Arambol - 2 | india unknown

Arambol - 2

Oct 7th, 2008 by tilak

No my description of Arambol cannot be yet over.
How can it, it was only the afternoon when I left you to take the compulsory afternoon break which is popularly described as socegadu by the Goans; when everything stops including one’s mind.

Socegado

This is a very complex subject and a word incomprehensible for the many non-Goans. Probably you won’t even find it in any dictionary, but the Goan dictionary ends with that one word. However, as and when I find the time, I would like to deal with the subject of socegado in a little more detail. Please excuse me for the time being while I indulge in it for a bit.

Beach football

As you get up from your afternoon slumber you see the tired evening sun leisurely descending down on the western sky. A group of young men gather in front in the beach and start kicking the football which I believe is the most popular game of the world for obvious reason. It does matter where one is born, everyone enjoys this fascinating game. Neither does one need much paraphernalia to enjoy the madness playing this magnificent game. Any circular object will suffice, be it a coconut, or when available a leather ball. That’s it. There after it is time for total fun and happiness.

But if you watch carefully the boys having an enjoyable football match on the beach in Arambol you may notice something interesting. The two teams are almost always from different continents. Their skin colour maybe different as maybe their attitude towards life and their basic requirements; but it does not matter as long as the ball is being kicked while in the fading dusk, the sun provides just enough illumination for the exercise.

I mean, you will soon realize that on the beach it is an European team is up against a local Goan side. An official encounter between an European football team and an Indian team is rare in this part of the world but an unofficial match is on every evening in Arambol during winter months.

A large number of tourists in Arambol are from Europe (almost all) and many of them spend a long time there. The crowd that usually gathers there probably is not very busy in their own world and has found the time to spend in leisure. It is very much like the Goans themselves.

Amongst the tourists, many recognises the opportunity and will set up a local business. The Goans will accommodate them and they have an earning to sustain themselves for a long periods. Be it a shop, a restaurant, a resort, a bakery and one has even started an unique super market. I’ll describe Ingo in detail in a future blog.

If you have the time to spare for yourself and for Mother Nature, Arambol is the place for you. Even if you are amongst those whom this materialistic world does not recognize as a wealthy and, or, a valuable person. but you will indeed be the fortunate one.

To be able to spend your leisure with the rising moon.

The Goan moon

The moon will nevertheless emerge on the eastern sky at dusk, and will communicate exclusively with you in a language which nobody else will understand. You will feel human existence in this world has its worth. Unfathomable peace prevails there as you imbibe the moonlight which percolates through the foliage onto the beach and to the roaring sea.

Your soul by then will have been tranquilized by the world around you.
You ask it to move, to leave, to return home.
It will say, “no, never again”.

Tilak Ranjan Bera | 01 October’08