The title is the theme phrase of the journey which I will be explaining in this blog.
Two week back we three friend ( Ajit, Pritesh and me )( We live in different cities.) planned for a weekend to go Khandala. The plan was to get down to Mumbai on Friday night and start to Khandala/Lonawala in Saturday Morning and be back by Sunday night to Mumbai. The plans was so, as Pritesh lives in Mumbai. As planned Ajit reached Mumbai on Friday morning. I reached Mumbai at around 2300 hours. There Ajit and Pritesh had come to receive me. Pritesh inroduced me to his cousin ( Rahul bhaiya), who has just come from Chennai. Rahul bhaiya was shifting to Mumbai and had come for that. On the way to home we picked up Arpita ( Pritesh's wife ) and went to juhu beach. Everyone has to take dinner. We reached home at around midnight. After changing clothes we got in chatting. We were talking abt the places and people in south , west or north india.... in fact we talked abt the entire india.. . around 0200 hours Rahul bhaiya went to bed. Then we three ( Ajit, Pritesh and me ) started remmebering the other friends. College days was remembered. This went till 0430 hours when we decided that we must go to bed now if we want to go to Khandala or Lonawala ...... lights off... in btw all these time I was feeling uncomfortable with the atmosphere.. it was not the temperature.. but the humidity.... First time after i started living in Bangalore .. i experienced tht wheather in Bangalore is really better thatn other cities.. but anyway.. at 0430 nothing was going to stop me to sleep now...
In morning, I got up around 0630 or 0700, I am not sure as I dont wear wrist watch and i didn't try to find out the time. Evryone was sleeping, Ajit was on the same bed.... once got up I was not able to sleep again.. probably due to the morning light which was already filled up in the room.. I went to the balcony and looked around... the colony was gearing up for the day....... after sometime Pritesh also got up and came to join us and we stated talking again ...I am not remembering the topic this time but watever it was , it went till 0900 hours.. suddenly someone rememinded tht if we want to go anywhere then we must start getting ready now..... Rahul bhaiya was in full mood to sleep the whole weekend.... but somehow finally we could make him to get ready... ( probably it was the Pritesh's emotional blackmail ..:-) ) .... We had the breakfast at home.. and finally we started for the Lonawala............... ..... .. we had to do some shopping so we decided to do tht at CentreOne and take lunch too there only.... It was my first time in Mumbai.... but as we were not going to be in Mumbai.. and within Mumbai we were on the wheel only so it was like not being in Mumabi at all.. We were heading towards Pune Expressway......
At one place someone told that we were passing through "Dharaavi" ( better known as the biggest slum of asia).. I have heard and read to much about this place "Dharavi".... There is a lot written and talked about this slum when something is written on Mumbai.. All those abt the life in Dharavi.. ... but here I was just passing through it..
We passed through Palm Beach.. the road is really good.. and there was no traffic at all.... as Pritesh also was saying driving on tht road is really a nice experience....... we reached CentreOne at around 1200 hours. We spent some time there ( we took our lunch here, here I realized tht i have my purse in the bag which is put into boot of the car, ......anyway its going to be a 2-3 hour journey only then after i can take it out , i thought....... )
We were on the way to Mumbai-Pune Expressway... when somebody ( prbably Rahul Bhaiya ) told why dont we go to GOA .... and evrybody screamed WHY NOT.... the reaction was genuine.. GOA is a dream destination for any holday goer... so was mine.. but only it was dream destination .. i had never been to any beach before.. so it was my dream coming true..... there was one concern .. time and distance.... we decided to make it.. now we had to inform the person who has made some staying arrangement for us at Lonawala.... tht person was Arpita's frnd.. now she had to talk to her and make some excuse for not able to make the trip... it was so nice to see a group deciding anonymously to tell a lie ..... :-) . Arpita told to stop the Cafr so tht she can get down to talk. when asked why do u need to get down .... the reason came .. can not make a false excuse while being with a group... .. good reason :-)........ anyway the Lonawaala trip was cancelled.. and we were being geared up for the new adventure..... Now the diversion had to looked up so that we can take the Mumbai-Goa highway.... somebody told tht some diversion on that way ( the way leading to Expressway ) will take us to the correct route.. we went on tht way . and couldnt figure out the diversion.. at one place we stopped and asked someone for the Goa highway... he suggested to go till Expressway Toll naka.. and then take the diversion... On the way, we passed through a tunnel.... and i learnt the first Marathi ( a regional language in India) word .. "Bogada"...... We reached the Toll naka , still couldn't see any diversion.. then first time we realized tht we were on wrong foot.. some more phone calls .... and we came to know tht we had to go back to take diversion..... we had to go to AliBag first and then take the Mumbai- Goa Highway ( NH-17) ..we took a U turn.. .. but a suspicion was already in the air.. how much time are we going to have in Goa... I had wanted to go Goa for long.. but as it was long desire..... i had wanted to spend some time there.. so for me the concern was the time which we are going have in Goa.. but still the exitement of seeing ocean was on top......
Ocean.. "Water water everywhere , not a drop to drink".. which i dont remember where I have picked up from......
We were looking for alternatives in btw.... some were in favour of alternate place while some( Arpita ) were not... It was almost 1600 hours by the time we reached on a circle where it has to be deicded finally... .. we had to take decision .. and what could have been the better than sitting at dhaba and then take decision while having tea... so we got down to a dhaba.. we ordered for tea... and ... Rahul bhaiya propsed to vote for and agianst the goa trip...
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May 09 '06
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I had discontinued this blog for long time.....
What I remember about this trip is the Sea.. It was my frist time to be at any sea beach.. we had been there on the beach only for a few hours.. and enjoyed the evry second of that place.. . ..
We had some drink and food at some sea beach resturant... .. we played in water.. .. it was great to be there.. and for sure I would like to visit this place once again.. and hope the the next trip will not of few hours but days.. :-)
We started from Goa to Mumabi around 1800 hours.. my back flight to blr was at 0620 on monday.... some how Rahul bhaiya was able to make it to airport on time..... I was so much tired that I slept immediately after getting into my seat...... I didn't when the flight took off and when it landed.. I was made to wake up by one of teh air staff... .. then was back to home...
Now all of we three friend are married.. and going to be DAD soon..... I hope we will have some time together again...
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