My vacation 
October 15th, 2008 | by Gopa
A happy Dussera and Bijoya to everybody.
I wrote this last week but couldn’t publish as I wanted to insert pictures. I gave up trying, published this and then, finally, thanks to Muktadhara, I succeeded!!.
There were only four pujas in town. All of them blared loud music, but ONLY Bengali songs. (Not a single Hindi song in four days pf puja!) The locals spoke a dialect that I could not comprehend. (I was told it’s an admixture of Bengali and Oriya.) Yet I was not very far away from home - at the Bengalee’s favourite weekend retreat, the beach town of Digha.
A well deserved vacation, a desire to avoid the festival crowds of the city and at the same time banishing the sloth that grips me on holidays, visions of a vast, endless water body, the memories of the pretty sea shells that I loved collecting as a child and a late realization of it all directed me towards the nearest holiday retreat, Digha.
I wasn’t too happy with my decision at first; Digha is at best, a poor man’s paradise, with cheap hotels and cheaper food that is not much different from the usual fare we get at home. The shells sold on the beaches are imported from elsewhere. Most of my friends and colleagues have been there several times and so, there was nothing to brag about. However, having taken a late decision to go on a vacation, I had little choice.
I felt my resentment ebb when I caught the first glimpse of the sea from my hotel window. The sea was as mesmerizing as all other seas, yet it was different from all. The colors of the water and the beach sand, the nature of the waves, the smell of the air, the surroundings, were all different.
On our second day at Digha, a rickshaw puller named Shubrati became our unofficial guide and advisor. He took us to places we hadn’t planned on visiting. Thanks to him, we witnessed fishermen unload their stocks of varied fishes, including lobsters and baby sharks; we knew where to hire a car from and what fares to expect; we visited all accessible beaches, each one different from the other and concluded that they were as good as the best beaches in India and that the region had the potential to become a hot tourist destination.
Looking at the waves, I found it hard to visualize another breathtakingly beautiful sight that was before me barely a month ago. Much though I admired that sight, I couldn’t become one with it. But here, on the sea shore, I had become a part of the environment - an insignificant element of a magnificent scenery.
Of course, I was going to brag about the wonderful vacation I have had.
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29 Responses to “My vacation”
By Muktadhara on Oct 15, 2008 | Reply
hi gopa !! shubho bijoya !!! actually to upload pics in your blog ..ist upload them in your IBIBO PHOTO ALBUM ..then open one window of ibibo photos and another of create blog and directly copy paste …this is the only method i could find out …
By Sparsha . on Oct 16, 2008 | Reply
I love your fluent writing now, wish I could
Shuvo Bijaya
By sonia on Oct 17, 2008 | Reply
Brag on gurl…:D. We are all ears…errr eyes…:D
With a holiday, as peaceful and scenic, who would not want to.
Only a local person can show you the “real ” part of the city. It is a unique experience visiting all those nooks and corners, often unexplored.
Have really enjoyed the narration and the pics are wonderful. you seem totally rejuvenated and refreshed…..:)
tc, gos bless and thanx.
By Muktadhara on Oct 17, 2008 | Reply
hey gopa …wonderful pics ..it was apity not having them earlier!!
By Gopa on Oct 17, 2008 | Reply
Thanks to your tips…
By Shrihari on Oct 20, 2008 | Reply
Hi Gopa after long time. Very nice post and the pictures are wonderful. Do visit my new post “ Horrified THREE Days in their life”
By shiwani on Oct 26, 2008 | Reply
beatiful pics! ur narration and the picsfreshens up the mind!
By Idle Mind on Oct 27, 2008 | Reply
Seems you missed a sentence at least (starting with ‘My … ‘) before the first pic … some adjustment problems may be, albeit minor. As for Digha, I find it clumsy at times, yet after visiting Bakkhali and now planning to visit Mandarmoni, one feels a better experience … in case you are a sea-lover, you can probably give them a try too!
By Rashmi on Oct 27, 2008 | Reply
Nice to know you had a lovely time in Digha…the pics are beautiful !! Wish you and your near & dear ones a very happy Diwali !!
By sonia on Oct 28, 2008 | Reply
Happy diwali to u and ur family, Gopa
tc.smile
By Idle Mind on Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
I agree, since a woman would need the basic security on beaches. However, when I visited Bokkhali in mid-eighties, there wasn’t electricity in the lodge that we were put. I enjoyed every moment … sitting, strolling and humming by the sea … felt very tranquil!
By Surya Pratim on Oct 31, 2008 | Reply
After a long days the quality of post saved you from plenty Baroari gattas scheduled to be blessed on your head from all the ibibo users including me!
By Nishu's on Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
great……….u had a lovely time……and welcome back…………………
By Rakhi on Nov 9, 2008 | Reply
hiii,u got back ur computer?……..so god to see u blogging and it seems u did have real god time……..u agree with ur views on digha,poor or not but its really bad gathering attimes……but ,nature can never be a disapointment,how hard man try……and,i loved the 1st picture specially……keep very well (gopa)
By sonia on Nov 16, 2008 | Reply
Thanks Gopa , for ur comments. nature,emotions inspire gopa, so if the mood is there, one can pen a few verses :)!!
Tc.smile.
By Vijayaraghav on Nov 16, 2008 | Reply
Hope all well. Waiting for your new blog.
By Miranda . on Nov 17, 2008 | Reply
Many thanks for your wishes my dear Gopa….!! Lovable….
By Shrihari on Nov 25, 2008 | Reply
Gopa we are moving towards new year 2009 so waiting for your new post.
By Idle Mind on Nov 29, 2008 | Reply
Ki holo … notun lekha koyi? working hard or …
By Miranda . on Nov 29, 2008 | Reply
Waiting for something new in the air my dear Gopa….!!
By Idle Mind on Nov 29, 2008 | Reply
I am with you regarding Partha’s demise… and the pain is yet to subside, just that the normal me is not coming out from my writings too, very strange. A man who was so lively on the 19th of October, is just no more next 19th, isn’t that unbelievable?
By S U G A R on Nov 30, 2008 | Reply
Dear Gopa,a lovely read,typical bengal flavour reflects in your writing…read Surya’s comment ,almost as if he is still here …
Thanks for enjoying my contest read,waiting for a new post from you…
Best Wishes,Deepa
By Rashmi on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for your visit…I have posted the poem directly now as the picture is not being uploaded in its real size…Pl visit when you have time…
By Nishu's on Dec 1, 2008 | Reply
hey dear where is ur new post
By InkTank on Dec 13, 2008 | Reply
wheres this digha? and how about some pics of fish n lobsters being unloaded….nice vacation u seemed to have:)
By Rakhi on Dec 13, 2008 | Reply
hiii ,u o.k.?…..
By S U G A R on Dec 21, 2008 | Reply
Thanks Gopa..how are you?Glad you enjoyed the read,love,sugs
By Idle Mind on Dec 22, 2008 | Reply
Gopa, you will get to know the address of Baba soon … let the life catch you @ 40!! hehe … you are a few years away, may be.
By Sandy . on Dec 25, 2008 | Reply
Hi Gopa,
Thanx for your lovely comments on my post. Its almost two months now, where is the new one from you?