An Evening in Daman

As the holidays were announced, we immediately got ourselves ready for our early morning ride to Mahabaleshwar, enroute Daman – Malsej Ghat – Pimpri Chinchwad (Near Pune) & Khandala. Yes! It was a week’s plan.

Early Morning ride to – Daman

Since we had to start early by 3:30AM! (because I enjoy early morning rides), we planned to sleep early by 9:30PM, but we actually retired to bed by 12:30AM. When we have some super exciting thing to do, our adrenaline rush won’t let us doze off so easily. So, both of us could barely took naps for 1-2 hours and my alarm rang by 3AM. Despite of having all the preparations – like packing to bathing and brushing teeth for next day, done before (the previous night), we wrapped up and got down to our motorcycle – ‘Garuda’ by 4:20 AM! & finally started out long awaited journey. Gujarat to Maharashtra on our MP motor vehicle.

So, the first Phase was Anand, Gujarat to Daman –

Hopping on the Garuda with my favourite person – Mahi, I was having my time. Checking on our scooty – pyari parked in my college campus we started our road trip. This was next one after riding for Netrahat from Ranchi (my previous station). Soon after 20-25 minutes Mahi asked me how was I feeling? To which I simply replied “main bahut khoos hun” (feeling simply super happy). He re confirmed “khoos ho! I said “haaan” & he understood.

We were passing by Amul chocolate Factory etc. And soon I was with Mahi on Mahi! this time Mahi – the River! The sky was showing a beautiful spectrum of colorful shades, dark blue to a little lighter one to brighter to orangish to dawn! By this time, we felt to stop by and take a breather. Mahi stopped by a dhaba and we order tandoori aloo paratha with coffee. I relaxed by bottoms and mahi stretched himself and gobbles the prantha with dhaniya ki chutney & curd. Sipped our low sugar milk coffee and resumed our journey only to stop in Daman. But the traffic made us halt for about 40 minutes on a flyover. It was due to a minor accident we saw later on the road after having managed to zig-zag our bike in that crazy traffic scene.

First View of Sea at Daman

We reached Daman by 10 AM and navigated the roads simply. After 12 minutes we suddenly happen to realise sea to our right side. We turned in that lane and moved further and yes, it was something like sea, maybe I can say an introduction to sea! I am saying so, because the sea was very far away to be seen from the ‘beach’ we had just arrived and parked our Garuda. I was in a completed awestruck as this was the same scene of the Gulf of Khambat getting repeated, which was not happy at all. I started yelling that is this really all what we drove all the way long to see from Anand? Just unjustified! Khambat disappointment wasn’t really painful as it was an hours journey form Anand. But to ride from Anand to Daman took us nearly 5-6 hours at a stretch.

With unhappy heart we ordered bread omelette and a water bottle to stuff our tummies with something at least. In that moment of ‘despair’ we just rested our bums on a broken boundary wall of a plot (seeming to be a dumping area). I called up ma to inform her that we have reach Daman safely. I also dumped her with my sudden grief of sea being too far to meet. Ma told me that this is a natural phenomenon that sea comes and goes back due to some pressure and science behind it. So, there was no reason to worry as I can meet ‘him’ after relaxing in the hotel in the evening. Ma could tell me so because she has already had her experience of meeting sea like this before at the Suvali beach in Surat. Watching sea suddenly coming close from a far away distance made her feel excited. She also added that sea comes loudly announcing its grand arrival, this experience is deadly yet beautiful. I also like this face of nature showcasing her audacity. For experiencing this we had to be at the beach a little early by 4pm.

Hunt for the stay

We searched out for our stay and went there after having ridden for 30 more minutes only to realise that we should go for better options. We rode back to the same place, another 30 minutes, making a complete waste of our 1full hour. And finally, we settled for hotel HillTop view in the near by surroundings of the tourist area – Bhimpore. The property is pretty decent. It costed us Rs 1200 for the night. But the check in time was 12:30 PM so again after scrolling screen we passed the last half an hour to get to our room. We freshened up and came out to have lunch. 

The place has few food outlets to serve you a decent meal (not 5 course meal) any time in the day. The options are only few that were open during late hours of the day. But we had our Gobi Manchurian, sufficient for our hunger at that time, partially helped us to put to a power nap. Temperature during this time was pretty hot. It was windy but even the winds were saucy! Restaurants here have compartments, separating one form the other. So when you occupy your seat, others may not stare (see) you! You and your family can have your own time- your own fun without having to see others doing the same. May be this is done considering the people who booze, so that the nuisance can be avoided. Good solution.

Finally meeting the Sea at Devka beach of Daman

After having two ice creams from another general store on the same road we went to our hotel and took the much-needed nap. But, by the time we woke up it was already 5pm! We got ready and reached the ‘morning beach’ area before we went to main beach. We were so happy and surprised that the place was completely transformed! The sea was only a few steps away. Clearly, we had missed the arrivals of sea but happy enough to see sea splashing on the sides of beach.

Then we moved to the Devka beach. Pondicherry – Pattaya Déjà vu! Actually, the beach sides are all same – food and toy vendors, boys selling cotton candy with their ringing bells, excited couples snapping themselves endlessly, middle-aged sitting peacefully and kids running and few busy in making sand houses near the wet banks.

I had plans for splashing in the water earlier in Anand, for which I had packed my beach frock too. But after having seen the muddy madness in the morning I dropped my idea of playing in the sea water. So, we sat and let ourselves absorb the serenity of the busy surrounding. Harmonious wind caressing both mind & soul – this is probably why people visit beaches for.

By that time the sun had touched the horizon in the sea line we could see from where we were sitting. This side of sun is so surreal! After romancing with him for few minutes we also took some ‘mandatory’ photos. But by then it had already turned a little dark. The crowd was also getting cleared gradually. And we liked it, obviously!  

The hero – Sea, was same as Khambat – chocolate milk. As the crowed was almost clear we stepped down and came to the tip of water. It felt humid out there, not so calming. After few minutes we actually felt that it was pleasant where we were sitting there on the top seating areas. I felt stepping in waters, may be that could be cooling & calming. But to our surprise, even the sea waters were warm! And it wasn’t sandy on the banks but rocky. Not big rocks, babies of those rocks! Pebbles those were but with sharp edges on all sides. It was a complete acupressure when we stood on them to feel the sea waters. Sadly, again we didn’t find the ‘calming waters’ here. So, we just put on our footwears and simply stood there to drink the peace – the night sea offers in solace.

Evening in the Daman

Sea at night turns even more deadly. Your vision is barred by its deepest darkness. In late evenings, when the humans have almost returned to their place and only few stray dogs are roaming around, standing alone would have been scary but when your partner is surfing in the muddy wet sand just around you, I started having my conversation with nature around. Because my other side who would get afraid of being alone on the piece of land would shut up. And the significant side of mine will start to unfurl, slowly and calmly, with curiosity stepping out further. My soul resumes to reconnect with cosmos!

There are certain things to do in Daman. But since we had our plan of Mahabaleshwar on, we had to depart Daman early morning. So, we were retired for the day. We came back to the hotel road and went to a restaurant for dinner. The owner shared with us that the pure veg restaurants were very few there, but they existed. Even she suggested us few that were around, but we weren’t in a mood to get up again for it so we settled for an egg curry and egg keema. After sufficing our sweet tooth with another two ice creams post dinner & feeding two white dogs wagging tails affectionally with Parle G we went to our hotel. Mahi completed his pending assignments on his laptop. I arranged everything on the table so that he may pack our rucksack in less time. Yes, I let him do this, a cute escape from packing!

Early morning Sea date and departure from Daman

Since we could not make for evening sea roars so I wanted to meet the morning see at least before leaving for the next phase of our bike ride. So, I made Mahi get up early another consecutive morning. We reached Devka Beach again by 6AM, since it was on our path. The scene was changed again! Morning sea was pulled back again. But not much far as it was seen the previous day at 10 AM. So, the beach party time in Devka Beach, Daman is the evening time – understood now!

The place had few joggers and a few practising yoga. I sat there again, to steal some time for my romance with morning sea, meanwhile Mahi was massaging Garuda’s Chains to get ready for our ride ahead. Our action camera had captured few time lapses. Few morning shots were taken. Especially our Garuda in Daman was photographed. And finally, we flagged off for the next phase of our itinerary – Malshej Ghat via Devka Beach Road.

Riding through the roads of Daman this side were pretty scenic unlike yesterday’s when we went to see our hotel and cancelled it. As every city has different flavours to offer, so has Daman. Yesterday’s ride was in the construction sites, took us though the old Daman city, with very old constructed buildings. This was old Damn running and rushing life as an old man with wrinkled face telling the stories of his life which was once charming.

Today’s ride was through the young, hot charming chap, thriving with life and lot of curious corners. So, we were gentle on his curves! This face of Daman was decorated with smooth roads with vintage lampposts and fresh flora and fauna smiling throughout the rides. We crossed Daman Ganga River through Rajiv Gandhi Setu eyeing Daman Lighthouse. I realised the beauty on either of the banks of Daman Ganga River was scenic enough. We left it for our next visit. A flyover landed us to NH 48 from where we sailed off for one of our dreamy destinations – Malshej Ghat!

Stay Tuned for more travel tales ahead..