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| Adieu, Karwar Today was the last day of our Karwar visit and our only chance to visit the Rock Garden & Warship Museum. As our bus was in the evening, we used the morning to explore these two places. Located on the Rabindranath Tagore Beach, the Rock Garden showcases the lives of Karnataka's people. From Haliyal in the north to Bhatkal in the South, every tribe finds a worthwhile mention. When you enter, a mural sculpted like a fisherman’s family celebrating a catch welcomes you. Further inside, you see sculptures of people farming, fishing, and animal rearing. They are so intricate and life-like that you feel they are talking to you, inviting you to be a part of their lives. Stone plaques with details provide a deeper understanding for the curious visitor. The Warship Museum, located next to the Rock Garden, showcases the historic INS Chapal. Dummy guns and rocket launchers on the outside highlight the Navy’s firepower. The interiors, on the other hand, stand out for their rich detail. As you enter, mannequins dressed as the Captain, Sailors, and Doctors greet you. A TV room, a strategy room, a medical unit, and others recreate their lives, a blend of hardship, adventure, and fun. Once done with the sightseeing, we headed back to the resort. On the way, we bought Apples and Oranges for our trip home. We boarded the bus back to Bangalore at 6. Reflecting on our stay, we felt grateful for experiencing a slice of Karwar’s rich history, culture, and natural beauty. With its pristine beaches and lush forests, Karwar is the perfect destination for travellers looking to unwind. While researching ahead of our visit, I remember stumbling upon some interesting information: Rabindranath Tagore describing Karwar as the ‘Kashmir of South India”. This description puzzled me then, but not anymore….. |
| Sounds fascinating. |
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| CALAMARI AND SEASHELLS Palolem Beach had left a deep impression on Swapna and me, so we decided to spend the day there. Like earlier, we boarded a bus to Canacona from Karwar and, upon reaching, walked down to Palolem Beach. Since the sun was blazing, we postponed the swimming to the evening. But we wondered how we would spend the day. We then spotted reclining chairs under an umbrella outside a shack. This gave us an idea. We could spend the morning relaxing on them, soaking in the warm sun without overexposure. We requested the shack’s owner to let us use them, and, to our delight, he agreed. But he had a condition: we had to eat lunch at his restaurant. We agreed. Soon, it was time for lunch. As I flipped the menu, I remembered Sandeep asking me to try Calamari. Calamari is a Konkani dish made by cutting squid into rings and then breading & frying them. Eager to experiment, I ordered it. Swapna was keen on prawns and ordered a plate. Cooked in cheese & corn flour and served with French Fries, the Calamari was delicious. I relished every bite as it melted in my mouth like butter. Swapna, seeing me enjoy the Calamari, felt a FOMO (a marketing term that stands for Fear of Missing Out). She liked them so much that she forgot about the prawns. At 4, the sunlight faded. We entered the sea but limited ourselves to the shallow parts. The lifeguard on duty warned us against going too deep. Yet, even that experience was fulfilling as the water kissed our skin and rejuvenated us. We spent the final hour at Palolem Beach shopping for necklaces made of sea shells. We wanted to gift Amma something authentic from Goa, and this was the perfect opportunity. We also bought some elephant-shaped fridge magnets, also made from sea shells. |
| *DAY 4 AT KARWAR* Although we started sightseeing late in the afternoon, the day was, by far, the most enjoyable of our visit. The autorickshaw driver first took us to Bhimkol Dam, a 45-minute drive from Sterling. Bhimkol is a village in Uttara Kannada, and the dam rests on the River Kali, the district’s lifeline. The Bhimkol dam provides irrigation water but also doubles as a tourist spot. Nested within wooded hills, it is calm and serene. Its picturesque beauty helped us relax. No wonder the place is a hit with tourists wishing to unwind! Since Kali was not in spate, we could wade through it at a shallow point. The water was crystal clear, with no trace of plastic bottles or cigarette buds. While conversing with a local, we learnt that Bhimkol’s residents depended on agriculture for a living. Unfortunately, floods have forced them to seek out newer avenues. Children do their schooling & college at Karwar and then migrate to Goa for employment. Once done with Bhimkol, we proceeded to the clean and quiet Manjali Beach. Upon arriving, Swapna changed into her costume to take a dip. I saw the glee on her face as the waves crashed against her body. Nothing came between her and the water, and she swam to her heart’s content. |
| *DAY 3 AT KARWAR* We woke up late, feeling refreshed after the exhausting trip to Goa the previous day. We were hungry but wanted to find a cheaper option for food. Luckily, we discovered an Udupi restaurant next door and headed there for breakfast. The dosas at the Udupi restaurant were crisp and golden brown. The cook had roasted them to achieve the perfect taste and colour without overusing oil, a testament to his skill and experience. Swapna and I relished the meal and ended it by sharing a plate of Kesari Bath. After the meal, we returned to our room and decided to spend the morning at Tagore Beach, around five kilometres from Sterling. We had heard of the beach’s magnificent sunrise and were keen to witness it in person. Luckily, we found an autorickshaw driver. Unfortunately, by the time we reached Tagore Beach, the blazing hot sun was out in full force, dashing our chances of a pleasant view. We ate quickly at a restaurant nearby and returned to the resort for a siesta. In the evening, we returned to Tagore Beach. This time, we were lucky. The quiet sunset, the sea, the clouds, and the cool breeze did wonders for our mood, uplifting our sagging spirits. We captured photographs of the setting sun in the background. We collected shells embedded within the sand, appearing whenever the water receded. After two hours at Tagore Beach, we returned to the resort. At the resort, we joined other tourists in watching a documentary on the US Navy. The film highlighted the massive sea, air, and stealth power of the United States, giving the audience an insider’s view of warships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, and reconnaissance submarines. Having spent most of the day outside, we returned to our rooms and went to bed, eagerly anticipating the adventures that awaited us the next day. |
| First Impressions of Karwar After our whirlwind marriage in Hyderabad, Swapna and I were brimming with excitement for our upcoming honeymoon in Karwar. We were eagerly looking forward to the trip, hoping it would provide a much-needed respite after the hectic weeks leading up to our wedding. As planned, we took a bus to Karwar on Tuesday, October 8. After a bumpy ride, we disembarked at the Karwar municipality the following day. We hired an autorickshaw and landed at Sterling. The staff applied tilak on our foreheads to welcome us. They knew we were newly married. The room was cosy, just perfect for the two of us. After a refreshing shower, we were eager to explore the local cuisine. I had heard so much about Karwar's delectable fish dishes, and I was excited to try them. When I saw Pomphret on the menu, I knew I had to have it. The fish, marinated with chilli, salt & spices and shallow-fried, was a burst of flavour. With each bite, I could feel my fatigue melting away, replaced by a sense of rejuvenation. After lunch and a quick nap, we walked down to the reception. Nisha, a part of the support staff, invited us to a Karaoke event at the bar. Since Swapna and I were free that evening, we accepted the invite. Upon entering the bar, Nisha placed the mike in my hands. I didn't want to play spoilsport and agreed to sing. It had been a good twenty-five years since I last sang, back in my school days. I certainly didn't expect my voice to retain its youthful clarity. But as I stood there, singing in harmony with the lyrics on the screen, I felt a surge of inspiration. The singer in me had been reawakened. After ending the day on a melodic note, Swapna and I had dinner. We then retired to the room, keenly anticipating our visit to the beach early next morning. The thought of the sun rising over the horizon, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, and the feel of the sand between our toes filled us with excitement. |
| I began Monday by planning for the week. It kept me so engrossed that I forgot to eat. On Tuesday, time flew, How the day went, I hadn't a clue. Wednesday was like Tuesday: stressful and tiring, I had no time to breathe as I was continuously working. On Thursday, I was overworked again, And yearned for relief from migraine. But when Friday came, I felt the pressure become lame. The weekend was near, and I was ready to cheer. On Saturday, I saw a movie & played badminton, Relaxed, I made most of my situation. Sunday was the best, As I took part in my friends' zest. I partied and returned home late in the night, And jumped into my inviting bed with delight. I slept well that night, dreaming of a happy and fulfilled life. I woke up the next day feeling chirpy and happy, To realise it was a Monday and not a time to be naughty. |
| Manjummel Boys Review Based on a true story, Manjummel Boys portrays the daring rescue of Subhash, a youngster from Manjummel in Kerala, who slips into a hole in the Guna Caves near Kodaikanal. He is part of a group of friends on holiday during the Onam recess. As the movie unfolds, one cannot help but be drawn into the group of friends, initially judged for their childishness. Their unconventional behaviour is a testament to their unwavering loyalty towards each other, a theme that resonates and evokes a sense of camaraderie in the audience. Childhood and youth are unique. They are periods when the heart is pure, and everything looks possible. The lust for adventure overpowers the wisdom of caution. Manjummel Boys accurately depicts these nuances, forcing you to grow fond of the boys. The cinematography stands out for its sharpness and accurate framing of shots. Given the precarious geography of the Guna caves, Director Chidambaram deserves applause for realistically recreating the insides of the caves. Manjummel Boys is also a sad commentary on the police's ineptitude and incompetence, compelling the audience to curse their lackadaisical attitude. Manjummel Boys' most significant achievement is its showcasing of the triumph of the human spirit against all odds. In this context, I remember a common saying, "Tough times do not last. Tough men do". |
| The Butcher's Shop Today, while shopping at the weekly market, I saw a chicken being butchered. Situated opposite the row of vegetable vendors, the meat shop had a group of chickens locked inside a cage. I saw the butcher unlock the small window at the cage's bottom. As he placed his hand inside, the chickens resisted, yelling hysterically, but knowing they were powerless. They had seen others dying and dreaded meeting a similar fate. One of the chickens came under the butcher's grasp. That unlucky member of the group knew its end was near. The butcher placed it on the cutting table and slashed its neck with a knife. The chicken died on the spot. The butcher washed the chicken's blood-soaked body with boiling water to prevent infection. He then skinned it, shredded it, and weighed it for the customer to buy. The other chickens within the cage heaved a sigh of relief. Little did they know that they hadn't escaped but had postponed the inevitable. Their death was a mere formality waiting to happen. |
| Visit to Belur, Halebid, and Shravanabelagola Last weekend, I was on a sightseeing tour of Beluru, Halebeedu, and Shravanabelagola. Located in the Hassan district of Karnataka, these towns rose to prominence during the reign of the Hoysala Emperors in the early part of the first millennium and are witness to a slice of medieval Indian history. We began the tour with a visit to Beluru, a town famous for the Chennakesava Temple (Chenna means Handsome & Kesava is an avatar of Lord Vishnu). The temple was commissioned by the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana as a tribute to Lord Vishnu in 1117 CE. It took one hundred years to construct and use three generations of workers. The Chennakesava Temple combines fine architecture, exquisite sculpture, and detailed relief work. Its walls are replete with stories from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Puranas. Despite many attacks by Alauddin Khilji’s army, the temple has retained its splendour and is a living embodiment of resilience. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Hoysaleshwara twin temple at Halebeedu was also built by King Vishnuvardhana and houses the Hoysaleswara and Santaleswara Shiva Lingas. Like its counterpart in Beluru, it is notable for sculptures, intricate reliefs, detailed friezes, iconography, and inscriptions in North Indian and South Indian scripts. What the two temples have in exquisiteness, the 58-foot Gomateshwara statue in Shravanabelagola makes up for in size. Dedicated to Baahubali, the son of a Jain Thirthankara, the structure is the world’s largest monolithic statue and one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in Jainism. Thankfully, the weather in Hassan was pleasant. The day we landed, the clouds were on the verge of a cloudburst. Luckily, it did not rain, and as a result, the weather was perfect - neither too warm nor cold. This allowed me to soak in the beauty of Belur, Halebeedu, & Shravanabelagola and appreciate the nuances of their rich history. |
This sounds like such a journey! A trip worthy of a Red Queen  You should consider making this into a static item and entering it into this round of "Invalid Item"  . This round requires writing about travel and excursion!  Thanks for sharing! Write on  |
| Happy Third Year Anniversary here at WDC. Hope your day is wonderful and free of events. Write On! Chrys O'Shea - Writing again   |
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