(Before we begin with the post, I would love if you read my extensive Beach Travel List. SPOILER: It comes with a fun graphic!)

I've divided today's post into steps that I personally follow. The packing starts with making lists, picking up the right type of bags, and then finally ends with filling up light-weight, compact essentials. 

When it comes to packing––or in that case, anything in life––I always believe in making lists. Usually, before heading on a trip, I have about two to three lists. One of which, doubtlessly, is the things to pack. The second list includes things to do before going on a trip. For instance, on a beach trip, I would be wearing a swimsuit and shorts with a cute tank, and for this, I would require my body to be flawlessly smooth. Therefore, in the things to do list, I would include waxing/shaving. Other things like painting nails, putting on a facial mask or charging powerbank are always on this list. 

Once I am done preparing with these two lists, I have an outfit list going on in my head. The first two lists are on a sheet of paper but the third list is usually placed on my mind. The list includes a mental planning of activities I would be doing, the restaurants I would be dining at, and in general, reflecting the itinerary. For instance, if I would be hitting a beach, I would no doubt require a swimsuit but I cannot wear it while I'm travelling or while I am having lunch in a fancy restaurant. So, accordingly, I would pack a swimsuit along with travel and lunch outfits separately. 

This is regardless of whether the trip is a short one-day trip or a long 10-day one. The longer the trip, the more difficult it is to process the activities mentally, so under such circumstances, I would make the third list on a sheet of paper. Once I am done with all the three lists, it’s about time to pick up the right bags. 

If I am going on a day trip on a bike, I would carry a backpack but if I am going on a day trip in a car, then I carry a tote. If I am going for camping, I would take 40 L rucksack or if I am going on a longer duration backpacking trip, then I would carry my 60 L rucksack (along with a backpack for my gear).

For this trip, since it was a one-day trip and I was travelling in a car, I carried my tote instead of a backpack. Also, since I had planned two more outfits––one for the beach and one for lunch––I required another bag, which I called the luggage bag. Lastly, for all the little essentials like facewash, makeup, et cetera, I required another bag, but a smaller one. So my third bag was a pouch which was perfect enough to store travel essentials. (And for a travel vlogger like me, I also carried a tripod.)

Now that you know how I plan my outfits and pick up bags, let’s get into the type of bags you require for a day trip to the beach:

Usually, we always have that one shoulder bag we carry on trips, which is kept closer to the body. So if you’re travelling by flight, it could be your carry-on bag, if you are going for a vacation, it could be your purse and so on. When it comes to a beach trip, you require a stylish, vibrant tote that would complement well with the vivid ambience and your summer outfit. (My friends had gifted me this eccentric tote on my 24th birthday. The moment I saw it I knew I was carrying it to beaches and the like!)

Your shoulder bag includes all the quick essentials that you need while travelling. For instance, your wallet, tissue papers, the lipstick you're wearing, hairbrush, sunglasses, et cetera. For this trip, in my shoulder bag, I had packed my wallet, medicines, sunglasses, sanitary pad, mobile tripod mount, travel-sized body lotion, current lipstick, wet and dry tissues, watch (because I usually tend to forget wearing it while getting dressed), hairclips, water bottle, and a mobile charger.

The second bag––which I called the luggage bag––includes everything apart from what you put in your shoulder bag. This also includes travel pouch.

When you’re going on a trip to a beach, you require something bright and cheery which would go well with the season. So avoid bags that are dark and go for colourful bags. You can either carry a duffel bag or a cute shoulder bag. Since I did not have a summery duffel bag, I used a pretty, pastel multicoloured shoulder bag.

In your luggage bag, you can pack your extra outfits, towel, an extra pair of footwear, extra sunglasses, travel pouch, lingerie, sanitary pads, tampons, and other essentials.

Hiking through the Valley of Shadows

If you ask me about my current travel preferences, it would be diving into nature––irrespective of it being a mountain, a hillock, a lake or a river. You handover planning a trip for you, and turning nature into your temporary abode would be the number one activity in the itinerary. I seem to have grown distant from celebrating occasions in resorts or a lounge because no matter the occasion, the first idea that invariably strikes me is to camp someplace overnight. Where to pitch the tents is another story. Camping by the lakeside implies the easy accessibility of the locals whereas on a mountain, the fear of leopards. The Sahyadris and the shorter hillocks around Sanjay Gandhi National Park both are visited by these big cats. Therefore finalising a campsite requires more amount of time. Nevertheless, staying in the wilderness is always clear.

Just like my 23rd birthday, this one involved camping too. Last year the situation was totally distinct from this year's as instead of camping by the beach, we were forced to rent a cottage and ended up making its veranda our campground. The story was so interesting that I had to stretch it into a four-part series.
Read: Camping at the Beach, Part 1

This year, initially, instead of the valley, we were planning to climb the state's second tallest fort, Harishchandra Gad. But the fort was just in talks and we never planned in that direction later. My brother had been to Sandhan Valley and seeing its eccentric beauty in photographs last rainy season, I was undeniably impressed. He was staying in Bhandardara for two nights and had discovered this place, which was about 10 times lesser popular than it is today.

I'm unaware of how we finalized this place. Anurag and my cousin Pratik were joining me but later Anurag suggested we ask my brother. Being the eldest amongst us, I thought my brother would reject but he surprisingly hopped in too! I was delighted. The trip becomes much safer and much happier when brothers come along.

My soulmates (From L to R): Brother, I, Anurag, Pratik

On the evening of 9th March, we left in my car towards Bhandardara. Until we reached, I had assumed it to be our campsite but on reaching, we made other plans.
This time’s camping excursion was slightly different than the rest because we were to cook outdoors. We had carried a large vessel, some bowls, forks, and a spatula to make Maggi, which by far, is one of my favourite foods while travelling. However, there was none of it left and we had to buy a family pack on our way. Additionally, to make sookhi bhel, we had carried farsaan and murmure but never had the opportunity to mix the two. The quest of buying Maggi became our only mission when we were about to reach Igatpuri since the endless talks and loud singing had got our throats dry and nerves overused. We quietly looked out for stores while humming along with the singers.

I thought the trip would turn out awkward since my brother and Anurag had been out together just once before this. But it was nothing like it, surprisingly.
The day broke into darkness and the sun stopped chasing our car. We looked above to find the moon, but we could spot neither its crescent nor its light. We wondered if it was a new moon night (but later at 3:00 am, found that it certainly wasn’t).

When we were nearing Igatpuri, we started to look out for Maggi. My brother regretted the decision of buying it on the way since we had passed over 20 odd stores that sold chips and drinks but no noodles. The yellow pack of the chips looked so similar to that of Maggi’s that the sight in motion made us believe it was Maggi indeed. We halted at a few stalls thinking it was Maggi, but it turned out to be a yellow pack of potato chips!
We were ready for any brand of noodles but the stalls had none.

Finally, we reached a stall that had four single packs of Maggi left. We bought those along with seven single packs of Yippiee. When it comes to ready-to-make noodles, I am not a brand fanatic. Any brand works for me as far as I’m getting something to suck and pull. (In that case, I love spaghetti too!)
We purchased four more litres of water even though we had carried around 10 litres. When it comes to staying in nature, it’s always advisable to have plenty of food and water.

Sitting by a crystal clear pool in the valley

After crossing Igatpuri, the road narrowed followed by the sights of small villages on the route. We could see small houses ready to retire, little kids still tottering around, and dogs, serving as their guardians.

It had become pitch dark by then, so dark that after turning off headlights, we could see nothing. We actually tried this out. We were amid a narrow, cemented road, which was surrounded by dense trees; such trees that appear beautiful in the day but haunted by the night. We stopped the car mid-way as there was nobody around, just us and two endless rows of thick trees. We turned off the headlights, and our eyesight blackened out! For few seconds, we forgot about where we were or who was sitting next to us or what lied in front. Within seconds, we turned the lights on! Boy, few of the terrifying seconds of my life.

A thought came to mind after we started the engine, what if––similar to how it happens in horror movies––after turning on the lights, a lady appeared in front? A ghostly figurine with a long white robe, jet black hair touching her waist, and a pale face. She just stands and stares and then disappears, and until you digest it, she’s sitting on the bumper! How ghastly!
I am only glad that no lady appeared and we freely continued driving. For a few metres though, all of us had our own haunted scenarios still playing in our heads.

We were on the narrow, village road when we stopped to ask directions. (Pratik, who uses a Vodafone network, had a full signal; whereas the remaining three of us use Airtel, and it catches a signal at no distant place. Wherever I've been with Pratik, only he has had the signal till now. I am planning to switch from Airtel to Vodafone.)
The directions that Google Maps displayed appeared suspicious since my brother could not recollect the route we were on. We knew we had taken a long road but couldn't unnerve until we asked someone. We met a couple of locals by the roadside––one of whom seemed drunk, but wasn't––and enquired if that was the way towards Sandhan Valley. They nodded and after giving some more information, we started ahead.

On a La La Land

It's hard to believe, but we saw the roads were wet and upon drawing down the car's windows, we could smell the fresh aroma of the wet earth. Ah! The sweet goodness. We knew it had rained here. How incredible, we thought, that it would rain in the month of March. How fortunate were the villagers to witness the God's love so early in the year?
We continued driving, with windows still down and the fragrance of the wet soil still lingering to our nostrils and touching our senses. What a heavenly place to be! A smooth, cemented road with vast amber fields on both sides and dense, green trees making a guest appearance. The sight seemed like a mystical blend of summer and spring. What a perfect time to have passed on this road!

Mesmerised by what we had experienced a few minutes ago, we were still drunk in love when we reached the Arthur Lake. My brother recommended camping at a place near Sandhan Valley, to which we agreed. We passed the extensive lake that appeared full of secrets. This is the beauty of lakes, rivers, seas, and oceans; we never know what secrets they hold. I find it fascinating and maybe this is the reason why I love the waterbodies so dearly.

By 10:00 pm, we reached an open land, which I later learnt was Samrad Village; my brother told us that it was the place we were camping at! I was disappointed because I had expected something better. (Little did I know then that the location we were camping at was beautiful in the daylight!)

We parked our car and were greeted by a grey-furred dog, who had traces of blues on his fur. We were busy and did not understand when the dog ran away.
Our first goal was to try digging out mud using a tent-hook. We were looking for a suitable ground to pitch tents. Pratik and Anurag started setting up the tents, whereas, my brother gathered sticks and bricks for a campfire. He lit it and placed the big vessel to make Maggi. I was setting up my tripod and toggling between my phone and digicam to compare which had better low-light videography. My phone won and I kept the digicam aside. While I was busy with my gear, an aggressive dog came running towards me!

He continuously wagged his tail and jumped on me several times. I usually love when dogs are around but this naughty one was ferocious and violently adorable. His nails etched through my white t-shirt and later when I checked, I noticed my waist was bruised.
The dog seemed unstoppable. He constantly came in the way while we were setting up the tents and making Maggi. It turned annoying but luckily he paused when we sat down to eat the noodles. As soon as we were done and ready to make another vessel of Maggi, it was midnight!

Stirring Maggi as Anurag keeps the fire burning

The guys got a cake from the car and it was time to cut it. Even the aggressive dog, who like a nice boy, had given us our space while we finished dinner, joined in the celebration. After the cake-cutting, singing, and feeding were over, we sat down to eat our last bowl of Maggi while simultaneously feeding large chunks of cake to the dog. I ain't kidding but the dog ate as much cake as we did!
We even fed him Maggi but he seemed to love the cake more. Sweet-tooth, huh?

We sat by the campfire until it was 2:30 am by trying to keep the fire alive. Alas! The fire finally extinguised and then, only the soothing grey fumes emerged. Slowly, it was pitch dark again. Anurag lied on the ground that was partial mud and partial grass. I lied next to him and Pratik, next to me. My brother went inside his tent and put the bags inside the third one.

We had set three tents: one for our trio, one for my brother, and the third one, which I impulsively asked the guys to set, for the bags, (of course with no expensive items in them).

We three lied on the grass and looked at the stars. It was getting colder and though Anurag had lent me his sweatshirt, I was still cold. We took the cover from one of the tents and used it like a blanket to keep us warm.

When we were lost in stars, Pratik noticed something in the sky towards our right. It was a breathtaking red crescent moon far off! The clouds constantly moved around it, sometimes blocking our view, sometimes adding to the exquisiteness of the sight. (I attempted clicking a shaky, grainy picture of the moon and if you wish to see it, comment below.)

While we were still lying on the grass and contemplating on life and its busyness, we heard an engine roaring from a distance. Just like dogs transform into an attentive mode with ears erect and body alert, we stood up to check the bikers. We voiced my brother who was sleeping in the tent and he replied saying he was awake and he heard the sound too. He came out of the tent to see who it was and it turned out, there were three bikes and six people, including a girl, who intended to camp. On understanding they were not a danger, we finally went inside our tents to sleep. I kept my phone on charge via a power bank as all the vlogging had placed the battery at 35%.
As sweet as it sounds, I got one of the best slumbers of my life...

Splitter and Splash: Passing through the pool

Though we had plans of hiking the valley next morning, we were in no hurry of waking up early. In fact, none of us had set alarms! This is the first time in my camping history when I have not set an alarm! Even then, when it was 8:30 am, we woke up. Nothing too great about waking up early naturally, well, only if it was naturally. We were woken up by the heavy growling of a couple of dogs. On coming out of the tent, we saw our dog, who we lovingly named as Sheru. He was growling at his enemies from another territory. Yes! That's exactly how we could manage waking up early!

The vocal battle between Sheru and the enemy dog (and two more adult dogs plus three puppies) seemed pretty one-sided. Sheru wagged his tail and jumped on Pratik while still growling at the enemies. We understood that he was saying he had a human which was better than having a group of dogs. We could understand that he was showing Pratik off!
Since Sheru had guided us the entire night by growling on sensing danger, it was time to return the favour. I folded my tripod and handed it over to Pratik, who then, as filmy as it appeared, started walking, like a hero walks to save his heroine. He walked with a tripod in one hand and Sheru on the other side. Sheru's growls suddenly grew two times louder and more powerful. Pratik shooed away the enemies and Sheru had won the battle.

At that moment, I realised the power of Karma and how true it is. The dog stayed up the entire night to protect us and in return, because of his good deeds, he was protected by us. I just smiled and applauded my cousin.

We started freshening up by washing face, brushing teeth, and changing clothes. Soon, we packed our tents and breakfasted at Hotel Tanaya, which was opposite to the campground. I ordered a bowl of Maggi and others had pohe. The tea served was so delicious that it was just the right taste of tea and the one I absolutely relish.

I had assumed the valley to be at a faraway distant, but it was just a kilometre away from Samrad village. We walked and the valley commenced...

The initial few scenes had dense trees that had developed shadows throughout the area but then the trees disappeared and what left were rocks. The entire route further was full of rocks except for a small patch, which had rocks but also water on them.
We started hiking and imagine whom we met! Sheru! We were clueless how Sheru reached there but he was so happy after seeing us! He followed us but then we had to separate from him when a large rock obstructed his way. We surpassed the rock but our dear friend Sheru stayed back on it. The look of separation in his eyes was saddening. He cried and howled loudly but we had to leave. We hoped to see him when we returned but he was not there. We would never meet him again...

The last point; photo captured after I broke my foot

We walked further while clicking breathtaking photographs that were overpowered by the huge rocks. We appeared tiny in front of them, so tiny, that our whole existence was a question mark.

Finally, we reached the much-awaited part. I had watched a video of Sandhan Valley where the vlogger had to pass through a pool. I thought the water gets accumulated in monsoon but his video dated a week back, which meant, if we were lucky, we too would have to pass this pool. I was excited!

We packed our phones and wallets in the only bag we were carrying and tied our shoes on our shoulders to prevent them from wetting. My brother took a lead while we followed. On entering, he realised the water touched his chest and the surface was full of little rocks that needed extreme caution to walk on. We somehow crossed the pool and needless to say, it was so, so thrilling! We continued and I was hoping to find another pool but I was aware there was not any.

We reached the far end of the valley (which I later learnt was just one phase of the hike). The sight in front was too beautiful and I got so excited that I hurriedly hiked ahead. And...that's when I twisted my ankle! It was tolerable until we hiked back but when we were seated at a shack for some refreshments, I asked Anurag to massage my foot. After the rejuvenating lemon juice and cucumber slices, when I tried to stand on my leg, I was devastated! I could not put my foot on the ground, the pain had grown that severe!

I was struggling to walk when Anurag offered to piggyback me until we reached the village. Almost 600 metres this boy carried a 55kg girl. Both my brothers were impressed. It was such a sweet gesture that I don't think I would ever forget.

I got too heavy for him later as his pace slowed down. I insisted to put me down but he insisted back. Finally, we reached the eatery where we had had breakfast in the morning. My brother rushed ahead and drove the car near me. I somehow managed to sit on the front seat. There was a large group of Kannadigas lunching in that eatery, from which, their team leader enquired about me and offered a pain relief spray.

The road connecting Samrad village and Sandhan Valley

Anurag sprayed on my affected foot and covered it with his sock. You have no idea how painful it got! I could not even lift my leg and whenever the car moved, the pain increased!

The boys wanted to freshen up by dipping in the Arthur Lake, which was our actual plan. But seeing my condition, they quickly jumped in its backwaters and came back in 15 minutes. I was sitting in the car meanwhile.

On our way, after crossing Igatpuri, we stopped at Om Sai hotel for lunch. The weather was cloudy and it started drizzling! We witnessed a 5-minute heavy downpour, after which, the rain stopped completely. The delicious egg masala and the stern-as-an-iron butter roti delighted me. Oh! For the love of food.

It was around 3:00 pm, before reaching the hotel, when my Airtel network finally had managed to capture the signal. I called my poor mom immediately who was at home, alone, desperately waiting to wish her daughter on her birthday. My network had gone from previous evening till that afternoon. Almost 24 hours without a network. Kudos, Airtel!

On the call, my mom informed me that a certain farmers' strike had hit the Nasik Mumbai Road. We didn't bother since it was a WhatsApp forward but then when we were nearing Bhiwandi, we were stuck in traffic for 3 hours! I was sitting with a broken foot, hoping to visit the doctor and praying it's not a fracture, and these farmers had gathered all over. I was so annoyed! And, the sadder part was, the next day was Sunday, the day doctors are holidaying and clinics are shut! I thank God, it was not a fracture, which I learnt after two days due to the reduction in pain.

What we did after was mindblowing. The guys asked the truck drivers to move their vehicles in such a way that we get to move ahead and then take a U-turn to go to the other side of the road that was free of traffic. They pleaded the police saying it was an emergency and the kind policemen let us go.
We came inside Bhiwandi city and taking an offroad, somehow managed to reach Thane. Even so, though we were in Thane, we were not in Thane. We were stuck on the outskirts of the city, again with a dead traffic.

My brother got restless and called his friends for help. We took a detour on our way where his collegemate lives. The guy managed two mopeds and Anurag and Pratik dropped me home while my brother stayed back with the car and his friend. On our way to my home, we did not encounter traffic at all. The streets were quiet and I felt so peaceful. I somehow sat on the tall seat of my brother's friend's bike. My stuff was still in the car.

First selfie using a tripod after turning 24

Pratik helped me climb the stairs and finally, I greeted my mom at 12:30 am. I had to cancel all the evening plans with my friends and family, needless to say...

The one thing I understood out of this is that next birthday, I am not going camping. I'd rather spend my birthday with friends and family at home than get caught in traffic. I know the traffic was a one-time thing but it saddened me as I could not be home with my momma the whole day...

Enjoying my time in the tranquil Ulhas river

My maternal cousins and I had not been on a trip till date until my eldest cousin got married. Things changed and his significant other is a free-spirited person just like me. She invites us home on multiple occasions and had recently called us for my cousin's cake-cutting. When my mom was abroad, she had welcomed us on a Sunday for a meal. My eldest pair of maternal cousins needed a woman in the house solemnly since their mom––my maushi––passed away a half a decade ago. To add to it, both the brothers are introverts and gel well with elders than with their cousins.

The situation turned around as my sister-in-law entered their house. Even earlier, she had asked me to join her on a trip to the serene Konkan but I had to reject because I was travelling to Goa right after.

I am glad we went on this road trip...

On a casual night, as I was composing a post, my youngest cousin Pratik excitedly asked my plans for the next Sunday, to which I replied I had none. He happily announced that we were going to Vangani with Sameer dada (the eldest cousin), Tejaswi vahini (his wife), Saurabh dada (my sibling) and himself. I was unaware my cousin had a farmhouse in Vangani, though I knew he had a second home somewhere close to Mumbai. I was thrilled because travelling anywhere with anyone not just meant amusement but also discovering a new place.

The plan was finalised and the timing was fixed. We woke up at 5:30 am, though I had slept at 3:00  am the previous night. I am a person who cannot fall asleep when there's a travel plan next morning. I am just so keen to travel that I keep on imagining the place and creating dreamy scenarios.

I was too sleepy to open my eyes next morning. But when it comes to waking up early, I am someone who wakes up on time no matter the situation. I am someone who calls every other person coming on the trip until I'm confident they're truly up and awake.

For breakfast, I grabbed an apple and made tea as a morning beverage. Pratik too is someone who is always on time. Punctuality runs in our blood and is inherited from my mom (and for Pratik, from his dad). I showered and changed into a new set of clothes while I heard a doorbell. It was Pratik, ready to scream in excitement as he always does after seeing me!
I did not hurry up my pace and continued dolling up and packing my bag with a snail's speed because at the back of my mind I knew Sameer dada would be late, as usual!

Sitting atop a rock with my cousin and his wife

It was 7:15 am when we called the recently married couple to ask about their status; meanwhile, I dug out the places in and around Vangani. I learnt there were a couple of waterfalls and forts nearby. I realized visiting forts in March was highly impossible and what remained was a waterbody––something like a waterfall––though it was doubtful since the water could be all dried up. I asked them to pack an extra set of clothes in case we got lucky.

We reached their house at 7:30 am and finally left on our road trip by 8 o’clock. My eldest cousin is recently learning to drive, for which, he wanted to try his hands on the roads to Vangani. My brother is his additional trainer apart from the driving class he has registered himself to. This seemed like a perfect trip and was like hitting two birds with one stone––or rather, make it three birds. First being my cousin's driving practice, second, the visit to their Vangani house, and the third, to have a good time with cousins.

I had a lovely experience shooting a vlog with my maternal cousins since it was the very first time I was doing it in their presence. I am glad they supported and helped me shoot whenever I needed a second person. We reached the outskirts of Vangani and halted for breakfast at a small eatery. My sister-in-law suggested this shack for its crisp vadas and flavourful kanda bhajjis.
We asked the lady there if she knew any Bhagirath waterfall. She did not know of any such but suggested a waterfall instead, which was called as Vangani waterfall by the locals. She directed us and off we started the engine.

She had warned us that the water would have been dried up. However, we wanted to see it with our own eyes since my cousins would visit their house frequently and would require a nature spot nearby. The Vangani waterfall was about 15 minutes away from the shack.

Revived after a swim in the clean and emerald Ulhas river

We came across smaller houses and bigger bungalows that were owned by Shelars. We immediately knew who were the influential people in that area. We crossed a couple of more houses in the row that appeared warm and welcoming. By trusting and following Google Maps, we reached an open land. There was a small house near it, which was the last one in the row. We asked its residents the way to Vangani waterfall and they guided us very well.
We started walking and that’s when a local called us from behind and volunteered to guide us. On that, my brother jokingly replied that if he wanted to come with us, he should come as a friend and not as a guide. We laughed and started following our new friend.

Nobody had expected such a long route to the falls and were definitely underprepared for that. I was wearing a pair of flip-flops, that too, the cheap ones you get in clothing markets like Sarojini, Delhi. I was a cent percent sure of the thumb-loop detaching and being helpless amid the amber grass and skeletal trees.

We finally arrived at a point where we could see the exact location of the waterfall. Our newly made friend, who was an apt example of shyness, coyly asked if we wanted to go near it. But the location was so distant that going all the way near it meant walking a kilometre more and descending a steep slope crammed with minuscule stones and dried grass as well as facing the strong afternoon sun. And considering our footwear coupled with our laidback frame of mind only meant avoiding it. We could have still compromised on these factors and gone ahead to the waterfall anyway, but there was no water at all. A dense waterfall, covered with green trees would have easily lured us into walking an extra mile but a dried up pool made no sense whatsoever.

We started our way back to where our car was parked. The route seemed shorter than before as in no time we could spot the car. I was disappointed as I wanted to dip in a cool, fresh waterbody. My cousin suggested the Ulhas River, which was 10 minutes away from his house.

Alas spotted: Tired after a walk in the quest to find Vangani waterfall

We reached a cliff that was connected to the main road from where we could see the emerald river. The beautiful lush green backdrop and its clean, tranquil water made me ecstatic. After parking the car, we hurried towards its banks. We required to descend down a little since the river went under the road/cliff we were standing on.

We noticed two ladies washing their clothes and not once thought about water being contaminated. The scene was so picturesque and pleasant, that we ignored everything else. The couple did not get in the water since Sameer dada was down with a cold and his wife decided to give him a company. They, therefore, stayed back on the big rocks while swaying their feet in the river.

After clicking some lovely shots, I handed over the phone to my sister-in-law and struggled my way towards the deeper side of the river. The stones on the riverbed were sharp and uncomfortable to walk on. We splashed water, floated, and swam in until we realized it was time to get out.

My whole body, except my hair and face, was drenching and I felt revived and rejuvenated. The boys changed their wet clothes by the roadside whereas I wrapped a towel around my lower body. We sat in the car and drove towards the house.

After crossing a bridge that overlooked the river, we reached the gates of the house in no time. Just outside the house, a horse was tied to a tree. I was taken aback to see a horse out of nowhere and I went near it to strike its forehead. The horse either was a mule––the love child of a horse and a donkey––or was just a young horse, that was not fully grown. It, however, looked sad because it was tied and could not taste freedom. Its white fur was turned to a dull, off-white shade and his head was low. It appeared as though the horse had never experienced happiness before.

On entering the property gate, towards my right, I saw a small cottage that rather looked like a shack at the first look. The caretakers of the house lived in it. And not just a lady or a man but the entire family including a dog. I am guessing the horse that was tied outside too belonged to them. The first thought upon seeing the sight was the unruffled standard of living. I thought such a beautiful way to live life! Your workplace is right in front of you and you don’t need to travel in a local train amidst thousands of sweaty people or get stuck in traffic in order to reach your office. You go, work, come back for lunch and always have your kids by your side. Nobody lived in my cousin's house, which means it is empty prevalently. The vegetables and the fruits grown in the garden are used in the caretaker's meals, which implies that they are not only getting the food for free but also earning by growing it and taking care of the house. I simply adored the overall feel of the entire abode and imagined myself living in the house for a month's stretch.

A candid captured as I stand ahead of the beautiful yellow house

What I learnt later––and what amused me––was that the property lied halfway in Thane district and halfway in Raigad. It was beyond imagination that Vangani would be so close to another district.

My series of thoughts were broken when my sister-in-law started showing me around the garden. I saw the beautiful yellow house that was too huge to fit in the frame. Its dual floors were royally spread out and the iron bars of the terrace railings summed up the look. The house was surrounded by a garden that had trees ranging from mango to lemongrass and many others. We entered the house to sense the vibe of typical Konkani house, where the warmth and comfort overpowered the style and the decor. Such houses make you feel at home. Even if the house is not yours, you still feel as if you’re at home. Such houses are so welcoming that they remind you of your grandma. Oh! The fragrance of coconut oil from her loosened braid and the beautiful wrinkled skin on her body! I miss my grandmas...

I have always wished owning a house in Konkan, where the veranda is smeared with cowdung, where the cows are mooing in the cowshed, where the hens and her little chicks are tottering around, where an elderly uncle is sitting with his cream vest on, where the decor is simple yet touches your heart, where your meals include a bowl of ambyacha ras (mango pulp) and waran bhaat, where the kids are not as tense as the kids in the cities, where even an oily braid is considered a symbol of beauty, where the life is carefree and the beach is nearby...oh I wish I had a house in Konkan!

On entering the house and glancing elaborately at the interiors, the first thing we did was change into a dry set of clothes. I handed over my wet pair to my brothers who set them on the iron bars across the terrace railing.

The house comprises of four bedrooms and a terrace large enough to occupy more than 25 guests. I thought of wandering about in the veranda so I asked Pratik to accompany me. We were gazing at the plants and the trees when we met a timid yet agile dog that was adorable yet a little startled. It took a while to calm his spirits down but Pratik succeeded in it! Right in front of the house, there was a water pump from which we drank water while Pratik washed his legs too. We went back to the house and my contact lenses started troubling my peace. I had worn a pair since morning 7 o’clock and they started drying. The drying of lenses always made me crave sleep.

I took a nice 20-minute nap in one of the bedrooms, on top of four mattresses that were not even aligned. I needed to sleep gravely so anything that helped me lie down was my bed. I fell asleep before long and could not comprehend when that happened. Though for a half-hour only, the slumber I got was one of the best. On waking up, I noticed everyone was brisk. My brother was downstairs from the terrace, my cousin had finished his weekly dose of Dragon Ball Super, my younger cousin was up and awake, and my sister-in-law engrossed in something unusual. She was seated with the old lady caretaker and was segregating vegetables into three piles: one for themselves, one for me, and one for Pratik. The lady tied a thread around a bunch of drumsticks, curry leaves, and lemongrass tea and handed over the piles to us. This gesture pleased me but in my mind, I knew it was time to leave.

My wit had relaxed but my eyes hadn’t, and there was no alternative than to take off the lenses. I was relieved beyond words when I did take them off. Alas! My eyes were awake.

All smiles: Posing with my eldest cousin as we sit by the riverside

We packed our bags and it was time to leave the house. We were yet to have lunch and had planned to dine at Vithal Kamat's restaurant on our way. It was about 10 minutes away from the house and I was glad that it was proximate because I was starving. We had had one vada pav––and I had had an apple additionally––but it was 1:30 pm and I was famished.

Vithal Kamat is a chain of hotels scattered throughout Maharashtra and Gujarat. Whenever you spot one, you stop the car and devour a meal. The food tastes so scrumptious that not only your gut but even your heart is happy. We ordered the usual roti-sabzi and dal-fry, jeera-rice medley and ended our meal with masala buttermilk, which was so refreshing that it brilliantly complemented with sugarcoated saunf after. Happily, we sat in the car and headed for home...

(PS The story would have had a happy ending, but my brand new iPhone 8 Plus, of which, the EMI is still due, slipped from my hands and fell on the ground. A scratch as small as an ant noted on the front screen but what saddened me is the forthcoming fear of using my phone as a vlogging camera.)

VANGANI ROAD TRIP DETAILS

Distance from Mumbai (Thane)
48.8 km

Duration
1/4 Day

Best Season
Monsoon, Winter

How to Reach
Via Central Railways by getting down at Vangani station or by Road

Water and Food Source
Available

What can you expect
Lush greenery in monsoon, Ulhas River, Vangani Waterfall in monsoon

Pet-Friendly
Yes

Watch the vlog:



Have you ever come across a running waterfall in the month of March?

In one of the travel groups on Facebook, admins found a brilliant way to celebrate Women Who Travel ahead of the International Women's Day. They used a hashtag to bring out the stories of all the women who are a part of the group. The women were asked to share their travel chronicles revolving around their struggle to travel solo (a topic that gets my attention every time), their travel pictures, and an inspirational anecdote of what travelling meant to them.

Reading the stories of these brave women who travelled passionately, I thought of sharing my own story with the members. I rather took this seriously and attached a bunch of photographs along. 

Regardless of whether you have been following my blog for past four years or are a recent follower who is intrigued seeing my content on Instagram, you would have the same question: what is it that drives me to travel incessantly? 

I throw some cues on the blog every now and then but the answer remains incomplete. 

Here's my travel story I shared with the group

I've been travelling with my family since I was a kid. Every alternate month, my parents and their siblings took us to lakes, dams, resorts, and parks. I believe the travel bug in me was conceived during those days. 

The travelling continued in the form of school picnics, which were a day long, and then the college industrial visits that went beyond a week. Meanwhile, the family getaways to devotional places in India or an international trip went on.

I started my lifestyle blog four years ago, in which I covered everything from study tips to organising closet. I started expanding the topics and covered fashion, beauty, food, and the one that still remains and is the closest to my heart, travel. The first travelogue I shared on my blog was a 29-post series about my 30-day stay in Shanghai, China. I got a good response and people told me they were looking forward to more travel diaries. 

Gradually, I was applauded on how I travel a lot and that's when I looked back on the places I'd visited and reminisced every part of the journey. Later, since I wanted to share more about my travel, I started going on a half-day treks, one-night camping, and two-day trips. I started trekking more, discovering more and travelling more. 

Of late, last year, I went on a 10-day bike trip along the coasts of Konkan, Goa, and then Gokarna. About a couple of weeks back, I quit my job since I plan to take my travel stories beyond what it is now. I started vlogging and sharing about offbeat locations in the country. 

Today, I call myself a travel and lifestyle blogger with the aim of educating India and the world on the number of incredible places around Mumbai, i.e., in the state of Maharashtra. I have noticed that when people visit this state, they tour Mumbai solely and then head downwards for Goa or upwards for Rajasthan. I want the world to see this exotic and beautiful side of my home state. 

To all the women in this group, may you find the strength, courage and opportunity to travel more.

Happy Women's Day in advance. 

Cheers!"

My love for travel cannot be inscribed using mere words. I wish you could join me on my journeys and get a taste of everything I have seen and see the places I have been to. This tale is just about a drop in the ocean and there are so many components that inspire me to travel.

What is your travel story?

Looking around the lake...

Whenever Holi comes round the corner, I have a blend of feelings: I love this festival and contrary to that, people from my social circle are thoroughly boring. Every year I ask my friends about their Holi plans and I end up throwing colours on people from my society or act dead while playing with the kids as they spray water using their ultra-cool water guns. It's enjoyable for some time but I wished I played Holi with someone I love. This year, not a single drop of water was seen in my society––thanks to the kids having their board exams and a bunch of overly enthusiastic members escaping to a destination with family and friends to play Holi. One member of my society clique was on her period and the remaining one was as annoyed as I was. This was my Holi plan, until midnight, when my friend Anurag came to the rescue. 

We were not planning to play Holi but had a plan to flee away from the city to a lake near Vasai. His eldest uncle had passed away a few weeks back so according to Hindu customs, he is refrained to celebrate any festival for a year. I did not mind not playing Holi since a getaway from the city always equalled to fun, fantastic shots, and a vlog. 

The plan was finalised at 1:00 am and I woke up at 5:30. This four and half hours of sleep was worth it, despite the trouble. After washing hair and getting dressed, I left the house. I walked to a bus stop when I realized there was no one on the road. It was 6:30 am and the streets were quiet. I was wondering what was it about––were people burning Holi till late night last night or were they sleeping till late because it was a holiday? I knew not.

On the Titanic, waiting for my Jack

I spotted the bus stop and after waiting for about 10 minutes at it, I boarded a bus that was not even taking me to the stop I wanted to alight. The bus dropped me off at a location little inside than the planned one. I asked Anurag to meet me at the revised spot. When I got off, he was already there, with his Royal Enfield and a white helmet. All I could see through it was his smile, his snub nose, and his thin-as-a-line eyes. He smiled at me and off we started our journey at 7:15 am.

We encountered roads sans vehicles and witnessed joggers struggling to put another foot ahead. It was a lovely morning and surprisingly, I sensed chilliness as the winds fiercely touched me. We reached Shirsad phata, from where we had to take a diversion to right. Enticed by the aroma of boiling tea from an eatery at the phata, we halted for breakfast. I'd had an apple on the bus but Anurag was starving. We had wada pav and a cup of steaming tea. Luckily, we had a delectable breakfast, especially because I was a little doubtful of the eatery.

The path from Shirsad phata to Usgaon village was brimming with fog. It was indeed one of the best roads I've travelled on to (and the fact that it was summer yet nature impressed me makes me delighted significantly more). After about 15 minutes of the cemented road, we reached a narrower route and saw men gathered on a ground that was attached to the road. Few of them were dressed in a white uniform that had UPL written on the back. We were confused but then realized UPL stands for Usgaon Premier League and that we were visiting the village during a cricket tournament. We found it funny and rode further.

The first look of the Usgaon Lake

We passed the crowd and reached a beautiful landscape; we had arrived at the lakeside! The view was brilliant, though the sun was out by then and we experienced a difficulty to keep our eyes open. Nevertheless, the weather was pleasant and gay.

Before venturing out to any new place, I generally seek through Instagram or watch a video to learn about where I am heading to. The challenge with exploring offbeat places lies here. You are clueless regarding the locals, the flora, the fauna, and other crucial details. But when you go through previously shot photographs and videos, you have a slight idea of how the location would be.
Similarly, I had done my research for the Usgaon Lake too but the place looked much different than it did in one of the vlogs I had watched.

We thought of digging out the entire region. Towards our far left, we saw women bathing in the lake. Since I had a boy with me, we thought it would be indecent to go to that side of the water. Hence we took a right, and there, we found the trail from the vlog! We came across a picturesque location with an abandoned boat that looked breathtaking. We shot some pictures and then furthered to an emplacement that had the lake on one side and a wastewater well on the other. Moreover, the edges of the well were not exceptionally broad––sufficient for a person to sit––but one slight slip and you would either fall into the filthy well or hit the stones along the lakeside. But, we still managed to get good shots here.

Sitting atop the edges of the well that had wastewater on one side and the lake on the other

We were to advance to yet another location that looked beautiful and more exotic from where we were standing. We went there but saw a group of men saturated with colours, drinking alcohol, and having a merry time. We wanted to play safe so retreated without even getting down once before they looked at us.

On our way back, we were stopped by two village girls. They had held a long bamboo in their hand and had blocked the road. I was stunned to see this as I'd never encountered such scene before. Anurag offered them chocolates and happily, we rode ahead. Right before the village ended, we were stopped again! This time it was a bunch of notorious kids who were delighted to see the outlanders; they knew they were earning some cash contrary to the fellow villagers who were shooing them away.

The boys asked for Rs. 10 but Anurag gave a 20-rupee note. They were ecstatic and even helped me by playing a role in my vlog. Such a lovely way to play Holi: amidst nature and a bunch of cute kids!

USGAON LAKE DETAILS

Distance from Mumbai (Vasai)
29.6 km

Parking Facility
Available

Duration
1/4 Day

Beautifully captured: A girl longing for something she truly loves

Best Season
Monsoon, Winter

How to reach
Via rail by getting down at Vasai station and then hiring a bus/auto. I prefer taking a car or bike

Water and Food Source
Available at Shirsad Phata

What can you expect
Lush greenery in monsoon, open land,  lesser crowd, large lake, boat rides (hopefully, on asking the locals)

Pet-Friendly
Yes

Additional flora/fauna information
Spotted a snake in the lake

Watch my vlog: