When I posted a few days ago about Chris’ surfing adventure, I commented that after accompanying him on Saturday, I elected to stay home on Sunday. At least one reader thought this was crazy! Who wouldn’t want to spend a few hours at the beach?
In theory, I am all for going to the beach. In practice, Indian beaches are just not used the same way as American beaches are. I don’t know that I can categorically say “Indians don’t go to the beach.”, but I do think it is fair to say that Indian beaches typically serve a more utilitarian function than American beaches do.
Not surprisingly, many beaches serve as a home base for fishermen who pull their boats up out of the water when not in use. In addition to boats, you can see many bundles of fishing nets, some boat motors, which seem to be removed when the boats are on shore, and a variety of other unidentified stuff on the beach.
I enjoy seeing the boats on the beach. It is interesting to me to see the different types of vessels used for fishing here, although it does make the beach somewhat crowded and less usable for typical American beach lounging.
Also making a home at the beach are these guys, who Lisa may appreciate.
I like the cows as well. They are peaceful to watch and I have some level of amusement with the fact that they roam the beach freely, but cows on the beach introduce a big problem for this beach-goer. Cow pies. Watch your step on a cow-filled beach!
Further exacerbating this problem is the fact that many of the people at the beach use it as freely as a bathroom as the cows do. When Chris first told me this, I had to question him further.
“Are you sure it is from people?”
“Not from cows?”
“Not from dogs?”
“Definitely from people.”
I’m sure that I looked at Chris with some level of alarm. “Is there…much?”
With a grimace on his face, he simply gave me a nod.
The visions I had of me lounging on the beach while Chris surfed immediately dissolved. I can certainly understand why many people, and cows alike, use the beach as a bathroom, but it still gives me some level of discomfort with walking on the sand. In retrospect, I’m glad that Chris didn’t mention this to me before we walked out on the beach for Ganesh Chaturthi.
I’m sure that I will still visit the beach on occasion, probably to watch Chris surf, but my vantage point will likely be the questionably sanitary beach side restaurant. Next time around I’ll stick to ordering water only!