Wanderlust coming alive!

Goa! My first peregrination all alone. My first experience that I can actually call an experience. An experience that makes me think about writing travelogues seriously. So you're wondering why Goa, that too alone? Here's how it began. (Jeez, I can make a story out of anything!)

The trip started with a train journey to Vasco de Gama from Pune. It was hot, humid and the train was running an hour late. I had none of my "gang" mates with me! I thought the trip was going to be a purely serious one. Little did I know, that was only part of the master plan :)

The train arrives on platform 3. We get on board. Stash our luggage and just wait for the awkward silence to break. The train luggs along. Finally, we start talking. The comfort level increases minute by minute. Before we know it, we're talking to these crazy 2nd year engineers from Baramati! And in an instant, we're laughing, we're talking, we're sharing food, sharing memories, sharing hopes and sharing expectations! Never have I had so much fun on a train! And then Goa beckoned.

We reached a little after 8 and headed straight to the accommodation, namely the girl's common room in the hostel. What a clutter that was. Dusty mattresses, questionable corners, and not to mention the heat. It was like a furnace inside that room alone. Nevertheless, I shaked off the negativity and got fresh.

By this time, I was part of this entirely different "gang" :) And was enjoying it too! I know it sounds like 4th grade all over again, but that was how it was! We roamed around the campus a bit, thinking of what to do in that huge place. We learnt that there were taxi services available to guide us around outside the campus. Before I could take it in, I was at Majorda beach, South Goa. All throughout my life in Cochin and around its beaches, I was just about as protected as a seed within a fruit. Now, I could finally taste some adventure! It was scary at first, but I found it hard to resist! Next stop, Kolva beach, South Goa. The sun was setting in a dusky sky. Smiles in the air, and just pure clean fun :) The water was welcoming and very gentle. I was dragged in and leaving my baggage of tension at the edge of the water, I just gave in. And what a feeling it was to have that tingling salt in the mouth, cool water around, calm waves enveloping us all, in that golden backdrop. Even better was what came after that. We were wet, cold and looked like we had just stepped out of that jar of salt in your kitchen! There was no electricity anywhere near Kolva. The dump of a changing place immediately made us desperate for other options! So I walked up to this hotel reception and asked if they would allow the whole bunch of us to use their washrooms! They agreed and it was such a relief! All went well and the day was coming to an end. Oh, one tiny detail, we were staying at BITS-Goa for a project competition :) A little bit of preparation was due even after such a tiring day.

Day two was power packed. That day we had to present our project ideas. It was hectic while it lasted. But turned out well in the end! We didn't wait for the results, we went on with planning what next, where to go and how to! None of us had the energy to go anywhere so we decided to play the charades! It went on for over an hour and we got so involved that we decided to keep charades as our post dinner session however tired we were! That's when things got really funny and all the inhibitions just melted. I am so glad we did that!

We took the next day very easy. Exploring the campus, talking about endless nonsense and taking pictures of geese was the "agenda" :) It went according to plan! The boys also played some funny game of balancing themselves on one leg or something like that and won themselves some mozilla card holders (of all the things :D) . The day proceeded with exciting chocolate golas and star gazing. The funny thing about stars is that they make you go all cooky and weak in your knees you know :) It's easy to talk about a lot of things if you are just looking up at those shiny dots while lying on grass!

The next day was the busiest of the lot. We were on our toes from 9 am! Goa really lived up to its popularity in terms of heat and humidity. I was accustomed to this in Cochin, but even then I couldn't handle it. No amount of sun screen or sun block could block the Goan sun! We set out for the heritage church of St. Francis. The wood work and the interiors were exquisite. The ceilings were high just like how I'd imagined it to be. Churches always fascinate me. They are built so beautifully and makes me feel like I have been there before. Atleast thats how I feel and its one of the places I realize, that I go really quiet! Makes me think a lot! Anyway, thats me and churches. Next we headed for Donna Paula. A spot with a lot of history attached. I will not jot them down here because you have to see it for yourselves. A ferry ride took us to the city of Panjim and we went straight to Fort Aguada. After the Udaipur Lake Palace, this is the next best thing I've dreamt about. Maybe its too much of the Dil Chahta Hai effect! It is my favourite movie after all! Anyway, the fort was magnifique in all its grandeur even at this time and age. Looking at the ocean and the ships sail by, I did some soul searching. I didn't want to leave and had to force myself to look away from the ocean and be on my way. Next, we were at Condulum beach. It was less crowded but in that scorching heat who notices that! All of us were too tired to dive into the water like we did the other day so we just stood and watched the sights around us. Sometimes thats all it takes to make you feel like you are living the moment! You don't need to be part of the moment to be in it then ;) . After we took in the Condulum sand and sea, we drove to Calangute beach. To our horror, it was jam packed. We really didn't understand why it was called the "Golden Beach". All we could see around were minimally clothed men! It wasn't so much fun. But that was when the results of the competition came via phone! We were second runners up! Elated, we forgot everything else and went into a state of abso-frolic! True, it was all forgotten until that phone call :).

The best part of the entire the trip was the cruise on the last evening. For a dirt cheap 150 bucks, speaking for myself, I really enjoyed it. I was finally aware of where I was, who all were with me, and who I am. It cannot be explained, the feeling that came over me during that one hour. I would like to call it closure. Closure from everything else that has been haunting me for a long long time. I know it sounds vague, but I plan to write it down soon. We drove back to BITS, sunburnt and feverish. There was no time for charades that night. I was yapping away though to a couple of friends. I was taking in most of the campus' sights and sounds for the last night there. After a very tiring day, I retired feeling a little upset and a lot happier than I had imagined. Upset for obvious reasons such as my Goa trip coming to an end and happy for even more obvious reasons. It was my first time in Goa and it will always remain my most memorable trip in all my college years. I returned a happier and chirpier person on the inside. Now let's see how long that lasts huh ;) .

That was my Goan jaunt as I'd like to call it now on. Travelogues are tough! This is so not how you write it!! But I plan to get better, you'll see!

P.S : If you want something really badly, and if you hope with all your heart that you do get it, somewhere a door would open and it is only a matter of time before you see it. Never lose hope.