The Konkan Odyssey

Amazing weekend I had this 3 days of leave(23rd, 24th and 25th). We toured the Konkan and travelled around 1000 km. Lotsa fun and a new world.

So let me start at the beginning. First lemme describe the partners in crime:

Shailendra "Bawa" Kumbhar
Ajay "Schumacher" Vaidya (King of the road)
and of course ME.

So lets be chronological cuz I cant write for shitys :)

23rd December(Saturday):

Bawa called me up at 6:30 pm or so. So got up and left to pick up Bawa. Ine the Baner region I got a bit confused. Bawa called me in the middle and said to come to his place for Tea and Bread. So went there. Uncle came and gv the direction to Ganpatu Pule. It was a new route so new experience.

Anyways, left Bawa place and headed towards Katraj to pick Aj. Got lost again in the Pune Bangalore highway. They had made a new route so we got a bit confused. Neways. followed the right track and reached katraj. Filled the fuel tank and picked Aj.

Then our odyssey began.

We took the Pune - Kolhapur highway and began our journey. Stopped at eatery or joint for breakfast. Had some amazing omlettes. Then we headed towards Umbraj and took a left for chiplun. THe road was pretty gud and the view was amazing. Stopped a couple of times for snaps and pics. Reached Chiplun at 1:30 or so. Had some shitty food at a hotel though there Sol Kadhi was gr8.

Left from Chiplun around 3 pm and took NH 17. We reached Ratnagiri with my amazing driving at around 4 pm. From there we took the left for Ganpati Pule. ANd we reached Ganpati PUle around 5 pm. There was an amazing view of the sunlight on sea. We stopped there for sometime for pics.

Ganpati Pule was so fuckin crowded when all the pilgrims and tourists. No place was empty. But finally Bawa found a Decent place with A/C rooms (wasnt needed) and a bit pricey. Neways, we thankled our luck and proceeded to camp.

We took our baths and headed for the beach. On the ways we ordered our food at Malavani Park(The joint has gone to the dogs, not worth it). We headed for MTDC for beer and prawn and fish. I got drunk and we headed for the beach. We sat doun at a dark place cuz there was so much light due to MTDC and some local functions.

In sometime between we called our parents. We headed for our dinner which wasnt satisfying. Then we headed to our room and went to sleep after some chitchat.


24th December. Sunday.

We all woke up and got dressed by 9 after a refreshing sleep.. We went to the Mandir for darshan and the pradakshin. There was a pretty long line but we did it. After the darshan we went to MTDC for a breakfast of omlettes and So kadhi for me and chai for the others.

We took our car, and I went to my favorite spot and others were amazed by the view of the ocean and started their photoshoot. After sometime a chica in bikini came by on the beach and we had a nice time to our good selves :).

It was around 11 whem we left. Bawa took the wheels and we headed for NH17. But drove pretty leisurely and we enjoyed the road, the lush green foreests and the cool air.

After crossing the kumbharli ghat, we took a break after which Aj took the wheel. Well, for him the road was Monte Carlo and my car a Lambhorghini and ofcourse he drove like crazy. After Kasal, we took SH118 and headed towards Malvan. We reached Tarkarli by 3 pm and started looking for a place to stay. Default choice was MTDC but those bastard dint give us a room even when they had empty saying they were booked. AFter searching 2 or 3 places we went for this PG sort of thing. IT was 2 rooms whith common Bathroom, so we booked both for 600 bucks. The owner was a gracious fellow and he asked what orders we had for dionner. Well we ordereed prawns, surmai and promfret.

AFter bath and stuff we headed for the beach. An old lady showed us the way. She showed us her home first. Nice house it was, very clean. We headed for the beach. It was an amazing beach and we just chilled out.

After sometime it was time for beers. So we took my car and headed for MTDC. But again those bsatards dint gv us beer as we didnt stay in the hotel. So we went to Malwan and got 6 bottles. We headed for the beach asgain and at down. It was night and we could see the reflection of the moon on the sea and we got drunk and talked and enjoyed. AFter 1 and a half hours we headed back for dinner. Now, lemme tell u we never hogged so much. Surmais, prawns, pomfrets was flowing and we washed it down with Sol Kadhi. After hogging we took chatais and stuff and headed for teh beach feeling very peaceful and satisfied.

We lay down and talked shop. Shailu and I took a walk on the beach as he had to pee and I was getting bored lying down. Some dumbfucks came and started lighting crackers and stuff. After they went we watched the ocean and the stars for an hour and headed to our rooms for a much needed sleep.

25th December:

I woke up shivering due to cold at 5:30 after having a deep sleep. I dozed off while Bawa and Aj went off to the beach. We cleaned up and had our breakfast of Kanda Pohe and hit the road. A driver told us to take the Phonda Ghat as it lees distance. We went to Sindhudurg qila. We had to go 2 Kms by boat and off we went. Lemme tell u that the Qila was a total let down. The Indian or rather the Maharashtrian govt doesnt do nething to maintain the heritage except tagging it. Anyways we came back by 12 got our water and kaju and hit off for Kolhapur thru phonda ghat.

THe while road was fuck all and all my dreams of havving mutton and tamra rassa and pandra rassa was dashed. I was hungry and really pissed.

In the meantime while driving one dumbfuck cow herd started beating his buffaloes to cross thge road. ONe of the buffaloes crossed the road while the other got confused and totally fell on the road. Even after my desperate ways to avoid the buffaloe one of the tyres went over one of his legs. Thankfully I had slowed down the car and I could see the buffalo getting up and walking tho a bit lame on one of the legs. So went again. I saw my a crack in my front bumper. It was a small one.

SO we reached KOlkapur at around 5 and started looking for an eatery. We found this place and I hogged food. Aj took over the wheels with a promise of reaching PUne in 3 hours. True to his word we reached Pune by 9. AFter dropping Aj, Bawa and me went to Sadanad where we had a beer. I dropped Bawa off at his place and went homke by 1 and went off to sleep.

And So end our amazing Konkan Trip which we had planned for long. We covered around 1000 Kms and had a blast. :)