August 27, 2009

Sunshine, and Good Times



At a little over ten in the morning two elderly gentlemen dismount their bicycles outside Sunshine Bar in an old locality in Panaji. It is Friday morning. In the warmth of October sunshine they’ve cycled through a narrow road flanked on either side by Portuguese era homes to keep their rendezvous with the King Of Good Times.

26 comments:

pink dogwood said...

10 in the morning?? Good for them :)

What About The Girl? said...

Pithy but imaginative.
Makes me want to implore for more!

Anil P said...

Pink Dogwood: Yup, a little past ten that October morning last year. Some folks have their priorities marked all right :-)

Cherry Blossom: Thank you. And there shall be more :-)

marja-leena said...

Lovely colours and action in the photo, and such a fine little story to go with it!

kenju said...

Sheeesh!! Nothing like being the early bird who gets the worm!

Darlene said...

Were they stopping for a cold beer before cycling on? Fuel for the thighs, I guess.

Kay said...

mmmmm..... can i come?

Anil P said...

Marja-Leena: Thank you.

Kenju: Absolutely, and an early sip :-)

Darlene: Cold beer, and maybe more. I like the 'fuel for the thighs' thought :-)

Kay: I'm sure they wouldn't mind spreading the sunshine a further way up.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

A person can become very thirsty when cycling in the warm sun....I might stop there too, but I'd find tea more refreshing than beer. Can a person find tea in The King of Good Times?

Amrutha said...

thats a sweet piece of writing. short and descriptive with a really strong visual feel

you've made this really simple picture worth much more.

nice!

karen said...

Hi Anil. What a great photo, and the accompanying story really brings it to life. Many of your snippets of Indian life remind me in a way of Botswana!

Anil P said...

Sara: Yes, more so in Goa where humidity levels are very high on account of the state being on the west coast of India. It's easy to get dehydrated there.

I'm not sure if tea would be available at this particular place but there're any number of inns along the way where you can step in and say, "Maka ek cha di" in Konkani.

Amrutha: Thank you. I'm glad you liked the little cameo that streets sometimes afford us.

Karen: By that I assume you mean 'a laidback feel to the place' :-)

bindu said...

That's a nice lazy day shaping up!

Anil P said...

Bindu: It sure is.

Celeste Maia said...

Beautiful photograph in reds. Where exactly is Panaji? I imagine in the south of India, or is it Goa? Your mention of "Portuguese era houses" makes me think of Goa or even Kerala? How I love your country! And "God Of Good Times", is that a book?
Your entry is intriguing.

Sarah Laurence said...

Sunshine bar certainly fits drinking in the morning. I'd rather wait until sundown.

Amber Star said...

Ok...I'm sure everyone has pointed this out, but is it already October in India, because it is still August here in Texas. Let me know if I need to reset my clocks or something. :)

Granny J said...

One more facet in a many-faceted, continuing picture of life in your land. Thank you, Anil.

Fishbowl said...

:) Such a simple,novel tale...

Anonymous said...

I'm assuming that "Kingfisher" is a beer - what better to pedal on! :)

Limenlemons said...

haha. love the shot and the text that follows.
good for the men! :D Goaaa-aaah!!!

Gauri said...

Hahah So cool !! And So Goa :)

Anonymous said...

They are so religiously following the ritual. I just love Goa for that.!!

Cheers!!

Anil P said...

Celeste Maia: Panaji is the capital of Goa. The King of Good Times is a tag line for Kingfisher beer. Thank you.

Sarah Laurence: Yes, the name suits morning drinking. Many bars in Goa have intriguing names.

Amber Star: This picture was from October last year. No need to reset clocks :-)

Granny J: Thank you.

Fishbowl: Thank you :-)

Seamus: You're right. Kingfisher Beer. They might've had stuff stronger than beer inside :-)

Limenlemons: Good for them, and good for the bar :-)

Gauri: Thanks :-)

Anon: A facet, many would find the facet endearing.

neha said...

haha! talk about the good life!

Mise said...

No two ways and no one way indeed, but perhaps blogging about it provides a halfway house. Thanks for your visit!