34. Salty Surf and Golden Sand A1.

Check up your Geography Discuss with your partner and fill in the table. Text your knowledge of geography: Harbour Mumbai Cochin Kandla Rameshwaram Vijaywada Puri Coast Sea State Speciality

A2. Guess about the place: Look at the title and imagine the place which the writer is talking about. Find whether you were correct in your guess by glancing through the text. A3. Finding information. Read Part I and find out the following information: 1. The writer started his journey from: 2. Name the train the writer and his friend travelled by: 3. Their destination was: 4. Distance between Kudal and Tarkali: A4, True or False: Read Part I again and say whether the following statements are true or false: 1. The writer waited at Dadar railway station for the train. 2. From Kudal the writer reached Malvan. 3. The writer travelled from Kudal to Malvan by a cart. 4. The writer found the water cold and icy. 5. The mighty river, Godavari meets the sea here. Salty Surf and Golden Sand Part I It is said that life began in a warm shallow sea somewhere on this planet aeons ago. A trip to Tarkali is enough to convince even the most hardcore atheist that this is probably where the Almighty initiated his creative effort. Its crystal clear blue waters can give coral islands a run for their money, while its silvery golden sands are a favourite sunbathing spot for turtles. Unparalleled in natural

beauty, this beach has found its way into the itinerary of the Deccan Odyssey, the super-luxurious heritage train that chugs through Maharashtra. The Journey The fag end of a harried Mumbai workday found us twiddling out thumbs at Dadar railway station, awaiting the Madgaon Express, nursing visions of a sunsand-n surf break. As dawn broke through the grimy picture windows of the train, an undulating countryside dotted with picturesque hamlets, crossed by several rivers and streams was revealed. Our destination was Kudal, a sleepy halt where the arrival of the train marks time. Kudal is marginally better than the proverbial one-horse-one-cart town and we succeeded in locating an autorickshaw willing to ply the 40 km distance to Tarkali. We made our way through small settlements with tiny market squares, teeming with locals. An hour later, we hit the coastal town of Malvan, whose claim to fame is the imposing sea-fortress of Sindhudurg, overlooking the town like a tireless sentinel. A 15-minute drive from Malvan deposited us at Tarkali, a fishing hamlet san horse or cart. A glimpse of paradise A large fishing boat that almost appears grounded for life on a sandy patch loomed large out of the grove of casuarinas. A short flight of step invited us aboard, and the manager checked us in like a seasoned mariner admitting rookie sailors to his galleon sending us packing to our quarters. We found ourselves crunching through littered leaves along a densely shaded path meandering between cottages aptly designated as Konkani Villa. Flashes of turquoise water tantalized through the foliage and a whiff of salt spray indicated that the sea was nearby. After a brief walk through the casuarinas canopy, we emerged onto the beach. We were dazzled by the spectacle that greeted us-an endless stretch of white sand at its purest, unsullied by man or beast, merging into the limitless expanse of an aquamarine sea. A gentle breeze wafting across the lapping waves mitigated the suns harsh attentions, and the calm ocean seemed more like a placid lagoon. We rushed into the breakers with child-like abandon, and the water felt warm and comforting. It even seemed less salty than usual, and we put it down to the fact that the mighty River Karli meets the sea here, lending its waters and name to the beach! After interminably cavorting in the clear water, we felt that we were in real danger of sprouting fins if we stayed any longer! Back on the talcum powder sands, we did a bit of beach combing, admiring the amazing variety of shells strewn around like jewels in Alibabas cave. A well thumbed seashell guidebook informed us that the loot we were stuffing into our pockets included turban shell,

textile shells, Babylon, trochus, murex and other such beauties. Sand crabs looked on balefully at the pillage, and scooted into their burrows at our approach. The idea of building a sand castle was floated, but by now the sun was at its zenith and the proposal was quickly quashed for other pleasures. ________ The pristine beach of Tarkali, tucked away on the Malavan coastline, is simply charming in its stunning seascapes, delectable cuisine and rich marine life. Glossary Harried: harassed Twiddling your thumbs: move your thumbs around each other with your fingers joined together Hamlets: small villages Rookie: person who has just started a job or an activity Turquoise: greenish blue Lagoon: stretch of salt water separated from sea by low sandbank Balefully: threatening to do something evil or to hurt. A5. Now read part I again and after discussing with your partner answer the following questions: 1. How is the sand described? 2. What does the writer say about Kudal? 3. Who checked the passengers? How? 4. What are the cottages known as? 5. How did the writer and his team notice that the sea was nearby? 6. Why was the water not much salty? 7. What was so dazzling about the spectacle? 8. What was the sea shells compared to? 9. Which proposal was quashed? Why? 10.What is worth enjoying at the sea coasts? A6. Malvani Cuisine Go through Part I and find out the information regarding the following. You may discuss with your partner: The typical dish of Malvan: The speciality of Food: Preparation: Ingredients:

 Additional information. A7. Question hour Your teacher will form two groups of your class. Each group will be given five minutes to frame questions of their own on Part I. Write down questions of your own. Later on you will be allowed to pose questions from one group to another, in the form of a rapid fire. One of your friends will ask and the other one from the other group will answer. Let this be very quickly! Your teacher will be the judge. A8. Synonyms Pick out words from the text which mean the following: 1. An extremely long period of time (Para 1) = 2. A plan of journey including the root and the places that you visit (Para 1) = 3. Going or moving gently up and down like waves (Para 2) = 4. Without (Para 4) = 5. The leaves of a tree or plant (Para 5) = 6. Made something less harmful, serious, etc. (Para 6) = 7. Leave somebody with no intention of returning (Para 6) = 8. Appear something especially in a large number (Para 7) = 9. Loot/plunder (Para 7) = 10.Holes/tunnels in the ground made by animals (Para 7) = Frame meaningful sentences of your own using these words and read out to the class. A9. Fill in the blanks Read Part II and fill in the blanks: 1. A proposal exists to convert the Malvan coast into ___________ 2. The famous Maratha Kind _______ fort dominates the landscape of the town. 3. The kings _______ and _______ are prized memorabilia adorning the fort. 4. The fort harbours the only temple dedicated to __________ Part II Manna for the soul Malvani cuisine, as the local style of cooking is known, combines three ingredients with magical perfection: fish, coconut and spice. The limpid water off the Malvan coast is so rich in marine life that a proposal exists to convert it into a sanctuary. It is therefore no surprise that the fish here is the freshest and tastiest that can be. The variety of seafood is also mind-boggling apart from the usual pomfret, searfish, salmon and mackerel, the sea yields the juiciest prawns, shrimp, mussels, oysters

and clams. We ate our way through mountains of steamed rice, with sips of divine sol-kadi, a drink in which the tart taste of the kokum berry (Garcinia indica) is married to creamy broth of coconut milk. After a meal like this, a siesta is a must. After breathtaking beauty and commendable cuisine, it was time for hoary history. Vignettes of the past: The famous Maratha King Shivajis fort dominates the landscape of the town. The sea fort is accessed from the jetty at Malvan and a ferry service operated by a local boatmens union takes you across. The boat weaves its way through several rocky outcrops that serve as perches for water birds. And the grey herons and cormorants show no interest in the boats gliding by, preferring to maintain their vigil for carless fish. Sindhudurg is one of the few living forts in the world, with several families having set up permanent residence within. All of them claim to be descendants of the great Shivajis guerrillas, and the fort harbours the only temple dedicated to the brave warrior. The kings footprints and palm prints are prized memorabilia adorning the fort, and you can almost feel his fearless spirit still lingering within the walls. So spellbound were we, that we could only echo the words of the famous Persian couplet. If there be a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this. Glossary Limpid: Tart: Broth: Cormorants: Guerrillas: Memorabilia:

clear having an unpleasant sour taste thick soup made by boiling meat or fish large black bird with a long neck that lives near the sea. members of a small group soldiers things that people collect because they belong to a famous person.

FACT FILEGetting there Tarkarli may be reached from Mumbai by either rail or road, situated as it is off the Mumbai-Goa National Highway 17. The Konkan railway connects Mumbai to Kudal, from where a private taxi can be hired to cover the 40 km distance to Tarkarli. Accommodation MIDC Holiday resort is the best accommodation to be found at Tarkarli. Reservations can be made through the MIDC offices.

Visitor information Autorickshaw operates and boat cruises are easily available. Cashew nuts and homemade amla (goosebeny) drink concentrates are good local buys. A10. Now read Part II again and after discussing with your partner answer the following questions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. What does the writer say about the fish of Malvan coast? What are the two things used in the preparation of sol-kadi? What do you feel while lingering within the fort? How is the sea fort accessed? Describe the variety of sea-food at Malvan coast. What details does the Fact File give you? This is one of the living forts. Do you agree with the writer? Why? What are your views about Tarkarli? Would you like to visit the places the writer has visited? Give reasons.

A11. Present action Look at the following sentences and the underlined words. Later on discuss with your partner the questions given below. Note your observations and responses. 1. The super luxurious heritage train chugs through Maharashtra. 2. A proposal exists to convert it into a sanctuary. 3. We make our way through small settlements with tiny market squares. Discuss What do the underlined words indicate? What about the time indicated? What is special about these actions? Now go through the text quickly and find more sentences indicating action in the past but narrated by using the Simple Present tense. Match the following to make meaningful sentences: A I The students He The driver All the birds B are soaring in the blue sky. take milk regularly. are busy preparing their presentations. is guided by the teacher. is waiting for his turn.

A12. Visit Sindhudurg Visit the web-site related to forts. Collect more information about different forts. Prepare a Fact File on any one of them. You may take help of the following points: Establishment of the fort Infrastructure facilities Regimes related Historical importance Geographical details Special features. Language Support Use only bullet points Give factual details Be brief in language Attractive presentation A13. Complete Go through Part II again and choose the correct alternative: 1. Writer tells us about a. Malvani cuisine b. Punjabi cuisine c. Maharashtran cuisine 2. The meal was intercepted with sips of divine a. Milk b. Coffee c. Sol-kadi 3. After the meal the writer enjoyed a. Walking b. Discussing c. Siesta 4. The text refers to Maratha King a. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj b. Nanasaheb Peshwa c. Bajirao Peshwa

A14. Match the following: A Ingredients of local cooking A finale to the days activity Grey herons and cormorants Guerrillas Memorabilia

B Kings footprints and Palm prints Maintain vigil for carless fish visit the Sindhudurg fort. Fish, coconut and spice Permanent dwellers of the fort.

A15. Be a tourist guide. Imagine that you want to be a tourist guide for Tarkarli. Prepare a guides speech considering the following points: Present your speech in the class. Places to visit Importance of the place Interesting story or experience Some interesting details You may begin as: Welcome to Tarkarli ____

A16. Text type Browse through the text again in the light of the questions given below and prepare your own write up. What is the type of the text that you read? What is the specialty of this kind of text? How is the text different from a report? What is the style used? Why do people write such write ups? Why do people read such write ups? A17. Letter to the travel agent: You are planning to go to Tarkarli beach and enjoy all the beauty that the writer has described. Write a letter to your travel agent using the following points: Preparation Plans of your stay, days and dates Places you want to visit Food that you would prefer Number of persons accompanying Kind of services you need Add your own points

Presentation: Whom will you address the letter to? What format will you follow? What will be your paragraphs? What will be the different paragraphs? How will you begin and close your letter?

A18. PACT FILE Prepare a FACT FILE of your own town. You will have to think of Location Worth visiting sites: Speciality Food Add your own ideas. distance from a district place major celebrations scenic beauty mode of transport

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