Konkan…….. An Eloquent Experience…

I have been waiting to write about this for a very long time but things kept me so busy that I just couldn’t. Today finally I managed to finish it….read along and enjoy :)

It was early november last year, when we decided to go to explore the maharashtrian coastline known as Konkan. Driving force for this place was the love for traveling, great sea food and some quality time. So we decided to go to a place called “Sawantwadi” , a small village on the way to Goa. Planning the trip and end moment decisions just made it more exciting as we didn’t know what was waiting for us there. Was it worth it or not? So many questions and we had no answers just hope. We took an overnight bus from pune and reached Sawantwadi early morning. We had arranged for a home stay (popular concept by an organization known as Culture Aangan). When we reached we were received with a warm welcome by our hosts. I was spellbound, what a beautiful place! The cottage was naturally beautiful surrounded by a huge plantation. It felt exactly like I had taken some kind of “saniyas” hence, living in the middle of a jungle. It was exactly like a place I wanted to go for a very long time…..

I mean natural beauty, simplicity of the place and welcoming hosts….. I don’t think you need more than this for a memorable holiday. We had no idea it would be so good (I guess the less you expect and plan the more awesome it gets :P). You would just fall in love with the place if you want to spend some time in disguise and actually live for a while.

Everything in this place was just the basic requirement that you need, and life was so easy and simple. Once you enter the cottage, the ambience makes you feel at home. Everything organized, clean and well placed. Everything was in moderation, just sufficient, no over loading of the place, hence you will definitely find it gripping, you will definitely not want go back to the city crap (believe me I never wanted to). If you really want to feel good, just shutdown your laptop, switch off your phone and just enjoy the beauty of the place. It will cure you of all the poisons that the city is giving you.

Our trip was small but we made full use of it. We went to Amboli, Sindhudurg, Tarkarli and other near-by places. The beaches are clean with clear water (unlike other places I have been to), and no one bothers to bug you. Hence, making you feel comfortable at all levels. I will any day prefer such a location for a holiday that is secluded, quiet and peaceful, a place where you actually feel peaceful in your head. Where you don’t have to worry about the emails to reply or send or phone calls, or read newspapers, watch tv…. You will get some quality time, and believe me if you have a good company to go out with then there is nothing like this place to go out and explore. Plantation all over the place was a look to die for, with the sunrise in the morning and wood burning in the backyard to heat water, this early morning site will just leave you mesmerized.

Now the most important thing- “FOOD” – it was awesome. It was a pleasure to have a great cook as our host. She was awesome with whatever she made. Im a foodie, and an avid sea-food lover. I loved the types of fish and prawns I had there. All varieties (veg. as well as non veg.) and the malwani preparations of food and bakaris, wow…………… we used to have one meal and used to look forward for another one. You will be stuffed but you won’t want to stop and definitely would want more. It was after a long time I was hogging on food, it was so overwhelming. I have always loved travelling and exploring places, but I guess this has been an experience in itself.

After the trip I just realized that we should do this more often, as there cant be anything more de-toxifying, distressing and relaxing than this and the cozy home stay just made our stay superb hence making it one of the best memories I have ever had. I don’t want to stop writing about it but I guess it’s already a long blog.

Sometimes I wonder…..How life would have been, if things weren’t too complicated…. simple like the older times. When people were happy to be together, no one had to travel over the seas to get education or money. No one had a rat race to join and keep running throughout their life……..