Goa - Fishing in a Pond

Monday, November 24, 2014

On our way back from Colva Beach, I noticed this man sitting next to the pond with his traditional fishing stick. Waiting for a good catch.

Hope he gets a good catch. Patience and sharpness are virtue here. I guess Fish is the main course for dinner tonight :) 

Goa - Colva Beach

Saturday, November 22, 2014

The entire trip we have been exploring historical monuments across Goa. 

Colva Beach

Was getting a kind of monotonous for Namrata and she wanted a break from history.  So she decided on Colva beach.

"No ways, Not Colva" In said. to this she asked, "Why?" to this I replied, "I had been to Colva beach in my schooling days, The kind of crowd it gathered in those days was sickening and to add to it pigs too dominated the beach."

Colva Beach

Namrata convinced me to accompany her by sponsoring food and drinks for the night. To which I readily agreed.

Colva is located in Salcete, in South Goa made up of white sand and the shore covered with coconut trees. As it is a famous tourist destination there are lifeguards who continuously patrol the sea. 

Colva Beach

It was a dull day at sea. The sun hid itself behind the clouds and the strong winds blowing all around made me feel good. It was low tide and in a matter of minutes it started changing.

As we didn't carry any beachwear, we decided to talk for a few km on the shoreline. The cold water lashing on our feet made me feel good. Namrata contined to have good fun, splashing water on herself and me like a child.

Low Tide at Colva Beach

There were not many people at the beach. Which was good. I don't like crowded beaches. 

It changed my outlook towards Colva Beach atleast for that day. I didn't mind tying a hammock between two coconut trees and sipping on some ice cold beer and reading a travel guide. If wishes were horses men would ride. LOL.

Coconut trees on the beach stretch

We then headed off to Margao City to have our dinner, which was to be sponsored by Namrata. 

Goa - Japanese Garden and Beach in Vasco

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

After visiting the small Mormugao Fort in the vicinity of the Mormugao Port Trust we headed onto the main road to have some refreshments. 

Japanese Garden signboard

As we were sipping on cold drinks, I inquired with the shopkeeper if there is anything around which she could suggest, we pay a visit too. To this she replied Japanese Garden poile" meaning have you seen Japanese Garden. To which I replied, "Na" She gave us instructions and we decided to walk it out. 

Fortification via which is the entrance to the temple and the beach

In the past also I have taken instructions from locals on my treks and been walking for hours and hours at a stretch when they say it is just twenty minutes away. 

I quickly inquired if I need to walk or board a bus to Japanese Garden to which, the lady declined and said that I will reach there i twenty minutes. Not again. But I still decided to go by her word.

Cross near the beach

In a matter of twenty minutes we were at the Japanese Garden. The Mormugao Port Trust looks after the maintenance of the garden.

Now this place is divided into two parts, the garden and then stairway to the secluded beach down below. 

Durgamata Shiv Mandir

We were on the stairway that led to the beach. As Goa had received its share of heavy rains, the entire area as full of creeper and wild vegetation. A zig zag stairway finally leads down the hill. Japanese Garden is situated on a hill.

We need to cross trough an old fortification to reach the beach. This fortification is not around the entire place, just a part of it. Maybe it was all around but had collapsed over the years. 

Coconut trees near the beach

The Durgamata Shiv Mandir (temple) is located very near to the beach. Now as we were approaching the beach the weather had started changing course. The Sun had disappeared behind 
the dark clouds and it had started blowing. No sign of the rain though.

There is a Cross erected near the Temple. No signboard as to why it was erected there. Historical significance is unknown. 

View of the beach

Just below the temple is the beach. "A secluded beach just for us" I said to Namrata. to which she readily agreed. It is a small strip of land or should I say beach with rocks all over it. As it was high tide the wild waves were lashing against the rocks and onto the shore. Each wave bought us more closer to the temple premises and to top it, it had started raining. That too heavily. We got some wonderful shots here. 

The weather was so nice that I felt like tying a hammock between two coconut trees and sipping some ice cold beer. Only if wishes were horses men would ride. But I will make sure that the next 
time I am on a each I will carry a hammock and a can of beer for sure to relive one of my many wishes.

View of the beach

"Castaway" is the word that came to our minds. Soon we could here sounds of men talking in a distance, as it was raining they were racing to reach the temple which offered shade. "It ain't Castaway, any longer" I said to Namrata, to which we both burst out laughing.

Stairs leading to the beach

We waited till the rain had stopped and then we headed out to visit the garden which is located on the edge of the hilltop.

Dark clouds in the sky

The garden offers a panoramic view of the hills, the sea at large in a distance. Plenty of ships sailing in the water.

Bus to Japanese Garden (Sada)

Finally we reached the bus stop again. Mini buses ply to this part of Vasco city. The Japanese Garden is located in Sada. So any bus plying to MPT colony, Sada and Vasco KTC and back needs to be boarded to reach here. Alternatively this place can also be reached by a private vehicle. For the beach below it needs to be trekked.

Starfish at Mangalore beach

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Here are some amazing photos clicked by Avinash of starfish at a beach in mangalore

Malvan Beach in Malvan

Monday, February 24, 2014

Standing on the Malvan Jetty gave me an amazing view of the land and the sea.

The Sindhudurg Fort parked itself in a distance clearly visible to my naked eye. The Front of the fort was so wide; I could gauge how big the fort actually was standing at the Jetty.

Malvan Beach was very colorful. Photos shot here are good enough to be kept as desktop wallpapers. 

Beautiful view of Malvan Beach. 

 The beach had white sand with green waters lashing on it. I missed the heavy rush of water gushing on the shores here. This place was like a haven for fishing boats. They were parked both on the white sands and the green waters of the sea . The white sands were covered with coconut trees so dense that I could hardly see through it.

The seas were very clear as I managed to see the bottom of the sea. A few rocky patches too could be seen in the sea. What I liked most is the color of the water in the sea. The green colored water was very refreshing to my eyes. It was basically because of the vegetation.  

Another view of Malvan Beach

There is a jetty erected on the Malvan Beach, boats plying to Sindhudurg Fort ply from here.

In the evening this place is packed with people, who come to see the sun setting in the waters, boys playing volleyball on the beach and the local fishermen pulling their boats out of the water after a hard day’s work. 

View of the massive Sindhudurg Fort from Malvan

Standing at the jetty gave me a commanding view of the sea and the land. I almost thought as if I was a General here looking after the territory I had. Imagining I had the fort, the sea and the land in my kitty.

But that was my imagination but the reality is that this place is truly beautiful. Do come here in the evening to spend it with the sea.

Journey Silvassa to Bordi

Monday, July 2, 2012

The last destination on my road trip was Bordi, a small fishing village near the Maharashtra border.

As there is no railway station at Silvassa, one needs to come to Vapi to board a train to Bordi, a railway station on the Mumbai-Gujarat rail route.

I inquired at the bus station if we could board a direct bus to Bordi. The receptionist said that there was no direct bus. He suggested that I board a bus to Vapi and from there take a train to Bordi and from there a rickshaw to Bordi.

Silvassa to Vapi by bus

Vapi to Bordi by train

Bordi to Bordi beach by rickshaw

Three different modes of transport to my final destination, Bordi.

So I boarded a local bus to Vapi from Silvassa at 8:50 am. Buses ply every 20 minutes to Vapi as it is a junction for people who are travelling to Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman.

The bus was packed with people, most on their way to work.  The seats of the bus were a bit uncomfortable but when one is travelling, one cannot always expect a comfortable ride.

The roads leading to Vapi are bad; one stretch of road was being repaired to make it better, so the ride was a bumpy one. The amount of dust generated was bad enough. As the bus was not an AC bus, we had to keep the bus windows open to ensure ventilation.

The major difficulties that passengers face in the bus are bad and dusty roads, crowded buses and the unbearable mid-morning heat. But I was determined to get to Bordi and that was the driving factor on this part of the journey.

It took us an hour to reach Vapi bus depot which is located at a distance of 15 minutes away from the railway station.

Alternatively private rickshaws also take you there. They charge around Rs 150 per seat. The bus charges Rs 15 per seat. A difference of Rs 100.

We reached the railway station at 10 am. The Ahmadabad Virar Passenger train was to arrive at 10:10 am at Vapi.

As I was inquiring at the inquiry counter, the train arrived. I had no ticket. What should I do? Should I board the train without a ticket or should I wait in line for the ticket? That was a big question.

I somehow hurried to the ticket booking counter to get myself a ticket. A long line awaited me there. I didn’t want to miss the train either. But I still decided to stay in the line because I didn’t want to travel ticketless.

Guess what? I not only managed to get myself a ticket to Bordi at a cost of Rs 6, I even got a place to sit in the train. I was really lucky. The passenger train was bound to halt at all stations along the journey. I settled down in my seat and prepared to enjoy myself. Through past experience, I knew that train journeys are always fun.

A few passengers got in and as the seats of the train were occupied, they decided to sit in the place meant to keep the luggage. Some people were sitting and even sleeping there. I saw a passenger resting his sandals above the fan. The luggage carrier was broken in places and the poor folks that had settled up there were trying their best to make themselves comfortable on the broken seat. I was afraid that the seat would fall and send them crashing down on the heads and backs of the passengers seated below. But my fears were unfounded. Looks like these guys were used to traveling like this.

A few eunuchs entered the train, hoping to get some alms for themselves. A few salesman were there displaying their food articles and hoping to make a sale. Finally after around an hour’s time, the station arrived.

I got out and saw that we had reached Gholvad station, not Bordi. I knew that Gholvad and Bordi are neighbouring stations.

Luckily I met a Ticket Checker (TC) and he told me that the train didn’t halt at Bordi but that I could get to Bordi even from Gholvad by hailing a rickshaw at a cost of Rs 8 per seat.

I did as told and sat in a rickshaw which would take me to Bordi. The journey offered a lot of green vistas and I was cooled by the breeze rushing at me from the sea on my left hand side. I was beginning to enjoy this ride. Soon I alighted at Goolkush Hotel and from here began my effort to get the best deal to stay  for the night.

Bordi village and the beach are at a distance of 2 km from Gholvad railway station. There are very few hotels here, Goolkush Hotel, Jayee Resort, Tapovan and Anand Resort, to be more specific.

The tariffs of all these are almost the same. They range between Rs 1000 to Rs 1500 for a twin sharing room.  There are very few restaurants here.

The journey was fun as I had again travelled by three modes of transport just as I did on my way to Udvada from Daman. I have begun to get a feel of travelling. I hope to increase the modes of transport I travel by in the future.

Jampore Beach

Monday, June 18, 2012

Six km from Moti Daman stands a white sand beach named Jampore.

I didn’t like the beach much, because the water was dirty, but I could still see people swimming in the water here. I guess people have got used to adjusting to situations.

Jampore Beach

A beach is a beach for them. They don’t bother to see if the water is clean or not. They just jump in and begin to enjoy themselves.

There were few people on this beach. I don’t know if this is the scene everyday or just today or maybe because I landed on the black sand shores in the afternoon. But I could locate more shacks on the beach than people. I found that the cost of cooked food is exorbitant here, compared to the cost of packed food items and beverages. I had a double egg omelet and it cost me Rs 40.

Paban the Camel

I saw a few camels on the beach, offering camel rides to people who wanted to avail of them. But since there were no takers, the camels were busy resting under the hot sun. The bodies of the camels had been decorated. The name of the camel was painted on its neck. 

A few horse carts stood around in the hot sun, waiting to take people for a ride.

More Shacks and Less People on the Beach

This is Jampore Beach. One can reach this place either by a private vehicle or by rickshaws. The rickshaws run unmetered but the fare is reasonable.

Bordi Beach

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Bordi is a small fishing village near the Maharashtra-Gujarat border. This small village offers a visual treat of green trees and a beach with black sand. A narrow road running through this village sees a stream of rickshaws, buses, cycles and private vehicles off and on.

Bordi

The roads offer a pleasant sight. As I walked along, I could see chikoo trees on my right and casuarina trees on my left on the beach front. There are a few old Parsi bungalows, all surrounded by trees, on this road. These old and beautiful bungalows rest peacefully near the black sand beach of Bordi.

For a moment, I felt a tinge of envy. What a fabulous way to spend the evening, every day, watching the sun go down right from the porch of your house. And if you were sitting on a rocking chair with a mug of beer or a cup of black tea, why, what could be better?

Beach

Small houses crowd both sides of the narrow roads. I wonder how the buses ply on these roads without damaging life or property. Some of the houses are in a very old and dilapidated state. You never know when they will come crashing down.

I landed on the beach of Bordi late in the afternoon. The heat was killing. It was low tide when I got there, and I had to walk almost a km to reach the water. I noticed that the water was rather dirty and completely unfit for swimming in.

The narrow lanes at Bordi

The crabs on the shore had created beautiful patterns there. Also, there were tiny dunes formed on the shore. This was the work of the winds on the sand. The casuarina trees were gently and delicately swaying in the wind. Altogether it offered me a very pleasing sensation. By this time, I had almost forgotten about the heat, thanks to the swaying winds.

As I walked along the stretch of the beach, I also found a couple of shells in a pattern I had not seen before on any of the beaches I had visited. I picked up some of these shells for my personal collection.

Pattern formed by crabs on the sand

I found a dead snake and many dead crabs on the beach shores. Looks like the waters here are not safe for crabs. I have never seen so much death and desolation on the beach.

I met a couple of fishermen who had just come back from the sea. So I asked them, “Masa bhetla ka?” (Did you catch any fish?) In my broken Marathi. One of them replied, “Nahi” (No) in a sad tone.

Dirty Water accumulated on the sand dunes

The fishermen were folding their nets rather dejectedly as they had not managed to catch any fish. I prayed that they might have better luck tomorrow.

I then moved on to explore the beach further. In the distance I saw a few mangroves in the middle of nowhere. As I approached nearer, I noted that the tide was rising. So I decided to head back to my starting point.

Fishermen pulling their nets

Returning to the shore, I sat on the sand and watched the sun drown in the water. I wished I had a hammock. I would have tied it between two of these casuarina trees, lain there quietly with a pint of beer in hand and watched the sun go down. Already I seemed to have drifted far away from the stresses of everyday life. I didn’t want to get out of this state of mind. But I had to as it was growing dark and I had to head back to my cottage.

My day in Bordi was a mix of both the silent beach and the small fishing town. It kept me away from my daily chores and let me be with myself.

Erangal Jatra

Friday, March 9, 2012

Ever since Shawn and Flature had told me about this Fair which takes place at Erangal Village at St Bonaventure Church, I had made up my mind that I would go see this Fair. I go to the Bandra Fair every year. But this fair was new to me.

 The Erangal Fair is held every year on the second Sunday in January. To read about the Erangal Church and Village   http://merwynsrucksack.blogspot.in/2011/12/madh-fort-erangal-village-and.html

St. Bonaventure Church

I had gone to visit Matheran with Shawn, Perpetua, Savio and Flature on Saturday. To view my writeup on Matheran, click on this link, http://merwynsrucksack.blogspot.in/2012/03/matheran-four-points-and-lake.html

The relentless walking that we had done in Matheran had caused blisters on my leg but I didn’t want to miss the Erangal Fair. So despite my foot injury I decided to go to the fair.

 I asked Hithakshi to accompany me to the fair. We decided to meet at Malad Railway Station at 2 pm. As it was a Sunday, the frequency of the train services had been affected on account of maintenance work. We were able to reach Malad station only at 2:30 pm.

THe Erangal Jatra on the Beach

Bus no. 271 plies to Madh. Since Erangal Village is on the way to Madh, we boarded this bus. On this day BEST runs special buses to take devotees to the Church. Each bus carries a banner, reading Erangal Jatra - Reserved especially for the Fair (Jatra). The bus ride lasted for 35 minutes and cost us Rs 12 per head.

 At the bus stop, there was a big traffic jam, with police bandobast (police for patrolling the fair) and devotees in large numbers.

Giant Wheel

We added our numbers to the crowd. Both sides of the road were crowded with vendors selling sweets, toys, curtains, religious articles and foodstuffs. It took us around 20 minutes to reach the Church.


The church, built in the 15th century, was whitewashed and beautifully decorated both from the inside and outside with lighting and other décor.

Statue of St. Bonaventure in the Church

Statues of St Bonaventure were kept for people to pay their respects. People came in huge numbers to pay their respects here. We too joined them in the queue.


The Church is near the shore and as it was a time of low tide, the waterline was far away. It was the perfect opportunity for vendors to set up their stalls.

The Well of Death

Flature had left a comment on my earlier post on Madh Fort, Erangal Church and Mandapeshwar Caves that the fair was usually meant for East Indian communities who used to cook, play music and eat in the shacks they used to build on the sea shore. But that was the past.

To view my post on Madh Fort, Erangal Church and Mandapeshwar Caves, click on this link http://merwynsrucksack.blogspot.in/2011/12/madh-fort-erangal-village-and.html

As I entered the Fair (jatra) I was reminded of the depiction of fairs in old Hindi B&W movies that I used to see as a child. This fair was exactly like those shown in those old films.

Local Tattoo Artist

The tall giant wheel ride, the merry-go-rounds, and small car rides for the children, the Well of Death where daredevils drove their cars and bikes, the ice cream and cold drink stalls on the beach, the toys prepared by the local artisans, the tattoo artists with their tattoo machines and designs, the clothes kept for sale on the beach, the sweet marts, toy shops, the balloon shooting galleries – all these things took me back in time.

There were horse carts too on the beach, where people were enjoying joyrides for a price.

The Erangal Jatra

As we walked through the fair, we saw a number of people sitting about in small shacks and listening to songs played on their car stereos while eating food cooked on a slow fire. These family get-togethers were a nice sight to see.

Later we headed off to the rocks to enjoy the cool breeze. We sat there and enjoyed the quiet sea and the huge crowd in a distance at the fair and later decided to head back as that was the only way in and out of Erangal Village. 

Families enjoying on the Beach

The bus stops were extremely crowded so we decided to walk for a while. Before long, we noticed that other people were also doing the same. We walked for a long time, without sighting an empty bus or rickshaw. Finally having walked for two hours we reached the junction from where one road goes to Manori and the other to Madh.

 At this point my legs began to protest against the strain they were being subjected to, but I could not indulge their need for rest. I still had to walk to get to some mode of transport. We decided to go to Manori and catch a bus there. Apparently the other people who were walking also had the same idea, because they all landed up at Manori.   

BEST Bus to Erangal Jatra

Now it was around 8 pm. We sat on the banks of the Manori Creek enjoying the view of the Pagoda in the distance. It was truly amazing. There was darkness all around with just the Pagoda shining as if it was made of gold.

 We had no luck with buses and rickshaws even at Manori. So we decided to walk to Malad station. It was a 1½-hour journey on two feet. To add fuel to the fire there was a traffic jam along the road, which made the movement of vehicles and humans difficult. As motorists started clambering on the footpaths, we humans found it increasingly difficult to walk.

 At last after walking for about 45 minutes, the traffic jam showed signs of moving so we immediately hopped on to a bus and reached the station in 30 minutes.

 I was extremely tired with all the walking and the blisters on my leg didn’t make matters any easier for me. Finally we boarded a train and headed home.

 In spite of the pain, I still enjoyed the jatra a lot. It brought back old memories.

 Thanks, Hithakshi, for accompanying me on this trip.

Map to St. Bonaventure Church from Malad Station



View Larger Map

Juhu Beach

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Juhu Beach is the beach stretch in the surburbs. It can be easily accessed from Andheri and Vile Parle railway stations on the Western line. Hotels like Sun N Sand, Novatel and Ramada Plaza Palm Grove are located next to the beach. The famous Iskcon temple is located a few metres inside but a walkable distance from the beach.

I started my journey by boarding a Best bus to Juhu Beach. There are plenty of Best buses to Juhu Beach. From Andheri station, 203 and 256 attract a huge crowd. The cost of the ticket is Rs 8. One can also travel by taxi, rickshaws and private vehicles.

I always prefer public means of transport while travelling so here I am in Best bus no 203, going to Juhu Beach. I left my home at around 5:15 pm hoping to get a glimpse of the sunset. Luckily I got the 203 bus in time, but I also got stuck in the traffic jam. At 6:10 pm, I was still on the way to Juhu. I wondered if I would get to see the sunset at all.

Sunset at Juhu Beach

Nevertheless I still went ahead with my plans and I got off at Juhu bus station on the way to Juhu beach and decided to walk to the beach.

I started walking as fast as I could, hoping to catch a glimpse of the sunset on my camera. Finally I was at the beach just in time.

Juhu beach can be accessed from various ends. The area where I had reached was usually less crowded so I decided to start surfing the shore from here.

Litter on the Beach

Hotel Novatel and Hotel Sun N Sand were the two hotels right next to the beach, with some private bungalows alongside.

As I stepped on the sand, I immediately rolled up my pants and took off my slippers and started walking towards the sea. The sand felt so nice and soothing under my feet. I was enjoying the view too simultaneously. I took a few photos of the sun setting in the sea with the rays of the sun popping out from the sunny clouds that surrounded it.

As the tide was low, the water level was far beyond the normal water level so I started walking close to the water, dipping my feet in the ice cold water as it came ashore. I felt really good as the water lashed against my feet. 

Beach Cleanup team

I started walking towards the Versova end. A little further I saw that the beach was flooded with litter which people had thrown in the sea. The sea does not calmly accept the rubbish that you put into it. It vomits the same out on the land, putting the dirt back on our doorsteps. So for a few metres, all that I saw as I walked on the shore were coconuts, garbage and garlands.

Luckily I saw a beach cleanup team nearby. Arriving in a vehicle, they approached this stretch to collect  the waste lying on the shore. As I moved past this, I saw that the beach ahead was clean, thanks to the beach cleanup unit. They had taken care of other people’s messes and made the beach a great place to spend the evening.

The beach was less crowded here so it was fun walking, amid the cool breeze. I walked long that day, but my body felt refreshed. The momentum kept me moving.

Back Flips

On the beach I saw a few boys trying their hand at somersaults and back flips. They had a trainer there who was helping the rookies. As they were attempting this on the sand, it was safe. There wasn’t any possibility of any of them getting hurt much as the sand is a natural cushion. As I walked, I saw many such tutors and students on the beach practicing back flips.

A little ahead were a group of boys playing football on the beach. Playing football on the beach is more tiring than playing on green grass. I have played on both and I personally feel beach football is more tiring.

On the shore, I saw a few stalls selling corn, candy floss, coconut water, bhel, etc. As I passed by, they asked me, “Sirji, kuch khaoge?” (Sir, do you want to eat something?) To which my answer was “Nahi” (No). Ahead I saw a vendor selling peanuts. I asked him to give me Rs 10 worth of peanuts, and he looked at me with astonishment. Looks like no one has ever bought peanuts worth Rs 10 from him. Good, he will remember me.

Football on the Beach

I started munching my peanuts and walking on the shore. I saw elderly couples and health conscious people jogging and doing light exercises on the beach.

I saw many dogs on the beach, not stray dogs but dogs of all shapes and sizes and colours who had come for their evening walks along with their masters or care takers. Soon my peanuts were over.

I decided to do a U-turn here and head to the crowded stretch of Juhu Beach.

People strolling on the Beach

I thought of getting myself some corn. Having bargained on the price for the biggest one, the hawker put it on the fire for it to roast and then sprinkled some lime juice on it and handed it over to me.

I noticed a few children in the distance. They were equipped with beach toys and were making forts and hills on the beach. It was lovely to see them use their imagination. Flashback — when I was a kid I used to do the same on the beach. I used to build forts with moats and make hills and then the water would come and destroy it. I used to also write my name in the sand, only to find it being erased  by the seawater.

I walked a little further munching on my corn and saw a few boys play cricket on the shore. I must admit I have never played cricket on the beach ever. Hopefully, someday in the future.

Children playing in the Sand

Away in the sea I saw a few boats. They were far away in the distance and I had to zoom in on my camera to see them clearly. I guess they were trying their hand at catching fish in the sea. As I looked up in the sky I could see planes take off every 15 minutes.

On my first flight to United Kingdom, I was sitting near the window seat. As the plane took off, I saw it cross over Juhu Beach. The view from the plane was amazing with the sea down below and the people looking like ants. That was the last sight of land. After that I got bored looking out of the window as all I could see was water, water and more water.

I noticed a few people dancing on the shore to the accompaniment of blaring music. As I neared them, I saw that they were students at the (ISKCON) temple. They were wearing saffron robes. Some were dancing, while some others sang and played the drums. I walked past and soon their voices began to sount faint over the swaying winds.

Cricket on the Beach

Finally I was at the main entrance of Juhu Beach. This side of the beach was full of people. Walking through the crowds now took much longer. I saw that some of the people were swimming in the water were drenched from head to toe. A few families were seated on the beach on a chaddar (bedsheet), enjoying home cooked food and watching the sun go down.

The beach was full of photographers who would click a photo of you for a price. One of them approached me and said, “Saab, Juhu beach aaye aur foto nahi liye, to baat nahi bani” (If you come to Juhu beach and don’t get a photo of yourself by the shore, you’re missing something). No sooner did he see my camera than he smiled and walked away.

Again I saw a few vendors selling candy floss, small samosas, novelty articles etc.

Plane in the sky

I saw a miniature parachute man flying up in the sky. The winds were so strong that he kept swaying in the wind.

There were a few tattoo artists on the beach too, offering both temporary and permanent tattoos. There weren’t many takers for the offer though.

There were a few games stalls here, like throwing a ring on an item. I tried my hand at this at Rs 20 for 10 tries, but failed.

Disciples in the ISKCON Temple

There were a few stalls selling pav bhaji, fast food and golas on the beach. These stalls were crowded with people.

After peanuts and corn, I had kala khatta (a drink which tastes like cola). The food items here are a little over priced but is ok. After having my kala khatta, and having shot some pictures, I headed home.

My evening at the beach was fun-filled. I had my evening walk, had my favourite snack (peanuts), saw children building castles in the sand, boys playing cricket and football and doing somersaults, and people enjoying their evening walks with pets. I guess this must be the scene here every day. But the beach was clean again thanks to the beach cleanup team. I disposed off my peanut wrapper and corn stick in a dustbin nearby.

FoodCourt at Juhu Beach

I enjoyed my evening at the sea, with water lashing against my feet and the chilly breeze blowing.

You too should head to the beach, I say.