Didn’t feel like waking up this morning, I think it’s the withdrawal symptoms that are starting to set in now – bike ride withdrawal.. since I’m now 2 days away from going back to work… Left the hotel with two big bottles of water loaded in my saddlebag. It was going to be a hot day ahead. Didn’t want to stop for breakfast. It was already 11 am.
The ride was very very casual. The traffic didn’t seem to bother me at all. I guess when you are in Goa, you don’t want to hurry back.. after a very slow paced hour of chugging, reached a cafe coffee day outside the city and decided to stop for brunch. Ordered some stuff and sat down. Two senior gentlemen started a conversation on seeing my bike and wanted to know if I’m on an expedition or on a full time job riding or something (I wish!). Or whether I’m advertising for Royal Enfield… They spoke about someone they met yesterday who is sailing around the world on a yatch and how I should try that as well.. emm well.. if that kind of money flows in, then I would love to !
Then started the winding roads, very well conditioned but no trees on the sides.. well there were some green stretches on and off, but for the most part it was a barren highway after Goa state limits. Which meant even more heat… Again riding facing the sun.
Reached Karwar, where the heat increased, took plenty of breaks, and hydrated myself plenty as well.
When you ride a lot, your brain starts thinking philosophy.. the grand scheme of things, and how you are a tiny insignificant speck, and yet you have your own world and your own ambitions and problems and career… Get on the road for the long haul and you will instantly start feeling the difference and what I’m talking about. In our day to day lives, we are the ‘know-it-alls’ and have monster egos guiding our decisions and priorities. On the road, you get humbled to the extent that you start being thankful for just being present.
Enough with that.. moving on. Reached Gokarna by late afternoon… Got stopped by the cops at the entrance and they were pretty convinced I’m a ‘dealer’ and that I should disclose everything right now (he rattled off names of a hundred narcotics) before entering the city. I had to show him my business card, my driver’s license, and offer to open all my luggage for inspection.. was let in to the town then… Not a good start ! Thankfully I didn’t have to unpack and repack again there else there would be major delays. I wouldn’t call it harassment, they were just trying their luck at a catch.
Hunted for the hotel I had seen online – Kamat… Turns out it wasn’t the same chain that we know. Was some super shady place, like most of them were in this area. Decided to move on.. rode till the beach and found nothing decent.. turned back and found ‘Om beach resort’, a jungle lodges property. Was a little steep but the setup blew me away… On top of a hill covered in dense vegetation, completely serene and quite. Decided to stay there. Got a good discount after some negotiation. The accommodation was a huge cottage with a sitout area, living room, bedroom, and a bathroom that is bigger than my bedroom back home. Air conditioning, cable, and all meals included for 2900 bucks. Not bad at all. Dumped my luggage and took a walk around the resort. All the rooms are individual cottages and very heavily surrounded by trees and shrubs. The restaurant is open-air, overlooking the mountain greens as well as the beach town below. I’m the only occupant in the whole resort today, and have all this to myself.. pity I’ll be leaving in the morning again.
This is the 4th ever government run place that I’ve stayed at.. one during my Orissa trip last year (satkosia wildlife sanctuary), and 3 this time round.. and I’m very impressed by the way the govt. Based tourism corporations have used the funding. For one, they get prime land free of cost.. if it’s a beach town, they get the first acre next to the beach, if it’s a jungle area, they get the heart of the jungle..Hill town – they are at the top of the hill… and I know for a fact that they are all in their own isolated areas, full of greenery, away from the hustle.. once you enter these places they are their own world. Very impressed and quite reasonable.
Time for dinner.. fine dining for myself.. fish waiting to be relished. Let’s hope it’s as good an experience as the resort itself.
So back from dinner now, and can’t carry my own weight back to the room.. rice, chapatis, curd, pickle, chicken, fish, dal, and one vegetable gravy.. all tasted very local, very rich and very flavorsome.
These guys can give the Marriott’s and the Taj’s a run for their money – if marketed properly. The rooms are very clean, British style old age bungalows, super high slanting roofs.. renovated to provide a hotel experience.. very happy with this setup.
Good night !
