Saturday 11 March 2006 we started our journey from Pune. We started at 6.30 AM and wanted to reach Diwe Aagar by 11.30 AM. We planned to keep a visible distance amongst our bikes as we were new to those roads and mobiles were not working. We had 7 bikes and 14 people. We took the Mulsi-Tahmini-Mangaon route. The roads are full of curves and risky turns, which make biking an unforgettable thrill. We had taken ropes and first aid boxes with us for any emergency. One of my friends had suggested me to take our first break at Quick Point. It’s a pure vegetarian restaurant and serves a very nice tea. It is situated on the way from Mulsi to Tahmini. We reached there by 8 AM. We took tea and biscuit and then started our audacious biking. Most of us were first time biking on these kinds of roads. We were very careful and driving on 60-70 KM/Hour although roads were wide and nice. Around 20 KMs from Tahmini village I escaped a dangerous accident. I was about to go around 200 Meters below from a turn. But then I became more careful. After finishing the Tahmini Ghat, we stopped for a logical break. We were four bikers there but three bikes were missing. After 10-15 minutes those bikes came, when we were about to leave for searching them. When they came we got to know that one of them had met with an accident and was little injured. We all became more careful after that incident. At Mangao we stopped at Mumbai Goa highway. I bought a red ball to play in the sea. Letter “A” was printed on that ball. Goa route, “A” letter and my excitement was sufficient for my friends to start teasing me for the obvious reason. But again it was expected and common for me. The route from Mangao to Diwe Aagar is little dangerous with strip curves on the road. We were driving carefully. When we were about to reach, one of our bikes got some problem. The chain between both the wheels was misplaced. We had taken rope for any emergency but again if the chain is misplaced the bike can’t even move. It was a hilly place and a dangerous slope. None of us had any experience of bike maintenance but two of our friends tried their hands there. They opened the gearbox and the chain cover for both the wheels. Fortunately they were able to repair the problem after half an hour of struggle. Diwe Aagar was around 20 KMs from there. We took 20 minutes to reach there. We had already booked a guesthouse, so we directly went to that guesthouse. Food was ready. We had our lunch and then moved to beach.

Our guesthouse was located in a coconut garden. There were mango trees (having little mangoes on it) also in that garden. It was all greenery and was looking lovely. The beach was around 2 minute walking distance from our guesthouse. The owner’s family of that guesthouse was living at ground floor and they prepared food for us. The food was excellent. May be first time I was having seafood. Few of our friends took fish and they said it was excellent. We took traditional vegetarian food and it was equally awesome.

After our lunch we went to beach. The beach was clean and view was excellent. We spent around 2-3 hours there. We played football there. The only goal in that match was goaled by me and we won 1-0. After that enjoyment at beach, we all were tired. We came back to our guesthouse. Few of us tried taking bath at pump, which was used to irrigate the coconut plants. I was also one of them. The water coming from that pump was so chilled and we really enjoyed there. In the evening, nobody was able to move anywhere. They prefer to stay at guesthouse and have few drinks and snacks. I preferred to have a look of sunset at beach. I went at beach again. One more friend accompanied me. He was also not going to have drinks, so he also preferred to come with me. I didn’t know him much but still we went there together. At beach he was busy in collecting stones, I went till the last spot of the beach and sat on a big stone. The sunset view was excellent from that place. I spent around 1 hour alone there. I’m always afraid of loneliness but somehow I always encounter that. Anyways after spending one hour there, we came back to our guesthouse. Drink party was going on with some spicy college chats. Most of us were MBA batch mates, so it was a nice get together for us, and each one of us were unwrapping some hidden truths of our college days. Around 9 PM we thought to go to beach again and enjoy our party there. It was me who inspired everyone to have this party at beach. We all went there. A different party was already going there. A group of students from Bharti Vidyapeeth Hotel Management Institute had come there. They had arranged some lights and music and were enjoying dance party. We chose a location and sat for our party. We were also enjoying the loud music and dance of that group. Around 10 PM that group stopped the music and they went from there. Now it was all silence and just enriching music of sea waves were coming. It was lovely spending few hours there. We were talking on several things. Start from our college days and different love relationships to our two years industry experience. After few hours we came back and had our dinner. Till then everyone was completely tired we didn’t take minutes to go to our beds. In the morning as usual I woke up first. After getting fresh I again approached beach. This time I was accompanied by one of my best friends. He again started, “Hey it’s looking exactly like Goa, so when are you going Goa”. He knew I will have no answer to these kinds of questions and he was enjoying that. We walked few minutes at beach and came back to our guesthouse. I was thinking to drive my bike on beach. I inspired others also to join me. We all went to beach with our bikes. We went into sea while biking and it was awesome biking in the sea. Our speed was around 20 KM/Hour as it was skidding there. I really enjoyed biking at beach. It was something different. After 1 hour we came back, took bath and had our brunch. Now we were ready for our returning journey to Pune. Returning ride was also nice as we were driving at a speed of around 100. We all were aware of roads, so it was nice to drive this time. We stopped in Mangao took some water and then again rushed for our biking. After few hours of drive, we again stopped for our lunch. It was around 3 PM. We stopped 1.5 hours there and then again moved for Pune. This was Tahmini-Mulsi road and we were riding at 100-110 KM/Hour. It was my maximum speed of driving my bike and I was really enjoying that. Around 6.30 PM we were in Pune, completely tired but also satisfied for completing our journey successfully. Few people took little snacks and went for sleep. I just switched on the TV set and hey it was an excellent match going on. Australia vs South Africa. I couldn’t stop my self to watch this exciting match. As you know it was an historical match and I didn’t want to miss this one. In between I went to Mandir also as it was Sunday. After watching the entire match I went for sleep.

DiweAagar from my eyes:

Suvarna Ganesha: DiweAagar is famous for a temple having Ganesha Idol made of pure gold. This idol was found near to this place only. It’s a very simple temple and I had heard of this even before going to this place. I visited the temple on Saturday itself and did Puja.

A lovely village: In the morning when everybody in our groups was sleeping, I was wandering in this village. It’s so lovely and charming. Houses are built in coconut gardens. There are mangos, jackfruit trees all around that village. Thank God we had gone there by bike. I had enough time in the morning to explore things there. I talked with few villagers. They were fluent Hindi speakers, so it was easy for me to elicit more about their tradition and normal life style. I love to interact with people and to know more about their beliefs and traditions. It was nice to know that people are very friendly and accommodating there.

A lovely village: In the morning when everybody in our groups was sleeping, I was wandering in this village. It’s so lovely and charming. Houses are built in coconut gardens. There are mangos, jackfruit trees all around that village. Thank God we had gone there by bike. I had enough time in the morning to explore things there. I talked with few villagers. They were fluent Hindi speakers, so it was easy for me to elicit more about their tradition and normal life style. I love to interact with people and to know more about their beliefs and traditions. It was nice to know that people are very friendly and accommodating there.

Costal taste: Few things, which I tasted here, was first time experience for me. I tasted a different variety of mango called Raiwal and their special coccum. I also tried some of their special dishes.