saurabhjn

Winters... when the boys were learning salsa on the beach.

The rains are nice. But the winters are better.

It's drum circle season

This is what freedom looks like. Kavin's cycle has finally arrived from Gurgaon, so I no longer have to ferry him to school on a scooter.

Got fully vaccinated today.

What a lovely experience. The staff at the Government District Hospital in Mapusa were more organised and helpful than the fancy Medanta Team that gave me my first dose.

When we were young, sparrows would visit our home near Yusuf Sarai in Delhi. We'd have to rush and open the French windows of the house, and turn off the ceiling fans to protect them.

As we grew up, the birds around us seemed to have learnt to stay out of human homes. Until this month. Here in Goa, we have scaly-breasted munias visiting us sometimes. And, well, they're stupid. They keep fluttering against the fixed glass panes of the windows for an agonisingly long time, when there is an open window right underneath (see the pic for context).

I suppose the spotted munias forage in the paddy fields around our house. And visit us to snack on all the insects we harbour indoors. Perhaps I'll have the kids put stickers on all the fixed panes, to alert the birds.

(These social, communal birds are frequently caged. The pet trade calls them the Spice Finch. Its... so sad.)

This is how smart boys go to school.

You'd think the Goa life is all sun and sand. But I'm at the beach after 1.5 months.

I should do this more often. If only it weren't raining incessantly.

Went for a morning walk after many weeks. The sky was rather dramatic. And I met this interesting guy, Subodh Kerkar, who lives in Saligao and runs the Museum of Goa. He was seriously interviewing a ragpicker who was busy making a living out of cleaning up trash. He then proceeded to ask me probing questions about my work. Almost gave me the impostor syndrome - do I really do anything of value?

Do you do anything of value?

'Twas a good day to be out surfing

Things you meet when out for a walk

'Morning

Edible art, that tastes good too.

S discovers pressure washing, and is rather overjoyed.

(I had to eventually request her to give the machine some rest.)

The moon and the earth, paint pictures for us

Looks like we are still decades away from artificial lenses accurately capturing the beauty of the night sea. Another half assed attempt at depicting the moon reflecting off the sea.

We have a visitor

This gentleman owns a tools stall in Mapusa Municipal Market. Doesn't have a lot of stock like the big shops, but he had one each of every conceivable tool. A man's man.

Drove the kids' friends around. Now they're making a bonfire.

Climbing. Jumping. Barefoot.

Bonfires are a lot of work

Make fire. Roast potatoes. Repeat every Sunday.

This is not a resort or private property.

All this natural beauty is part of the commons of Morjim. Anyone can enjoy this space right next to Silver Sands.

I believe the well maintained open common spaces are what give Goa much of its charm.

The beach shack ran out of coconuts, so the kids decided to get some of their own.

It wasn't as easy as they'd assumed it to be

But perseverance brought them results in the end

A tent was put up on the terrace at night. For some reason, all six kids huddled into it and slept overnight. In sleeping bags. At home. 🤷🏽‍♂️

A lazy Sunday... by the sea

Did you wish the birthday boy today?

There's a halo around the moon tonight, if you look up at the sky. And the halo has a slight rainbow to it - reddish on the inside and blueish on the outside.

Men who grill

About this morning

Colours

Conversations at the beach

Waiting for sunrise

Birthday morning began with bicycle ride around the new neighbourhood

So heartening when others are more excited about your big day than you yourself are

The beautiful people of Goa. Surprise partyyyyyy 🎉

So glad that Dilshad called us over to the Goa Heritage Festival yesterday. The kids made friends with two kids from Sharada Mandir, who were raising funds for Mollem (for the environment).

I swear I'll get PTSD from listening to the trauma of ICSE kids all my life.

The kids were surprisingly chill and cool for someone who has studied at a Mandir all their life.

Inordinately large amounts of fun was had with newly minted friends.

You know how people do this obnoxious thing at music festivals. Where they form a human chain and cut through crowds. My kids indulged in this very juvenile behaviour yesterday.

(I noticed that with some practice I could get to @therealindiandad 's voice.)

As if it wasn't bad enough that the 5 kids under my charge and the 2 friends they made were doing this human chain thing... 3 rando adult tourist women also joined in. I wagged a stern finger at them and said "you'll know when you have kids". Unfazed. Unfazed they were.

At some point the artists stopped playing their instruments and started making love to them. Reminded me of all the Spirit of Unity concerts I attended as a child.

Some tiny custard filled, sugar coated German delicacies were had. What the Americans might call donut holes - only slightly larger and much more delicious. Anybody know the name?

Sugar covered lips provided as evidence of too much happiness.

South Goa has cute little waterfalls sprinkled everywhere. Kesarval is conveniently off the national highway. Nice, nice.

When friends show up to help you drown the Monday blues in dancing and drinking.

आज गोवा में गोरे हिप्पियों का गाना सुनने का सौभाग्य प्राप्त हुआ

Hat tip @anuragminusverma

That's me kids. Sailing. A different kind of caravan.

That's what big hearted artists do - promote upcoming artists in their shows.

Shubhaji visits Goa as part of the Serendipity Arts Festival.

Free event. ऐसा सब सिर्फ़ दिल्ली में ही नहीं होता है 😀

And of course the evening had to finish with this song.

Looks like it is only here that the government is imposing the no-music-beyond-10pm rule. But we must all begin somewhere 🤷🏽‍♂️

Be like me and stop ironing your clothes. Nobody cares any more.

We got invited to a boat party on Christmas eve

Our rooftop. 30th night. Some new friends, some old. An evening well done.

The new Zuari bridge. From far, far away.

New year fireworks 🎇

A far away view of our #campsite in #Hampi

Why my child is like this?