Ghumakkar's Diary

(This post was written a year back and forgotten. Before I leave for Banaras this Diwali, I thought to share the pictures) For us festivals, especially Holi and Diwali, are occasions to celebrate our friendship and the bond with the eternal city of Banaras. Sometimes I think I should write on Banaras every now and then. Then, there comes another nonsense (!) thought that is it because it would be easier for me to do so? Well, a plain answer to the question is, be it a small or large city - its hell difficult to write regularly on it even if you are a native or in love/hate relationship with it. And, if it’s the case of the one of the oldest living city on the planet, the situation becomes rather difficult. So, not pondering about the above thoughts (which I would like to discuss some other time under Random Thoughts), it would be easier to write the best part of my recent  last year's short visit to Varanasi or Banaras. Banaras Ghats बनारस के घाट  Visit...

Last year, I could not go to my hometown, Banaras (Varanasi वाराणसी or Kashi काशी) on Diwali (Deepawali). That was one of the worst days of my life, that I realized when we had to go out for the dinner and we missed the suite of delicious home-made pakwans (food). Next day only, I booked round-trip tickets for Banaras. And, wallah , what fun I had this time on Holi....after a long gap...we played holi going topless (nicer term for tearing tees n shirts) with all sort of colors, gulaal and MUD! :)) It took me over 2hrs to be somewhat recognisable, and I still have my nails red coloured! But, what we guys, me n my ol'school friends, really treasured this Holi is the bond....nothing can ever break! Never ever! :) As promised this post is to share with you all my Holi-pictures.... The Holi Gang The Holi Gang Pose 2 Mud'incarnation Phase 1 Mud'incarnation Phase 2 Some deshi-pakwan after the tussel His Highness "Me" And finally, a video.... Ultimate Video...Not a G...

This Diwali, we planned to visit the Alibaug beaches. A friend suggested that it’s better to visit nearby Kashid and Murud-Janjira , as the waters are cleaner and sands are cleanest on ghats. I browsed through the Google, and found the suggestions real true. One of my seniors, hailing from IIT-B, even told me that it’s actually white color fine sand/silt beach at Kashid (Geologists’ can’t resist), and the beaches are not very much crowded. We were also advised to witness the sunset at Kashid beach. Sooooooo, we were total 8 people, (3-me n my 2room-mates + my 3 frns + frmz’ 2 frns) for the day-long tour-de- Kashid-Murud-Janjira ! We hired an 8-seater Tavera, and the driver was in his handsome 19, though very coooool n calm on steering. We started at about 9AM from Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai and reached Kashid beach at about 11:30. The beach was so fascinating and inviting that we couldn’t control and run towards it! It was a high tide time, so the waves were enough powered to topple us! We...