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

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!

Dim Distress with the Red Sea

 Continues from Jizan-The Gateway to a Magic Land

On our first evening at the Coral Gulf, we were all excited to explore the waves of Red Sea. The Sun hurried down behind the clouds, leaving crimson shards behind on the sky. 

Coral Gulf Beach

The sky was still bright when we reached the shores of Red Sea. However, the brightness of the Sky was not visible in the Sea. The land and water had already turned dark with the setting rays of Sun. However, the lure to wade in the water was unstoppable and we got in. “Ouch!” It was my first reaction! Something pricked on my feet and the sand under that slipped!

Much synonymous with the hotel’s name, the beach at the Coral Resort was covered with corals. Hard and lifeless corals scattered around the beach with carcasses of fish, empty cans and bottles. The water was shallow for a long way. The sand near the shore was slimy and covered. For the first time, I felt scared to get into the Sea.

Yet, when I drew back in disappointment, there were others in the group, who were still inexorable. Shreya ran into the water and Sreejith had to accompany her against his will. Little Ayan and Duaa also joined them with Nadeer.

As I and Shehnaz waited for the crew to come back, stars started spreading their gleaming carpet on the sky. The wind blew putting a veil on our day today anxieties. The group returned soon and the men went out in search of ‘homely’ dinner.

I and Shehnaz gathered the kids and retreated to the bedroom balcony. We sat on the balcony floor watching the serene nature. A mongoose was running on green grass as a white fur on a green carpet. As we started to talk freely as you do with your close friends, a memory came clear in my mind. Mine and my friend Amitha’s incessant conversations at the roof of our hostel under the wind and stars from the Bengal Bay. Yes, the best moments in your life might repeat at similar places and with similar people. 

Continue...

Jizan-The Gateway to a Magic Land

Continues from A Night Journey among the Asir Mountains

 

The next day morning I opened my eyes to curtains resembling Dharwish dancers' costumes. The room was decorated with black velvet cushions, black upholsteries and dimly lit lights. My claustrophobia began to raise its head. I opened the windows and pulled aside the curtains. The strong rays of sun warmed the room. The time was approaching noon and we had to reach the Jizan port by 1p.m.

The Jizan Port has the ferry service to Furasan Islands twice on each day. We’d scheduled our tickets for the evening ferry. Our friends at Jizan had advised us to reach early since some days, the queue to the ferry can take long times. After quick refreshments and shower we came out of Al-Adnan hotel within an hour. 

We reached Jizan Port by 1p.m two hours in advance to the ferry time. The air was hot humid and salty. However, for me who had spent three memorable years at a sea shore, the smell was reviving and welcoming. All this time, I had the image of a ferry made of wooden planks that used to transport men and sometimes two vehicles in my village at Kerala. However, I realized soon that the two huge ships at the Port combine the ferry. We got into the ferry soon after the procedures.

Jizan Port and the Ferry at the distance

The ambience inside the ferry resembled the ambience of airlines. This ferry service is an initiative under King Abdullah’s rule and totally free of cost. It was our first stint with the Red Sea and we were all excited. The ferry will take us to the Furasan Island situated 50Kms away from the port and totally isolated in the sea. 

We were clicking some good photos of blue and green sea as two security guards rounded us. Photography was strictly prohibited in the ferry and they asked us to sit and enjoy the travel. Thanks to them, it was then that we actually started enjoying the journey.

A View of Jizan Port

The sail started on time. In contrary to its name, the Red Sea glittered in shades of blue and green and sometimes black. Nature had added magnificent hues of colours to the scene. The kids started to claim that they had seen pink, red and blue dolphins. In my childish mind, I wouldn’t have been surprised to see such a miracle. The view was that much splendid and mesmerizing. 

As the humming of waves faded small uninhabited islands across the ocean came into view. The water near them glistened in sky blue color indicating the shallowness for kilometres around them. The vast sea was surging with short waves around. Though purified by the sun, pampered by moon and reconnoitered by human eternally, the waves seemed to retain their novelty.

The time was approaching evening. The Sun shone from blaze to brilliance on the horizon. As far as the eye can see, the water turned into golden veil.  The sea was changing colors from blue to green to dark to golden. However I felt that everything underneath these transparent glistening coats laid the same from the prehistoric times.  I felt, here is the untameable sea with whom lays the intelligible facts regarding the adventures of Islamic natives.

As we neared the island, we could see rocky cliffs carved by nature in different contours. For me, they looked beautifully eerie as if sprung out from Agatha Christie’s novels. These obscure figures obsoleted any description.

The island started to appear in view first as a dark line, then as a long rock land and finally as endearing girl protected by her loving family. All around the island the rocky cliffs marked the outline at a distance in the water. 

We arrived in Furasan Port after an hour’s journey. We hit the roads that were decorated with artificial sun flowers and fruits in the median. The short drive took us to our destined retreat Coral Gulf seemed to be situated in a fisherman’s village. As we finally, entered our room in Coral Gulf with the sweet smell of natural herbs and an overwhelming view of Red Sea, calmness spread over and relaxed my nerves.

Continues in Dim Distress with the Red Sea