Life Journey...

First Time in the history of my company we had the survey to decide the offsite location. And unanimously we selected Goa option inthe survey. I think 100% employees selected this option. From the starting of July month, in each and every office chat corner people discussed about an offsite destination. But we got very excited when we heard announcement of Goa declared as offsite destination. Announcement caused quite a stir in company employees.

Offsite trip to Goa was planned in 2 batches. As soon as the date was declared, people started the discussion on the mode of transport. Our group investigated all modes of transport. They found out the pros and cons of all modes of transport in the debate. We wanted to keep our options open, by road (car, company bus), train, and flight. But all options stink. Few people reserved train ticket before Offsite Survey. People held their horses! We needed to get the confirmation of Offsite Survey registration first! Our team was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed at 11.30 am on survey day. Survey opened at 11.30 am and at 11.33 am batch1 was completely full. Few people who were in team meeting got disappointed because they were not on their seat to attend survey.

Goa offsite trailer was launched with a super-duper response. Then people were eager to see full-fledged offsite. Meanwhile one of the airlines opened a big air ticket sale. Few of my friend bought a discounted sale ticket and then they had both flight as well as the train ticket. Official trip was 3 day long. Some people booked a flight ticket. They will get 5 days to enjoy the trip.

Finally long awaited day arrived for which we planned from last 2 months. On 9th Oct 15 I woke up at 3.48 am in morning. No sign of rain in early morning. I could easily commute to office on my bike to catch Offsite bus. I reach offsite bus at 4.59 am, 1 min before scheduled departure. But lots of people yet to come. Admin team called each one of us to reach bus on scheduled time. Offsite bus departed at 5.24 am toward Fatima nagar -> swargate -> karve nagar -> kothrud -> katraj route. I listened “Mitti Di Khushboo” song on en route. Song sung by multi-talented “Ayushmann Khurrana” in one of his single. One of stanza from song meaning is “Once listen to my voice fulfil my desire, wish”. Second bus merged with Volvo at 6.25 am. After that we had attendance in bus. It reminds me of my school days.

On Satara Road

After few minutes we had a small break on Satara highway for snacks. Admin team provided us neatly packed box of snacks. Around 10.00 am we had tea break at Hotel Sai International on journey. After tea break its time to watch movie. Mahesh bought lots of movie CD’s. All of us decided to watch classic family comedy film “Chup Chup Ke” starring Dharmendra and Sharmila Tagore. We enjoyed this film quite a lot. Genuine Comedy film started to entertain public from 1st frame. Meanwhile we had lunch break at Minerva hotel. After lunch we watch another classic Golmal starring Amol Palekar. We reach Goa hotel at 5.40 pm.

Tea-Break at Hotel Sai International

Lunch At Hotel Minerva

Hotel Whispering Palm Beach Resort, Goa

Refreshed in 2 minute in hotel room and I walk to Candolim beach which is next to hotel. Sunset view was amazing. Capture few snaps. Sky has only 3 colours i.e. light reddish sun, white sky and clouds greyish colour. It looks beautiful. The clouds boasted mystical colors. I forgot 12 hour journey stress after beautiful sunset. The sun was already dipping behind the horizon, but the daylight still lingered in the air as though, accidentally left behind. We reach hotel at 7.15 pm and it’s time to party. We came to dance floor 8.00 pm. We rocked the dance floor. Even though it was small as compare to last year offsite dance floor. Few people dance till the end including me. Old is gold. We enjoyed old song with same enthusiasm for latest numbers. Few of my friend sweated from head to toe at end of dance party. We had dinner after long tiring dance exercise. Finally long day came to an end at 12.35 am.

Candolim Beach Sunset

Our day trip guide was Girish on 10th Oct. We started our day trip around 10.00 am. No sign of rain… pleasant atmosphere… small roads… less traffic… was along the coastal line… 10 friend rented 5 bikes… crazy group leader cum guide… walking on the air… we hit the road by crushing air… Again long day came across us. We went to Dona Paula beach first. Few of my friends went to shopping. I advance toward Dona Paula statue and hill. Beautiful view of Goa seen from top of Dona Paula hill. Few of scene from famous Singham movie picturized on this location. We went to Miramar beach to take boat ride in sea for Dolphins. That ship has not sailed due to high tide in sea unfortunately.

At Dona Paula Beach

At Bom Jesus Church

We had lunch in RioRico hotel. We swallowed local Goan cuisine in hotel. Meanwhile my friend taste flavored wine. We buy cashewnuts from local shop. Goa produces cashew in large scale. 3 things cashew, beer and petrol are cheaper in Goa as compare to my state. Few of my friend bought cashewnuts as well as beer. We already refilled petrol on pump. We travelled toward Bom Jesus church. Also visited small museum in church. After some rest we hit Calangute beach. It’s very crowded beach. Again mesmerizing sunset welcomed us. We had dinner in hotel. I hit the bed at 11.30 pm and beautiful day came to end.

At RioRico Hotel

At Calangute Beach

Before return journey we had a heavy breakfast. Bus started return journey at 9.11 am in morning. Its movie time again. We watched two and half films on return journey. “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara”, “3 Idiots” and half part of classic “Khatta Mitha” films. Famous actor Amir Khan is part of 3 Idiots film. Film stands 5th highest grosser of all the time on box office. We had 3-4 small break in journey. We had lunch at CountrySide restaurant in Kankavli. I loved Gaganbawda ghat section journey. Lots of ups and down in ghat reminds me of our low and high of life. After tiring approx. 14 hour long return journey, finally I reached the home at 11.30 pm in night with wonderful memories of Goa Offsite.

Lunch at CountrySide Hotel

Sinhagad Fort is very popular trek destination of puneities. It literally means Lion's Fort. Fortress elevation is 4,304 ft. Fort is located to the southwest of Pune at a distance of 25 km. My office friends decided to half day trek at Sinhagad fort. Our trek plan “Chalo Sinhagad” circulated to all possible attendees in office. We planned, who will pick up others in the early morning on trek day in the meeting room. Outside of the room, people may be thought that we were discussing the serious business matter in the conference room.

I woke up at 3.10 am in the morning I refresh and leave home at 4.01 am. And I reached my pickup point at 4.14 am at Hadapsar Bridge. My friend came on Royal Enfield Thunderbolt bike. He wore a black colored jacket like Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s ride in TV commercials ad. I thought Dhoni came to pick me up. In the early morning, pin drop silence on the road for sometimes. Only a few vehicle were on the road. Due to very less traffic vehicle moving fast.

We reached Katraj dairy in record break time. Meanwhile, we picked up one mavla (Soldier) on our esteemed bike. There our friend wait for us with the car but again we need to wait for another mavla for 30 min. We reach Sinhagad Fort foothills at 5.45 am in the morning. We went very smoothly in traffic in the morning. We parked our car at Sinhagad foothills trek starting point (Donje village). We hit the trail after shooting few snaps.

We were 11 people came from 4 major suburbs of the city. After new member intro, we started trekking. Girish initiated "Chalo Sinhagad" trek, and he completed trek more than ten times. Mandar went to Harichandragad fort trek. So this trek was a piece of cake for Girish and Mandar. Girish knows trek route inside out.

We were at good in trek starting timing, and we were on track. Fresh environment... Bearable temperature... Good weather… No fog... dead silence... route made of stone, blocks, and sharp turns… walked under stars in the open sky... battery light crush darkness with a small beam of light. Battery light was not sufficient so few mavlas started mobile flashlight. We walked on trek route with mobile lightning bugs. 3-4 mobiles flashlights look like few lightning bugs flying in the air.

In life journey, we have a choice of the shortcut and long cut. Same options were available on trek route. On few sharp turn, I take a shortcut and then I can hear my heartbeat so loudly that I feel my heart speeding like a car in the tournament. We took few breaks on the route. After some time, I found that our lead trekker was taking rest on stone. Before I asked anything He told us, He was not tired, nor his energy was dried. He was pumping his lungs with fresh oxygen. He was running on fumes.

In history, Shivaji Maharaj won Sinhagad fort with few mavla’s. In schoolbook, we have one chapter on the Sinhagad battle. In battle, Tanaji and his soldier scale the steep cliff with the help of a monitor lizards (Ghorpad). Shivaji Maharaj words "गड आला पण सिंह गेला" after hearing about Tanaji Malusare’s death in fort battle. Shivaji Maharaj changed fortress name from Kondhana to Sinhagad after the famous recapture of the fort in battle. Statement by BajiPrabhu Deshpande inspires me "संकटावर अशा प्रकारे तुटून पडायच की... जिंकलो तरी इतिहास घडला पाहिजे आणि हरलो तरी इतिहास घडला पाहिजे..."

I thought how soldier climbs fort with or without a horse on this treacherous route. Trek route was not that much difficult, but I wonder how they fought fort battles. How they defend or attack it?

We reached fortress bridgehead in approx. 100 minutes. Sun was slowing moving to rise again. Sunrise was spellbound. White color spread across the sky. Sun was behind fort walls. So it looks likes sunrise from fort top. Small vendors were ready to serve us lemon juice and other snacks. We had a small photo session and had lemon juice for refreshment. Lots of people reached Fort now. Fort top point still long away from us. Sunrise blew me away.
Within approx. 30 min we started return journey. Now it was testing time for knee and joints. Climb down route somewhat better than ascending. We got free time for chit-chat. In conversation, Aniket told us, he is alumni of JSPM College. He guides college student for their last semester projects. We finished trek return journey in almost 1.2 hours. Now it’s time for snacks. Our trek was like running a competition where the player touches endpoints and return after that. We did not travel through length and breadth of the fortress. We had breakfast at the local hotel. In breakfast, we had Poha and medium spicy MisalPav with tea. Finally, we started return journey in the car, and it took 1.5-hour journey to reach home. Amazing trek comes to ends.