It brings back happy memories and a quiet smile as I write about this more than a year later. One of the most memorable adventures on a bike which would be cherished forever and be imprinted in the memories down the lane. Sieving through my Goa album and fiddling with the large chunk of pictures, takes me back to those moments in a jiffy and surprisingly I recall most of the details quite vividly such as the scorching heat, getting a beer after a hot afternoon at Cabo de Rama, my mate's legs getting jammed after riding the Royal Enfield for almost the whole day as I still do not know how to drive a two wheeler. After landing at Goa after a five hour peaceful journey by train, we happened to crossed paths with a French couple at the bus stand near the railway station. I recall that the conversation began with pleasantries and me trying to converse in whatever little French I knew at the time. Slowly the conversation turned into a pretty intense one about comparison of the french and the Indian culture. And surprisingly we all ended up crashing on the same beach for the day although initially their plans were a bit different. They were pretty excited as they had got to interact with us since it was their first time in India while we got a western company in exchange. Both the man and the woman were hoteliers in France.
An island situated near South Goa. It in my opinion, can be called as the god's own country of Goa. A picturesque place, breathtaking views of the mountain valleys. Felt like a home, away from the hustle and bustle of a daily city life. A quiet, calm and serene island teeming with sounds of the insects and crickets as the sun goes down. And the birds retreating back to their nests after a long tiring day of feeding their family and a relaxing evening of enjoying the sounds of the waves crashing against the seashore. Young people can be seen enjoying a bottle of beer beside the calm waters and smiling and sharing happy memories with their friends. This is what makes up their evenings which I could comprehend that day. Also, one can see quite a number of people in the mini supermarkets during the evenings chit chatting with the owners. Very friendly and welcoming crowd.
An off beaten place of interest in Goa situated in the remotest of place and hidden away from prying eyes among the mountains and the seas. This fort is dripping in history of years of violence which once served as a strategic defence on the sea shores of the erstwhile Portuguese empire. As I stood on the edge of the cliffs and roll my fingers over the walls now overgrown with moss and plants, I could picture magnificent enemy war ships with large cannons raging on the stormy seas attempting to land on the shores while a swarm of arch-men valiantly try to defend the fort and sacrificing their lives in honour of their king.
And now I could only see rows of coconut trees all over the place, slippery ledges and the clear blue waters finally blending on the horizon. It was a hot summer day with the sun shining directly over my head and making me tired and parched with every step I took. The fort was extravagantly large and seemed almost unending. I couldn't imagine the time and effort it must have taken to fortify the territory and how well it must have been guarded. I was also amazed how well it survived over the centuries in the face of wars and greed. By the time I finished the tour I was dying of thirst. And the tour ended with a bottle of beer to satiate my thirst. So, it was a day which is forever itched into the memories of my heart.
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