Prabhu n Ferrari

After Visiting the fort Aguada, I reached the hotel to rest for a while. I entered my room, and it started raining like anything
I reached the Baga beach by around 5 PM and saw a small hill nearby.


It seems there was a chapel atop that hill. Wanted to check it out.


I walked all the way till the end of the beach only to find a small lake merged with the sea. How do I cross?


I went back, and took my bike, and then a long detour to reach the footstep of the hill


Had to cross this bridge


It was very secluded. Hardly could find one or two people


The steps for the hilltop. Isnt it lovely?


I felt like sitting on those steps for a while. It was very peaceful


In the second photo, I had taken the photo of the hilltop. This photo shows the place where I was standing


This I found on the wall




Behind the chapel, it was full of black rocks. And the sea was ferociously kissing the rocks. It was breathtaking


It was extremely calm for my liking. Not even a single soul around. Well, somehow it was eerie. I was like lost in a trance looking at the surroundings from there.


Tried my hands at B/W photo The sun fellow disappointed me this day as well

Ok there ends my short and sweet stay at Goa. 44 hrs of lovely memories

Coming up Next. Konkan Journey


..to be continued

P.S. Getting tired with the snaps?

Thanks to Suderman. It seems I was an undertaker in china, in my previous birth
“I don’t know how you feel about it, but you were male in your last earthly incarnation.
You were born somewhere in the territory of modern South China around the year 725.
Your profession was that of a digger, undertaker.Your brief psychological profile in your past life:
Revolutionary type. You inspired changes in any sphere - politics, business, religion, housekeeping. You could have been a leader.The lesson that your last past life brought to your present incarnation:
You are bound to solve problems of pollution of environment, recycling, misuse of raw materials, elimination of radioactivity(!!!) by all means including psychological methods.”

Check this and tell me what were you ?

Cancel the POTA
Open the border for Pakistan

And so the people friendly government has achieved this

What next?
Send our foreign minister for Dawood Ibrahim’s daughters wedding?

Excellent!!!!

Calangute is a small village, 50 kms from Madgaon city. There are umpteen no of hotels, and accomodation was available easily.


I have heard from people, that Calangute Residency is a nice place to stay. As I had mentioned earlier, I got a sea facing room.


The sea was hardly 150 to 200 metres from my room. The sky was so grey and the wind was blowing hard when I was in Goa. I was lucky, since there were no rains when I reached.


The one advice that almost everyone I met gave me was, to NEVER venture into the sea. I followed till the last minute I was in goa. The sea was ferocious most of the times. But still many people were found happily swimming and taking bath. There was even a rescue team at almost all main beaches. Just in case.


The taxi driver had mentioned to me about a beach called Baga some 4 kms from Calangute. That beach wasnt that much crowded. The sun was shining brightly, and I thought I will get to see the sun set.


The beach was very very clean and beautiful. Hardly there were some 5 to 10 people. Thats all. I happily sat down there and was enjoying the calm. After a hectic 15 days of work life, this was the perfect opportunity for me to unwind. I waited for quite some time for the sun to set. Just when it was about to set, it hid behind a cloud cover. And it started drizzling! I looked at the watch and it was 7.30 PM. I had reached Baga by around 4.30 PM. I really have no idea how the time flew past. Actually, there is nothing there. A small beach and a mountain at the distance
But the peace you get there is amazing.


There is this night club called ‘Tittos’. It is supposed to be the happening place in goa all through the year. Someone joked saying, ‘If you havent seen Tittos, you havent seen Goa’. After a quick shower and some snacks, I reached Tittos by around 9.30 PM.


The place was jam packed and there was a match between Germany and Brazil. This was the only place, where I felt I needed a companion. There were couple of pool tables, and I was very much tempted to play pool. I caught hold of one bartender and played pool. I didnt stay here more than 45 minutes. Not just here. Somehow I dont kinda like places with very very very loud music. It gets on my nerves.
I met three guys Anirudh, Vishal and Puneet from Delhi. They were also staying at Calangute Residency. They asked me to wake up early next morning and meet them @ the beach by around 5.45 AM.


I didnt know what was in store. These guys wanted to play beach volleyball.
I had gone there sporting a white t-shirt and didnt want to risk it getting dirty. So tried playing beach volleyball bare chested ;-)(One piece of advice guys. NEVER try playing beach volleyball barechested if you dont have practice. It burns!!!!!!!)By around 8.30, got back to the hotel. Had a nice long shower and a very heavy breakfast Was very hungry after lots of physical activity(Playing Volleyball).


I forgot to mention. I rented a Yamaha RX 100 the moment I checked in the hotel. Paid a rent of around 150 Rs/day. I left for a place called Morjhim, some 18 kms from Calangute.


The journey was amazing.


The roads were so neat and empty. And very green.






Breeze blowing at full stretch and lots of scenic beauties on the way. And my walkman playing ‘Azaadi’ from Bose.Wow. Do visit this place either by two wheeler or by an open jeep. Thats really thrilling!

This beach was very wet and there lots of fishermen around. Didnt feel like staying here for a long time. I preferred Baga to this.




On the way back, I found this old structure. I have no clue to what it is, but stopped there to take a couple of snaps. Looks like a ideal place for movie villains

I went to a place called Fort Aguada from there. It was some 30 kms from Morjhim beach.


It seems this fort was built somewhere in the year 1612 and blah blah








This fort is in a highly depleted state I wish the archaelogical department does something to make sure the fort doesnt come down one day!




Having said that, the view from the fort is breathtaking. Its very very beautiful!

..To be continued

There was an empty ground next to his house. He shooed away the slum kid, who was shitting there. He had to dispose the diapers of his kid, dumped in a polythene.

Though it is a one-week trip, I want to write so much. And there are lots of photographs as well. So am splitting my travelogue into multiple parts namely
Bangalore to Goa, Calangute stay, Goa to Mumbai, Amchi Mumbai.

Bangalore to Goa

One of my best friends, Hrishi was getting married at Mumbai. Due to my work schedule, I was not able to plan in advance for the trip. And when planned, there were no direct tickets available in the trains plying from bangalore to Mumbai. I didn’t want to go by air this time. I always enjoyed train journeys, and monsoon time is all the more interesting.
I was looking at various possible routes to reach Mumbai, and found that I can go to Goa from Bangalore, and from there to Mumbai via Konkan railway. As such I hadn’t seen Goa before. Off-season. So it wont be crowded and rates will be dead cheap.
I started from Bangalore on 24th of June 2005. The train was supposed to come from chennai, by 21.00 hrs and depart from yeshwantpur at 21.30 hrs. The train reached only by 22.00 hrs. There were hundreds of people like me waiting at the station. I was dead tired. Had slept very little the previous few nights due to work pressure and this was the last thing I wanted.
Finally the train reached. I located my seat, dumped the luggage and sat for a while. Then had my dinner of cadburys temptations and good day biscuits.
(*There is not even a single decent hotel near the Yeshwantpur Railway station. Or at least I couldn’t find any. So if you are planning to board the train there, make sure you carry some food*). The coach was very cozy. I was traveling by 2nd AC and got a side lower berth. Once I pulled the curtain it was very much a private space Turned off the light and slept. I had a sound sleep and woke up at 6.15 in the morning. I prefer to wake up early whilst traveling. It was monsoon time and beyond hubli, I heard the scenery was pretty good. What I heard was very much true indeed. It was amazing.
*click on thumbnails for enlarged version*

I opened the compartment door and was watching the early morning unfold in front of me.

Fresh air, wonderful greenery all around.


I don’t know what to call this. But I would love to spend one night at a place like this.


I am really interested in the guard coach for goods train. What a lonely life this guy must be leading? And though he has a coach, he can’t be sitting inside. Most of the time he needs to be standing outside.


The train reached a place called Londa at 8.10 in the morning. This is the place where the trains for goa take a diversion towards the left. Other trains proceeding towards Belgaum/Mumbai proceed straight.


It was completely drizzling. The sun took some time to come out of the clouds. For a brief time. It was very cloudy.

The train then reached a place called Castle Rock. In this station, they attach 2 more engines to the train.


Totally three engines were there. It seems the route beyond is a steep descent towards the slope and hence the additional engines, for extra braking And you know what? I got to see how the train engine looks like from inside.


The engine driver was very friendly, and even allowed me to take some photographs.


I wanted to take some more pictures, but the railway official who popped in played spoilsport :-L

The journey from Castle Rock(Karnataka) to Kulem(Goa) was breath taking. Guess, most of you would have watched the movie ‘Polar Express’. This track was also pretty similar. Forget the snow-clad mountains.


There was this famous waterfall called as ‘Dudh Sagar’. The railway line is so close to the waterfall that the water actually sprays on your face when you stand near the door. I managed to take some pics, without getting wet.




Initially, the waterfall is on the left side. And it is so damn close. Gorgeous! Then the train creeps (yes it is like a python circling around its kill) down and you get to see the waterfall from the right side. Wow. Breathtaking. I really do not have words to describe it.


This waterfall spellbound almost all the passengers in my compartment. And some people gave me their mail address, and asked to mail them the photographs.


This cute girl is Kareena. She told me ‘Uncle. Don’t stand so close to the door. You will fall down’. This kid spent the remaining part of her journey with me.


As a kid have you tried to catch a glimpse of the rail engine, every time the track is curved? I have done it many times.

Finally the train reached Madgaon at 12.30 PM. It was 1 hr late, but I didnt mind. If you are planning to go to goa from bangalore, do take the Chennai-Vasco express train. You will never forget this experience.

Once I reached goa, I took a prepaid taxi to Calangute. The driver Yogesh was very friendly, and in that 1 hr trip he advised me on the do’s/donts at Goa. He dropped me at the Calangute Residency(GTDC Resort). I got a sea facing AC Suite for 750 Rs. I was very lucky

..to be continued

I stayed in this GTDC Resort in Goa.
GTDC Manager : Aapka naam aur address yeh register par enter kee jiye (Pls enter your name and address)
Me: Sure
(I entered all the details)
GTDC Manager: Madam nahin aayi kya? (Madam didnt come?)
Me: Madam?????Err. Mera Shadi nahin hua(Am not married)
GTDC Manager: Fikar mat kee jiye. Jaldi ho jayega(Dont worry. It will happen soon)
Me:!!!!!!!! Room kahan hai? (Where is the room?)

I entered the room. Since it was very humid, I felt like taking bath. I opened the tap and closed the bathroom door. Was unpacking, when the room service guy entered
Room Service Guy(RSG): Saab, lunch ke liye kya chahiye? (What do you want for lunch, sir?)
Me: Do butter roti, ek paneer butter masala aur fried rice
RSG: Madam ke liye?(For madam?)
Me: Kounsi Madam?(Which Madam?)

Actually the AC Suite was like this. First thing you find when you enter the room is bathroom, and then the hall.

RSG pointed his hand towards the bathroom, and I was scared for a second. Whether he brought some girl to the room. Actually, the guy was pointing towards the bathroom. Since the water was running and the door closed, the guy assumed that Madam was inside taking bath

I opened the bathroom door, and then told the guy
Me: Koi nahin hai. Mein akhele hoon(No one there. Am alone)
RSG: Theek hai saab (Ok sir)

Till I left the resort, everyone was looking at me in a strange way. Is it so weird to go alone on a vacation?

P.S. Am not responsible if you feel hungry and feel like eating butter roti and paneer butter masala