2nd January 2019. Cold winter night.Me and my father are heading towards Digha,a crowded small yet enigmatic sea beach.It was a one day trip by bus. We boarded the bus from Dharmatala bus terminus. I grabbed the window seat as usual. It was a chilling and thrilling experience. The greyish fog and the dark charcoal-black night together created a Halloween performance and the cold air added to the aroma. On the way the bus stopped at a roadside Dhaba and we had hot tea that gave a slight relief. I was rather sleepy for the rest of the journey. At 4'o clock probably the bus reached our destination. I woke up, startled by the hustle-bustle of other passengers. I was already getting the feel of cool sea breeze and my scarf,cap,sweater jacket failed to defend the wind; with rattling my teeth my father started bargaining with the Toto drivers. The smell of the surrounding was salty and 'fishy'. I never witnessed such a tranquil atmosphere before. After quickly lodging in the hotel,we rushed to the beach to witness the rising sun. It was magnificent and my tongue can't explain it. Different sounds and smell were coming in our ears...smells of fishes from the boats ,wet sandy soil of the beach and delicious puris being cooked by local women. Picturesque scenes alone won't help,so we helped ourselves with as many kachuris as needed to satisfy our apetite. We had fun at the beach. I rode horse ,father bought coconuts ,we bathed in the sea,watched the fisherman selling their day's catch,walked on the beach till the legs started betraying.
Digha is a place of delicious bengali fish cuisines. So went to a local restaurant where the dishes were being sold like hot cakes. Baluchari it was. We ate promfret fry,Bhekti paturi, parshe r jhol,rohu r matha diye dal with additional alubajha(my favorite). A plate of mishti doi(curd) at the end added to the signature bengali cuisine. As we had only four hours to return to home,we opted for local sightseeing and adding souvenirs. Totos were waiting outside. So we hooped in and the driver took us to Udaypur - a calm beach with Jhau habitation. My father who always carried his own handmade hammock on every trip was already searching for a proper place as we reached. I picked up a lot of shells on the beach. Sitting down facing the sea is a philosophical act ... Whenever you do it you will feel that the immense and vast sea has so much to teach you.
But it was time to say goodbye. Promising Bay of Bengal to return again we visited the local shops with dangling conch and shell mde jewelleries and other home decor ha dicrafts that are worth picking up for your study table to remember such a beautiful journey.
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