Getting Familiar with Wilderness. July 06-08 2015 - Om Beach (Part 2)

A little ascend takes you where you can see Kudle at its best.

This is where you start for Om Beach.
Later that trail connects to a tar road which wasn't rolled yet. You have to continue up that road until you reach the main road which takes you down to Om beach.

Om beach: 20 minutes or so from Kudle,(by walk as well as by vehicle) this beach is the most popular and almost all the tourists prefer coming down here. Few people after knowing I was trekking alone showed varied expressions and chatted for a while. Later they told me that I won't find any food after I cross this beach and I assure you there are good chances that you won't. The shacks here were closed too. Even though I had enough food on me like always, I decided on having my breakfast at the only hotel that was open there. I got fresh and wasted some time sitting on a very huge, very low tree, perfect to gaze at the vast ocean. Well also the only place that helped me from roasting in the sun.  My phone's battery was dead by now and all I had an old Nokia survival phone (That's what I call it). Very helpful indeed. I informed my family about my whereabouts and tried to reach a friend, Lyon, who planned to join me.

Finally realizing that it's getting hot I continued toward the next beach. You better charge your phone wherever and whenever you can. I regret not doing so. I lost my way while trying to reach the next beach, even after getting the directions from a policeman; who first wasn't sure he should be allowing me to go any further. I took a wrong turn and reached heaven. The highest point of the cliff where I waited for a while as I couldn't take my eyes off the  tranquil beauty in front of me. Sadly I couldn't click any pictures here. I came back to where I started and saw a woman entering the shack down the trail. I called out and asked for directions in my messed up mother tongue. She guided me into a dense, creepy jungle which I wasn't very certain about the first time. Well that turned out to be the right path and in a few minutes I found myself walking by the edge of a cliff, the best patch yet! You will have to make your way out of a very dense jungle again after this patch. You might get caught in some thorny bush if you aren’t careful. I remembered the policeman telling me I will have to climb and jump off many boulders to reach the next beach. I continued looking for just that... 

Getting Familiar with Wilderness. July 06-08 2015 -Kudle Beach (Part 1)

This is not an account of me getting lost in the jungle, surviving storms, hunting down wild beasts for dinner while I try to summit ranges alpine-style or any of that over the top crap. 

But yes, it is about one of my best adventures. A beach trek at Gokarna for which I have been hungry for since ages. At least for the most part of it I was on my own. Travelling  alone makes you come face to face with the harsh realities of our society or let's say of this whole repulsive world basically. But surely if you are looking for some peace and solitude, venturing out is anytime a better option than locking yourself up in a room with loud music. It doesn't block anyone out except for your own self.

My journey started with an over excited me reaching way before time at Thane station to board the Matsyagandha Express. The journey was pleasant until except the smoke from the engine started suffocating everyone; especially when in the tunnel. To make it worse we have the capable youths of our nation smoking at the doorway making sure we really get sick. I would suggest travelling to Gokarna by a Bus, as Gokarna road station is 21 km or more from all the main beaches you would want to start your trek with. That wasn't something I wanted to know when I reached there at 5:45 in the morning.

The people might seem a little shady but they are sweet and very hospitable. Of course you have to be sure of everything when travelling alone. A GPS device should always be handy. I couldn't keep my eyes on the navigation for long though. The early morning breeze along with the drizzles made it impossible to do so. After breathing in the horrible smoke for entire 12 hours this was eternal bliss. And soon I realized I don't really need the navigation. First rule to enjoy a solo trip is to be cautious and the second is to let go when necessary and have trust in yourself as well as humanity. I have met the most interesting and honest people on my trips fortunately.

Kudle Beach: This is the nearest beach to the main Gokarna beach which I skipped. I could see all the chowpaty I wanted to in Mumbai. The rickshaw/tum-tum driver warned me about how I will have to trek down to the beach and I was more than happy to know that. My knee couldn't have taken more than 2 kilometers of walking but I decided I will trek as much as I can and crash at some beach when tired. I will not forget the first sight of Kudle for a good few years. The first beach I saw which was as empty as it could get and absolutely clean. Kudle is full of colorful stones. You will surely find all shades of red. The only guy who seem to exist there told me the shacks are all going to stay shut as it was the off season. The disappointment turned into delight when I realized all the beaches are going to be this empty. After soaking in as much as I could of this pretty sight I continued walking towards the other end of the beach that would take me to the next pit stop.

Inspiration Lies Within you. 07 March 2015

A picture album with captions and a small write up about my:
Solo trek to Gorakhgad

Enroute Sigandur-Varadahalli, May 2009

The excruciating physical pain… negligible really. When all your travel plans are failing. And then you have your old photographs and travel magazines to gaze at for the daydreamer you are.




Yet another of those moments when i have felt handicapped for not being able click a better picture…

Ehh.. im not a beach person…but surely can’t get over the love for shells. #Heartsandallthatblahblah (at Girgaun Chopati)