Gokarna - 1

I scuba dived in the middle of the ocean, I trekked a mountain to get the views, I collected sea-shells by the shore, I sat in the caves, I met a lot of people. Each of these experiences gave me the serendipity, mentally! But physically I was nestled up in the corner of my Bangalore home, after a very recent heart-break. I could feel the adrenaline rush in me as I read every line of a travel story written by a solo traveler on Instagram. She did all of these things, I wanted to, too.

The next thing I knew, I had already started looking for a safe travel destination for solo travellers. I had been meaning to pull off a solo trip since years, but apart from finances, what was keeping me away from going on this trip was the fact that I thought solo trips were scary.

The story that I read, changed it for me. Even though those weren't my experiences, the story gave me the confidence that I could too could do it. What better way to reboot life after a heart-break? This is how I started off planning my first solo trip.

It took me two weeks to decide that I would be traveling to Goa, and staying there for 2 weeks. I called up alot of hostels, inquired about a discount applicable on long-term stays and got quite some good deals. (DM me for details?)

Out of excitement, I told a few people about my plan and what did I hear? I heard things like I wasn't going to survive Goa since I didn't know how to ride a two-wheeler. I was told that Goa was unsafe. Two weeks in Goa seemed senseless for a few and some had me hooked to what would have happened if a lockdown was imposed while I was in Goa! Everything boiled up to I, cancelling this trip. I got even more anxious and was convinced that I could not pull off a solo trip.

A couple of days later, I came across the same story and felt the same adrenaline rush. My sentiments were the same, this time only more heightened. I needed to get out of my heart-break, I needed to get out of the city for once. I wanted an escapade. And so, this time, I mellowed down my voice and decided of going to Gokarna, a place in Karnataka that could satisfy the beach cravings I had since years.

I inquired a tad about how safe the town was, and I was in luck to have found a lot of female solo traveling experiences through Google. The reviews affirmed to my excitement and before I knew, I had booked a week long stay at Zostel Gokarna for myself, three weeks before my departure. I did not have an off, so I decided to go on a workcation instead. Perks of working from home! :)

I had no plans of what I would do in Gokarna, how I would commute inside the town. I was a woman with no plan this time, no noise, only excitement.

A week prior my departure, I got cold feet and sent a cancellation notice to Zostel, asking for my refund. I got scared thinking how I could not afford to become a loner in a new place. I had no confidence in my social skills. The heart-break only further put me out of my zone and I was convinced, I could not go to Gokarna at any cost.

For those thinking how I convinced my parents for letting me to go on a solo trip, I didn't convince them, really! All I did was, I told them I was thinking of a trip and they nodded in agreement, asking me to take care of their daughter they are trusting me with. It was assuring, but the daughter was still unsure.

I asked a few friends to accompany me, but in vain. In the meantime, Zostel notified me how long term stay discounts aren't accountable for a refund. I asked them to keep the booking as it was, and that I would come if I could. It was Wednesday when I was still indecisive of my trip since I hadn't booked my bus tickets. I had my check-in at Gokarna on Saturday. I asked mom what I must ideally do and it was she who nudged me into booking my bus ticket within 5 minutes of me asking her to decide for me.

I had an over-night journey to cover to reach Gokarna. I had booked an AC bus from KSRTC website that would pick me up from Majestic Bus Stand. There are a lot of private sleeper buses, way more convenient than the bus I travelled in, but somewhere, I trusted government buses, safety wise.

I still remember the night, I was waiting for my bus. This was not the first time I was traveling late at night. I had done a lot of late night travels in the past, but this one seemed different. I confided in a friend of mine to drop me off to the bus station, thinking his presence would help me in lessening my anxiety but in vain. I was so nervous whilst carrying a rucksack of traumas, stress underneath pile of clothes, I didn't realise how soon time would pass once I'd board the bus.

Obviously because, I dozed off after an hour of leaving from Bangalore.

I woke up in the middle of the night, only to see how I was no longer surrounded by the concrete jungle, or the arms of a comfortable home. The air around me was cold but comforting, it smelt of liberation that I had been yearning for, since my diagnosis of Clinical Depression, back in 2019.

I broke into a smile, looked into my phone with no networks. I couldn't get in touch with anyone at the middle of the night, I should've been scared, but I wasn't.

I took one of the longest breaths I had ever taken, a sigh of relief and I was suddenly thankful to myself for having taken this decision (credits of the little push also goes to mom!).

I dozed off again, only to wake up in the morning, right on time. I witnessed the beautiful road leading to Gokarna. They say it's not about the destination but about the journey. Well yes! My journey that led to this beautiful destination was a long one, but as I neared to it, my eyes sparkled like that of a starry sky!

After a 10 hour long bus ride, I was dropped off at the Gokarna bus stop with having no idea how to get to Zostel from there. Team Zostel was sweet enough to send me a mail with important notes about autos and their charges, and so I followed their notes. I got an auto, switched on my Maps to be on a safer side and started off to the destination, that I had booked for my stress and traumas to go away!

After a 20 minute auto ride, and paying 200 rupees (autos are expensive if you take a longer route, the shorter route to Zostel was closed that day) to the driver bhaiya, I stood in front of Zostel Gokarna, the place I had read so much about.

Zostel common room

It was humid in the morning, and my check in was not supposed to happen for a couple of hours since I reached early, so I dropped my bags in the common room (that's where you can chill pre-check-in and post-check-out) and went to the common washroom to freshen up. 14 hours had passed and I still hadn't talked to a soul, apart from the reception desk at Zostel and Auto driver bhaiya.

I had a tinge of anxiety thinking how much of a loser I'd be if I did not make any friends here. As I proceeded to the common room after freshening up, I saw the view from the top most floor of the property. The view was surreal. My anxiety said it was going to take a dip in the beach, my trauma went on a beach trek.

This is what you see from Zostel. Isn't it the best?

This was the moment where I was left alone with no one around me, yet I never felt so content as I did, at that exact time. Even though the weather was humid, I could feel the cold breeze from the beach touch my soul. The waves from afar waved at me, the sun smiled and serendipity was all I had.

Serendipity took me down to Zostel's Mantra Cafe and treated me with good pancakes and chai (weird combination but Chai has been the fuel) for I knew even though I was alone, I had serendipity as my friend in my first solo trip.

Tune in for Part 2, in the next story! :)