Wishing everybody a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
We were really looking forward to the 3-day break we got for X'mas this time (25-27th) - I guess the hectic work schedules and long hours at office really take a toll on one's mental peace:) So hubby and me decided to go off on a nice road trip, which would be relaxing, pleasant, and fun. Both of us did not want to hit the usual Goa jamboree...so after some net search, we finalized on Malvan - a small coastal fishing town, 80 - 100 km before hitting Goa. And let me tell you - it was simply purrfectt!! Malvan had everything we were looking for - a small quiet tucked-away town with a great white sand beach (Tarkarli beach about 6 kms away), the famous Sindhugurg fort, and great cheap seafood! 
Though there are quite a few tourists from Pune and Mumbai this time of the year - most of us were here for a quiet time, and not party-time. I think it was a perfect vacation. Let me describe our three days with some nice pics we took -
25 Dec (Friday) - We left early at 5:00 in the morning, and it was biting cold initially, but we stopped for tea on the highway and prospects were much brighter thereafter! The sunrise was spectacular (p'haps bcause we NEVER rise early enough to watch it!) and the traffic was minimal in the morning. We covered good ground and reached Kolhapur by 10:00 am - including a couple of pitstops for b'fast and pics.
In Kolhapur, we took the Rankala Lake exit from the city and then the Gaganbawra route through the Western Ghats. This is awesome route - once we crossed all the sugarcane fields on the plainlands, and touched the mountains, the riding was smooth, though slow - but we really loved it! The temple on the edge of the mountain looks like some out of the world monastery in Spain:)
From Talere, we entered into NH-17 (Mumbai-Goa highway) and after some more biking - reached Malvan by 2:00 in the afternoon. The place were we had booked (Madhuban Village Resort) is a really nice cozy place with clean room and bathroom, and a sturdy hammock outside in the garden. It was 2-3 minutes walk from the closest YD beach, which is mainly used by fisherfolks. Lunch we had at Geetai restaurant (Chaitanya was bursting at its seams, so we went in here instead). Fish a la Malvani style was delicious, though slightly spicy at Geetai. Evening we strolled on the beach and watched the sun set in the Arabian Sea. Dinner we had big juicy prawns and pompret at Madhuban - cooked by Mrs Sadaye, the owner of the place - it was yummy beyond words.
26th Dec (Saturday) - Started with some lazy b'fast of pohe at Madhuban, and later on we hit the Tarkarli beach. 
Check out the live starfish we found there - we then put it back in the sea. (Pic of the starfish coming soon!) Post some scrumptious seafood at Chaitanya's (highly recommended) - the Surmai fry filled the big steel thali, and afternoon siesta, we went to the famous Sindhudurg Fort, which was built by Shivaji. Its only 15 minutes by boat-ride from the Malvan jetty, and again, is a must-do if you are there.
We were back at Malvan by 6:30 - 7:00 in the evening, and for dinner, we went hunting for veg thali (too much of seafood does not really suit us landblubbers:). Watched Rab ne bana de jodi (sic!) on the telly and retired for the night.
27th Dec (Sunday) - After another lazy b'fast at the resort, went to Tarkarli beack and said "goodbye, see you again soon" to the sea, and hit the road again. The traffic was much high now, since many holidayers were returning to Mumbai and Pune, and we reached home at 8:30 in the night.
A few things-to-do at Malvan are still waiting to be done like snorkelling, stay at MTDC boathouse at Tarkarli, dolphin spotting, and crab-eating. Guess , that warrants another visit to Malvan/Tarkarli sometime:)
Posting some pictures from our trip - check them out. It was a nice short trip...200 odd km round trip with a few friends from Ashrut's office. 
