24th May, 2007

There is strange fascination that people have for morning walks and for jogs on the beach. I realized that I share it with a hundred other people at 6.15 am on Miramar beach. There was moment when I had to sprint a few meters to escape people.

There was a slight drizzle here yesterday. Consequently the sand was a bit wet even where the sea didn’t reach. I switched on the Ipod and started the jog. There is this song by Red hot chilli peppers called the Zephyr song; it’s a very beautiful song. As I ran the entire stretch of the beach, the song washed me up completely with its feeling.

Fly away on my Zephyr
I feel it more than ever
And in this perfect weather
We'll find a place together

In the water where I center my emotion
All the world can pass me by
Fly away on my Zephyr
We're gonna live forever...

forever... wonderful lyrics...

At the hostel Sanket finally informed me that he would be in Goa by 1.00 pm. And for a change he kept his word. We decided that it was time to check out Baga and Calangute.

Calangute is Goa’s most commercialized beaches. You can see loads of people enjoying the beach, water sports and other stuff. There are various shacks at Calangute, most packed with booze guzzlers. If you want have a first hand view of how Indians spend their vacations in Goa then this is the place to be. Topless men in shorts lying in the water, screaming and shrieking kids; their harried moms, drunk dads; fully dressed aunties in water, couples cavorting in the water; groups of 20-30 somethings playing water polo and enjoying the sea. Everyone has a blast on this stretch of sand.If you want solitude stay miles away from this beach.

At the edges where the water ends hawkers sell Goan souvenirs, trinkets, ornaments, glares,T-shirts, bags, handicrafts and just about anything except bikinis. There were very few firangs at Calangute that day. There was one gorgeous one who was busy reading Shantaram.Calangute is a bustling beach full of activity. You can experience first hand a liberated and energised India. I mean if on a vacation where people relax and laze around we give so much of ourselves, imagine us working!