Seashore Diary

Saturday, 19th September 2009:
1100 hrs: Left home with my family for yet another advent to one of the exotic holiday locations at Murud Janjira. I have visted this place several times before, but feels like new place everytime I be there. Every journey that I do, gives feel of something different and new although the same route and same destination......don't know, what is there for me every time I leave the home and that is why surprises me every moment!!!!
1500 hrs: Was in front of Birla Mandir near Revdanda (Alibaug). This temple; completely made up of marble and engulfed in lush green and thick lawn gives a refreshing feel to my mind.....not sure, whether I get fascinated by many idols in the temple or the surroundings of the temple that make me spellbound there....there's something for sure....especially those innocent faces of Radha-Krishna who keep telling me the importance of love and faith in life.....something I always longed for....and yet to find my own!!!!
1700 hrs: Reached Murud....my favourite holiday destination....this place is awesome....with marvellous coastal line adorned by white-brown sands and clean sea shores and lots and lots of coconut and beetle nut trees that completely cover the skies!!! And over & above all, the calm and slient atmosphere very unlike cement concrete jungles where we stay in now a days like trained animals.....

Sunday, 20th September 2009:
0600 hrs: Got up with roar of sea which was just opposite to my residence in Murud....actually a few metres away from the sea shore.....felt like sea was calling me to share some friendly talks....afterall, we were meeting after a long break....who knows what secretes he wanted to share this time??? which unexplored land he was going to explain to me and which new gift was lying in his heart that he was gonna reveal??? had a walk across the shore and said "hello" to the rising sun....my day began!!!!
0900 hrs: Left for yet another venture with sea....this time it was destination "Dive Agar" a beautiful village in coastal parts of Konkan....where there is miraculous Ganesha idol made of real gold....The mystery was revealed in 1997, when an old lady found a medieval Ganesh idol buried in her gardens.....left for Dive Agar from Murud and decided to take the aquatic route which was more fascinating.....caught a launch from nearby jetty and roamed through the channel between Murud and Dighi....the journey, although was around half an hour, was very exciting and could feel the sea breeze and lots of water around....awesome man!!!!
1100 hrs: Was at Ganesha temple and was stunned to see the historical wonder being worshipped as deity. The half idol of Ganesh, completely made of real gold and displaying prominently, the mideveal wonder with lots of characteristics of contemporary art and culture....it was found in a copper case with some old script...... wonderful...one thing surprised me....there was hardly any security up there!!! People were coming in and going out...but no security!!! Whereas in places like Mumbai....even Gods are escorted safe with security 24 x 7... and a real gold God was left all alone....sometimes I wonder....how much over dependent we are on others for our own well being???? We haven't even spared God from this....ain't it???
1430 hrs: It's food time boss!! and what else could be a better lunch than fried fish and Prawns currey with lots of rice??? Had it stomachfull and had "Sol Kadhi" as digestive drink afterwards....sorry boss...bhare pet no blogging....only sleeping....an afternoon nap....wake me up at 1700 hrs....zzzzzzzz!!!!!
1700 hrs: Went to the beach for evening walk....it was still crowded with a few youngsters playing around and a few young guys and girls roaming carelessly with hand in hand.....good to see them roam like this by seaside...at least, they aren't bothered here by policemen and goondas like Mumbai beaches...

Monday, 21st September 2009:
0630 hrs: It was my last morning at Murud and obviously I wanted to talk as much as I could with my roaring friend...actually he was trying to wake me up earlier...much earlier...but it was my laziness that kept me in the bed for too much of the time...couldn't help it....at least this much one could afford to do especially when one drinks a couple of bottles of beer previous night....it was party time last night.....went to the sea and found him a little choked...was it a low tide that hit him early morning or was it the feeling of getting away from me which i was also experiencing simultaneously!!!! Wasn't a much exchange of words....mere talks with eyes...his waves were reciprocated with a few drops of tears from my eyes...both were real and a bit salty....does sea weep within himself??? why is his water salty like tears???
0930 hrs: The biggest attraction of Murud Janjira....the janjira...meaning the aquatic fort was in the sight and i remembered all my previous visits there!!! With all different friends and groups...yet each memorable due to some reason.....this fort is a marine wonder and one of it's own kind of a historical monument.....sadly much ignored by government and insulted by visitors who like other monuments, have maligned it with lots of litter, dirt, wastes, garbage, water bottles and indecent behaviour....only Allmighty knows when are we going to get awakened on this issue of preserving and respecting old historical monuments??? Do we behave similarly at homes as well?? I suppose...not!!! Still we call us "civilized people" and "mankind".....if we are human beings, may be animals are better breed!!!! Roamed in the fort with other fellow tourists and saw the much seen historical wonders yet another time....was amused with the huge, giagantic structure of the fort, huge, heavy cannons that are still telling the stories of ancient history.....and wonder how it was possible logistically??? Wasn't it a miracle to build a castle in water???? and we still were called "primitives" by foreign rulers....frustrating!!!.....was entertained by a tourist guide who was enligtening the facts and history with some "tadka" of shayri and light soulful jokes..wonder, how much of it was fact and how much was fiction!!!!
1530 hrs: It was time to pack bags and go back to where I came from....from natural beauty to man made forests.....on my return journey, saw Kashid beach...one of the best beaches in that region....and remembered a few previous occasions where I had visited Kashid with my few friends...felt their absence and first time realized that some things are incomplete without some people...no matter how complete the frame looks like!!!!! Just passed by it and had several thoughts of previous picnics to Kashid beach. Remembered a cricket match on hot burning afternoon sands of beach, evening plunges in sea, some teasing of colleagues and then late night moon walk on cool, silky sand....all came across in a flash!!!!
2000 hrs: Reached home with lots of memories and "post its" of Murud trip....thankfully all of them were sweet... only sad thing is all good things soon come to an end....am I streching this too much??? if yes, then this must also come to and end like all other good things!!!!

He Sees it all and sees it better!!!

Last night my eyelids were moist!!! Couldn't resist myself from letting a few tears overflow the completely moist eyes!!! It usually happens every year.....I meet my friend who generally comes for a few days to meet all who love him and are eagerly awaiting his arrival. Someone is waiting for some grant and someone is anxious to repay for the grant!! Everyone wants to have his or her own share of grants and he patiently listens to all!!!! That is why he has got so big ears!!! He categorizes all the wishes and sees to it that each one of them is responded with a grant. His arrivals is an occasion of joy and festivity to all who love him. He too becomes one of them and enjoyes each moment. He stays with all and accepts all the offerings made to him, no matter who makes them!!!! His love and affection for all is alike everywhere and it doesn't change with times. His very existance with all of us is such energizing that everyone around him gets charged up.

And then.....the day of his departure comes and all start feeling the pain of his separation. One full year is ahead and he will not arrive before that year is passed. People ask for his blessings to face that long period before he comes back. They all want him to come back very soon....but everyone knows that he will come only when it's good time to come for him!!!! Sad minds start gathering on roads, take this "ruler of people's mind" on their shoulders and start moving towards the sea shore to bid a final "bon voyage" to their dear friend. He too accepts their wishes for journey head!!! My mind recites the days spent with him under his cover of blessings and head bows to him.....he will not be seen again for another year although his presence and power could be felt everywhere around me!!! My friend will soon get vanished in tranquility of sea and soon reach his destination.....I am sad as if someone near and dear to me has left me for some journey and my eyes are again searching him for all his beautiful presence!!!!

I wonder sometimes, what immense force binds us all along these years so that I start missing him when he is not around? His immense popularity that makes his names "Ganadhyaksha" and "Gananayak" befitting him!!! He is darling of crowd and King of all hearts across here!!! That is why they called him "My friend Ganesha"........my friend, will you surely come back next year to me and again shower some joy over my life??.....Oh God, what's happening???.....I can't see anything ahead of me......why suddenly everything has blurred???.....may be my searching eyes haven't found my friend amongst the crowd and have finally given up!!!!!

Why is it difficult to hate someone???

2nd Sep'09: It's very easy to love someone or fall in love....but very difficult to hate someone from your heart!!! Why it is so?? At least I feel it very difficult to hate someone. I am very fond of people and can't keep myself away from others. I find it easier to approach and get friendly with people than to refrain from them. Sometimes it makes me uncomfortable as well. But can't help it! My mind doesn't let me be away from people for long time and when I start practicing this, I feel pain. But I also wonder sometimes, why do I care so much for them when they seem to be caring least about me? If the feeling is not mutual, the pain is more. This is where I fall always!!

She was near and dear to me once and now we are not close anymore. It makes me uncomfortable. But then why I was penalized for something that wasn't done by me at all? Is it the reward that I got for my honesty and liking for her? Well!!!! Someone has to answer these questions....and I'm afraid that has to be "me" all along the time....!!