The unofficial-official trip to coastal Konkan

We started on much-hyped Friday the 13th but the only negative impact of the dreaded day was positive, a positive change in my weight. Thanks to my friends who were thoughtful enough to buy beer, vodka, wine, whisky, redbull but forgot to get diet-pepsi. But then I am sure substantial chunk of “extra” calories was exhausted due to the laughing riot that one had during those 2 days.

Rama

Ramani

Sachin

The gang was lethal cocktail of known/unknown/lesser known, young & old, single, engaged and married, teetotallers n drunkards, clients and vendors (or partners as they may choose to refer themselves) and most importantly Marathi-speaking and Marathi illiterate people. In spite of this 6 of us had one thing in common; all were in dire need of a “break”

Chonkar

Butala

Shenoy

Day 0 (Mumbai to Srivardhan): The journey started at 8 PM and within 2 hours we had guzzled down at least a dozen cans of beer, had crossed Panvel and had cursed our respective bosses and “common enemies” to death . This was just the perfect time to give “them” a break and stop for dinner. Before we embarked everyone made quick calls to their respective loved ones which was a subtle way of telling them “No more calls please” . Soon we ran out of beer and it was the time for wine, which turned Saheb ON. Post this there was no looking back and Saheb ripped apart every mortal (excluding SVPs and EVPs) and immortal around him (including us). Unfortunately, substantial part of the assault was in Marathi (Happy Mr. Raj?) but it definitely tickled one’s funny bones leaving mouth and stomach aching.

Srivardhan

Shell beach

Day 1 (Srivardhan-Diveagar-Srivardhan): This unlike other Saturday mornings, started early and we were at secluded (well almost secluded) beach of Srivardhan at 10 AM i.e. more than 30 minutes before we reach office on weekdays. The remaining part of first half was spent playing with/in water. Post lunch, group headed to Divegar temple/beach and encountered many lesser known but scenic spots including the shell beach. The story behind Divegar temple was intriguing (although far from reality) but stood nowhere near its impromptu spoofed version, courtesy Saheb. During the entire day the only thing which remained constant was Nilesh’s quest to dig holes (literally) inside and outside water for reasons not known to any of us.

Day 2 (Srivardhan-Harihareshwar-Mumbai): Harihareshwar aka Dakshin Kashi was like a typical bollywood movie and had little bit of everything: beaches (sandy n rocky), temples, trekking spot, fishing zone, eat outs, hotels along with parking lot approved by “competent authority”: P. .Unfortunately, this movie was missed by Chonkar who left at 4 AM (on Day 2) by state transport bus

What follows next is an attempt to immortalize few special memories of the jaunt