If you’re someone looking for a way to recharge and find peace and calm, solo travel might just be the answer you’re looking for. I recently took my first solo trip - to Kihim, in Alibaug, and it was one of the most energizing trips I’ve ever had. I’m an introvert and I embrace alone time. The solitude, the sea, the breeze and the calm definitely helped me rejuvenate and recharge for the coming new year!
Growing up in the Sahyadri Ranges, I always loved going to nearby beaches on small picnics with my parents. Even after living in Mumbai for more than a decade and a half, I always longed to go back to the beach. As the eventful year 2022 is coming to an end, I decided to take a short trip to Kihim, in Alibaug, all by myself. Although it was not very far away from home, it was my first solo trip nonetheless.
I’d planned everything almost a month in advance, as I didn’t want to be stranded on a beach on my first trip alone - that would be scary. Reaching Alibaug from Mumbai is not very difficult. You take an hour-long ferry from Gateway of India to Mandwa jetty, and from the jetty, you can take a local auto/cab/bus to wherever you want to go in Alibaug - Kihim, Varsoli, Alibaug, Kashid, or anywhere else.
I loved the place I had chosen to stay at. It had a calm and local yet touristy vibe to it, with lots of coconut trees, hammocks, flowering plants and a small pool. The best thing about the place was that it was just a 1-minute walk to the Kihim beach. Yes, literally just a minute’s walk - a narrow passageway starts from the gate of the Hotel and takes you to the beach!
I spent my days walking on the beach, reading, writing and enjoying the solitude. The sound of the waves, and the fresh sea air filled with salt and humidity had something precious to it. I loved watching the beautiful sunsets - I would check sunset time online, and would run to the beach to maximize my time watching the sun set :) After the sunset, I would take long walks on the beach. The sound of the waves rolling in and out was calming, and it felt like a lullaby that put me into a state of deep relaxation. It was a time for quiet contemplation and reflection, as I thought about the vastness of the universe and my place in it.
Sometimes, I would sit by the beach, with my diary and pen, and write down my thoughts, feelings, and reflections. The clarity the ocean gives you is crazy.
Every single thing seems doable, and everything that has happened just starts making so much sense when you’re by the ocean. Why is it so? Is it because the ocean grounds us and splashes water on our feet? Or is it the breeze that brings life to our thoughts? I don’t know what it is about the beach, all I know is that it just lets you “be”. It soothes our frayed nerves and makes us feel like we’re a part of this planet, this universe, this galaxy.
I spent a lot of time doing nothing. I would sit outside my wooden cottage, under a canopy of coconut trees, calmly listening to sound of waves in the background. I realized it is very important to really do nothing, sometimes. It lets your brain zoom out and process things slowly and steadily. We’re often so busy and distracted that we never give our brain the time to rejuvenate and process everything that’s going on. The gentle sway of the hammock was soothing, and I would often fall asleep reading and looking at the coconut trees above.
I also took some time to simply relax and soak in the natural beauty of Kihim. I had local food at restaurants nearby - the Konkani food there is amazing! I also had a one-off creepy/shady experience. I saw some people heading towards the beach in darkness, there was smoke in the backdrop and the people were walking as if they’re hypnotised. It scared the shit out of me and I ran back to my hotel room. Later I was told that it was be some religious procession that I mistook for some hypnotic class. Lol. Of course no holiday is all easy and smiles.
But that didn’t stop me. The next day I again spent time meandering around, exploring ruins and hidden places, plucking flowers and interacting with a lot of locals. And I would do it again - for the whole experience
The beach and its surroundings provided an incredibly peaceful and therapeutic atmosphere that allowed me to connect with myself on a deeper level. So much so that it became very very difficult to leave, and start the journey back home. The seagulls accompanied me on my ferry back home as I fed them kurkure - a touristy end to my cathartic solo trip!
At this point I honestly didn’t want to end my holiday. But there’s a reason why it was supposed to be a trip, and cannot be an everyday experience. It’s the best 2.5 days I spent alone and I would do it over and over again!!