Chronicles Of The Sassy Fork

Our trip to the Konkan was a short but action packed one.The beauty of the ocean,the cool sea breeze,the glimmering lighthouse in the distance all made for a perfect relaxation.While leaving I looked at the little cottages(of Ratnasagar resort) below the casuarina trees and coconut palms at the Bhatye beach for the last time. The only thing I was glad to leave behind were the mosquitoes which had a predilection for me! Essential to be armed with Odomos and Goodknight. Passed "Konkan Chinese Corner" a flame red colored roadside stall on the streets of Ratnagiri and stalls selling Dabeli.Took us an hour and half to reach Chiplun by road. There we had dosas at Shivsagar which were of excellent quality. After Chiplun came Khed.If you ask your bais at home or your Marathi staff or acquaintances at work which village they belong to,you will realise that they all lie along this highway. The ghats had posters of tantalising pictures of seafood of a Khed hotel called &q

We visited the Bhagwati Temple which is in the Ratnadurg Fort,on top of a mountain.The road to the temple is lovely as it passes by typical old Konkani houses shadowed by coconut,mango and banana trees.One can view the Bhagwati Bundar from above and see the Pandhara Samudra(white sea) and Kala Samudra (black sea).There is also a cave opening into the sea and an old well and some banyan trees. Saw a statue of Kanoji Angre,who was Shivaji's general and guarded ports.He started a naval force which eventually became the Indian Navy.He started the town of Alibag.He was well respected from Gujarat Coast to the Konkan.The Western Naval Command INS Angre and the Maritime Museum near Mumbai are named after him. While we were there,a new Coast Guard Centre was inaugurated at Ratnagiri to guard our waters against terrorists. After our fort visit,we then headed for the Mirkarwada Jetty where fishing boats were due to arrive with their catch.On reaching there we saw several boats and were tol