[vrprabhu]

Originally Posted by MX6

@VRP. Those are some really kind words. Enough to keep me running this thread for some more time!

And about the ladder you've mentioned -

Whoa! That is the ladder - isn't there any place where you haven't been? Don't know if there any new places left.....

Originally Posted by khoj

After too many accidents this stretch was turned into a one way road for traffic moving down. People driving around during those times will recall that there was only one tunnel at Khandala and that was for traffic moving up. For the down traffic it was still a chilling ride down.

Bang on!! That was what we were discussing while we were travelling on the old road - just wanted to relive the early days before expressway.

Let me be honest about my feelings - the e-way holds no more thrills and the drive is no longer exciting. (with the increasing number of morons and fast cars on it, the drive is looking like turning dangerous).

The old highway, on the other hand still holds its charm, like a heroine of yester-years!! And, old Khandala tunnel and the old Katraj tunnel definitely bring a flood of memories back.

[MX6]

Originally Posted by vrprabhu

Whoa! That is the ladder - isn't there any place where you haven't been? Don't know if there any new places left.....

Let me be honest about my feelings - the e-way holds no more thrills and the drive is no longer exciting. (with the increasing number of morons and fast cars on it, the drive is looking like turning dangerous).

The old highway, on the other hand still holds its charm, like a heroine of yester-years!! And, old Khandala tunnel and the old Katraj tunnel definitely bring a flood of memories back.

Saar. The world is big. I'm small. I'd not have been to even 1% of where all HVK would have gone!

e-way is boring. The GQ is boring. Nothing like those charming old national highways with those great twisties and trees on either sides and dhabhas and things!
But what the GQ and e-ways offer is huge reduction in travel time. Gone are the days when majority public took one of the many trains between cities. Increasingly people have started driving down due to good roads that has reduced travel time. Imagine, this.
Pune to Sringeri for me is routine 11 hours. A few years back, it involved 16 hours of train and 3 hours of bus and with transit times, it was a minimum one day affair!

I many a times wish that they retained the old roads too and built brand new 4 and 6 lanes instead of overlapping the same!

[MX6]

Back to Dive-agar.

After sumptuous lunch we moved to the beach. My team settled with their football and then moved in to the water while I spent time taking random photos of people, things, creatures and happenings around. Also I had to keep a close watch on the team as none of them knew swimming.

Here's a sample of some select photos during my solitary sojourn on the vast expanse.

Horsemaster.


Perfect beach wear. Perfect beach attitude.


My team.


Lone biker.


One big nut on the seashore.


See ma - no wings.


It's football time.


Didn't know I had ronaldos here.


Kickstarting the proceedings.


Forget the para-sail. Can I get a ride in this?

[MX6]

My old 70 - 210 mm lens at play here. Was as unobstrusive as possible while taking these photos. Didn't want the local public thrashing me, mistaking me for some kind of voyeur. Hence I've also tried to keep the face of the people out of focus/ frame and also darken silhouttes to protect privacy of those strangers who were kind enough to give me a glimpse of life in a beach.

The lone shell.


Why is it that irrespective of age, people always run towards the waves?


from 4 leg walk to 4 wheel drive.


The football's gone a long way!


Now it's beach volleyball, in the water!


The Indian way of sun-block.


A fort that Sivaji didn't capture.


2 hp vehicle.


A family that plays together, stays together.


Wait by the shore.

[hvkumar]

Looks like the beach sands are firm wnough to drive any 2WD car on it!
MX6, are there any hotels and restaurants around the Dive-agar beach?

[happy.tripathy]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

MX6, are there any hotels and restaurants around the Dive-agar beach?

Kumar sir there are hell lot of good places to stay and some good restaurants in Diveagar. During my last visit in September I stayed in harihareshwar assuming it would be difficult to get some place to stay in diveagar, but when i reached diveagar the next day I was surprised to find so many hotels and restaurants there whereas its a pain to get a good resto in harihareshwar. It would be wise to stay at Diveagar and visit harihareshwar on the way back.

[naren_gs1]

@ HVK : Dive agar is a very small town - but seems to be decently developed. I mean you may not find heated water in all thelodges - but you will be provided with. There are many options for food (bed & bath, not restaurants). But you would have to order couple of hours in advance.

@MX6: Is the parasailling available regularly now in Dive agar? I did not find any during New Year 2008-09 during my visit there.

[MX6]

Originally Posted by naren_gs1

@ HVK : Dive agar is a very small town - but seems to be decently developed. I mean you may not find heated water in all thelodges - but you will be provided with. There are many options for food (bed & bath, not restaurants). But you would have to order couple of hours in advance.

@MX6: Is the parasailling available regularly now in Dive agar? I did not find any during New Year 2008-09 during my visit there.

Parasailing is a regular feature. I didn't enquire about the cost though. But loads of people were doing that on that day. So guess it should be an affordable venture.
And things have changed in dive agar. You find many resorts with heated water now. Best place to have food is to try one of the konkani homes!

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Looks like the beach sands are firm wnough to drive any 2WD car on it!
MX6, are there any hotels and restaurants around the Dive-agar beach?

Dive agar is a dream stretch to drive cars on. But now they've blocked the entry point to the beach in dive agar. One needs to find some other opening to get on to the beach. The sand is firm enough to drive anything from a bicycle to a bus on! Plenty of options for food and stay. MTDC exotica is a costly option for both. There are many home cooked meals available, but then one needs to wait a bit!

Originally Posted by happy.tripathy

Kumar sir there are hell lot of good places to stay and some good restaurants in Diveagar. During my last visit in September I stayed in harihareshwar assuming it would be difficult to get some place to stay in diveagar, but when i reached diveagar the next day I was surprised to find so many hotels and restaurants there whereas its a pain to get a good resto in harihareshwar. It would be wise to stay at Diveagar and visit harihareshwar on the way back.

+1 to that. But I found stay at diveagar costlier. So people who are on a budget, better stay at harihareshwar and venture out to dive-agar for food and entertainment. Use harihareshwar as a place for the night stay! MTDC resorts costs 900 in harihareshwar and 2500 in dive agar!

Srivardhan which is 20 mins away from harihareshwar offers exciting places to eat.

ASHISHPALLOD. Which is the place name you suggested me for lunch in Srivardhan?

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by MX6

ASHISHPALLOD. Which is the place name you suggested me for lunch in Srivardhan?

Not at shrivardhan but Diveagar,

kelkar or bapat is famous for homely food,
patil khanawal is also good.
The ukadiche modak is the item other than seafood which one should definitely have.
But remember to order the food in adv at any place in diveagar.

I suggest, one should stay at diveagar rather than harihareshwar.
Diveagar has more options in terms of stay for all budget,
more options for food and definite score over Harihareshwar for beach and scene.

[MX6]

Aah yes. Bapat. That's the place you suggested. Bapat. Thanks.


All the heads turned to see the apparition descend from the sky like a messiah of god.


Wide angle time. That's the vastness of the beach.


Big beach. Less crowd.


Tiny crabs at work. Over 1000s of them. Not bigger than 25 paise coin.


Geoff boycott. Thought only your mom can hit sixers?


Small groups.


Honeymoon couple I guess.


Another couple from the past.


Perfect camouflage for the crab.


Shell and the crab.


Imprisoning the sun.


Shell with a life inside.


Doesn't he look like Ganesha?


What creature is this? Well, I realised it's something cooked and flung in to sea. Remnants of some puja, washed back ashore.


Slowly people started coming in, and the water level rising. With it sea life was getting pushed offshore.


Mirrored beach.


Raining at the far end. First sounds of thunder.


Beach flowers.

[MX6]

Soon it was time for sunset. People started coming in droves.

First the haze


More people look down.


They have been in for over 4 hours now.


More beach volleyball. Yes, the black dot is the ball.


Cloud plays pranks making sun mirror itself in the sky.


Under the watchful eyes.


More joining the party.


The horsemen march along.


People eagerly waiting for a glorious sunset.


And we have folks searching for food. And they did find food!


Up next, the crystal clear waters of Diveagar beach!

[MX6]

When the sun was dipping, the water level was rising and water came inwards. But it was amazing as it was crystal clear and got with it some crabs!

Crab in water!


This guy is even more amazing. Got him just before he dug up the sand and went beneath.


Looks like Crab's mating season!


Can you make out my reflection as I bend down to capture this guy?


We were all disappointed as the sun decided to hide behind thick clouds and not give us the glorious sunset. But I realised what's in store. Clouds ahoy. Rain's gonna come this way.


My ex-team finishd off tender coconuts to ensure they are not dehydrated. And they waited to see the sun hide behind clouds.


With darkness soon coming up, people decided to make their way back.


One last flight of the guy who never tired.


People coming in unaware that the sun has set. The camel goes back after long days work.


Tethered to a tree, he seems to be massaging his tired leg.

[Samurai]

That's an extremely hard packed beach sand. I don't see either tyre or foot sinking into the sand, I have never seen such a beach.

BTW, that red Jeep is an impostor, a CJ500 modified to look like a Classic. And those horses are actually mules (cross between donkey and horse), their size and stature is a dead giveaway.

[ASHISHPALLOD]

Originally Posted by Samurai

That's an extremely hard packed beach sand. I don't see either tyre or foot sinking into the sand, I have never seen such a beach.

Don't go with the pics of the wet sand!!!

I had seen the view of a Qualiswalla forking rs 2k to the guys who helped him to get his car out of sand on the same beach.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by ASHISHPALLOD

Don't go with the pics of the wet sand!!!

Not really, check out the red Jeep which is moving along the dry sand. It is like it is on tarmac.