Another Weekend, Another Outing...

This time, we went to Konkan. My cousin Yogesh, his wife Deepa and kid Jai for company, we left Pune in the afternoon on Saturday - our departure delayed for a few mins by the arrival of the super-elusive LPG cylinder, ending a 10-day dependence on the oh-so-dependable microwave!




Konkan is a beautiful place for a long drive - rolling hills and dales, the rain, green fields dotted by cute houses, and the occasional waterfall. Here you can see Reona enjoying a short break...






Our first stop was just after Mulshi - a lovely spot with a huge cliff rising high above you on the left...


...a deep valley stretching in front of you on the right.







Then down into Konkan through the Tamhini Ghats, reaching Kamath Residency in Nagothne at around 3.15. Kamath's is a no-frills motel by the highway, set in the middle of nature.




Check the view from the toilet - rolling green fields. It's a very exciting experience just "sitting" there :)





We had a late lunch, then the rest hit the swimming pool, while I clicked some pictures and hit the bed! Yes, Reona's a darling to drive on the ghats, but hey, I had been up since 5.30 am!

Here you can see a pumpkin flower I clicked.

We went to check out the hot springs nearby at Unheri, but were pretty disappointed - the water was HOT, but at the end of it, it looked like just a very dirty stone well with a nondescript temple nearby. Also made a quick stop at the Pali Ganapati temple.



Then it was time for a good dinner, and sleep. I had a butterfly for company!


Early the next morning, we were greeted by heavy rains, and kingfisher birds - you got to see the rain in Konkan to believe it. Giving up this rain for the rain in Pune is like moving from your jacuzzi to a municipality tap!



We drove down to Alibag, enjoying the drive through the heavy rain and the mist. Alibag is a nice beach, with a very interesting fort that you can walk to during low tide, but gets cut off by the water during high tide.




Finally, we hit the road to Pune - from Alibag, to Pen, to Panvel (where we stopped for lunch), and then hit the expressway. The expressway is an amazing example of the grandeur of human engineering mixed with the beauty of nature. With heavy rains, mists rolling across the highway, speeding along at 150 kmph, the only way to describe the experience is "pure thrill".

Now we are back in Pune, very happy, very satisfied, making plans to go to our favourite mall! After all, we are city-dwellers now - nature can only excite us so much :)