The Banana Ride

While travelling i do end up giving a thankyou note to the sea at some point or the other. Some kind of self realization with the waves. They are soft, hard, good, bad but then you keep yourself up everytime they make you fall. A note of thanks and a promise that i will return.

All this took a huge turn at Goa when me, my bro and of course seevesh, (one of my good friend and expert in drowning with previous demonstrations at black thunder) took the great chance of doing a banana ride. The ride was supposed to be super simple. 3 guys sit on an inflated tube. The boat pulls it to the sea and flips it around. Then you get on to it and come back. As simple as that.

We 3 got ready to be flipped into the sea. We were totally excited when it all started moving. Little did we realize whats gonna happen. About 500 meters from the shore the boat took a huge U turn and it flipped us 3 into the sea. Oh god, before we could realize we were in the sea. Seeve was busy looking at the lovely sunset and was not even prepared for it.

I could see the same set of actions on seve's face as i had seen at black thunder, Ooty.. Help was the call. He was taking in water for sure. I swam to hold on to his hand and then he calmed down. The  life jacket does work but staying afloat without taking in water in itself is an art. All of us were quick enough to learn it (had to.. ).

When everything was settled it was time to get on to the banana. Seve was pulled in by one of the rescuers. Rahul also got it. both of them were sitting on the corner. Then it was my turn to get on to it. I was very sure about me being capable of getting on to it. What i did not realize that jumping on to it is not a good option. I jumped on to the tube and fell the other way into the water. In the process i held on to the craft and it overturned plunging seeve and bro also into the water. This time it was my trun to panic. Fell head first into water, went in really deep (no trace of ground) and then emerged back on the surface. Had taken in a few gulps of water by that time. With the water not being still it was getting difficult. The scene when i emerged out of water was even more horrifying. Could see only the inflated tube overturned. No signs of seeve and bro. My view being completely blocked by the overturned tube itself. Ah i could see them at last.

Managed to get on to it and reach shore (almost) with a plunge once again. But this time you could feel the earth under your feet.. Safe at last..... Must try, but one thing to keep in mind is to tighten your safety jacket so that you also float along with it.. :)