Journeys to remember: 2018

I am finally updating my blog with all my travels & happy moments. This trip got me my first realization that work will go on..but the precious moments we spend with family may not be always available.

December Christmas vacation for kids is usually spent at Mangalore. Perfect weather to be in Mangalore at this time of the year. December 2018 turned out to be the most hectic & stressed out December for me with work at its peak. Although I had my leaves planned well in advance & work from home approval taken, the work pressure was too much this time. So as to not disappoint my family I had to agree for a road trip to Kalasa. Two days of work from home was a whole lot of work & back to back calls. The trip was to begin from Mangalore and all the bookings were done by my cousin in Mangalore. 18 of us in total driving down in Cabs. My granny aged 90 & my pregnant Sis-in-law were also to travel with us for this trip. Care was taken to make sure that they had a comfortable ride on the bumpy roads that we would have to go through.

December 24, 2018
We had an early breakfast and started off in our respective cabs to Kalasa. First stop was on the outskirts of Mangalore to have a cup of coffee/ tea and we got treated with biscuit roti. That was one of the most delicious Biscuit roti I have had till date. Next stop was at near Kalasa Temple. Since we were anyway passing through, we decided to visit Kalaseshwara temple at Kalasa. Office work for me continued :(

In the cab

Reaching Kalasa

enroute

Family

Outside the temple

At the entrance

Mummy & Amma

After the temple passing through the forests & farm lands we were routed by Homestay folks to reach Kaadukallu homestay. A very quiet and clean homestay. After freshening up everyone was supposed to go on a jeep ride to a viewpoint to watch the sunset. I had to give it a miss because of my work :(( Well, in midst of my calls, I didn't even realize that all of them had left. I spent the waiting time with my grandma.

Jeep ride

Dotty enjoying the view

@ the Viewpoint

Parents to be

Newly married honeymooners

Sisters

Kiddos of the group

Appa, Chikkappa & VJ

I was done with my work by the time the gang returned. Next was bonfire & pakoda time. Music was from our mobile as their music system had trouble connecting. The singers and dancers in the group entertained us for an hour or so and then hot dinner got served at the dining area. Since it was peak season, we were given just 3 rooms and lots of mattresses. Since it was just for 1 night, no one fussed.

Bonfire keeping us warm

Elders enjoying the music

Chikkappa singing

December 25, 2018

Next morning some of us were up around the time of sunrise to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Wait for the coffee

Morning conversations

Om found a new buddy

Vroooom

Sisters

Ah the coffee with amma by my side

After Coffee we were taken for a short trek. Mummy, granny & mommy to be decided to stay back as we were told that its not an easy one. The trek was down the hill to a waterfall. All had a great time playing and sitting by the water. The helper from the homestay guided us till the waterfall and vanished. Return to the homestay was on our own. I wondered how amma & aunts trekked through with their regular chappals!!

Start of the trek

Estates on either side

Relaxed walk

Coffee seeds

Reached our destination

Had to get a solo pic

Baby dear enjoying

Amma dearest enjoying

Watching us from the top

Enjoying the water

Finally ended up in water after heavy opposition

Meanwhile granma chose the book as her company

With the helper

Down the hill

getting to waterfall

further down

Posing for the pic

Returning back

Wonder what they were discussing

Him & I

The youngest in the group was my son 10yr old and the oldest my aunt 72yr old. All managed to get back without a fall or injury. Once back, we were served Lemon juice and breakfast. Some bit of relaxation, lunch and we left from there to return back to Mangalore.

@KaaduKallu Homestay

This homestay has been maintained clean, good home cooked food & affordable. Has large open space and the host is very accommodating. Can easily spend 2 days in the quietness. Give this homestay a buzz when you are in Kalasa. Google maps is not accurate and will take you on a spin.

December 27, 2018

Mr.VJ had some plans in mind by the time we were back to Mangalore. A days break and he wanted us to drive down to Goa- just the two of us. This time it was South Goa. He chose South Goa as it is less commercial and rushed up. While I was still taking time to unwind from my office work, I gave a go ahead for this plan. With leaves applied it was a welcome breather. We drove via Karwar. The roads were amazing, I also got to enjoy driving while were close to reaching Goa. Booking for stay happened while we were on our way to Goa :D thats how unplanned this was.

Sunset

@Karwar

Karwar

@Karwar again

While we were reaching Goa VJ disclosed that 2 other friends would also be joining us in Goa. They were booked in another hotel. We got ours through OYO- Srujan Hotels 22 Suites. We reached just in time for lunch..thankfully last order on lunch was still being taken at the hotel. As hungry as we were, we ordered for special meal and it was delicious. The room was excellent. After a long nap we freshened up to meet R&V who had driven all the way from Bangalore via Hampi and reached Goa on their bikes. Dinner was at Anri's Palace Beach, Betalbatim, Sunset Beach.

Our special meal @ The Tamarind

Meeting R&V

December 28, 2018

Evening was fun. We drove down to Baga Beach, North Goa & rested ourselves in Zanzibar Beach shack. To our surprise the shack we were in was visited by Mr. Gautam Singhania & his team. Good music & dance is what followed for about an hour. We were treated with shots on the house by Mr. Singhania. No pics were allowed, hence you wont find any here, we were lucky to have been allowed to sit through while a whole bunch of people were being asked to leave. For dinner we drove back to South Goa to a restaurant recommended by V.

At the beach

Shacks view from the beach

Sunset by the shacks

Beach view from the shacks

December 29, 2018

Next morning it was just us, as R&V were riding back to Bangalore. We drove down to a quiet beach in south Goa for breakfast..well all day was in this part of the town in different beaches to enjoy quiet time, good food & good music. Dinner at Boomerang Bar & Restaurant, Colva

yoohoo

Candle light dinner

Food for thought

My time to unwind

South Goa shack

View from the shack

Calmness

December 30, 2018

Started back to Mangalore during the day and reached home by evening, just in time to leave for a wedding reception. Dinner was at the reception get together.

December 31, 2018

Pappas Birthday celebration at doddammas house. Pabbas treat:) which is a must when we visit Mangalore. This time it was Icrecream pizza which we got pappa to cut. Yumm...its a must try at Pabbas, gives competition to Death by Chocolate from Corner House Bangalore.

What looked hectic in the beginning of the holiday ended out as a relaxed happy holiday..thanx to VJ.