Kashid is Beautiful and Two’s Company!!!

Alibaug it would be! By virtue of selection and elimination and availability, of course, we embarked on our mini trip over the weekend. With ‘khakra’ and guava juice for company, we commenced what we’d remember more for the journey than the actual stay; not because there was anything extraordinary about it, but because it was what we spent most of our time doing ;)
A brief 15 minutes at the Alibaug beach was enough to convince us both that this was not where we wanted to spend our weekend. We struck (what we wanted to believe was) a good deal for an auto rickshaw to drive us to Kashid. But we were destined for greater adventure en route.
While the bumpy roads were a constant reminder of the streets back in Mumbai, the pollution in the air was conspicuous with its absence - serving as a pleasant reminder that we were away from the city where the only smell bracing your nostrils other than that of carbon monoxide is that of carbon dioxide, or other harmful pollutants.
Having travelled for 30 minutes or so, our journey was brought to an unexpected halt by the members of the local municipal authority attempting to restore a bus that had strayed off its course.
Another 45 minutes it was before the road was cleared by a cop striving to control the traffic that was getting restless by the minute. A man who spoke the local dialect, he’d make time in between to catch up with the occasional known face stuck in the jam.
But it was indeed our auto driver aka ‘Schumi’ who took the cake as he made past the dusty lanes - which became narrower at every bend - like a man on a mission. It was just what we needed to spice up our trip. Holding onto the sides of the three-wheeler for dear life, as our man revved the vehicle to make up for the time lost, we couldn’t help but admire his focus on the job at hand. He sped on the bumpy dug up roads and was irritatingly cautious on their smoother counterparts. Amusing as it was, we realised it was all about the comfort of the familiar and the fear of the unknown.
Like my companion pointed out, the journey brought an old song “Yeh kahan aa gaye hum” to mind. And rightly so, for the journey was about to move into it’s new phase!
It was then that a spectacular scene caught our attention. The silver shoreline emerging in the distance, glistening in the afternoon sun, made an almost divine spectacle. The waves lashed against the foot of the overhanging cliff, and the shore, occasionally made way for a rocky landscape, as the swelling waves surged and ebbed rhythmically. The palms lining the shoreline where it met the road were all that were needed to complete the scenic view.
There was no need for conversation any more as we lapped in our beautiful environment, smiling at the wisdom of our decision to not stay back in Alibaug and travel deeper into the islands.
Next on the agenda was scouting for an inexpensive yet ‘clean’ place to live in which didn’t take much time. Even as we reeled from the exhaustion of our journey, it was the excitement to tread the long stretch of sand that got the better of us. A quick nap for an hour was all it took to rejuvenate us.
Getting our bearings right, we headed for the beach. Sparsely populated by the odd group of revellers, it was easy to find our own space as we sat by the sea, listening to the sounds the waves were making, narrating incidents from our lives, stories we both knew; we had both heard on more than one occasion from the other. We were at peace! Having lived through a really tough phase together, we knew it was the strength of our friendship nurtured with complete trust that had got us so far – bruised yes, but unhurt!
As the various hues of red and blue blended in the sky at sunset, and the sun dipped in the distant horizon, nature cast a spell around us that seemed to last forever. But, we had evidently not seen enough! The pitch black night sky that took over was an overwhelming contrast to the canvas that had graced our vision only moments ago. However, the stillness lasted only until the first star shone its light upon us, soon followed by a million others that scintillated from the black carpet like brilliant crystals adorning a dark velvety fabric.
While gazing at the stars we re-discovered our childlike joy on spotting the Ulsa Minor, Orion and of course, the favourite Pole Star.
This is why we had taken off from the city - to regain our sanity and restore our ability to do ‘nothing’ and still be happy. And there was no doubting that! We were happy!
Over dinner, we spoke little; leaving ourselves to shamelessly overhear conversations of other guests living in the villa over the music playing from my friend’s mobile phone. An Indian couple - living in China –who got married late in life – and doted over their young daughter – was visiting the country after seven years – is what we learnt of one family who was sitting at the adjoining table for dinner. I said, ‘shamelessly’ before, didn’t I?
However, peaceful it would not be for very long as a large group (a joint family or group of family friends as it appeared) decided to play disc jockey for the rest of the night. Preferring to play blaring music off loud speakers, forcing us to retire to the sanctity of our room and call it an early night.
Not a naturally peaceful sleeper, I slept for an undisturbed 10-hour stretch. A good thing, considering there was more travel on the cards for the day.
A sumptuous breakfast was followed by three pit stops in different 6-seaters to reach Murud-Janjira, another tourist locale situated deeper in to the islands. Not very different from Kashid, this place bore a characteristic similarity to the state of Goa (other than the colour of the soil, which my geologist companion brought to my notice). We were headed for the fort or ‘janjira’, situated in the middle of the sea. We picked up hats on our way to protect our heads from the overbearing sun and bumped into a group of howlers, who would not be shied away even by a straightforward confrontation. However, relegating them to the background, we reconnoitred the fort with our guide who proudly traced the history of the structure to years ago in the pre-Independence era.
Once back on shore, we realised we were running out of time and had to make it for the ferry leaving from Mandva for Bombay. Again the three stops in 6-seaters brought us to our villa in Kashid where lunch was followed by quick good-byes and settling the bill.
But it was not going to be any less adventurous for us on our way back, was it? We trekked back to the main beach, hoping to find a rickshaw only to have a girl in a speeding car attempt to pull my hat off my head (so much for adventure) and all rickshaw drivers refusing to take us to Mandva. Heard of good things happening to good people, though? ;) A 6-seater with seven people already seated in it came to our rescue. The accommodating locals made place for the two of us as we reached a little village from where we hopped into another 6-seater, and then, yet another till we reached Alibaug. But as luck would have it, it was another 6-seater that got us until 20kms of Mandva and dropped us to fend for ourselves. It was only then that a rickshaw driver decided to be so kind as to drop us to Mandva for double the usual fare.
Not a fitting end yet, though to an adventurous trip, I dare say. This time round it was the weather that decided to play a vicious trick on us. Chilly winds sent shivers down our spines as the ferry swayed in the rising waves before reaching Gateway of India. The 90-minute journey seemed never-ending until we could see the glittering sky-line of Bombay in the distance. It was only then that hope returned, with a sense of inborn warmth to restore a sense of normalcy to the weather.
Truly a weekend spent more on the roads (and sea) than on land, but one that underlined the importance of peace and natural beauty.