AN UNFORGETTABLE FERRY TRIP

It was 16^th October 2012, I had to go to Bicholim for a meeting of an organization. There are three executive committee members from our town Marcel including me. We decided we will meet at the ferry boarding point at Tonca and go by motor bike. So I went there with my car and parked near the ferry boarding point and met one of the Committee members. But at the last moment he could not make due to some personal work. So we called up the third person who said he was already on the ferry which left just now. So we told him that I will come by next ferry and that he should wait for me the other side i.e Sarmanos.

The other ferry came. I got into the ferry. I could see that the level of water was low and that it was low tide. The ferry man allowed 4 four wheelers and atleast 10 – 15 motobikes to come inside the ferry. There were many people too. One of the 4 wheeler was a goods carrier and that too loaded. The ferry started off to sail and then he took a round and started moving forward.

Now let me explain the sailing route. The ferry has to sail about 200 mtrs through small canal called as Cumbarjua canal before entering into the main river i.e. River Mandovi. (This can be also called as linking river between River Mandovi and River Zuari). Then it has to cross the big river Mandovi to reach the other side i.e. Sarmanos. This is the shortest route to Bicholim Town from Marcel.

Ok now let me come back to the sailing point where our ferry just started sailing. So as the ferry started moving ahead, suddenly with a jerk the ferry stopped. Suddenly I was confused, what was happening? The ferry’s engine was on but ferry not moving. I just looked towards the sailor’s cabin, but could not see any panic situation in there. Some people like me had worried face while most of them sat calm.

The sailor again raced the engine but no way would the ferry move. Then he tried to take reverse then too the ferry standing still in the waters. Lucky that this happened before the ferry entered the Main River.

Then I saw one of the assistant of the sailor coming down and checking the engine room. I asked him what happened. He didn’t reply and went on to check. Then he came out of the engine room and shouted at sailor that there was no problem in the engine. By this time I could see a worried face of a mother who was carrying small child who was not well. They were taking him to Doctor. Another old lady started saying that she will be missing bus. Damn about others, I was afraid by now. Not knowing what was going on. I started praying that let this ferry reach safely to shore. Now we were in the middle of the canal. Then again the sailor’s assistant came down and started looking into waters. Again I asked him the same question what happened? This time he replied, he said that it was low tide and the ferry has got stuck on the canal bed. Ooh that was relief. Then I asked him whether it is serious. To which he replied hey no… as and when water will rise in the canal due to tide we can sail. The other guy had reached the other end and was waiting for me. He called me up and said its 20 minute passed your ferry should have been here. So I explained to him what had happened and told him to move on so that he won’t miss the meeting.

The ordeal was going on. No one in ferry knew exactly when we will be sailing. Time was also ticking away. Then the sailor’s assistant came told all the passengers come near the engine room, thinking that the ferry got struck in the front portion. Again the sailor raced the engine and also instructed some motorbikes to be parked near the engine room. May be his idea was to ease the load in the main parking area of ferry. No way would the ferry move. Alas this trial also failed. By the time all this exercise was done, already we were in the same position from last 35 minutes. Then after discussions between Sailor and his assistants they decided now that all the passengers move on to the front portion towards the tip. As directed we all went near the front tip. As soon as we all gathered near the front tip, the ferry started turning. Yes said the sailor we are through but he turned the ferry back wards and then moved back some 50 mtrs and then took a new direction as to avoid the problematic route. Then slowly he raced and ferry started moving. By this time it was 7:50 Pm. I lost all hope of attending the meeting. Decided I will go to the other end and come back in the same ferry as it was pointless going now.

By god’s blessing we safely reached the other end crossing the River Mandovi in 10 minutes. While the ferry moved I thanked God for the safe journey and also prayed that I reach home safely. The biggest tension was that I do not know to swim. If ever the ferry was sinking then I would be in trouble. I started thinking about my family, my mother, wife, sister and brother. I cursed myself for choosing the ferry route for going. I thought I should have gone through other route. Though the distance to Bicholim while going through bridge is more, It would have been safer.

Any way the ordeal ended with great relief. And I deciding to avoid ferry the maximum possible.

Thank God nothing serious happened and I am safe, writing my experience and sharing it to you.

Goanz…..

LIVING ON THE EDGE….

December 21, 2012 end of the world, As per Mayan Calendar. Is it true? Many would be afraid. If at all it occurs than it would be the end of God’s beautiful garden called Earth.

Each day is a new day for humans. As and when we get up in the morning we should thank god. Yes thanks for protecting me and helping me to see the new sun in the morning. Each day we are living on edge

No one knows whether a war will break out. No one knows whether there would be deadly storm, deadly earthquake or deadly volcano. Or even asteroids may hit earth suddenly or pole shift would occur.

Most of the religion too tells us about end of world or recycling of life. Things are going out of hand. People talk about wars. Confusions whether there would be full fledged war. Unrest in the Middle East is main concern. If at all a war breaks out there then it would spread worldwide. Lot many countries are having nuclear weapons. And for their supremacy if at all any country uses nuclear weapon, then that would bring end to life on earth. Remember even a grass will not grow on earth.

Earth is becoming an oven. Instead being enveloped by Ozone layer, we are being enveloped by carbon dioxide. Thanks to pollution. And we are not bothered to find green ways sincerely.

As and when we loot earth we are weakening the crust of earth. Solar flares have gone up. May be these two reasons along with pollution is playing major role in devastation. Movement of earth’s crust has increased from last 15 years. I meant to say more earthquakes happening. If you see the trend and record of earthquake, everyday earthquake is happening but very mild. Not felt by humans. I fear is it the beginning of major quakes?

Apart from natural calamities, human’s life is questionable. Due to jealousy, greed, power, we even don’t mind in eliminating our own human brethren. One may be out of house in the morning for work, but due to the qualities of humans as explained above, the person may not return home alive. Our mind is becoming so wicked. That’s why I say we are all living on edge.

One by one the species of animals are becoming extinct. Many species eliminated for humans benefit, monetary wise or for fun. But that is also very cruel. The balanced eco system is under threat. When I was in school we were taught about balanced eco system and how it works. But now the chain of this system is getting weakened. Alas days are not far when we may not see these creatures any more. Scientists boast about cloning. But that is not at all natural. A natural birth is always fit way for animal. Fit to fight against all odds. But a cloned, unnatural way may not have the quality at all. A small ones when born sustains and attain full immune system with mother’s milk a cloned animal may not experience that. Any living things when born naturally by spending development stage inside the womb of mother have special bonding and love for the species. But whoever being cloned may not understand the species unity but however it may be, the nature should be in position to support all these nonsense.

Have seen in news channels and also read in news papers about sudden deaths of large numbers of fishes, birds and other insects. Though scientist tries to find the reason, many a times these reasons don’t impress me. Lot of variation in the environment may be leading to their deaths. But it looks like mass suicide by those creatures. Feel very sad whenever hear those news. But have to accept the fact that this is happening.

Imagine an asteroid hitting earth. We are dependent on NASA for this. But recently I have observed and read in papers about asteroid whizzing past the earth. NASA tells this to us few days prior to passing. We as common people don’t know whether these asteroids suddenly gained momentum and started moving. So we don’t know whether any asteroid suddenly losses its permanent calm position and starts moving in the collision path of earth.

The core of earth is still in hot molten stage. Just boiling inside the earth’s crust to come out free. There are many volcano points on earth. These are pure natural activity and we don’t know when the nature will spread its arms to destroy earth.

Very recent news was that Artic Sea melting at alarming rate. But instead of condemning and finding solutions to control this, human are trying to find the wealth hidden beneath the sea. How cruel on our part. Greed and needs of people are only increasing day by day. Hope these don’t end up with Artic war. If at all it happens than Artic Ocean will never freeze again to control sea levels all over the world.

The storms, cyclones, hurricanes are increasing. Bringing in disturbances in the areas that are being hit. These signs make me feel that we are all living on edge.

I pray to the almighty to help us to live on, with a hope that you will show sympathy and love to your creation. As children of yours we are bound to make mistakes. Help to understand each human that there is value for humankind, value for nature and live in peace and harmony. And free us from the thought of being living on edge.

Goanz….

 

POEM 4

NO MORE LOVE

Is it my luck that you neglect me

At times I think Now I am free

You loved me for a period of brief

The trust in you brought only grief

The candle melts fire laughs at it

But after candle’s death will fire exist?

You caught another person as prey

But don’t cheat him that’s all I pray

Don’t make false promises

For you there are numerous advices

You poke knife in to my heart

No more love cos I have learnt

Goanz...............

Poem 3

My third poem

KITTEN’S FEAR

Pitter patter pours the rain

Grumbling are thunders like train

Kitten the only pet I have

Imagines; what the sound and how

Innocently it looked into my eyes

I hugged it instead warm it was ice

Sure it’s the new rain for her

I explained; rains to come; more and more….

Goanz……

Poem 2

MESSAGES BY STARS

Twinkling of stars in sky

Playing hide and seek its no lie

Tells me many things of life

The blunt and sharp edges of Knife

The scenario dark beautiful its sure

Think deeper; magnificent to lure.

The ups and downs of me it tells

The off and on done by stars

Dark demon of clouds wallops light

Makes Astro bodies out of sight

Demons of lively; the man I speak

Wallops you; throws you in to creek

Nature of man shifts for everyone on Earth

This is at youth; innocent you are at birth

The wheels of life turned by turner

Don’t fall as victim; I am the Warner

goanz........

POEM 1

I had written few poems when I was in college. The first poem written by me……

RHYTHM OF STREAM        

Listen to the rhythm of stream

So sweet and melodious

Just keeping in pace with dreams

Of each me and yours

The stream being shawled

By the green weaven shawl

Setting a base to the rhythm

Produced by the stream

The winds whizzing past

Making a clean and pure

Though music is too fast

Still it’s melodious to lure

Humans mind is so busy

Creativity drying in his soul

Music of stream is not followed

As the busy world made one busy



goanz.........

Onam 2012

Again the harvest festival Onam has arrived. It is the state festival of state of Kerala. Though it has legendry associated with Hindu mythology, it is being celebrated by all religion irrespective of Class and Caste. This it self shows the communal harmony of state of Kerala.

The myth says that Kerala was ruled by just and noble King called Mahabali. During his reign people were considered equal with no difference of caste and class. The kingdom prospered during his reign. He became so popular that people started worshipping him and forgot God. So in order to bring back the people on track towards God Shri Maha Vishnu was requested to find a solution. Shri Maha Vishnu took up the avatar of Dwarf Vamana and appeared in front of King Mahabali. He asked King Mahabali for three steps of Land for him. King being so kind and warm hearted readily agreed.  In the very first step the Brahmin (vamana) took , he occupied entire Earth, the second entire Heaven and asked where he should keep the third step to which king offered his head and told him to place on his head. Vaman Placed the third step on his head and was pushed towards pathal. But before he vanished to Pathal he asked for a boon that he would love to visit his subject and kingdom once in a year and that boon was granted. People believe that King Mahabali visits them during Onam.

However as the years went on all sects of the people started celebrating Onam. In actual it is a harvest festival and each and everyone in Kerala celebrates it with great pomp. Ona sadhya is the centre of attraction. It will have variety of vegetables and curries made of vegetables and rice served on fresh cut banana leaves. Different types of Payasam are being served. One also can see floral carpet (flower rangoli) being put in front of the house. This floral carpet is being put from day one Atham to Last day Thiruonam. Everyone in the house wears their new clothes and with great festive mood prepares for Onasadhya.

This year too the people of Kerala are celebrating Onam with the same interest and enthusiasm.

May People of Kerala celebrate the Onam festival with the same Communal harmony and prosper as per the will of King Mahabali.

Goanz……………..

RAINS AGAIN

June 5th, 2012 again the rain reaches the beautiful green Goa. I had been trekking the coming of rain on internet through IMD site. Always anxious to see the satellite images to know about the position of cloud density. Well the wait is over... rains lashed Goa from 5th June. The smell of rain so good. When the first rain drops fall on thirsty dry land, one get peculiar smell of the mud. That is beautiful experience. Still the monsoon has to get momentum and very sure it will and cover the land in couple of days. The first day i didn't take umbrella with me. I just wanted to get wet and experience the first rain shower. It was fun getting wet. Rains carry lot of memories from my childhood days. The fun we had going to school in rain wearing brand new raincoats and many more. The whole of India was looking forward for their share of rain as soon as it was declared that monsoons have arrived in the southern most state of Kerala. The farmers through out the country would be delighted. May this season too help them to en cash a good crop. As and when the rains will get its momentum i will be posting more and keep you updated of my favorite season............... RAINY SEASON (MONSOON). goanz

ARE WE REALLY DEVELOPED?

The modern worlds we say is very much developed and also boast about lot of medicines for cure. Let me speak about my country. There was a time about 30-40 years back where very few were educated and lot many people uneducated. And now the situation is such that most of them are educated and lot more poor people have started sending their children to schools. Thanks to various Government schemes.

Now when the education was less there were robbers and thieves. Most of them robbed fruits and small things then sell it in market. So it was thought that giving education to them will minimize the robbery and crimes. But when we boast about educated world, the level of robbery has increased. The education given to them is being used to rob and steal systematically. We have seen lot of people who have piled up wealth. With the mere salary it won’t have been possible. Here they have used their education to rob in such a way that the front person will never know how he robbed the common man.

So instead we becoming refined people through education, we have become high level robbers. Many scams have been unearthed and many more are still at the back of stage.
When education was less people were selling quality goods and food items. Education has helped them to cheat the people by giving low quality goods and food items. For e.g. Bananas and other fruits are been ripened using chemicals. The uses of preservatives help them to store the fruit and other food items for very long time which in fact is dangerous for health. So development has occurred but in wrong way. Education instead of reforming us in right way has reformed us in wrong way.

Now another thing is that in olden times the number of hospitals was less. So whenever a pregnant women was about to deliver a baby, then they used to call special older woman in the villages to help them deliver the baby. Then there were no sterile conditions. The room in which the delivery of baby occurs may not be clean as you see sterile clean hospitals. Apart from that no body knew in what condition was the woman who comes to help deliver baby was. She may have been cooking, or working in field and as soon as she is being called for help she leaves all her works just cleans her hand and runs of the house to help the pregnant woman deliver the baby.

The baby would be delivered in non sterile room and conditions. No advanced medicines available at that time. Yet the number of deaths of baby or pregnant woman during delivery was very less as compared to the modern advanced world where advanced medicines and sterile conditions are available.

The Woman who comes to help deliver the baby never wore sterile gloves as like today where nurses and doctors wear so that baby is born in sterile condition. Even after all this conditions, the woman in older times could deliver 10 – 12 times or even more. But the present modern world where the conditions are sterile and availability of advanced medicines, woman cannot bear many children, after 2 -3 delivery, the uterus of woman is removed due to various complications or diseases. So what do you feel, advanced developed world was better or typical uneducated situation was better?. Obviously if the education was rightly used, then there wouldn’t have these problems as we are facing today.
Earlier every one was very much depended on Ayurveda. Now advanced chemical medicines are available which gives lot of side effects. If you ask any doctors about Ayurveda, they would say its nonsense. But true even the fore fathers of that particular doctor were dependant on Ayurveda.

The children of older times used to play physical games, like football, gilli danda, volley ball, marble (Gotti) etc… now in the modern civilized world, the children don’t know some of the games and how it is being played. Most of them clink to computer games equally supported by educated parents. The result is that either these children are too fat or develops lot of problems in the future due to lack of physical exercises.

Also the memory level of modern children is reducing. Whenever they want information on any thing they just click on any search engines on internet and get what they want. In older days the children used to work hard to gather information. In the path of searching matters from various books helped them to gather information of other subjects, which is absent in the modern world.

So after carefully studying the past life and modern life, the educated people are losing the beauty of life. The respect for elders is reducing, time given for family and children reducing, the physical work reducing, number of crimes increasing, advanced medicines giving rise to new diseases, increase in selfishness.

So think in a rational way, where we are going wrong. Is the modern educated world which we are claiming is really modern? Have we used our education properly?

It will be better for you to find answers rather than me answering because those reading are educated and have mind to think rationally.

GOANZ…….