Una (minus) the hot water springs....

nothing much to write about this small town... except the fact that its situated v close to the therapeutical hot water springs... which obviously i did not visit ! :).....

for me its some work here and there and the proximity to Diu that makes it of strategic importance, nothing else really ! :) but needs a mention since it is a place i frequent now...

Veraval : The fishy land :)

One place i always wanted to visit as a kid because of its rare attraction (in Gujarat) - The Beach !!

Finally went to this coastal part of India.. It was a four hour journey in an ST Bus from Junagadh. The first thing I noticed on entering Veraval was coconuts. what else !!

This place was a major seaport for the pilgrims of Mecca till the route through Surat came to the scene. It boasts of a continuous coast line which is majorly uninterrupted and non-commercialized. Lot of virgin coasts to explore. The sea here is absolutely stormy and the entire coastline rocky. The entire area is on a high alert and venturing into the seas for leisure is prohibited. I have only seen such ferocious nature of the seas when I went to Kanyakumari and Rameshwaram down South.... but atleast the coastlines there are smooth nd not rocky....

Veraval houses the Indian Rayon Plant of Aditya Birla Group (now known as Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd.)... and the main industry here is fishery. There are hundreds of fishing boats lined up at the jetty which can be seen as one enters the city... flags flying high like the ones in Pirates of Carribean.. most of them being the flags of India to avoid being identified as trespassers by border security of India or neighbours...

A special note must go to the fact that the local fishing boats or trawlers are still made by tradition using only a measure tape and not any other instruments ! Strange !!

now i was caught unawares in this small coastal city. I had to return Junagadh by the night but got a call and had to visit Kodinar the next day.. so here I was without an extra pair of clothes, laptop, etc. etc... So I bought everything from this place to make me go one more day !.. including a mobile charger for my rare phone ! :)... Koutons to the rescue and 80 % Sale on Garments is all I wanted... :)
and was all set to leave for Una and then to Diu for the night stay (;))..... one more strange experience on this travel.. the bus was stuffed with villagers and i landed up on a seat between a strange smelling fat guy and a typical village lady who was probably taller than me and looked stronger too !.. .. the lady asked me whether the bus would stop at some village.. i could only say that I am going to Una and the rest I dont know, its better to ask the bus conductor. She looked at me as if I was a dumb person parcelled into the bus against my wishes! .. the person infront of me started smoking a bidi... could it get better ! n he was a chain smoker.. .. I just decided to take out my iPod... and as ssoon as i did that.. ppl around me looked at me like I was some alien.. the fatso next to me couldnt take his eyes off.. for a moment I thought I was going to get robbed., but gave in to the status quo !... Did I have options ! ? NO !.. Finally reached Una with my cellphone all discharged.. used the STD booth and contacted the person with whom I was supposed to go to Diu.. finally in the cozy confines of the ever so familiar Indigo LS...

finally after a good round of starters , here i am in Diu, Four down :) at 2.00 am !! .. .. Cheers ! ..
Long day tommorrow ahead.. got to get up at 7.00 am... :(:(

---------------------------
Total ODO = 280 kms
Date of Travel: 27th Aug

Mangrol : Skirting the coasts again !

finally.. after a long time.. skirting coastlines again... this time in Gujarat ! ... n a welcome change. From the concrete coastline of Mumbai to coconut clad soothing line of sight, Mangrol comes a long way in one of the most beautiful places i traveled recently ! a small town situated on the South West Gujarat coastline... Covered with a lot of coconut trees all across the way and a very soothing breeze blowing through my hair, i fell in love with the place almost instantly... the entire road was flanked by huge banyan trees... and provided a splendid view at many locations... this place is a major fishing point... and the fishermen here are famous for venturing into deep seas and getting caught by our neighbours for trespassing !

the market place was crowded, narrow and typical of any small town you can imagine.... where we had to meet some dealers ..

though my affair with the place was limited... it does leave a lasting impression on my mind... i have more towns to visit on this coastal belt of Gujarat in the coming days... and am looking forward to it... about it later as and when i visit 'em..

its been a long day today.. with Junagadh - Keshod - Mangrol - Veraval travelled..... now in a hotel on the highway... crashing into the bed was never better...

afterall it pays to get a sound sleep after a fulfilling and tiring day ! :)

Total ODO = 200kms

Junagadh, Girnar : Second Look - And m here to stay :)

well, i got posted at Junagadh from Rajkot... coz my company wanted me to taste more of rural sales !! get my hands dirty, speak dirty and get dirty :)

the same beautiful mountains (Girnar Range) greeted me, the same lush greenery around and the same old walls covered with algae...

on the second day, i just took a detour from the normal road on my sales associate's bike... he was surprised but didnt complain... i just asked him to drive towards the greens... and it started getting lovely...

i could not resist and took the bike from him and drove ... feeling the fresh wind and pure air... finally, i saw the old fort i had mentioned about earlier after which Junagadh is named... ('Juna' means Old and 'Gadh' means Fort )!! it stood at a distance in all its majesty having survived almost 16 sieges.. and as old as about 2300 years .. .. covered in algae and walls almost black-green...

we asked the local ppl around the way to the fort and reached the entrance. Surprizingly, bikes allowed inside fort ! for Rs. 5 ... and whattta ride...

entire junagadh could be visible from the top... cannons displayed... winding paths... covered with dark green plants and trees on both sides... bike ride couldnt get better.... A spot where we saw a peacock dancing !! and another from where the Girnar Peak could be seen.... There he stood in all its majesty covered in clouds neck deep.. seemed as if he was trying to bow down and try to have a peek at the residents and tourists below. !

it was time-up as the fort closes at 6.30pm, so i decided to come again, with my camera and in the company of early morning Sun ...

Also, visited the footsteps of Girnar mountain where people come in huge numbers to climb the 10,000 odd steps to reach the peak and worship there... Girnar is a collection of mountains here.. and the highest peak in Gujarat (about 3600 feet).

my stay in Junagadh is definitely going to keep me busy... and i hope to find a trekking expedition group too here ! ...

All r invited... All expenses paid... Sponsored by me ! :)... here z a look from the fort !



M here to stay !

Thats My Life... Thats My Life...

its lonely out here... but the greens are shining bright...

i enjoy the nature, its bounty.. i admire the mountains..

i keep myself busy.... i try not to be pensive ...

i travel... i write, i sleep... i try to smile...

and the dreadful hour comes back.. it ruins my peace...

i cry, i curse and i suffer... and i try to find a soul to talk to...

i wait for the phone to ring...but i dont know what to talk..

and i wait for a ping... but i dont know whom to talk..

then i see pictures of my friends... whom i did treasure and cherished good times with..

but nobody is around... and nothing is as beautiful...

and i gaze into the sky.... the mountains, trees, the tarmac winding...

i feel good... i am not alone... i say.. they too feel the same...

and i wipe off my tears.. .. walk ten steps ahead and smile..

jus waiting for the next five to retreat...............................

..................................................................and the dreadful hour comes back...


thats my life.. thats my life...