Hi Friends,

GOA:Jan 2nd week 2008: Goa has always remained a favourite vacation destination for me. A 6 night break in Goa for unwinding from the hustle-bustle of Delhi was quite refreshing for my body and soul. This being my 5th trip in 8 years, I knew most nook and corners of the city. I have driven on a mobike across Goa, to most of the beaches stretching from the extreme north to the southern ones.

One thing that was special on this trip was that I went solo. For a vegetarian and a near tee-totallar, this trip was still a case of 'ye dil maange more'. I mean you can just never have enough of Goa despite being there so many times. It has a different air about it. The vibes in Goa are quite different than rest of the country. The people are friendlier, unintrusive and easy going. All commercial beaches, shacks and shopkeepers however remain as good or bad as anywhere else in the country.

My stay at Varca beach (Mahindras) was very comfortable and enjoyable. The amenities were up to the mark and staff was extra polite. They undoubtedly have high service standards that are at par with the best. It seemed as if I was in Russia as there were soooo many Russians staying on that property. The resort was bang on the varca beach, only a minute's walk. Surprisingly the resort was very green with trees and manicured lawns. An early morning bare-footed walk on the wet grass was inspiring.

This place had two swimming pools and I was fortunate to get my accomodation betwen the two pools. I was staying in the middle of the resort which gave me a minimum walk to any amenity in the sprawling place. Most people would not travel solo to Goa but sometimes its quite healthy to be alone and recalibrate to god's created nature and with yourself.

This is how my typical day would be like. I would be up very early in the morning, while the sun was still sleeping behind the woods, and take a stroll on the beach. I would leave my beach-sandals on the parked boats on the beach and walk on the deserted beach that seemed endless and would seamlessly merge into the next beach (Benaulim). By that time I'd figure out that that the sun has just begun. It's light would trickle out of the trees an the horizon would lit up with a warm glow. The entire stretch of the beach looked like mine. Not a soul in sight!!

By now many others would join the morning walk, but the southern beaches rarely get as crowded as the northern beaches. I would trudge back to the spot where I left my sandles (yes they are still there).

With sandals in my hand I'd walk into the green resort, the grass still wet from the dew, soiling my feet which have seen sand, grass and concrete on my way back. I would wash my feet at the pool shower on the way and hastily change into my swimming trunks for a 40 minute swim till its time for breakfast.

The swim used to trigger my hunger and I would dress up to be amongst the first few guests (or may be due to my Fauji schooling). After a good fill either I'd park myself under a pool umbrella with a book (some really inspiring ones) or would pick up my hired bike and go out for the day. The 'Bajaj Pulsar' would cruise smoothly over the narrow inside roads of Goa. I drove around the places I had stayed before wih family and friends recollecting all the nostalgia of the last few years. This place changes very little over the years.

I would drive up north to panjim (30 km approx) and skip the city only to move further north. For a poor vegetarian Calangute beach offers a Pure veg restaurant 'The plantain Leaf'. Anjuna, Calangute and Baga beaches are really crowded. Some do consider them 'the happening places'. But its a matter of choice. I have seen both sides of the coin and both choices are fine. Its entirely one's decision to be on the 'happening' north or a laid-back tranquil southern beaches.

This time I didn't go till Arambol or Vagator beach as I had to reach back before the night fell. The moment you step on the northern beaches people are all over you. Touts, water sports people, shopkeepers, shacks... they all want you to spend on their wares or services. I did fancy a tattoo on my right arm which would wither away in a month's time.

While the tattoo was still wet I was approached by a sea of agents who would want me to sit on a sea-scooter ride which was very brief. I negotiated with them for a longer deep sea ride and that too if I drove and he sat behind me. He agreed. In no time I stripped to my swim suit and the sea-scooter was roaring over the hard sea surface. The beach looked very distant. The machine had immense power and with no brakes. It would stop the moment you take your hand off the accelerator. That was really a high point of the goan visit. I was constantly worried about my camera which was in the small enclosure of his scooter. What if we overturned and water would get into the compartment to find my digital camera being there like a 'sitting-duck'. Nothing of that sort happened. I got off at the beach with a grin only to find more people trying to send me on a parasailing ride. Yes I did take their offer !!

The professional people quickly packed us into a motor boat and reached a bigger boat which had 6 others who appeared nervous before the great launch (probably it was their first time).

I was made to wear a life jacket and the first one to be readied for a take off from the boat over the blue Arabian sea. In a jiffy, like a kite, they launched me in the air. Everyone cheered and laughed while I waved at them. The operator gave the boat a few wild turns which catapulted me into a frenzy of movements in the air. The weightlessness over the sea was profound. I only wished if he could cut off the rope so that I could fly away like a kite. The wind in day time blows towards the land anyway. But he had me pulled back on the boat in no time. Though a very brief experience but a blissful one!!

Other than the water sports, a swim in the pool on a full moon night is something I'll always relish. The books and my laptop kept me good company. I could write here till the cows go home. But more importantly, I'd suggest to all travellers that once you reach peace with yourself, a solo travel makes you more observant towards life, people & circumstances. It gives you a zoom out view of life. We spend too much time reacting and responding to situations and people, that we tend to forget our inner grain. Find yourself on one of such trips.

White water rafting

Hi Comrades,

Just penning some experiences from the River rafting in Ganges. Its surely an exhilarating experience when the raft bounces up and down the turbulent river. It was in Oct 2006 when 5 of us chose to go on an adrenalin trip through a reputed operator. They have the right equipment and experience to carry out the adventurous experience. Not mentioning any names here as it may appear commercial.

The accomodation provided was a tented one with excellent buffet and a friendly staff. They even had a makeshift swimming pool at the site. Activities such as rock climbing, rappeling, trekking etc were also on the offer. Out of five of us only two of us were swimmers but nevertheless it didn't deter the rest to take the plunge.

On arrival after the welcome drinks and a brief training session we were welcomed aboard the camping area. It was well planned and thought out landscaping of the site. The charges per head for 2 nights- 3 days were Rs.6000 approx.

On day one we set out to the river. We were driven in a bus to a slightly upstream spot. We wore our life jackets, helmet, beach sandles and handed over an oar each. I was fortunate to sit in the front and thus got the best view. We spent half the day going downstream through the occassional rapids and our instructor, who sat at the back, would shout instructions when to row and how much. we even got to swim in the free flowing river with our life jackets on. We had to simply fix our feet under the raft's rope and lie flat on the river's surface. The raft would cruise along softly taking us along with the gentle flow. This could be done only when the river was wide and calm. It was really being in the lap of the nature. How small and how vulnerable in the voluminous Ganges !!

This experience was good but never felt the rush of adrenalin. We walked back to our camping site unaware of what awaited us the next day. We did express our slight dissapointment to our instructor. May be it had an effect and we were made to sign some papers in the night for our next day's rafting.

The day two started on a routine note. Our cameras were kept inside the water tight box (whose worth we realised much later). We sat in the same sequence and positions in the raft except that this raft was bigger and heavier. May be this time we were destined for something bigger.

As soon as the rafting began it was more turbulent than the day before and got us wet in no time. There were couple of foreigners in the adjoining rafts. We even splashed water on other rafts that were coming along. After the initial lull, the spot came - They call it 'Golf course'- How can we forget the name !! It was unusually shaky there and we were cheering loudly as the raft would jump over 5 ft and land with a splash spraying water into our faces. The raft jumped high and low. We could barely hold ourselves on our seats. We still managed to row it into a high point. And then, god knows how, a huge wave hit the raft from its right, suddenly overturning the 80 Kg raft, 20 Kg oars and its 6 occupants right in the middle of the turbulent river.

We didn't know what had hit us. The first reaction was surely of panic as it wasn't part of the package. But then when you are floating down a frothing river at 30 - 40km/ hr speed, the only thing that strikes you is to save your life and someone else's too. The instructor shouted and told us to hold the raft by its rope. And we all clung dearly to the raft like children who would hold on to the mother.

The impact of the river was so huge that water nearly blinded us and I could occassionally hear the shrieking of our non swimmer friend. So I held his one arm and held the rope with the other. My sunglasses effortless flew away from me and settled down at the bottom of the holy river. The natural beauty, that lay along the banks of Ganges, stood mutely staring at us and we could barely see anything beyond our dear raft. That period seemed endless (am told it was less than 5 minutes) till the river broadened and turned calm. We dragged the raft to the silent rocky bank and with lot of effort turned it straight. There it was, our water tight box, which held our cameras safely. We thanked god for his blessings that we survived to write this travelogue. More than getting drowned we had the danger of getting hit by a rock under the water. So we tried to remain horizontal along the upturned raft.

GOLF-Course Rapid where we overturned

As if the zest for adrenalin was not over. We reached a spot where a rock jutted over the river and our instructor gave us a choice if we would like to jump off that spot into the river. Well.. most looked in disbelief.. the rock stood well over 15 to 20 feet from the water surface. However, I got out of the raft and reached the tip of the mini cliff and saw for the first time how a 15 ft distance looks like a mile. I was kind of little doubtful whether to do the stunt till someone pushed me down into the gaping river. It was someone else who did that (not getting into it now). Though I felt in an awkward manner and slightly hurt my skin but that gave me the courage to do it again.. this time on my own with free will.

I went back again. Took a deep breath and swishhh.. it took just a second to hit the water. It was fun. Then probably I could have done again and again. I learnt to overcome fear for sure.

Then we slowly rowed on to the spot where we were offloaded. We had some photo sessions. We helped the crew put the raft back into the waiting truck. As we drove back grinning ear to ear, the instructor told us that such an incident had occured to him 4th time in 22 years of his career.

Do you think we were lucky or unlucky going by that statistics? :)

Till next time,

Free Thought