Weekend Travel to GanpatiPule

It was an interesting weekend to visit Ganpatipule in Maharashtra as the traveller inside me keeps poking every month to visit new places and enjoy the experience.
I and my wife were thinking of a weekend destination closer to Mumbai where we can relax and spend some time together.
My first choice was lets Go to Goa !
Oh no..not again, Puja protested.
Shall we go to Daman, she asked to which I replied that Daman is more a boozer's paradise and this time I want to have an alcohol free weekend.

We finally zeroed down on Ganpatipule as alcohal and Goa were out of option and Ganpatipule is more closer to Mumbai to spend a good weekend.



The trip was really exciting as our train reservation was not confirmed till the last moment. At once, I got chickened out on traveling in the train's general compartment but then the joy of visiting a new place overpowered my fear of traveling without any proper comfort.



We boarded the Konkankanya express at night from Dadar Junction as the train had started to move slowly and then tried searching for a place to sit.
The train journey was not comfortable for us as we had hardly travelled without proper reservation by trains, but it helps to be positive and look forward to the joy one would get when they reach the destination.

Now, I am posting the short write up on Ganpatipule MTDC resort by my wife Puja who is a more avid traveller and adventurer than me.

This was our first trip to Ganapatipule, and as heard by many, no doubt MTDC resort was the best option to stay. The location is just ideal, bang on the beach and just opposite the famous Ganesh Temple. We stayed in the konkani cottage, which was about 700 mts from the main reception, but better located as compared to the rooms. Room service was not available in the konkani cottages but the overall ambience was quiet and serene. The restaurant 'Tarang' serves Indian, south Indian and continental food, which was just average.



Overall a very good experience and good value for money. The resort is not available on various travel sites...You need to book through MTDC only though online bookings are available...its better to book at least a week in advance to avoid disappointment. Since its a great property with budget accommodation, its full almost in all seasons.

Room Tip - “Konkani cottages are the best option since its a bit away from the main beach area, which gathers more crowd because of the temple...”

Taking my laptop back from Puja, I am writing on what made me like Ganpatipule so much.

Well, I am a beach bum and if you are also a beach bum then you must visit Ganpatipule. The beaches are clean, the surrounding is serene and peace is in the air. In terms of alcohol only beer is available at the MTDC resort and the food is just average, but still you would love this place for its sheer beauty and the solitude you can have with your friends and the loved ones.

There are many small experiences which made me fall in love with this place like traveling in the moring on the road which runs alongside the Arabian sea, having a camel ride on the beach, walking on the moist sand in the evening, relaxing while swinging in the hammock tied with the help of two coconut trees and just sitting and starting over the sea when the sun rises and sets.

Travellers, do visit this place if you are in Maharashtra and want to spend your time in a nicely located and clean beach resort.
Ganpatipule is now added to my favorite list of places where I can go again and again!

Mumbai Diary II - Pictures Along the Arabian Sea

If there is a nature's gift to Mumbai which makes it really beautiful is the presence of Arabian Sea. The coast along the Arabian sea in Maximum Mumbai is surrounded by skyscrapers and boulders that’s gives a contrast to Mumbai's landscape which is depth and height.
I am not an ace photographer and not even a photographer but yes I did try to be one with my mobile camera Nokia E5 and let the pictures speak about this city.
The first set of Photographs which is here is taken from the window of cafe seaside restaurant at Bandra Band street. To to add to the beauty of the sea was a beautiful rainy day.
I love going to this restaurant often, not really for the food but to get a good view of the sea and the crowd from the restaurant's window.
So it was a beautiful day not raining initially and I was sipping a coffee in the cafe, when I saw a group of 3 young girls walk in the cafe with a middle aged dark and fat man.
One of the girl was I suppose in her late teens whereas other 2 girls seemed to be in their late twenties.
They were sitting just across my table and were talking to each other and the man was continuosly on the phone while they were also eating slices of chocolate cake.
They seemed to be waiting for someone when it suddenly started raining heavily. All my attention shifted to the rain when suddenly I got a call from one of my friend. I kept talking to him for around 10 mins or so and the call ended. I saw the table across and saw them missing from the table. I didnt gave a second thought about them and started looking at the rains falling in the sea. While moving my neck to get a complete view of the sea I suddenly saw these girls going to the bank of the sea in the rain.
It struck to me watch how they enjoyed the rain along the sea and look at the lively inhibitions less life of Mumbai.
Now let the pictures speak-





The second set of pictures were taken on the eve of Independence Day night in Marine Drive. Needless to say that beauty of Marine Drive in night with lights and tall skycrapers is simply mesmerising. There have been many photos taken of this unique Queen's Necklace in India.
I took these Marine Drive pictures while strolling after a good heavy dinner at the Bagdadi restaurant and some chilled beer at Leopold cafe.
All I can say, after a good dinner and drink a walk at Marine Drive is a deadly combination.

Mumbai Diary I - Life at Mumbai Local

It’s been more than 6 months of stay in this most bustling city of India though have been here many times. But these 6 months have been a new experience altogether as I have seen this city closely ranging from strange experiences while traveling on trains, pub hopping, tasting food at different restaurants to going through the trauma of being in a city which has been a frequent and soft target of bomb blasts.
I intend to write a Mumbai diary, don’t know for how long I will be able to write on this but let me start at least.
If I break the time spent per day in Mumbai, I would say that I spend a minimum of 20% i.e. 2-3 hrs per day of my day in traveling by trains to reach to my office and other places in Mumbai. The scarcity of wide roads and affordability makes most of the Mumbaikars to travel by local trains to their work place on a daily basis.
People make friends on trains, even some become couples in love and share joy and crib about the government. It’s really surprising to see that people who take the same trains daily meet each other, talk among themselves but they don’t even remember each other’s name. That’s what is Mumbai‘s life; it is about being together but still maintaining each others privacy.
I am sharing few anecdotes from my travel by Mumbai local which would give a glimpse into the life and culture of Mumbai.
Anecdote 1
It was a tough evening for me as I reached Andheri station late and had to catch up an evening train going to Panvel, as I stay in Vashi. I boarded the train’s 1st class compartment just seconds before the train started and was sad to not to get a place to sit in the train.
Poor me, I have to travel one hour long journey by standing in the train. All, I could do was crib within myself. I stood just near to a sitting gentleman who seemed to be in his late forty’s and by looks, bag and clothing looked like a government servant. To drift my attention from the pain of standing in the train, I started to read his messages on his mobile phone screen. The man totally unaware of his invasion of privacy was busy in reading the messages and writing message to a recipient called “Kiran Vashi Train”.
By the name of the recipient, I could guess that the recipient seems to be a lady and this person must have met her on the vashi train.
What amused me later was they this person send an adult joke to the this lady on which the lady replied by the following message “ hahha..its good , but tu marwayega mere ko aazkal bacche bhi maa ka mobile dekhthe rehate hai” .
Well, the message meant that the lady said that the joke was good, but you will get me screwed as my kids also check my mobile”.
All, I could do was to smile and forget the pain of standing for long in the train.
Anecdote 2
I took a late morning train from Vashi to CST station and was sitting in a seat near to a gate. There were lots of people in the trains, but there was one couple who boarded the train from Vashi who seemed to be different.
The female was a young lady in her mid twenties with a healthy figure and the male was a middle aged guy in his early forties who was frail , had long curly hair , dark in complexion and truly unattractive though was wearing branded shirt and pants with no watches.
At first instance anyone would think them as may be father and daughter or may be two colleagues. Well, the cat didn’t hide for long as they soon started talking in frequent English and I could hear that she really had a great time at his house.
The lady soon took out a chocolate and gave it to the guy. The guy bit the chocolate by his lips, fed to the lady and then fed to himself.
The train was crossing the Vashi creek and it really becomes windy and romantic while passing the creek. The couple suddenly got themselves very cozy against each other with the guy touching her hair and holding her shoulders.
Yes, they were a couple in love who despite their age difference were very frank to flaunt their affection and love in full public view without thinking of what the on lookers would say about them.
And to the typical Mumbai style, no one really cared for what they were doing. This is the most liberal city, I could ever be in India; I thought.
Anecdote 3
Well this is the shortest of them, though I have so many to share but may be in the part II. I was crossing the foot over bridge to get on the other side of the platform at Dadar station when I had to suddenly cut my pace for few seconds.
I saw a young college going couple who seemed to be boarding different trains stopped on the foot bridge and kissed each other passionately for few seconds in the middle of the way.
It seemed really amazing, as from back I could see people passing by their sides and this couple standing in middle and kissing in full public view. I don’t know should I term it as obscenity or may be the free and liberal culture ; but all I can say is that after staying in so many cities in India, the culture and life in Mumbai is very unique compared to the all other cities.
Hoping to come out with more parts!