A Solo Trip to Gokarna

As I get ready to go for my solo trip, but slightly more prepared as well (I have the bus tickets – no accommodation booked or activity planned), I always wonder: Is solo-travel the ‘true’ form of traveling? Why is there such a big fuss about a person not being a traveler/wanderer/nomad if he hasn’t traveled alone?

I love traveling alone! There is a certain charm to traveling alone – you definitely talk to a lot more local people, other travellers, strangers, you learn a lot about the place, its heritage, interesting tidbits, trivia – the ‘personality’ of the place. Though you might miss your friends or family, at least you’ll get time to miss them.

Anyway, since nobody really gives a damn about what I philosophise (neither do I – its a waste of time), let me introduce you to the place I travelled to:

Gokarna.. a small coastal town in Karnataka, on the west coast of India. It was the destination of my fourth solo trip, and one of the my most memorable trips too.

A lot of people might have heard of Goa – a former Portuguese colony, with a very distinctive culture of its own – as famous for its beautiful beaches and chilled-out atmosphere as it is for its irritating touts and hoards of touristy crowds.

Well, Gokarna is Goa without the crowds and touts. It’s beautiful. It’s simple. It’s a wake up call, to see the world in a different way. It’s a place to rediscover yourself.

This time I stayed at Half-moon Beach. The easiest way to get to Half-moon Beach is by boat from Gokarna. The journey takes about half an hour. The 20 minute hike from Om Beach is a breathtaking experience, it is a bit tough but the scenery is magnificent.
The accommodation is basic, without electricity, but very charming. The sound of the waves will give you a peaceful sleep. Here are the choices:
Clay huts
Igloo
Tents
Under the open sky

Living in a clay hut in Gokarna was Devine experience. in these clay houses you don't have electricity. I had to light candles in the night it was great time away from modern world of technology for self reconciliation and meditation completely in nature, just living on your own among the mountains by the most beautiful beach... there were many backpackers staying there like this away from technology. We had small bonfire in the night then music from different part of the world, concluded with some fireworks by me and Tetsuya (A Japanese Didgeridoo Player). I miss it, I wish I didn't have office so that I would have stayed there longer... That place was really a paradise i started missing it since the time i got into the Bus and reminisce for the beautiful time I spent there.

I am sure I will return there whenever I have time ... 

P.S. Thanks to all the friends I made in Gokarna for making my visit such a great experience! 

A Japanese Didgeridoo Player Tetsuya

I first meet Tetsuya at Gokarna when we were enjoying the Bonfire under the Gorgeous Night Sky  covered with Stars, where he was also playing with fire. 

Next day early in the morning while I was enjoying the sound of outer ocean on a beach, a Strange sound attracted me, something familiar, still unrecognised. I started following the direction of the sound. Finally when I reached the source of the sound, I found Tetsuya who is from Japan playing a Native Australian Instrument Didgeridoo. 

It was a pleasure meeting Tetsuya again, I remember approaching him nervously to ask him permission to click few pictures. Tetsuya was excited to learn that I captured him playing the Didgeridoo, a improvisation piece that included some new sounds he’s been experimenting with.

He has learned from, and has been influenced by this beautiful gathered group of musicians he meet at Rishikesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas. Tatsuya’s style is both powerful and technical, his sense of rhythm spot on, an unique style that many strive for and none can recreate. He also shares, his Journey and how he make his instruments from a trunk of a eucalyptus tree.

I’ve always been amazed by how beautiful our world is and when she shows her magnificence I feel the need to capture it. At the time I didn’t know what I’d be using it for, but I was going far out of my way to capture it.