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Sunday, October 14, 2012

Swim to Bathe

Talking of awesome bathing experiences that make us feel alive, stimulated and ready to take on the world, I have a story to share:
 
I am a complete "Big City Girl". Born and brought up in Calcutta, presently located in Delhi - I am so very used to the urban life.

Now, we had to be  in a far flung village in West Bengal for a project on Rural Housing. I was sceptical about the sanitation facilities, but the villagers went out of the way to make us comfortable. They arranged for our accomodation in their own huts.They had also kept buckets of water handy so that we could freshen up on arrival and get to work. At the end of a very hectic first day, I just sunk into deep slumber!

The next morning, I felt very confused. I walked  round and round the house, but could not identify a place to bathe! Finally, I asked Shalu, the host's ten year old daughter, who was watching me playfully.

"Take your things in a packet", she said, grinning. She gestured that I should follow her.

Much to my surprise, she led me past a couple of hutments and through a green stretch that suddenly dipped into a large pond. There were few women in the pool, some of my age group too, swimming around. They didnt seem to notice our presence at all.

Shalu pointed at a rock on which I could keep my things and walked down the rough steps that had been created for entering the pool. This was in such contrast to the pools at clubs where I had learnt to swim, that I stood transfixed.


"Dont you know how to swim?", asked Shalu and dragged me in before I could utter a word. The other girls spread out and allowed me to take a dip. The water felt like a blanket of ice on the surface, but there was a warmth on the lower part. Shalu spluttered some water on me, to which I playfully responded. The others also found it amusing and joined the show! We, in fact divided into two teams, and splashed water on the other team. The competition was all about who could splash more water - and Shalu spruced it up with an energetic song!


Soon, my inhibitions were all gone. I felt like a child once again - the fact that I was there for work vanished from my mind while I enjoyed swimming, dipping, splashing! This is something I can never enjoy in a city - the sheer bliss, no time limits, no rules!

Time seemed to have stopped for us, and none of the girls showed any intention of getting out. We must have in the pond for more than an hour!

It was the ringing of my cell phone that jolted us back to reality - my team was looking for me. I joined them soon after changing behind bushes :P.

Photocredits: Internet 
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This is also a part  of Alive is Awesome initiative by Cinthol. Do watch this video!

34 comments:

Ramakrishnan said...

What a terrific and cool experience - so much fun and enjoyment !

Panchali said...

Ponds and vast reservoirs attracts me too...though I have never taken a dip so far. You definitely had a great time...:))
All the best!!

Anupama K. Mazumder said...

@Mr Ramakrishnan,
Yes, terrific is the word!

@Panchali,
I barely had a choice.. but had fun!!

My Unfinished Life said...

pukure chaan...an awesome experience for sure..i have wonderful childhood memories those!!

Unknown said...

Wow! That must have been a terrific experience!

ashok said...

wow! cool!

Anupama K. Mazumder said...

@Star,
Where?

@Rajrupa,
So it turned out to be!

@Ashok,
Indeed.

AmitAag said...

What a gala time you must have had!
Wonderfully written:)

Devilish Angel said...

Diff experience...

Selvaggia Capizzi said...

It must have been a great experience!!
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vinay said...

A wonderful experience, I don't remember the last time I had a dip in my village's river.

Anupama K. Mazumder said...

@Amit-ji,
So it turned out to be.

@Angel,
Indeed very unconventional.

@FRC,
It surely was!

Magda said...

i'm sure it was really great experience! :)) cool!

Jeevan said...

Sounds great fun and joy! I could connect it well as I have similar experiences in childhood. Pond, river, lakes and pump set are very special of villages and no one can easily forget taking bath in those.

Cheers :)

Unknown said...

wow! ''eyes popping'' great post.
tinu you!!!

Tania said...

What a great time! I could never live far away from the sea:-)

Thanks for your visit and comment
Regards from Norway

Unknown said...

Incredible experience!!!!
Thanks for the comment!!!! Would you like to follow each other?
Kisses
Francy&Stef
chicwiththeleast.blogspot.it

Ash said...

That sure sounds like a lot of fun!

the chilicool said...

Wow. Back to nature!! Thanks for commenting on my blog!!!
Alessia
THE CHILI COOL
FACEBOOK

Sônia Brandão said...

Uma experiência gratificante que será sempre lembrada.
Muito bonito o seu blog.
Obrigada pela sua visita e gentil comentário.

Um abraço.

Sam said...

Hi sweety, thanks for stopping, enjoyed this read, sounds like a lovely experience!

Anupama K. Mazumder said...

@Vinay,
Those must be fond memories!

@Magda,
Cool water? :P

@Coco,
Followed you!

@Jeevan,
Cheers to those memories!

Anupama K. Mazumder said...

@Kim,
Almost!!

@Spider,
Bathing in a sea must be very different.

@Frastef,
Incredible indeed!

@Ash,
Oh yes!

Anupama K. Mazumder said...

@Chilicool,
Back to nature, indeed!

@Sonia,
Gracias!

@Sam,
It was lot of fun!

Victor Aranda said...

Gracias por pasar por mi blog. Me resulta muy interesante el tuyo y con tu permiso voy a seguirte.
Saludos desde España

Rahul Bhatia said...

A lovely experience for sure!

leo said...

Hi Anupma
It is a lovely experience for the people who live in big city.

Carolyne O' said...

Back to nature :)) pretty experience!
I'm your 80 follower if you like my blog too I'm waiting for you :)
Xxx

Carolina

www.the-world-c.blogspot.com

Sumandebray said...

There are still a few water bodies left in Kolkata!
Except for Suraj Kund, only time I found a water body in Delhi was the Delhi Roads during the rains ..
Swim in that... nah!

Anupama K. Mazumder said...

@Victor,
Permission for this cannot be denied, isnt it?

@Rahul,
Surprise element!

@Leo,
Indeed!

@Carol
Congratulations on being my 80th. :P. Please keep dropping in!

@Suman,
Its not often that you take plunges in a roadside pool in Cal... and Surajkund also is completely dried up. :(

Cloudia said...

how delightful that ancient wisdom still lives!


Thanks for YOUr sweet visit!
Aloha from Honolulu
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Shilpa Garg said...

That must be an amazing experience!! Moving from scepticism to being carefree with gay abandon... sheer delight!

Ruplun said...

nice exp ...when did u go?

Unknown said...

Oh God! An adventure ! Enchanting experience.