“Life, if well lived, is long enough” this was my understanding after I left a job in B.P.O. which I joined thinking it would be easier and will get enough time to travel. But I only ended up working for 9 hours a day and at times 6 days a week. Decided to quit and I joined my second job as a Software Engineer. This time, I decided to ‘live well’ and start travelling. But none of my friends said ‘yes’ to travelling and I waited long enough asking all people from my friends list. My urge to travel ended my search at an option of going with a travel group and with a set of strangers. There it happened my first trip to Gokarna with total unknown strangers yet familiar strangely.
It was Friday, the first day of March 2019. Evening I am supposed to board bus from Aramghar on Shamshabad road (Hyderabad) at 7.30 pm. Communicated with our trip lead and everything was in place at least I thought so. Reached pickup point on time and waited for bus to arrive. Then I came to know that I was standing in wrong place which was mile away from the pickup point. Started running towards it without thinking anything in fear of missing the bus, reached the spot where our bus was waiting for me, felt my heart beating faster than ever. Finally when I boarded the bus I could see me going to a trip in reality.
It was already late everyone got settled, took a seat next to window and felt so fearful. I mean why would I not be, travelling first time with a whole bunch of unknowns to strange lands. I tried to sleep by pushing all the thoughts flowing in my mind like a storm but could not because the fact is I have a thing with moving vehicles I cannot sleep in moving buses or trains so that gave me a really hard time to get some sleep. When I woke up, I saw whole lot of possibility of knowing new places and new people with some common interests.
I met really great people that day who were really enthusiastic and energizing. I went and spoke to a girl in bus. I came to know there are people out there, especially girls, who are willing to travel with groups and that is so common for them. We exchanged words and I felt so relaxed. The very next moment I already made three friends.
Our first place on the schedule was Vibhuthi water falls which is located in Ankola taluk of Uttara Kannada district nearly 130 kms away from Hubli, Karnataka.
The Vibhuthi Falls (the word “Vibhuthi” means limestone. The water in this falls comes past limestone rocks near Yana). A small walk and little hiking will take us to the falls.
Tried to reach the top of falls but it was not allowed as it was not safe. We had coconut water and the red color ‘Kokum’ drink on our way back. For lunch I had a full south Indian thali.
Next was the Kudle beach, witnessed the most beautiful sunset ever. I wished for that colorful moment to last little longer as sun was going down faster waving bye and welcoming the night to take over.
Clicked lot of pictures in all poses possible, danced to the beats of Darbuka, made mermaid in beach.
There was this old man who greeted us, a yoga teacher who comes all the way from California to visit Gokarna every year for 3 months. Explained me how spiritual this land is and its astonishing beauty.
We spent night at Paradise beach in our little tents provided by the club.
On the other side there was a gang chilling under the sky shouting Winner winner chicken dinner, Jai PubG slogans. Bonfire on the Paradise beach became disco light and beach was our dance floor, everybody exchanged and shared stories of choosing Gokarna for weekend escape. Star gazing under the open sky.
I realised how awe-inspiring the day one of my first trip was. Woke up to the sun rise on the Paradise beach, Played catch me if you can with water rushing to touch the shore, fell into water and got all clothes dirty but more happy than ever.
In hot summer with roaring sun above our heads we started trekking along the side ways of Paradise beach. we made it to Gods own beach called OM beach.
Delicious breakfast and glass full of coffee in of the shacks on the OM beach with beautiful beach view.
Look what I found above the tables in that shack.
Amused by the incredible beauty of OM beach. It was so neat and calm. People were meditating and doing Yoga and sun baths. I talked to a Canadian family on the beach playing football, who came on vacation to India. I realized what I missed all these days.Then came the time to travel back with lots of memories and experiences which I will always love to remember and revisit.
Though these days it is very common thing for people to travel with unknown groups to places where everyone goes, It was my first time and unquestionably very special.
This travel made me explore the unexplored side of me. It gave me so much more confidence and made me believe in myself that if I want to do it I can do it.
My suggestion to people is if you want to go on a trip but are afraid to go alone and no one in your group is ready, There are lot of options out there with very less budget. Don’t miss the opportunity of meeting a bunch of people who are equally insane as you. I also recommend solo travelling- it gives another level of boostup, perspective of journey and place.
So this is my story of my trip to Gokarna. Please let me know about your first trips and experiences in the comments section. Thank you for reading
Notes from BCF:
We organize this trip very often throughout the year. You can follow us on Instagram for regular updates. Insta ID –bcf.official. For more info on BCF upcoming events visit us here. About the logo, you can read here.
Article by Varsha. Thanks a lot to Varsha for penning down your experiences from the event. Link for Varsha’s personal blog and Insta ID – asitravel.in
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