Mini Trip to Beyt Dwarka

Sky in the Morning..

A kind of camp fire..

Session on how ways come..

People playing volly boll..

Jeli Fish..

Sea Shore..

Enjoying the Moods of Waves..

Waves..

Sea aminal..

Boat in the Sea..

Beautiful Sky..

Camp site..

A Trip to Beyt Dwarka as a Volunteer

Hi .. I am Dhumsi… I went to Beyt Dwarka as a volunteer in marine camp of sunndarvan, invited by its camp coordinator Rajendrasinh Jadeja. Rajendrasir, other guest of Sir named Raj and I were suppose to reach there with the group, organized by Dhavalbhai, in their bus for whom we were going there. It was a family group. People were talking too much. So couldn’t slept at night. In the morning we reached Okha Port and the date was 7th November, New Year Day. From there we reached to our camp site at beyt dwarka by steamer.

The camp site was having some tents made of canvas, no electricity, few solar lights, three side water and one side land. A fantastic place with so much peace and pleasant weather with no modern amenity. And drinking water was supplied from Okha port.

Some rules were announced:
1. To take bath in the front sea.
2. To wash vessels and for any other purpose we should use water from the sea at the back. That is front and back from our tents.
3. Flag will be the sign to gather for breakfast or lunch or dinner.

Already there were two sirs Vishnusir and Khansir who belongs to youth hostel group.

I can say that I went there alone because except Rajendrasir I did not know anyone. And finally got in touch with two girls named Vrushali and Dhelni and three of us shared a same tent. I didn’t take bath on new year day!! Had lunch and had free time so played cards and T game with Pooja, Dhelni, Vrushali, Raj, Dev, Arzoo and Dhruvi, so got in touch with few more people.
Around 5 we went to Hanuman Dandi, it is the only temple in the world in which God Hanuman is with his Son, Makardhvaj. Myth says that, “when Hanuman was coming with Jadibuties, he was perspiring so much and its drops fall in the sea and in the sea, it went in crocodile ‘s mouth. And crocodile got son from that named Makardhvaj.” Its about 3 kilometers away from our camp site so on the way Rajendrasir introduces us to some small sea animals. There are mainly four types of land out of that three were found in this island, that is, muddy, sandy, and rocky.

Here a funny incident happened, Dhavalbhai wanted to take my picture but whenever he tried I somehow hide my face. So now he was firm that now he will take one anyway..ha..ha.. and to my bad luck Vishnusir helped him so I couldn’t do anything. In the return walk I came in touch with Vishnusir, he is also fond of tracking and does tracking camps. Half the way I walked alone, that too in dark as it was winter evening. Sunset happens early. It was nice experience walking alone on the peaceful beach, thinking and smiling alone. I like walking like this when nobody disturbs me and tell me to walk fast or the like. Had dinner and went to bad. Actually planned to play something but then cancelled.

8th November

Had good sleep. Dhavalbhai wake us up 2:30 in the mid night. And we saw that water level had came up and it was up to that level that kitchen and first tent were in water. So water was around at the distance of 10 feet from the front and 3 feet from back of our tent. I was bit surprised to see that. Finally woke up in the morning and got fresh. And went for the breakfast and there, Rajendrasir told me to serve because I was a volunteer so I should be differentiated from participants, he was very much right. Actually I enjoyed doing so. After finishing that we went on sea shore walk. Enjoyed walking. From a point we were taking turn to walk further 1.5 km but I also wanted to go to the rocks that I saw at a bit distant. But before I ask Rajendrasir, he started walking. So asked Vishnusir, and he also joined me. So few of us went to the rocks where water was showing its original mood, not so silent. It was making noise; big waves were coming and going. Wonderful, I enjoyed getting wet. And then I wanted to go to every last rock so that I can touch waves and feel the mood of water. Really enjoyed a lot. And then we all were waiting for the right wave to come, to click photo. Funny but enjoyable. And then cancelled going from the way to which Rajendrasir went and simply returned back from the way we came. Back to campsite and had bath in the sea. After walking so much and taking bath, all were too hungry. So went to kitchen and asked cooks to make it fast and started serving and this time Vrushali and Dhelni also join me and they also enjoyed serving. I enjoyed talking with Jigarbhai and Mukeshbhai, the cooks. Today, after very long time Vishnusir took his own dish otherwise he doesn’t prefer to have dish when he has to wash it on his own, according to him. Had some rest. And then people were playing games. I joined them in ‘Nagolchu’. Played it for the first time and enjoyed bit. And quit when they started with volley ball.

There was a lecture; Rajendrasir told how waves come and some other things about that. Learned some new things. And at night there was a session on star gazing. I have attended this kind of star gazing sessions many time but I can’t remember all the things because in Ahmedabad because of so much pollution I can’t see all those stars and without revision It’s really hard to remember as there are so many stars in the sky, really difficult to identify them. Had dinner and then planned for camp fire without fire. So set down, and started with kids and then most of the people joined. Some cracked jokes, some puzzles and the like but the most important was that, all were enjoying. I was happy about that. I got to know that Rajendrasir was searching for me and later on I got to know that finally I have to leave from here tomorrow and have to reach Rajkot by train and from there I have to take bus for Ahmedabad and there were two other people also who are going to accompany me. Bit not happy because I have to leave tomorrow but sir was in sleeping mode so could not talk to him properly. Camp fire over, went to sleep.

9th November

I didn’t have a good sleep last night. So got up early in the morning and waken up vrushali and Dhelni also and went in the sea around 6.30am. It was too cold but once entered then enjoyed. So had bath and came back before everyone woke up. Got ready and seated in front of the sea thinking that what to do, because I wanted to stay 60% and wanted to go 40%. So bit confused. I knew that Rajendrasir was now firm that I am going because he asked me before deciding for this. So actually I was not needed to think anything though I was thinking.

Went to serve breakfast and there Rajendrasir told me to be ready after breakfast and I have to leave at 9am. Everybody will go for dolphin watch today and then they will leave from the camp but Pratikbhai, Raj and I have to leave before that so we didn’t go for dolphin watch and left the campsite after meeting Rajendrasir.

So at around 9.30 three of us started walking towards hanuman dandi with luggage, this time. Raj was unable to walk with luggage. From Pir we got a “Desi Chakda”. I was so very happy to travel in that. It was my dream but in city those kinds of Chakdas don’t run. So I never got a chance to travel in that. I was so much happy but I forgot it take its photo. I am blaming myself for that, that how can I forget to take the photo of my dream..!! We left chakda at main temple of Dwarkadhish and walked a bit to reach jetty. So from jetty we went to okha port by steamer. Too much crowded but enjoyed. There was good wind on that day and because of there were big wave, so enjoyed the ride. At okha jetty Raj told Pratikbhai to carry his bag as he himself won’t be able to come out of the steamer with his luggage!!! I was surprised and laughing at him with a question in mind that is he really a boy or a baby!!!! And from the port we started walking towards okha railway station. And there, we immediately got the train so we didn’t get any time to think about lunch. Raj was bit angry here because he was asking about the lunch from the time we started from campsite and here also he didn’t have it. So he was worried about that and that is why he was angry on us. We travelled in general coach. We got the train which was directly going to ahmedabad but we were not knowing this at the time of buying the ticket so took ticket till Rajkot only as per Rajendrasir’s instructions. I was thinking to leave the train at Rajkot as we were travelling in general coach which was much crowded though we got the sits. But then thought that why to change it when it’s directly taking us to ahmedabad. Pratikbhai and I was of the same opinion but Raj didn’t agree to this as it was taking halt of 15-20 minutes or more on every station. Even he was not ready to shift to reservation coach. He just wanted to leave the train though he was not telling it clearly and making the things complicated. So much confused person!!! We reached Rajkot around 5 and Raj was still hunting for lunch. I offered him mine snacks but not ready to take. We went to luxury stand, inquired for bus and Raj finally got a restaurant which will serve him. I unwillingly accompanied him. After finishing “Lunch” when we went again to have bus tickets, all buses were full for an hour or more. Got couple sleeper coach for three of us but Raj, he was not ready. So after inquiring so much we got tickets in A.C. bus for Ahmedabad. I finally reached to my home after 11.

Whatever Raj did but I am thankful to him as because of his obstinacy, I travelled all the modes of public transportation except Air in one day. So I am felling very happy for that. Thank you so much Raj.

I am very grateful to Rajendrasir for giving me a chance to be a volunteer in the camp. Because of him I learned some new things, met some new people. This was for the first time I went somewhere alone like this though I enjoyed a lot. And I am Thankful to him for taking care of mine.

This was all about my three days volunteer trip to beyt dwarka.
I will be happy it readers will give some suggestions or comments.
Written by: Dhumsi.
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