Monthly Archives: March 2021

The Genre Of The Famous Seashore Town

General 7 Comments

Goa is on.  Bus, train, flight or road trip, travelling to Goa from Mumbai is always fun. We all don’t need any explanation on Goa but have you visited each and every corner of it? Some make their own trip by googling famous spots, some google un-famous spots. Some ask the local people so that they can explore the un-touch beauty of Goa. Some want parties, liquor and some even want drugs.

Here is my version of Goa. I am from Mumbai and  I have been to Goa many times and I have experienced all the ways to reach there.

Right from my childhood days, I have visited Goa. I don’t remember how many times. But for me, Goa is next door. I remember, the first time I visited Goa was Panjim City. Don’t remember the hotel name though, But the famous Panjim bridge was visible from my room. All I remember in that trip was the story of how that bridge fell down, how lucky people survived, how unlucky people died, etc etc. And also I believed that the bridge was made of coins (Rupees coins).

Shree Mangesh temple

Shree Mangesh temple

My kuldevata (tutelary deity in Hinduism) is Mangueshi-Mahalakshmi (Lord Shiva – Goddess Lakshmi). So Whenever I  had traveled to Goa, I never went there to visit beaches and all.  My family’s main motive was to visit our temples and do our rituals. Majorly, my stay was at Mangueshi Temple in Mardoli.  And after finishing all rituals, we used to visit Mahalakshmi Temple. Then for 3 days only Temples Temples. Mhalsadevi Temple, Ganesh Temple, Shanta Durga Temple, Ram Nathi Temple, Vikram-Betal Temple, Nageshi Temple. And on the very last day we used to see Miramar beach and then leave for Mumbai.

Mahalakshmi Temple

Mahalakshmi Temple

As I grew up, I started exploring beaches.  And mostly North Goa because it comes first while entering Goa, by road and South Goa was far. So in North Goa, obviously, that Baga beach. Don’t know why it is famous. It was just a happening beach, like other beaches, nothing else. After many years Chapora Fort became famous. It was because of the movie ‘Dil Chahata Hai’, and was famous as  ‘Dil chahata hai point’ rather than Chapora Fort.

Chapora Fort, Dil Chahata Hai Point

Chapora Fort, Dil Chahata Hai Point

Many years later, I heard of ‘Dudh-Sagar waterfall’, which comes in South Goa. This place is good but a little difficult to go there as you have to pass through many rocks. Best  season to go there is after the rainy season. Rest all day, you get very less waterfall. And yes, the place is over-crowded.

Dudh Sagar Waterfall

Dudh Sagar Waterfall

So goa, goa, goa and beaches started to get over-crowding. All places, markets started to get over-crowding. Goa is fun but since hell lots of crowd, then we can’t enjoy much.  So one day, I decided to visit South Goa. Because as per google, the crowd is less there. The place is not-so happening there. So thought, let’s give it a try. I booked ‘Cuba Patnem’ shack-hotel located at Patnem Beach.

Patnem Beach

Patnem Beach

The beach was small, and very less crowded.  I enjoyed staying there. The rooms of that hotel were not so hi-fi, no TV (surprise to see after check-in) but the food was awesome. And since  it was a shack hotel, playing on the beach and cleaning our-self was not a hazel task. The waves were moderate and hence kids also enjoyed it too.  When not at the beach, we used to sit in a shack, watch sunset. The beach was so peaceful that people even used to do meditation there. In Baga beach, all u hear some nasty comments when you do such things. But my 3 days at that beach was awesome. peaceful and very relaxing.

If you haven’t seen all, then next time visit South Goa, book a shack-hotel at a not-so-famous beach and I am sure you will enjoy it. I Will surely visit once again but after go-corona-go.  Till then  stay safe, keep distance, wear a mask.

Hobby Or Addiction Of Your Stress Buster.

General, Information, Knowledge 5 Comments

Hobby is a thing everybody can’t live without. But nowadays, hobby has turned into Addiction. Which means, “I do this, because I want to do this”. Rather than, “I do this, because I love to do this”. So, Dancing is my hobby. But as I said, Dancing is my stress buster too.  Some listen to music,  some smoke,  some drink,  some drink tea, etc.  My stress buster is listening to music and dancing.  Watching all kinds of choreography on social media had led me to learn those.  At times,  I used to believe that everybody can dance, not a big deal. But when I came across to such choreography then I was unable to even move my legs.  So fast and yet so gracefully they dance.  Each step is so clearly stood-out.

But is it necessary to keep any kind of addiction just to keep our-self out of stress. Well it depends on what kind of addiction you have. Since I have mentioned, some even drink and smoke, I have seen heavy smokers too. Obviously we all know heavy drinking and smoking can lead to health problems. Even at times, I used to eat 4 to 5 vada pavs (Indian Burger) at once for my stress buster. So, Is dancing and listening to music good? What if I say that even this is not good. Yes, Listening to soft music makes you more sad. Because when you are sad you not only understand the lyrics but also you feel it. Loud music can make you more tired and  also sleepless at night. Dancing is good for health. But again, how do you dance? How hard are your steps? This again not only will make you physically but also mentally tired.

Dance at marriage function

Dance at marriage function

I was a good dancer in my childhood days.  And I was very proud of this.  Flaunting my dance moves,  teaching others,  really makes me proud. For them, I was “the” Saroj Khan. Days went on and then came the reality show of dancing “Dance India Dance – Season 1” which literally put down all other dancing shows.  The dance of each n every contestant was so unique that whoever said “I know dancing” put them to shame.  And so was I. Shaking hands and legs doesn’t mean that you know dancing.

Days went on and there were lots of dance centers around.   Along with that came the social media. Where all choreographers started uploading their own dance moves.  Which  made them “The Social Media Star”.  But also a quite disappointment because people started learning their dance without their consent.

Hint: If a video is uploaded on YouTube.

-> Go to that link.

-> Click on the ‘settings’ of that media player.

-> Click on playback speed. Default is normal.

-> Click either on 0.75 or 0.5 and learn the moves.

See, what not you can do, just sitting at home.

But to be honest, such addition is just our mentality. We have “trained” our minds to get out of stress when performing such tasks. Change your addiction and see.  Like how I have changed mine, from vada pav to Dancing. If u really want to tackle any situation or stress , the best is meditation (A proper meditation course). Try it.

The Colored Faces Memories.

festival, Festival of Colours, General, Holi, Information 12 Comments

Its 2021 and this year too we are celebrating festivals in a dull manner with increasing numbers of Covid patients.  Ya,  the same covid and blah blah. We don’t need any explanation now on what is Holi or Dhulivandhan or Holika. The Holi festival reminds me of 1990s day where there was no rain dance or DJ. It was just water, water balloons and hell lots of “chipku” colors (The colors which takes time to go off).

But, to be honest,  I use to love this chipku colors coz it was funny to see colored faces next day in school.  We hardly use to recognized our own friends and later we use to laugh coz we played with some other kids.

Yes,  there were some cons too.  We used dirty muddy water and even threw eggs.  The most nostalgic thing in Holi was to get up early in morning just to fill bucket full of water balloons.  But right now,  all these things are ban (but not in between us). So instead came rain dance and DJ.  Today, everybody loves this rain dance and DJ.  But one things I like about today’s Holi is the different types of gadgets for kids. Like Water Gun in form of pretty bag or Riffle Gun. So I bought one water gun bag for my daughter. She was very happy but it became heavy after filling water in it. And I was the one, behind her, carrying that bag and she targeted me only.

The Colored Faces Memories

Holi

Back in 1990s, we had this silver color. The friend is “Ghost” when his/her face gets covered by this silver color. The one who has this color, we use to refer  him/her as “Ameer Dost (rich friend) “.

To maintain the clean face was very big task then, coz school had this strict rule that student will be punished if his/her face is not clear. So we use to apply oil on our face before playing with colors. Or keep on cleaning the face with good water. And  We even used shampoo.

But Still one corner use to left behind. Mostly, that corner was ears. But we didn’t care of ears and thank god for the colored ears n not the face.

Memories. Memories.. Those days will not come back. But still we can recreate it. Waiting for covid to go.. N silver color to come back to life. 

Holi Hai Bhai Holi Hai, Bura Na Mano Holi hai. 

(Please don’t mind, It’s Holi festival)

 

 

 

Real Holi Snaps  2011

Happy Holi