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Roads to Silvassa - Part 1

The first rays of sun spread across the Express Highway. Lowering down the window panes of our car. I could see the mountain peaks covered with greenery. The Sahyadri peaks are known for their rugged terrain and black exterior. The path up the mountain peak tests the endurance of any seasoned climber. The first monsoon showers enliven these peaks and make trekking a wonderful experience.
Aloo parathas, Samosas, Sandwiches, Crisps and Cola make for an amazing road trip. The sumptuous snacks coupled with music and a stimulating conversation are your allies on the road. Our car was humming the tunes of Eric Clapton, Coldplay as we drove through the highway. It was the first weekend of the monsoon and we had decided to pack our bags and travel.

One fine day Dad came back from the office and said this weekend we are going out. “Let’s plan,” Dad said. The impromptu planning session had turned out to be a debate competition between mom, me and sid. Each one choosing a different destination. Before things got out of hands, Dad decided one. “I have decided,” Dad said. He had kept it a secret. “Where are we going, Dad?” I asked while I was packing the bags. “You will know when you reach the destination.” He said, his words sounding prophetic. I began searching for a deeper meaning within those words and an extra pair of clothes in the closet readying myself for the surprise. So here we were with a virtual blindfold as Dad drove through the slow-paced traffic.

“Tell the kids where are we going?” Mom said trying her luck but dad was stubborn with his giving-a-surprise-at-the-end-of-the-road trick. So we gave up on the idea to know the destination and enjoyed our journey. It was pre-monsoon heat the temperatures had soared to thirty-four-degree celsius. “Observe the road, you will find your hints,” Dad said like a quiz master. An hour passed. “Look at the number plate of all the Heavy Vehicles. It starts with GJ.” Sid said. “That suggests we are heading towards Gujrat state.” Mom said. “Look at this message, ‘Gujrat State welcomes you...’ data roaming would be charged on your mobile services. We are indeed entering Gujrat.” I said. We passed a Toll Check Post. “We are entering Gujrat and since its a road trip we would be visiting the places near the Gujrat border.” Mom said. “That means it could be Daman, Silvassa or Saputara,” Sid said.

“We have already visited Saputara and Daman once. That leaves only one option...” I said. “and that is Silvassa.” We all three said in unison. “Bingo, you got it right,” Dad said. The climate was humid, dry and hot. We could feel the heat in the car. I was not sure if Silvassa was my kind of a place. But none the less I wanted to explore it either way. We reached the guest house at eleven almost after driving for more than two and a half hours. The guest house was simple yet suave. They had an indoor badminton court and a Gym. We spent a few hours acclimatizing and getting refreshed. We set out on our quest to explore Silvassa. But our first checkpoint was the restaurant as exploration is more amazing with a belly full of food.




























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