Over the years, I've turned from being an impulsive, hell-lets-do-this person to somebody who plans a holiday weeks in advance to feel better about life, work and as such. So when Grouchy called this Friday, brimming more with desperation than enthusiasm, about doing a Gokarna trip, my first reaction was to go back to bed. Forget all about it, when I wake up.
It's not like I had the most enviable plan in place to optimise the holier than holy long weekend. All I expected from the non-working next four days was to sleep tight. Yes, a piddly wish but you see the only thing I crave these days is a good nights sleep. So I could put my over-active brain in a state of inertia. So I could wake up in the morning without feeling like a crushed banana peel. So I don't mope over events that aren't under my control. So I could recuperate from the heaviness of everyday life. In short, I was looking forward to a weekend, free of Woody Allensque neuroticism and self-deprecation.
But instead of chasing sleep and rest I ended up throwing them out of the window of a half decent sleeper bus to Goa. For those who haven't spotted the anomaly already let me be direct, I had a phenomenal mini vacation in Goa because halfway through the trip, grouchy(who landed in gokarna a couple of hours ago), tells me the place feels like its ready for a Honey Singh live concert. At which point, we decide, let's just drop the over packed Namaste Cafe to make most of the slightly less over packed Spicy Bella cafe at Paloleim beach.
Cut to Toto and I strolling in the picturesque fields of Goa, tired but placated by the warm sunshine and cool breeze(which lasted not more than hour of our arrival), basking in the over night success of turning a drab weekend to a fun vacation. For starters, I owe to Grouchy, my eternal trip compatriot for yet another small but significant much-needed retreat. Here are some highlights/observations
1. Everything in Goa is sombRE during monsoon for a reason. unlike Mumbai, the sky isn't mischievous in a wait till you get soaked way. It is merciless, as it requires you to change clothes thrice a day without even getting into the sea. Too bad, I rain checked on the idea of packing an umbrella along.
2. Nothing intoxicates me more than good conversations. It wasn't the Jamaican breezer, that turned Saturday night and Sunday morning surreal and sprightly, it was realisation of the fact that grouchy and I can be at complete ease while sharing a room, inspire of going off the radar for a substantial part of the year. The only downside to that is, everybody else feels boring/unappealing all of a sudden.
3. beware of the a-list thugs called Atmaram travels. Everything they promise, is a a big fat lie. Right from the pick up destination, to the arrival time. Not to mention, their staff is rowdy and unhelpful. Turns out we paid 2400 rupees, to sleep under a leaky ac vent, and starve for 16 hours to reach Mumbai.
4. Most trips are governed by the need to break away from the rut, for me it was breaking away from the grief inflicted upon F. I'm glad I didn't think much about you F during these last 3 days. I was at peace, even if it was momentary and fleeting. I wasn't tormented by you last act. And that for me made up for all the excruciating things we did to make this last minute plan happen.
Here's to a seasoned friendship, and an unseasoned vacation.
It's not like I had the most enviable plan in place to optimise the holier than holy long weekend. All I expected from the non-working next four days was to sleep tight. Yes, a piddly wish but you see the only thing I crave these days is a good nights sleep. So I could put my over-active brain in a state of inertia. So I could wake up in the morning without feeling like a crushed banana peel. So I don't mope over events that aren't under my control. So I could recuperate from the heaviness of everyday life. In short, I was looking forward to a weekend, free of Woody Allensque neuroticism and self-deprecation.
But instead of chasing sleep and rest I ended up throwing them out of the window of a half decent sleeper bus to Goa. For those who haven't spotted the anomaly already let me be direct, I had a phenomenal mini vacation in Goa because halfway through the trip, grouchy(who landed in gokarna a couple of hours ago), tells me the place feels like its ready for a Honey Singh live concert. At which point, we decide, let's just drop the over packed Namaste Cafe to make most of the slightly less over packed Spicy Bella cafe at Paloleim beach.
Cut to Toto and I strolling in the picturesque fields of Goa, tired but placated by the warm sunshine and cool breeze(which lasted not more than hour of our arrival), basking in the over night success of turning a drab weekend to a fun vacation. For starters, I owe to Grouchy, my eternal trip compatriot for yet another small but significant much-needed retreat. Here are some highlights/observations
1. Everything in Goa is sombRE during monsoon for a reason. unlike Mumbai, the sky isn't mischievous in a wait till you get soaked way. It is merciless, as it requires you to change clothes thrice a day without even getting into the sea. Too bad, I rain checked on the idea of packing an umbrella along.
2. Nothing intoxicates me more than good conversations. It wasn't the Jamaican breezer, that turned Saturday night and Sunday morning surreal and sprightly, it was realisation of the fact that grouchy and I can be at complete ease while sharing a room, inspire of going off the radar for a substantial part of the year. The only downside to that is, everybody else feels boring/unappealing all of a sudden.
3. beware of the a-list thugs called Atmaram travels. Everything they promise, is a a big fat lie. Right from the pick up destination, to the arrival time. Not to mention, their staff is rowdy and unhelpful. Turns out we paid 2400 rupees, to sleep under a leaky ac vent, and starve for 16 hours to reach Mumbai.
4. Most trips are governed by the need to break away from the rut, for me it was breaking away from the grief inflicted upon F. I'm glad I didn't think much about you F during these last 3 days. I was at peace, even if it was momentary and fleeting. I wasn't tormented by you last act. And that for me made up for all the excruciating things we did to make this last minute plan happen.
Here's to a seasoned friendship, and an unseasoned vacation.
