When faced with a long days drive ahead of us, Steph and I have found it preferable to get up at dawn and get much of the driving out of the way before the heat of the day sets in, this usually allows us to arrive at our destination in good time. The streets of Indian cities are a different place in the early hours. Streets that hours before had been a writhing chaotic mess of screaming horns and two stroke engines, are earily quiet as the sun kisses the night sky. The secen is very much as if you have stumbled into the aftermath of an apocalyptic party. People literally sleep where they fall, be it in ther rickshaws, the central reservation, round abouts or their market tables. This bscene once again presented itself as we left Indore for the transit town of Nasik (also Nashik). This journey didnt present a problem and we made their in time despite the journey approaching 416 Kilometers. Nashik is renowned for is vibrant and noisy Hindu cultur and it didnt dissappoint, festivities continued well into the night not that it mattered as I could have slept through a nuclear holocaust.
Again we set off early, this time with our sights set on India's finest named city, Pune. I have been childishly excited about this place, mostly due to its name, but also because it boasts a modernity that we had struggled to find in India. It didn't disappoint and we arrived and booked ourselves into a very nice hotel, sick of sleeping on beds made out of wood, and sunk into a sprung mattress and some hasty room service. Luxuries such as these are priceless in a country where most people are content sleeping on wood. Pune gave us an opportunity to get in touch with the west again and we managed to find a McDonalds, something which i would normally avoid back home becomes irresistible when faced with curry for three meals a day.
After a hasty breakfast in Pune we set off for Kolhapur, another transit town and oe we were apprehansive about as we didnt have any accomodation booked. WHilst stopping for a coffee along the way we happened to come accross a lovely man who spoke perfect English. He too wa journeying India, but his mode of transport was a Royal Enfield Motorcycle. He couldnt believe the stupidity of what we were doing, but applauded us for making it this far. He also told of a game reserve not far from Goa, where for very little money you can camp and see Panthers. These kind of encounters are unique to traveling and restore faith in people. With the prosepct of some wildlife in the future the journey to Kolhapur went quickly.
Kolhapur was our last stop before Goa, a part of the journey that both Steph and I had been looking forward to as a chance to finally let our hair down and chill for a few days. After a free Breakfast we set off, excited at the opportunity to relax. What should have been a relatively simple journey was hindered by the fact that every map in India is WRONG. In addition no one knows where anything is. As a result we drove for an hour in a complete circle and ended up back where we started. Not too much fun. Propelled by a diet of Pepsi and Oreo's we set off again this time in the right direction for Goa. As is customary when living off children's party food, both Steph and I have found at about 3.30 we experience an almighty sugar crash. This usually coincides beautifully with our having to negotiate our way round a city to find our accommodation. This I fear may be a factor in both of our road rage. We did arrive in Goa however, and with the promise of the sea, sand and unadulterated relaxation we made it to by far the nicest hotel we had seen on the whole trip. And with a room price of 17 GBP I literally wept into the soft down pillows and the spring mattress. Whilst watching the sun turn the sky over the Arabian Sea a blood red, I realised that we have really achieved something. We have driven from Central Nepal to Goa, in under 2 weeks. Has it been worth it so far. Yes!
Again we set off early, this time with our sights set on India's finest named city, Pune. I have been childishly excited about this place, mostly due to its name, but also because it boasts a modernity that we had struggled to find in India. It didn't disappoint and we arrived and booked ourselves into a very nice hotel, sick of sleeping on beds made out of wood, and sunk into a sprung mattress and some hasty room service. Luxuries such as these are priceless in a country where most people are content sleeping on wood. Pune gave us an opportunity to get in touch with the west again and we managed to find a McDonalds, something which i would normally avoid back home becomes irresistible when faced with curry for three meals a day.
After a hasty breakfast in Pune we set off for Kolhapur, another transit town and oe we were apprehansive about as we didnt have any accomodation booked. WHilst stopping for a coffee along the way we happened to come accross a lovely man who spoke perfect English. He too wa journeying India, but his mode of transport was a Royal Enfield Motorcycle. He couldnt believe the stupidity of what we were doing, but applauded us for making it this far. He also told of a game reserve not far from Goa, where for very little money you can camp and see Panthers. These kind of encounters are unique to traveling and restore faith in people. With the prosepct of some wildlife in the future the journey to Kolhapur went quickly.
Kolhapur was our last stop before Goa, a part of the journey that both Steph and I had been looking forward to as a chance to finally let our hair down and chill for a few days. After a free Breakfast we set off, excited at the opportunity to relax. What should have been a relatively simple journey was hindered by the fact that every map in India is WRONG. In addition no one knows where anything is. As a result we drove for an hour in a complete circle and ended up back where we started. Not too much fun. Propelled by a diet of Pepsi and Oreo's we set off again this time in the right direction for Goa. As is customary when living off children's party food, both Steph and I have found at about 3.30 we experience an almighty sugar crash. This usually coincides beautifully with our having to negotiate our way round a city to find our accommodation. This I fear may be a factor in both of our road rage. We did arrive in Goa however, and with the promise of the sea, sand and unadulterated relaxation we made it to by far the nicest hotel we had seen on the whole trip. And with a room price of 17 GBP I literally wept into the soft down pillows and the spring mattress. Whilst watching the sun turn the sky over the Arabian Sea a blood red, I realised that we have really achieved something. We have driven from Central Nepal to Goa, in under 2 weeks. Has it been worth it so far. Yes!
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