Beach abuse

LandRover towed parabalooning - or whatever they call it. There don't appear to be any restrictions so the beach is full of motorbikes, balloons, a couple of jet skis and the dolphin boats. Lots of dolphin boats, maybe 8. I didn't really want to do it - I've seen dolphins plenty of times but we got up dutifully at 6:45 and were on the shore for 7, then we had to wait as the last folk to come were using Indian time.

Then we were off, Amol can't swim so he was asking about the life jackets. They weren't for handing them out so he positioned himself at the front, very close to them. One guy stood in the very water I had trouble standing in yesterday and ensured the boat pointed through the waves, and they pushed us out. Once it was deep enough (and we were right in the breaking zone)the bloke at the back jumped on board, started the motor and as we powered through the waves the other guy jumped in, and the engine stopped.

So then we drfited about as the bloke at the back tried to restart, and then the guy at the front had to jump back in to try and keep us pointing into the waves. We were pushed back ashore, and down the coast by the waves and the current. Eventually the motor fired again and off we went, but as soon as we were under power in the breakers it cut out.

And again

And again

Amol was getting quite worried now, at one point he had a life jacket on then they let someone off and he thought we were all getting off, but no. So he had a little shout but they ignored him.

It was obvious this was foolish, but the guys were desperate to get their money, we had a sidey on wave incident and the mood was getting ugly on board, a small child was crying and they decided to give up.

So we went on a different boat and found the dolphins and four boats chased the dolphins about the place for 15mins and then we went in and somehow we got sideways on to a breaker - and it wasn't just me jumping to the high side of the boat it was the helmsman too.

Then had breakfast - another curried version. Sort of ricey stuff with chillis, I was expecting something like puffed wheat but it was more like rosti with chilli - which is the sort of thing I would make for weekend brekkie anyway.

Learned some Hindi today, inspired by cricket and tv adverts. A common word made me realise that it must mean something so I was trying to find a reason to use the word - which means another, but not as in "another beer", more like "a different beer".

I'm up to full spice food now. Even tried to eat the green chilli out the Dal Tarka - but that was foolish, even the others didn't attempt it. We went to a temple, I tried some Kokum juice - didn't like it - there are several drinks out here i don't like - most are sort of sweet and sour at the same time. Bought some raw mango (unripe) squash and some gooseberry squash. The mango is brilliant but the gooseberry is also sour and sweet. We picked some raw mango and got shouted at, presumabnly by the owners of the tree. At the lunchtime traffic cafe stop the restauranter sliced it and we ate it raw (skin and all) with salt rubbed in to it. ery nice actually - citrus. I think I've eaten Indian food (specifically spicy food) every day since I got here - thats seven weeks - brilliant, but how will I cope when I return home.


Was chatting to one of the guys about girls after he said he was trying not to get married and his family keep producing prospective wives. He had had a few beers and was explaining that he had a girlfriend but that he wasn't gonna marry her, and he was explaining that she knew this. And then hurriedly said "But I must ring her .....now"

Join Hands - Siouxsie and The Banshees has been my record of the night

Backblipped the harbour for yest