To madkai:part two

Part Two
A bit on that road, and there is a structure which looks like temple. We climb down from the stairs to find its locked. Peering in from the gap in window, we find its empty inside. What could be it used for? Maybe some community hall type of concept. And on one side of it there are many houses, very close to each other, narrow streets, and all of this was not visible from the road. Anyway we climb up and keep moving on our original road.

I point to Bharat a curious tree. A big tree, thick branches, and broad leaves *pasted* *all over* selected branches(including the trunk).The leaves looked like the one on Canada’s flag, but longer and not so broad. We try to poke one with a stick, and then pluck out a leaf. Some brownish thick jelly-type of thing held it. We didnt take that out. It was not possible with the sticks lying out nearby. No ant came out (was it indeed an anthome?). The best part- tree with such leaves was nowhere to be seen! Somehow we didnt worry about that much. Perhaps because we were not at ease, we felt like thieves roaming about there. Sorry state, it proves we are no explorers yet.

On a small tree with thin branches nearby was half the body(upper part) of God Hanuman, made with paper,ribbons etc. A small(very small, a few slabs) makeshift temple was next to it, a diya, few agarbattis , a match box, lying in it. We had no use of this, so we let it be and moved.

Shortly, we heard some sound and found a man working in bushes. What, we couldnt make out, but he didnt notice us, so we didnt disturb him. A few meters later a man was lying on the road under nice shadow, obviously drunk, and snoring peacefully. Some pukka houses were on both sides, we saw a girl carring something, I dont remember what.( You see it was three days back!).

We keep moving. Bharat said, if you listen, there are too many voices. We were back in an open area, with fields on both sides. So we counted atleast 6 species of birds nearby. Cranes, some bird like that,a black one with forked tail, a small bird with shiny deep blue back and yellow breast,crow, and some very small bird-which is generally seen in cages!. And there was sound of wind, in occasional trees. And sometimes before that there was a pigeon type bird but uniformly brownish, in hundereds! And in homes, some healthy cocks and hens. And occasionally cuckoo.

Finally we came near a main road. On one side it was forked. A plaque was lying fallen. Bharat put his leg on that and read what it said, conquerer style. A man was standing under a tree nearby, looked as if he wanted a bus. We asked him where the roads go. He said one went to Panaji and other to Ponda(22 and 18 kms, he remembered the numbers!). He asked how we came. We said by ferry. He became happy hearing this, for god knows what. He said buses generally come but today is sunday so he was not sure. Panjim would have taken too much time and money. And that too on buses! For Ponda just add another hour. We asked where the other end of the road goes. Back to the ferry place! So it curves back and we were supposed to reach where we started from. A new road to the old place seemed ok. And our temple was yet to come, so it was really ok.
Continued in Part3

Consolidated Post on – To Madkai.