The Beach’s Blessings
Day 17 (Day 4 of the Wonder-Bike Adventure) – 6th May 2018
Today we are getting around 200 km under our belt, heading
for Ullal Beach.
Pedro has had the most brilliant life-saving idea for me! By using the
ladies’ footrest and his super handy red rope, he has tied the backpack to the
side of the bike so I will no longer be carrying it on my back! That is a huge
relief, especially when we will be travelling 200 km!
It is 7 am. We take a deep thankful breath and bid the lady of the house
farewell.
Looking forward to finding out what it is like to bathe in
the Arabic Sea. Somehow heading for the sea makes me feel like it will be a way
of refreshing body and soul.
The way there is beautiful, as it has been every single day.
Mid-morning we stop for a bite and a rest and once again
enjoy one of those special Indian breakfasts that last us until dinner. It is
so very wise to eat something spicy right in the morning, to clear the whole
body of any unwanted bacteria and liven up for the day.
While going down a curvy road we come across our first (and
what will come to be our only) accident. And even this one was not a collision
of vehicles but rather a truck that turned over on its own. Anyway, it is being
taken care of and there are not many bystanders. Life goes on.
Though the journey is fairly long, the road is in good
condition and we make steady progress.
First we stop at Someshwar beach and then head for Ullal. It
is about 2 pm, scorching hot, yet we are brave and choose not to view the heat
as negative, but just as a momentary circumstance we are willing to accept. No
point not doing so.
Love whispers: the
difference between the Mind's judgement and the Essence's discerning wisdom is
that the first is exclusive and the second inclusive, therefore containing no
negativity.
We start looking for a place to stay… which leads us on a
local sightseeing ride, interspersed with a few inquisitive stops where we find
out accommodation prices and conditions and then, as it were in India, a young
man offers to take us to a good place.
We are open to his guidance but in the
end choose another place we had found initially ourselves.
Here everyone knows
everyone, everyone gets a percentage from everyone and we are a rare commodity –
foreign tourists. We have so far come across none! So whenever someone picks up
on our foreign vibe, they are very glad to be of service, some to obtain
something in exchange, others just because we are peculiar and they love to help.
We have come to find that Indian people are warm-hearted and
caring, generally innocent, wise and we have definitely felt no hint of danger.
We feel welcome, loved and honoured and that is such a wonderful gift! Thank
you Mother India!
We stop on the way to the place we intend to stay at, in order to buy some soap to wash our clothes and we find this curious display of tiny packages of all sorts of washing gear and more -from hair to body to dishes to clothes to food -all in small proportions :) Like this we don't risk carrying a heavy load or wasting unused commodities.
We end up at Vazco Beach Resort, Uchilla Beach– a simple,
clean and welcoming place, whose owner and receptionist are ever so kind.
Going into a room with air-conditioning is solace to the body and soul! Phew, what a relief!
Going into a room with air-conditioning is solace to the body and soul! Phew, what a relief!
A fresh shower, clothes washing ritual and a rest is in
order.
It is only when we are exposed to extreme conditions that we
come to cherish these “little nothings” that in fact are so much. We learn to
take nothing for granted and to embrace each pearl of comfort that comes our
way.
We rest until late afternoon and then take the young man who
wanted to take us to a good hotel’s advice: watching the sunset at Someshwar
Beach.
Apparently we are not the only ones! Many people have chosen
to do exactly the same but this does not create any hindrance to us finding a
good spot on the main viewpoint – a large rock at the edge of the sea.
We see many women of various creeds bathing fully dressed,
children semi dressed and men ranging from dressed to just wearing shorts. I
start to imagine what it might feel like to have those long black bhurkas soaking
wet and clinging to the body – might be refreshing, on one hand, then again, washing
all of that every day while on holiday and heading home with wet robes weighing
you down might not be very comfortable.
Above all I am fascinated by the
diversity of people, all bathing in the same sea and I am sure that if I came
along in a swimsuit I would be equally accepted, though it might be initially
shocking, I suppose.
The sunset deserves its popularity as the best show in town, even though it is a bit cloudy.
We sit on the warm rock and just absorb the silent spectacle,
thankful that the air is slightly fresher.
Nature is by far my favourite performer,
especially because in its humility, it offers its wonders with majestic
grandness irrespective of our standing ovation and words of praise. I love it!
When we checked in we were asked whether we would be having
lunch but instead we chose dinner so we know we will be having a fine meal
when we get back, but not before I go for a dip in the Hotel’s pool! Watching
everyone bathing has enticed my “swimbuds”.
Ah, life is good!
The meal is delicious – we eat tomato and asparagus cream
soup, pulao rice, mushrooms and lemon soda, plus some pappads with peppermint
sauce and a few more tasty delicacies. Hummm, our bellies are now as satisfied
as our souls 😊
It’s time to rest, once again overflowing with
Gratitude.
Tomorrow we intend to head up to Maravanthe beach, around
120 km further up…
Ah, yes, today the rain has come also to water our night's rest.
💙💚💛💜
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