Pune & Goa 2017 (Part 1)

aka The One Where Ujwal Gets Married

 

I was going to India for a dear friend’s wedding, and the 3 week trip involved, apart from the wedding itself in Pune, a day in Mumbai, a few days in Goa, and a week and some days in the Netherlands. It was a double reunion for me, with two separate groups of friends.

I had my latest travel-goodie, a 5.5x8.5” accordion-style 24-page sketchbook. I was eager to get started!

 

Waiting to board the first flight, on the way to Mumbai

 

As per recent luck, the flight also featured a live performance by no less than THREE crying babies, in perfect unison throughout the duration of the journey to Paris airport.

 

I have great respect for the people who bring me food and drink high up in the air.

 

After a second flight, I landed late at night in Mumbai. The next day was my only day in Mumbai, and I strove to make use of it. I went up and down the local, saw colonial-era buildings and monuments, met with friends and ate and drank, and walked and walked and walked in Maximum City.

 

Outside the Jehangir Art Gallery, under the shade of trees, there is space to sit and watch local art being displayed.

 

I met Trivik after two and a half years, and we were joined by other friends from student days at TU Delft, everyone in town to see Ujwal get married. We caught up on each other’s lives, inside what must be the most ornate Starbuck’s location I have yet seen.

 
 

We stayed at The Orchid Hotel in the outskirts of Pune. It was a large building of unusual design, beautiful interiors. Had to be drawn.

 

Reception area of The Orchid Hotel, Pune (India)

 

Once Ujwal was good and married, off we bounced, four of us now, to catch some waves and greens and blacks in Ashwem beach, Goa.

We stayed at the Vaayu Waterman’s Village eco-lodge. Late at night when we arrived, it was peaceful and comfortable. In the morning, I woke to this view towards the sea.

 

We stayed there for 3 days, in which time I learned to surf, met interesting people and ate delicious food. Everything was chill.

 

In the morning, we went to surf after a light breakfast and coffee and assorted other wake-me-ups. My first three or four hours of surfing were a brutal assault upon body, mind, and body again. The systems demanded food and water and rest before further usage. So we didn’t head out again until the evening.

 

Morning at Vaayu.

 

Our second, and last, evening in Goa was spent at Silver Sands Resort on Morjim Beach, just south of us. The sun set on the Arabian Sea, clouds covering its final descent.

 

It was the end of one reunion, but also the beginning of another. Mind and body and timezones were going all over the place .

TravelsNishant Jainurban sketch, sneaky art, goa, linedrawing, usk, pune, weddingComment