Beach trail walk experience . .Kumta Gokarna in November 2016

KUMTA _ GOKARNA BEACH TRAIL + CAMPING on 26th and 27th  November 2016 with Tattva Adv

entures

The journey started with few of us boarding the train at CST and the rest at Thane. Some enterprising ones (Rahul Raina)  out of necessity reached CST coupla hours early sending the rest into a tizzy doubting the actual train departure  time . . . 

Train journey commences with usual set of selfies . .dhamaal . .masti . . .(duly subdued because of the other passengers :D )

We reach Kumta the next day morning and after the mandatory local bus journey  . .reach the first beach Vannali  . . After the intro round and the oohing and aahing at the beauty of nature the trail starts . . . . .

As the day progresses . .the beaches pass us by . . or rather ..we pass by/through the beaches . ..  The route typically . .consisting of walking through the beach enjoying the breeze and water . . .ascending the intervening hillock and then after a breathtaking view of the next beach descend to the same . . . This description does absolutely no justice to the beauty on display nor the time well spent on photography (self and others) by ALL participants   .  

Kadle , Gudeangadi ,Nirvana and finally  Aghnashani - Tadadi Port ( Boat )  . ..we sailed (!!!) into the rest place for the night . . . – Balekan

Albiet bit late for tea  . . . .  we gorge on samosa and tea . .with the expectedly unexpected  rush/line outside the functional primitive wash room to freshen up :P

After the  late tea and snacks and a impromptu jamming session with guitar and all ( special mention of Jaal and Yashwant for their mime/dance)   . . . time to put up the tents . .The rookies and the experts get together to a fun filled session of putting up the tents. The cresent moon shaped formation of the tents . . ..with the LED strips and the blue shimmering tarpaulin all  together created a surreal atmosphere. 

Dinner . . . . Then snooze/slumber time for few and games time for majority  . . . . With the waves and the excited voices forming a lovely jugalbandi the night stretched into the early hours of Sunday morning . . . .  The energy level of the awesome twosome Jaal and Sai ensures that within  hardly a hour of winding up  .  .everyone is treated to a Suprabhat of Trance Namah Shivaaya  :D

Day two brings with it new experiences of mobile washrooms (organic!!! ) and an early morning post breakfast energetic dance session . . . . . and we are all set to move  . .. again . . . .  We start with Paradise  Beach . . . . Move on to  Small hell (!!!)  . . . .and then Half moon  . . . . . .

As we move on to the most eagerly awaited  Om Beach . . . justifiably more time was spent at the top photographing rather than the actual beach walk. . . . . .   Lunch at Kudle . .and then finally Gokarna . . . .  To lend the spiritual touch to the whole experience there was the unexpected bonus of holy water at the Gokarna Shiva temple . . . . .

A nice auto ride through the smooth roads of Gokarna  . . and we are well in time to catch the late lateef Matsyagandha Express . . . More opportunity for games at Gokarna Station . . .  Boarding the train in a rush making sure nothing is left behind and expectedly crashing to bed / berth early rather than playing through the night . .we reach back Mumbai well in time with pleasant memories and the ring/roar of the waves still ringing in our ears . . . .

If I had not done it myself, I would never have believed it possible to cover 11 beaches in a trail walk at Karnataka with the added bonus of camping at night  . . . . . . .at Karnataka over a weekend  . . .  .with train travel at that . . . . For the curious . . .the cost of this fabulous experience was INR3400/-

Bhivpuri Waterfall Rapelling Experience

Waterfall Rappelling with Tattva Adventures Group  Bhivpuri (Maharashtra)   on 11th September 2016. . . . . 

The day starts early !!! As per the post giving information about the Bhivpuri Waterfall Rapelling event , the train to be taken was 5.20 a.m. Karjat local (!!!!) . It does take mad but motivated people to catch a 5.20 am train on a Sunday . .But then  . .there you are When the train left from Bhivpuri station, there were ten of us (including Jaal Dedhia - the Event Head

) . We were later joined by two more adventurers (who had missed the earlier train). After the mandatory introductions (in which poor Jaal is informed that none of the participants have ever done rapelling before. )  we move towards the base village by local auto rickshaw in which   somehow  five of us manage to squeeze in addition to the auto driver. We reach the base village without falling out of the auto, with two breaks for a petrol refill and an unexpected hiccup in one of the vehicles. After a yummy breakfast and chai the mini trek commences to the rapelling site. Absolutely delightful weather with sun playing hide n seek occasionally makes the trek extra fun. The technical team has all the equipments ready  and after the instructions all of us buckle up and are nervously ready for the action. To our team leaders credit , he chose not to get a disclaimer signed from us !!!

We pose for pics in all paraphernalia ( partly because no one is sure what state we will be at the end of the rapelling adventyre). All of us do the descent with a whole lot of knocks, slips and sliding , but what matters is we complete the descent without mishap. Once the main agenda is through . . .then the fun in the water body starts with unlimited splashing and laughter. Once done . . . .we descend to the base village to a yummy typical Maharashtrian village meal. Special mention to be made of the small stream crossing in which most of us managed to slip and fall. 

Talk about small bonuses to top up a super awesome day . . .We manage to reverse ride a Karjat train and travel comfortably back to our respective stations. Sone pe suhaaga , during  the return journey  Jaal successfully transfers everyones Rapelling video to them via Shareit . . 

All in all a day extremely well spent . . . . . Tnx Team Tattva and fellow Rapellers for another memorable trip :)

Specialities...

Life constantly offers opportunities to look at specialities. The one who has the habit of looking at these specialities is able to imbibe these specialities within himself. He is able to become more special with looking at only specialities constantly. So also, the one who looks at others' weaknesses subconsciously imbibes those weaknesses within himself. And these weaknesses are expressed in one's actions too . . . . . . .  So . . . . . .  What are we looking at this weekend ? ? ?

Power of now..

Give Yourself Permission To Slow Down And Take A Really Good Look At Your Life! It's Amazing How Easy It Is To Get Wrapped Up In Your Day To Day Obligations And Forget To Pay Attention To The Gift Of Life. Value Your Life And Those In It By Giving It Your Time And Attention. Don't Let Life Slip By Because You Are Too Busy To Enjoy It...It's Never. Too Late!
Have good day..!!

In today's world we are constantly pressurized to have answers to and opinions about everything..... Such pressures may make us painfully conscious of the gaps in our knowledge .... Whether in politics, economics, arts, current affairs or any other field...... However there really is no need to feel guilty .... Or embarrassed about what you don't know..... Refuse to join the ranks of those who claim to be an expert on topics of popular interest...... Accept your blind spots and do not be stressed about them...... Accept yourself as you are....and you'll find there is far less Stress of trying to live upto an image.....

The first 30 minutes of the day when you get up is very important.

You would have noticed if you listen to any song that time you will humm that full day. If you have a fight in the morning the whole day you will be low.

The best tip is to totally avoid seeing the newspaper the first thing in the morning as most of the news is not positive or empowering.

You can choose to read something good, listen to an inspiring lecture or a good music like suprabhatham or even watch a great video. Mentally also focus on what you like to accomplish that day like meeting your clients, completing your tasks, collecting payments etc. You will notice that you actually manifest this in reality.

The whole day will be amazing.. ...

Chadar Trek 2017 . . . An experience of a lifetime . . .

A test of ones endurance . . .and you’ll be surprised at how far you can go ….. 

Chadar, is not merely a trek, it is a journey of the lifetime, it is an out of the world experience and can only be felt by being right there amidst those snow capped mountains, deep dark valleys, blue green waters under the rock solid ice, the bone chilling cold . . . . . to always be surprised by the unexpected. For me personally, God gifted me something even more pleasing every next moment . . The spiritual aspirants can identify with the term “Kadmom mein Padam” (earnings in each step) – a uplifting experience with each step  

I will cherish those 5 days - walking 60+kms on ice/icy river was a true test of patience, endurance in the extremes. The trek as originally planned was to have been nine days with about 90kms to be covered. We still managed all the elements of the journey . .BE it the frequent slip . . ..whoosh . . thud falls with thankfully no (permanent) damage . . .the chadar (Ice sheet)  collapsing and falling waist deep into the icy cold Zanskar river . ..and then trudging three hours in icy cold weather in those wet dripping clothes . . . . . “Bed tea” . . . . . . piping hot soup . . . . . Maggi . . . . . sweet dish  . Warmees . . . . . The dread of waking up at night to attend natures call . . . . . .

The trek in itself isn't so difficult, biggest challenge is the weather and the long periods of inactivity... Typically we reach base camp by 2.30 p.m.and have to leave by 8 a.m. the next day so that gives  15+ hours of not much activity ...... Crazy subzero temperatures, different forms of ice and snow, the classic frozen waterfalls , endless skies . ..endless peaks and myriad hues . . .white- grey-blue- golden . . .and of course my favourite ‘Oreo’ peaks . . . beautiful yet similar views and a great story to tell, is what u get when you sign up for the thrilling , dangerous, treacherous and adventurous frozen river trek , clothing in layers (and layers and layers ) and helpful and hardworking local porters and guides !! Have to mention meeting Arjun from Bangalore on my flight back from Leh.... Who had fractured his left hand at the trek. .... Thank God no one from our Group had any lasting damage done...... 

In a craze of Chadar Trek, many enthusiastic trekkers are turning up for the treks . . . . however Zanskar is a holy/sacred river and so is the entire track and it needs to be respected. Trashing the pristine surroundings is nothing sort of blasphemy for those who consider Nature as next to God.

You really cannot explain everything here... but in few words....

FrozenRriver + WalknWalk + ThrillingExcitmentIneverystep + SurviveInFreezingCold + WoodFire + DabakeKhao + Julley