We eventually boarded the aircraft with a sense of happiness and a little of disappointment. There was no on-board entertainment to be seen and from that point on I knew it was going to be a long flight.
Finally the engines began and the cabin crew began their safety instructions gradually it was getting brighter even though there was not a single sliver of blue sky to be seen. Suddenly the engines began to roar at last the pilot spoke in his Syrian accent, “We are ready for take off”. The adrenaline was pumping throughout our bodies as we were being rocketed into the sky. It felt as if I was in a rollercoaster. Quickly the people and vehicles looked like ants as we gained altitude.
Moments later we were airborne and the sun burst out from under those clouds which looked rather like a pile of wet towels. Out came the cabin crew again who were dressed in dark blue and black uniform and very well coordinated as this was a Syrian airliner. They came with food and drink with a very bizarre smell. We asked for the vegetarian food, and out came a tray with a range of peas and salads, (I don’t think anyone is vegetarian in their country), and oozing its way through the peas was a small portion of mashed potatoes I thought what a wonderful combination of food to be eating at thirty five thousand feet now I felt sick.
Nine hours slowly went by without any form of entertainment and a continuous annoyance from my younger brother, begging me to let him sit next to the window. I felt as if my head was going to explode with boredom, being cooped up in a crammed and intolerable chair. I needed to have a walk but there are not a lot of places that you can walk in an aeroplane, so I went to the toilet. During the wait I began thinking what it would be like in India. My thoughts ran riot about sitting on the beach without a worry in the world, while my friends would be at school in the freezing cold weather. Finally the toilet became vacant and my thoughts were demolished till they would become reality.
For the rest of the journey I tried to get some sleep, as it was going to be about 2.00 p.m. when we arrived. At last we were alongside the coast of India. As fourteen hours of torment the plane entered its final descent and glided towards the runway.
I definitely knew that we were in India from that very familiar distinctive smell and the amazing palm trees surrounding Dabolim airport. The heat and humidity hit you as if you were opening an oven door gushing at our faces. It was immense and the temperature was blistering. We went straight outside after we were swamped by porters dressed in bright uniforms offering to carry our luggage. We managed to get a suitable driver who could fit our entire luggage in his black and yellow taxi.
There is one unmistakable thing about this country; it is the constant and maddening use of car horns. They use them to let someone know that they are coming from behind them, to tell them to move out of the way and an indication to tell them to listen to the abuse that is going to be shouted their way.
After we passed a couple of swampy fields, derelict buildings, dark rainforest and gigantic cows casually strolling into the middle of the road, (they just don’t budge until someone gets out of their car and starts to hit them with a stick), the beach resort of Nanu finally came into sight. We were all very excited.
We have visited this particular resort before and because it was such a magnificent place we decided to patronize it again.
Nanu Beach Resort is well spread in wide green stretches with verdant lawns giving it a typical Goan ambience. Decorated with swaying palms, the cool breeze of the Arabian Sea welcomes you at the Nanu resort. The traditional cottage style accommodation lures you with its royal ambience. The beautiful seventy two air-conditioned cottage style rooms provide you the luxurious and spacious sit outs in front of the Arabian Sea.
My Dad had sorted out the booking and we were taken by the bell boy to our villa. It was as if it was a fairytale land as we gazed at a forest of flowers through which roamed creatures I had never seen before. Among the thick, silky petals of each rose lived a tiny crab-like spider that scuttled sideways when disturbed. The small translucent bodies were colored to match the flowers they inhabited: mostly wine-red or buttery yellow. The rose stems were infested with greenflies and different colored ladybirds. We slowly walked down the perfectly laid brick path way finished with a two foot hedge, which was complimented by the villas garden’s lush green grass. There were about fourteen villas, seven at each side in a straight line looking over the pool which was accompanied by the odd harmless dragonfly swooping above it and a solitary bar with a thatched roof.
We climbed up the stairs to our apartment and gave a tip to the bell boy. I went straight to the balcony and eagerly looked out over the whole resort. My brother and I pointed out places we remembered from our last visit. I was fighting the temptation to jump straight in the pool but we decided to go to the restaurant first.
We were only staying for a week as we had to pack in a lot of activities in that short time. The next day started off with a sense of excitement. We splashed on the sun cream and begged my parents to hurry up. Beltalbatim beach was adjacent to the resort so it would not take long to get there. The sun was blazing as usual at 10 a.m., 38 degrees; we Brits weren’t used to this hot weather but it was a normal day here.
As we strolled along the perfectly laid path with lush grass to the left of us and to the right of us we were approaching the main attraction of this resort, the beach. I was stuck with a sense of awe as the clear blue waters lapped against the white sandy beach.
We stepped on to the sand; it was hot enough to fry an egg. People were playing beach cricket, basking in the sun and swimming in the sea. Tiny white crabs were scurrying around trying not to get trodden on. Men climbing 40 foot palm harness free were trees trying to retrieve the delicious coconuts. I didn’t have a care in the world.
I particularly enjoyed this scenery as the people were very friendly and welcoming. The cool crystal clear water was gushing round our feet keeping us cool. There were tiny fishing boats bobbing in the waters near the beach and much larger boats out at sea. The last catch by the fisherman was neatly arranged on palm leaves on the beach for drying.
We decided to walk the length of the beach and have a break at the other end at a resort called Colva. On the way there we bumped into several trinket sellers who were really keen on meeting tourists trying to sell them their particular products. They just do not give up. You finally have to resort to “go away!” Harsh, but a universal language that they seem to understand.
The wildlife there was incredible, crabs, different types of birds and even the odd stray dog hanging around probing for a fragment of shade. At last the shacks serving drinks and food began to appear in great numbers and more people were dotted around sun bathing and more people were having a swim.
There’s more to Goa than just the beaches and we spent the rest of the week visiting ancient temples, spice gardens and waterfalls. We even visited the crocodile sanctuary in Panjim, the capital of Goa. The keeper showing tourists around had a theory about crocodiles; he said they cannot bite you if you are standing up straight because they can only open their jaws vertically. His legs however looked a little bit chewed. Gradually the magic of this place settled as gently and clingingly as pollen. Each day had tranquility, timelessness, about it; so that I wished that it would never end.
Before we knew it the week was at an end and we were heading back to the airport in a taxi. We had a great time and absolutely loved the place and the people and would love to come back again soon.
Jagtar Singh Pandha Page of
