Back to Gokarna - II

Enroute Om beach

I planned to trek to Paradise and Half Moon beach the next day, which are inaccessible by road. I woke up early and started by 730 AM from my hotel. I had to pass through Kudle and Om beach to start the trek. At Om beach the water level was higher than Kudle. It was very hot as well. I walked at the edge of the shore, trying to stay away from the sea. At the end of Om beach, a jungle trail lies. I took the trail, crawling through shrubs and bushes on all fours with a heavy backpack having my camera, lenses, tripod and other stuff. It seemed to grow heavier as I kept moving. There was no sign of rains, the temperature kept rising. I reached a point where I couldn't find a way ahead. So I took a detour and found a way to get onto another cliff next to the beach. Even here, I was on my own. The tide was high and the sea, savage. The waves crashed hard into the rocks. It was a hypnotising sight to just watch the waves, sitting there on my own, both beautiful and terrible! I was witnessing what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object (Dark Knight reference). I spent almost 2 hours there, clicking pictures, getting drenched in the rains and singing at the top of my voice. This is why Gokarna is one of my favorite destinations. 

Waves on the rock

The walk back to the hotel was tiring. The rain had stopped a long time back. I was sweating profusely. Exhausted, I fell asleep as soon as I reached the hotel. It was 330 PM. After an hour of sleep, I was out again. Just like yesterday, the cliff, the sea waves, the guitar and the sunset. It was more beautiful today, a slight drizzle, a soothing breeze and a rainbow that didn't last long. I expected lesser crowd today since many would already be on their way back to office on Monday. I didn't play the guitar for too long this time. Just packed it up and sat there, watching the sun set. 

The Dab

My purpose of visit to Gokarna was to slow things down a bit. With so much going on at office, I wanted to ease out a little. Gokarna did just that! Even with the crowd of the long weekend, there were places in Gokarna which did not have a soul around them. I could just lie down there, read my copy of 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' and not worry about a thing. It was peaceful, just as I had wanted it.

I got some stuff to take back home, but got the timing for my return train wrong. My train left at 4 PM from Karwar (that's what I thought). I took a bus to Ankola from Gokarna coz there wasn't a direct bus to Karwar. From Ankola to Karwar it took my another 40 minutes. From Karwar bus stand to railway station, I took an auto. I reached the station at 145 PM and figured out that my train was at 510 PM. The m-indicator app wasn't up-to-date. I had my lunch at the railway station, spent some time reading. After reading for around an hour, I found a vacant bench on the station and sat there playing guitar for a while. A few people sat around, and listened. And the train arrived on time, surprisingly.

View from the train

It was raining throughout the return journey. I had an annoying little kid for company. But my mood was too good to be spoiled at that point. The train reached Mumbai on time. 

Gokarna vacation had just ended, but it was pretty satisfying. I don't know when I'll be able to go back, but I surely will. And probably next time, I'll complete that trek that I had left halfway.