Drifting Away

Published

2013-12-16T23:16:00.000-08:00

Published in www.ridetillidie.com on Dec 13 2013 this is a travelogue of my experience riding with my husband from Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar a distance of 570 kms.

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RIDING FROM 44 TO 4421 FT. ABOVE SEA LEVEL

Mumbai to Mahabaleshwar Bike Ride

44 ft. above sea level that’s where we started from – Borivali, Mumbai towards the peak of Sahyadri ranges – Mahabaleshwar at 4421 ft. sea level. Strapping the extra bag on the side foot guard and ourselves with knee pads, me and my wife got on the road on our Honda Unicorn Dazzler prepared for bumps and goose bumps. Morning 6.30 proved to be an ideal time for take-off. Cool breeze. Light traffic. Great feeling.

After endless discussions, we had chosen the circular route for our trip. NH 4/AH 47 (Via Pune) for onward journey and NH 17 (Mumbai-Goa Road) for return a total of 570 kms. I absolutely recommend this route. The NH4/AH 47 highway makes for a zippy ride with smooth, broad roads. It’s only after Wia, it narrows down. On road, watch out for ST buses, luxury buses and empty trucks. They will do everything and anything to get you in trouble. Don’t worry about losing your way, there’s lot of signboards to lead you to Mahabaleshwar.

Our breakfast point was Khandala. Thanks to my wife’s packed sandwiches, we could stop at a scenic location overlooking the Express Highway. Another recommendation for bikers. Pack your food from wherever you can get, and you can choose your dining table, which could be lakeside, roadside or hilltop.

Reaching close to the destination much earlier than we anticipated we took a detour into a village called Surur on the foothills before Wia. The hospitality of the villagers was just unbelievable. They were little surprised by this unusual visit of city dwellers in their village. An elderly guy was more than enthusiastic to welcome us. We got a tour through the cabbage farm, went to his house, met his family and clicked pictures with his bull, which he had bought just a few days back for Rs. 25,000. Politely declining his invitation to eat in his house and promising to post a copy of their photos, we continued our ride with a bag of freshly harvested groundnuts (a gift from them) and smitten with the true Indian hospitality. After a whole day of riding and eager to reach Mahabaleshwar, we decided to skip the popular water scooter rides in Wai.

With the sun going down, we were going up the Mahabaleshwar hills. Our 150cc bike took us through the scenic ghats quite effortlessly, and we reached our cottage in Bhilar around 5.30 pm. So, it came to 9 hours of riding quite comfortably through 300 kms, deducting stop times. Riding straight to our cottage, we spent the rest of the evening nestled among strawberry fields with a beautiful mountain view.

In the next two days, we took a series of short ride across Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. Since, this was our second visit, we skipped a few points which we had already done. Having your bike in a tourist place has its own perks. You can always check with locals for shortcuts to your destination. That’s what we did and got treated to some spectacular sights on our way which we would have missed on the crowded touristy routes.

We were surprised to see that the town gets stunningly quiet by 6.30 pm with no street lights to guide it gets pitch black. It was a thrilling ride through the dark unlit roads, where the bike headlight was the only light for miles. We traced our way back to habitation quietly thanking the gods as nothing went wrong with the bike in the middle of the dense forest.

On the fourth day noon, we started our journey back to Mumbai through NH 17 highway with a short visit to Pratapgad Fort that was 4 kms detour from the highway. Not too eager to leave the hills, we started our journey only by 12 noon. It was much later then we initially planned. Must say, it’s a dream ride through the Ghat. The curvy, smooth roads are every riders dream come true. The roads on this side of Mahabaleshwar are quite steep compared to the Wia side. So, it’s better if you are going downhill.

As soon as we got on the Goa-Mumbai highway, we met heavy traffic on a narrow road and speed bumps for the rest of the ride. The evening traffic in Mumbai was yet another milestone to grid through. So, that was 270 kms in 8 hours, deducting stoppages. I’m sure you can beat that quite easily. Finally we reached home by 8.30 pm our face black with smoke and our hearts wanting to do it all over again.

Happy Riding....

Wales, U.K.

2013-03-29T10:22:00.000-07:00

The Peninsula of Gower

Ancient folklore wrapped in Celtic mysticism adorning the chilling cliffs and breathtaking

countryside, that's what the welsh life is all about.

"To be born in Wales, not with a silver spoon in your mouth,

but, with music in your blood and with poetry in your soul,

is a privilege indeed." - Brian Harris

It was just 3 pm and it was already dark. The rowdy wind and icy drops of rain

made me wonder if I really wanted to get out of the car. Having driven all the way,

I at least wanted to have a glimpse of the land of a million legends. Every corner of

Wales has a story to tell, and in this southern coast of Wales is Gower Peninsula.

“Lovely the woods, waters, meadows, combes, vales,

all the air things wear that build this world of Wales”.

- Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889), British poet

Not willing to resist the mystics tales of the smugglers, I have heard so much about
I stepped out shivering and promising myself not to go too far. The drama stretched
right before me for miles ahead as the ocean fringed with white sand and rising cliffs.

Surrounded by spectacular coastline and mountains, Gower is popular with surfers

around the world. The rough winds and the isolated coast lines makes it ideal for

surfing. It was for this reason hundreds of years back smugglers choose Gower to

carry on with their business. Smuggling was a thriving business in the 1800s and this

gave way to a number of interesting tales of how smugglers outsmarted the official

and offered exotic presents to farmers to keep an eye on the authorities.

There wasn't a single person in sight, not even in the buildings on the other

side. Except for a few cars parked neatly in the allotted space there was

no other sign of people anywhere close by. The silence exaggerated by the

roaring wind and the darkness in the air for some reason reminded me of

‘Wuthering Heights’.

And suddenly as if a magic wand was waved, the mysticism in the air gave

way to a clear bright sky. Standing alone in the isolation of Rhossili Bay

wasn't scary anymore.

“The land of the bard, made me cast all gloomy thoughts

aside and glow with all the Welsh enthusiasm with which

I glowed when I first started in the direction of Wales."

- Wild Wales, George Barrow

Happy Travelling....

Mumbai, India

2013-03-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

Golden Vipassana Pagoda

Nestled within humble surroundings of Gorai,

the golden Pagoda rises tall,

proudly swaying to the tunes of the setting sun,

covered in a blanket of gold,

seamed with stitches of red,

embossed against the endless sea of blue,

the drama unfolds all around

a testimony to the brilliance of the Burmese.

Swinging in the breeze, tunes of 400 bells

orchestrate a welcome note,

inviting devotes and tourists alike

into the divine presence of the relics of Buddha

anointing the wide open interiors,

waiting patiently to share secrets

hidden within those shinny walls.

Secrets of Vipassanna,

lovingly perfected by Buddha.

Secrets that helped Kiran Bedi transform

the notorious prisoners of Tihar.

Secrets which even today, finds its way

through hurt and pain,

and cleanses the soul

of the one who cares enough

to just stand and stare.

U49BPSDFMJB8

Beaches of Goa

2013-03-04T00:43:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has heard of Goa knows it is relaxed, chilled out and an instant stress buster. I have always wondered what makes Goa so unique; the answer was endlessly stretching right in front of me – the clean gorgeous beaches.

Flaunting its beautiful clean beaches, Goa welcomes travellers from across the globe. Clearly, the carefree attitude of the locals is contagious. Soon, I found myself going ‘Susegad’ giving in to the mesmerizing sights surrounding me. There was more to explore too. Delicious cuisines, music, parties, flee markets and more.

In Goa, even the simple homestay isn’t anything ordinary. Like my land lady, handed me the room keys, and said proudly. “This is the same room that Shahrukh Khan stayed in.” But it was long before; Shahrukh Khan became the “Shahrukh Khan”. But I sort of knew why he took this basic and minimal room, that’s if he ever did that. The room was less than a minute away from the beach and for just Rs. 700 per day. No wonder, it’s a paradise for the economy travellers.

I don’t know about Shahrukh Khan but I was happy to get my accommodation well within my budget and close to the beach. The minute I unloaded by bag, I was on the beaches of Baga. It was apparent that it was off season as except for a few shacks most of the others were closed. Quite surprisingly, there were a number of tourists relaxing along the beach in the hot sun. It was indeed a hot afternoon, and I headed straight to a shack for some mouth-watering Goan lunch and chilled King’s beer. Just a short nap on the beach chair, and I was ogling at a magnificent sunset. It added to the charm of this stunning natural landscape, which was once ruled by the Portuguese.

There’s more to do at the beaches than just relax. Water sports of various kinds are available mostly in the beaches of North Goa. I couldn’t resist the bargained package of four different activities for just Rs. 900. It included banana boat, water scooter, parasailing and tube surfing. It was off-season and I surely wanted to reap its benefits. The locals were more than enthusiastic to drag me into taking the offer. And I was glad I took it. It was good fun and the locals were very friendly and helpful. Singing and chatting all along.

The water scooter ride was thrilling and relaxing all at the same time. For beginners like me, thank god, there are locals who help you ride the scooter. So, you can enjoy the ride without having to worry about a thing. Parasailing is a must, for anyone who visits these beautiful beaches. Gliding along the wind, glancing at the spectacular view of the coastline below, it’s a moment that will take your breath away.

The splendour of the blue waters of the Goan beaches charm every visitor. Beaches in South Goa, like Palolem, are a lot less commercialized then the beaches in North Goa, like Baga. There are a lot of picturesque virgin beaches along this southern stretch. So, if you are in a mood to get away from the crowd, then you should head straight to the southern beaches of Goa. In the calm beaches of South Goa, you will also find kayaks rented out on hourly basis. With life jackets, which are absolutely necessary for everyone, you can go deep in the ocean without any worry.

In Goa, you are never too far from the beaches. Step out for a quiet unsuspecting walk, and there is a stunning view right in front.

Happy Travelling...

The Ancient County : Bath

2013-01-20T04:26:00.000-08:00

Pulteney Bridge

The iconic Pulteney bridge is another monumental treasure that is a must see in Bath. Very close
to the Roman Bath and the Abbey, this bridge, built over river Avon, is a standing testimony of the
marvels of Georgian architecture.

I almost didn't realize that I was on the bridge as there were shops on both the sides. It's just like
walking on any other street. Completed in 1773, this historic bridge holds a number of shops - a
souvenir shop, flower shop and a cafe to name a few.

The surrounding garden was every bit as impressive as the bride itself. Here is a shot of the
bridge taken from the garden. You can see a part of the bridge visible at the background in the
middle of the picture.

Luckily, it was a sunny morning, when I visited the site. There were a number of people
relaxing, taking in the sunshine, reading a book and a few artists busy at work.
All in all, it was a serene beautiful atmosphere all around, my only regret was I couldn't take
more picture of this marvelous place. Well there is always a next time!!!

The Ancient County, Bath

2013-01-13T08:11:00.000-08:00

The Roman Baths

The place was deceptively small at the first glance, but as we continued exploring, the site

extends underground far beneath the bustling streets of Bath. If you are a lover of ancient

mystic tale like me, this would be the place to be. A luxury in its time, the Baths offer a rare

glimpse of the olden days of Roman Britain.

One of the first things in the museum that caught my eyes was the pediment with the Gordon's head.
The remains of the pediment that ones adorned the entrance is still a powerful image to move away
from. And supposedly Gordon's head was considered sacred in ancient Rome as this was the
symbol embossed on the breastplate of Sulis the Roman goddess.

The main attraction of this place, is the mystical warm water that flows from a natural spring.
Considered to be sacred, the Romans threw coins and foils with various cures written on them
into the bath. Roman Emperors and soldiers enjoyed a warm dip here, mainly because the water
from the spring flows at 46 degree Celsius all year round.

Minerva's head a gilt bronze sculpture is one of the many treasures displayed in the underground

museum. In fact, the head is believed to be part of a full size statue of Minerva, which once adorned
the temple in that place, hundred of years ago.

Flaunting the statues of Roman dignitaries, the terrace is a magnificent sight even today. One
side of the terrace overlooks the baths and the other side faces the streets where hustling
tourists stroll along. The striking contrast nudges us to wonder about those Romans who must
have walked these streets in a time, long gone by.