First stop was a chance to look at a pair of beautiful white bellied sea eagles.
Then up to the border with Maharashtra. It's so quiet and unspoiled there. Village life exists here. Banana, coconut, mango, cashew nut trees and pineapple bushes. No big hotels or nightclubs.
We saw about twenty or thirty boats laden with men scooping sand from the river bed with buckets on long poles.
These men are probably from Karnataka. They keep scooping until the boat is full and then gingerly return to shore. It must be valuable to them to risk their boats and their lives.
Indian pond heron
Spent a few hours in the cool breeze on a sun lounger at Mandrem beach which was quiet and pleasant. Delicious lunch at the beach cafe.
Late in the evening we met Thompson and Tricia for a drink. They fly home on Thursday morning.
Today, Tuesday, we took the bus to Mapusa to fetch our glasses. Helen couldn't resist these...
£2:00 for 12" dressmaking shears.
We caught the crowded bus back. Standing room only. An elderly woman told me to request a seat from the man sitting in front of her. He was sitting in a Ladies Only seat. When I asked him he said "No!" because he was sitting beside his wife. A man sitting beside the elderly woman gave me his seat instead. Then erupted a row between my ally and the man and woman in front. I think he said they were from Karnataka. There was a lot of shouting and still he didn't offer up his seat....
You are game asking for a seat on the bus like that.....surprising that the man didn't get up too. Sounds like a lovely relaxing day trip for you both.Am trying to think why the men would be getting sand with a bucket out in the middle of the river? Couldn't they get it near shore I wonder? And what are they using it for?
ReplyDeleteThe sand is probably being used for making concrete. They aren't allowed to take it from the edge of the river as it would destroy local habitat. This way they are dredging the river bottom.
ReplyDelete