Spirituality of Fishing

 Continues from In the Heart of the Sea

A fishing competition was beginning in the boat. The boatmen distributed fishing cords and hooks that held small fish to each of us. All of us put our fishing cords to the deep blue waters. The boat men had warned that we shouldn’t put the cords too deep since there were ample chances for the hook to get caught amidst the corals. I learnt later that we shouldn’t put the cords above the visible depth of the water too.

First fish in the boat

A roar erupted from back of the boat as Nadeer caught the first fish in the boat. As he cheered and laughed over the victory, the second fish came onto his hook. The competition on the boat grew tight with others still dipping their cords into the water.

Our fish

 Shreya started persisting me to get a fish for her.  It might have been to answer her call; I felt a jerk at my cord and pulled it up. A silver and orange fish was gasping for breath at the end of the cord. The boatman soon released the fish and put her into the basket.

Soon, Bakhr in our group pulled out his cord with a coral hanging at the hook. It was Sreejith’s turn to pull out the cord next. His small fish was missing since the big fish from the sea was smart enough to bit off only his prey.  I again felt a jerk on my cord and pulled it up.  I saw a white fish coming up. All of sudden it plunged back into the sea with its prey. The big fish kept on attacking Sreejith’s preys. As everyone got tired of waiting and children grew restless, the boatmen moved the boat to another fishing location.

In the new location, the first fish hung to Bakhr’s wife’s cord. Nadeer followed the trail soon. He was leading with three fish to one fish from me and one from Bakhr’s wife. Again I felt a movement to my cord and with difficulty pulled it up. There was the biggest fish on the cord that had come to the boat. (Here, I realize that Nadeer will strongly disagree with me.)  The boatman told that this fish is really tasty and I could literally see his mouth watering.

A fish soon caught into Sreejith’s hook and finally one more fish came into Nadeer’s. Others who didn’t get even a single fish were getting restless by this time. We pulled out the cords and started the engine. The boatmen suggested that we can roast the raw fish at the island as some Westerners do. Since no one was eager for that we generously donated the fish to the boatmen.

 As we headed through the sea with shores of private islands, Shreya called me to show the fish in the basket. They were gasping for breath with their eyes bulging out.

All of a sudden the person in me who had been brought up as a felt the pang of guilt surging in. Suddenly I remembered my dear friend’s words, “Why do you feel so guilty in some situations? There is a reason for every happening in life. It is not you who is doing that but there is a power that makes you do that. You are only a tool. Your duty is to be happy and admire that power."

We reached our private island by then.

Continues in At Heaven!

In the Heart of the Sea!

 Continues from A Walk into the Red Sea

I now feel that I’ll remember the third day at Farasan Islands forever. I was not aware of it as we started our sail from Farasan Island in a small boat to one of the strewn islands in the Red Sea.  Tired with the long drive, sightseeing and loss of appetite for the local food, I was getting impatient and angry. It was added up with my guilt feeling for the outbursts at Shreya.

Thanks to my friends, the boat was filled with juice cans, water bottles, Lays packets, noodles, a gas stove and small vessels. Since Shehnaz was in the same realm as me, we sat together behind the boat with the children. 

Yellow billed loon

 As we sat there, a yellow billed loon started floating just behind our boat.  With its contemplative stillness and idle floating, I first mistook it as a big rubber toy missed from a kid’s hand. Soon, the assistant in the boat pointed out the bird to all members. The loon continued floating careless of the attention it was getting.

All others in the boat cheered as the boat started its sail. The enthusiasm must have spread or the cool sea breeze calmed the nerves, I started to relax along with them. The water splashed from the sides of the boat that scissor through the crystal blue sea.

After fifteen minutes of sail that seemed to be moments, the boat stopped near an island.  The local fishermen and natives lived in that island where old forts still held their majestic heads. The forts glistened under the sun. The boatmen pointed huge pumps that dipped into the sea from the shore. Since there was a scarcity of drinking water in the island, authorities get the pure water through these pumps for the island inhabitants.

We steered our boat back soon. Silver foams splattered behind our boat as we headed into the heart of the sea. Though we were far away from our starting island, the scattered islands around gave the feeling that we were quite near to the land area. After some time, the boat stopped in the middle of the sea for fishing!

Continues in Spirituality of Fishing

A Walk into the Red Sea

 Continues from Al Rifa'ai-The Heritage Coral House!

The sea held its most beautiful charm as we reached the beach. Huge sea shells and lifeless corals were scattered all over the shore. Before plunging into the sea, we explored the sea shore to collect the marble white and perfect sea shells. 

Low tide, chill water and the borders

The time was of low tide.  To the far stretch of the sea, the water reached only till our ankle level. The short waves drew designs on the sea floor. Mud mounds stretched across the shore, turning golden to give an enchanting edge to the sheen sea.

 As we carefully walked on the coral filled and slippery sea floor, somewhere in my mind a fear for Tsunami erupted. Whatever happens, I didn’t want to die there. My soul always belongs to my mother country.

Though the beach was safe enough to remove Abhayas, I wasn’t so eager to get into the deep water. As we crossed the shallow water and reached the deep waters, all of sudden, the temperature of the water changed from warmth to chill. I waited as Sreejith, Nadeer and children plunged into the deep waters.

Fun in water

As I stood neither on the shore nor in the deep waters, the sublime scenes started to erupt around. At the horizon, the clouds turned scarlet, orange, red and dark. The Sun was coming down to the sea.  In that blissful light and ambience everything turned beautiful than ever. Even my strands of hair flying loose had a unique beauty in that air. The children looked like angels swimming down. I felt a moment of pause in the air as the Sun finally dipped under the sea. Darkness spread over and we walked back to the shore. 

The fun at the beach was not over yet. We were starving to the core as we reached the shore from the water. Thankfully, our friend’s family had brought a flask of tea and some fruits with them. As we reached a peaceful level, the children started to play around and Nadeer started his photography while others readily stood as the models. 

Low Tide and Sun Set at the Red Sea

After a while, I and Shehnaz sat down on one of the benches at the nearby park. As we looked onto the dark sea and watched the children playing, we were unusually silent. Sometimes silence has its own meaningful words in a friendship.

Afterword: The wall picture of this blog is a scene from the mentioned beach during Sun Set.

Continues in In the Heart of the Sea!

Al Rifa'ai-The Heritage Coral House!

 Continues from Calm Moments at Farasan

Our first visit in Farasan was to the Al Rifa'ai House. This heritage house, built in the 14^th century was made entirely in coral. Though, cannot be named a great attraction, the heritage house had a few attractions unique to it. 

The entrance hall with the mud flooring was covered by walls adorned by carving. In the room resembling the reception area, the walls were downright covered with exquisite carvings. Coloured glasses were arranged in a row at the top of the ceilings. The top of the building was made with wood and beautified with natural colors. To our surprise, there were old photographs of some Duches and Duchesses around the room.

We couldn’t hang around the heritage house for a long time, since a person came and ushered us out. We were not supposed to enter the house without someone’s consultation. We were trespassers!

Al Rifa'ai Gate

We came out and wandered around the house. All around the heritage house were ruined houses from the past. There were no reconstructions or renovations. The grand gate near the Al Rifa' ai displayed signs of abandonment. There was nothing more to hold our interest in the place.

We soon got into our cars and headed to the beach. On one side of the road; the sea singed in silver flames. We were desperate to reach the beach before the flames turn into golden colour. 

Continues in A Walk into the Red Sea

Calm Moments at Farasan

 Continues from Dim Distress with the Red Sea

On the night of our arrival at Farasan, Sreejith and Nadeer went out to get the local dinner. They collected the dinner and we sat on the green grass overlooking the sea under night’s darkness. The star strewn sky with the prefect breeze made the ambience exotic. The Saudi rice and Kabbab tasted scrumptious on that night.

Before hitting the bed, I and Sreejith agreed that whoever would wake up early on the next morning, would part the window curtains, so that we can wake up into the morning, overlooking the blue ocean. 

Sreejith woke up first and ordered the breakfast. As I awoke, the curtains were up and light flooded in the room. Across the green lawns, the blue sea pulsed without waves. It was silence and calmness around. As I lay awake the breakfast came…

After tasting the continental breakfast, Sreejith and Nadeer left to find out the attractions in the island. Since Shreya was sleeping, I waited in the balcony. Under the late morning Sun, the Red Sea arrayed three colours of green, blue and silver.  The nature around us was in uniqueness of movements and the serenity enveloped me too.

A View of Red Sea

Far away in the sea, a seagull dropped down to the sea. It must have felt that its sudden action have spoiled the tranquility around. It popped up and flew away. The breeze blew over the palm trees below. The green lawn reflected the droplets left after the morning’s watering.

Nadeer and Sreejith returned by afternoon with lunch and the sightseeing plans for the rest of the days. The lunch consisted of fish dishes from a local food vendor. Though it didn’t appeal to my taste, I had no complaints then. Under the afternoon sun, on the green grass and tasting the curd rice, I was on a different level of experience. 

Continues in Al Rifa'ai-The Heritage Coral House!