With a stiff neck and mild fever, pulling out at the end was even lingering in my mind even till the last minute. But the Friday afternoon rest at home gave me some strength atleast to carry my luggage.


Hubli, Boat ride and Karwar:
Soon we boarded the train and after a few games of Uno we decided to hit bed soon after some early sleepers in the boogie. Shit! only now I remembered that I din bring any pull overs. :) Good. It was a shivering morning with chill air flowing in all directions, I had to pull extra pants and tee's from my bag and made me look fat (lucky others, they had a sound sleep). We reached Hubli and spotted "Welcome Vijesh". Soon after breakfast we hit the road to Karwar town. It was a long 2+ hour journey by car from Hubli to Karwar. We had only time to sleep after the giant story from our grandma. Soon after reaching the Great Outdoors resort and got the papers ready we had some refreshing coconut. Then its a boat ride from the Kali river bridge to the island.


Warm and magical Karwar:
Great Outdoors is a very small resort situated in the island of a tortoise shape. Soon after we reached we refreshed and sat down for the first meal in karwar. The food was awesome. Seafood at its best. We got to taste Chicken, Fish and oysters. It was so delicious. If you had missed it due to a holy month of Hindus (I better advice plan another trip to karwar soon). Then we hit to the small shore at the other end of island for some games. It was good from the resort that they had a send a personal care taker with us to the water. Evening onion pakkoda and tea was great. Soon followed by memory game and barbecue. (dance, fun, fire, cat, dog...) Dolphins, Silence, Swing, Tent, Sunset, water ride and little tortoise that we meet were great. Finally some silent poetry.

How does it feel to get married and have kids:
On a sunny Sunday afternoon after a great meal and a small sleep. I got married, all others who were with me got married and had children too. Kids include Nishanth, Chintu, Pintu, etc. I graduated as a physio and invented a large quantity of radio active material and climbed the mount Everest. After some heavy gambling I ended up second richest. But as John Nash said, this game is flawed, I wanted to re-write the rules. But catching a lion at such young age is heroics from Rokumar. We never stopped laughing after, "Aree, everyone is getting a degree and I'm busy catching the Lion."

Palolem De Ja Vu:
This was my second trip to Palolem after January with my friends. This time too the expectations were meet than expected in the retreating Goan beaches. A 45 mins drive from Karwar got us to Palolem through the interstate border check post. But soon Mr. Charlie (an asshole Manager from Chatai resort) promised to help us. Finally its us who ended up walking up and down the streets for accommodations. (Sorry: If you are reading this, I should have planned better!) We then got hold of Flavia home stay for a night and played Truth or Dare (s/Dare/Truth). Next day soon we shifted to Palolem Beach resort and had a wonderful time playing cards, dumb-C (god! she is a movie name directory) and the gorgeous beach. It was fun and old fellows in the group were the ones who played like they wanted to vent out all the stress. Also I learned how does it make to shop with women. :) Better start liking it, or you be in hot soup.

Photo Shoot & Next Gen Kids:
Oh! Yeah where are the photos, I'm lazy to upload all and share all. :) But I have some interesting shots if you are following my flickr. Soon we bid farewell to Goa and drove to Margo. Those girls proved they are better than filling bugs, fixing them and writing blogs. They sang some of the beautiful number with sweet voice. Then we boarded the train back to Bangalore. Uno again with some tough opponents aged 8 years, 6 years and 4 years. Then some paper magic from one of the talented house wife. :) She made wonderful paper folding for us like Parrot, basket, strawberry and a camera. Oct 2nd, 30 passed 7 we landed in Bangalore.

Goa

It was a fantastic trip to Goa. I loved the entire trip and pen'd down a few moments.

25th Jan:

Myself, San, Vij, Ragu & Dams arrived at KR Puram station by 7 15pm. For me it was a unique experience sitting at the dark station after some directions from Sangeetha. Even the station attendent was reacting strange with sign language.

We boarded the train to Madgoan by 7:45. Sethu & Gops were travelling in the same train from Chennai. The train did not have a pantry. Both Sethu & Gopal who were waiting for thier chicken biryani & Suk Sagar Veg fried rice was missing. We got settled down in our train and finished our dinner in the train. After some confusions to change the seating without any help (Our Navigator getting furious) and we slept of for the night without much hassle.

26th Jan:

We reached Hubli Jn and finished of our breakfast and we were heading towards Madgoan and we were all busy playing UNO cards which kept our time ticking. After few snaps in the tunnel en route to Madgoan and pics of Dhoop Sagar falls was refreshing train journey.

We reached Madgoan Jn by 1 pm and boarded a 7 seater auto towards baga beach (this was after lots of confusion between Sri and san). The loaded auto took us to a resort like hotel “Sea View” few meters away from Baga beach and just beside Tito’s Club.

We check in to the hotel by 3:30pm meanwhile navigator was on my kinectic that he hired for Rs.150 to pick up DK from Panaji who had arrived from Hyd in train.

They both reached the hotel by 4:30 and refreshed and made our late lunch by 5. We were then back to beach to have a refreshing bath.

Baga beach was a more commercial place for tourists with all the pubs, beach shacks etc..

By 7 we returned back to hotel after some bath and we were planning to hit one of resorts there but without any luck. We checked out in T-*-s’s :-) but it was a worst experience for all stags including us waiting outside the resort for almost 2 hrs without any luck.

So we then decided to hit some beach shacks on the baga beach to spent our nite time there. It was indeed some amazing time at the beach shack with nice breakfast and some music to keep us going for the nite. Also Sri making all the fun with his "Arabian Sea" game and Kung Fu gestures to imitate Dk. :-)

The Arabian Sea at the nite was more than amazing.

27th Jan:

Woke up with some tiredness and we had planned to leave the hotel early. By 9 30 we dropped into a hotel and finished our breakfast with sandwiches and coffee.

We check out by 11 (with some words being exchanged with the resort guy for his bad behaviour) and again hit the baga beach for another dip in the ocean. Dams did some adventure sports like Para Sailing and Water Scooter. I guess he had some great fun doing it.

Then by 1pm we left the baga beach with some good memories and we had to go to Panaji to reach to South Goa(Palolem). Took 2 cabs and we were in Panaji bus stop. In a giffy and finished of our lunch by 2:30 in Kamat Hotel in the bus stand, disappointing Dams for his Chicken.

We then took a Fast express Kadamba bus towards Margoa and reached there in an hour or so. We had planned to hire a bike from Margoa towards but without much luck we took a mini bus towards Palolem via Concona town.

We weren’t lucky to see of the sun set, all help to the bus conductor. But all our anger just blew after we entered Dream Catcher. This place really need a mention for the hospitality and as usual Sri had to try his luck with manager who was a malayalee. So he was back to his Malayalam slang and the talked went on and on.

The place was beautiful, well maintained and so calm that we guys have never been being in bengaluruu..

Then after some pics in the restaurant there and some talking we started our beach towards to beach road for some shopping etc..

Reached the hotel back by 10 to start our session 2. We ordered a whole lot of things starters Manchurian ,Paneer, Chicken, Tuna from the restaurant which was maintained by name called Bombay Bob. He was great with nice reception and suggestions on what to have for dinner.

Sri mentions, "This is was my best night." No wonder he would say that :-).

I enjoyed through the night and went late to bed. But some how decided that I should get up for sunrise. I knew that we were on the west coast and sunrise would not be much of a spectaluar. But still marked my alarm for 6am.

By next morning I somehow struggled meself to pull my shiviring body outside in the chilness. I could hear the regular Sri's Moto reminder breaking the silence of the morning. Despite the Dog's that disturb your walk in the beach, I got one of my best Photo shoots with my new Canon. The yellow sunlight was at its best.

Then an unforgatable train journey back to the Benguluru. Got introduced to TTR who did not accect the ticket for not carrying the right ID proof. A checking inspector who directly came to us asking the ticket. (P.S: Before the journey started, I googled for blogs that talk about travelling with ID proof. Finally I ended up reading my next cubicle mate's blog. World is small!)

Cheers all,
Srihari / Vijesh