K's father owns a weekend home by the sea in a small town near Bombay called Alibag. We used to spend go there every other weekends with our friends. His father's house was situated right on the beach but was seperated by sand dunes; therefore you couldn't see the sea from the home but could always hear it. Their house was designed in such a way that there were no proper doors or windows in the living and dining area so anyone could walk in and out! I always used to be nervous about the fact that the house could be easily be broken into but it was close to the village and those who are from that area will know that it is very safe place.
On one of our visits I set out early in the morning with my easel, paper and colors to paint the above landscape. While I was walking back home I saw a cobra slither past me into my father-in-law's property! I stood in my tracks frozen with fear, which was a good thing because I surely would have had a lethal dose of the venomous poison had I reacted. At that very moment I was trying to recollect the first aid tips that we were taught in school in an event of a snake bite. It is one thing recollecting first aid tips for your school test and another thing recollecting while watching a poisonous reptile slither in front of you, whose bite incidentally is very fatal! That night I slept with my one eye open.
26 comments:
hi sai, do you remember thirty years back papa was driving us to vileparle via iit powai which was a jungle in the real sense.we had seen a huge cobra lazing in the centre of the road.It was 10am we girls were quite excited and mom as usual started saying Ramraksha.
Sai, I just love your paintings and enjoy them so much every time you share one with us.
Alibag has become one of the hottest places to own property...your father-in-law's house has probably doubled or even tripled in real estate terms. I know a lot of people from Bombay who are looking to buy there. The house sounds beautiful, btw. Some day I would love to own a house on the beach...some day.
In my panic I don't think I would have remembered how to react if a cobra came my way....scary!
Hi Sai,
That's a beautiful painting!
I went to Alibag for the first time during my recent trip to India a few months ago. My family had booked a cottage on a property that was right on the beach. The owners had developed their ancestral property into a homely resort type facility and it was excellent. One night me and my sister decided to walk towards the beach. As soon as we started in that direction, the caretaker came running behind us warning us about the snakes. Needless to say, we city girls were back inside the cottage in no time.
Beautiful painting Sai!
Ouch @ the close encounter with the cobra.
Gorgeous painting,thanks for posting that Sai.
I have seen many Cobras in my life time in India!:D:D
Aha! The painting and the cobra.Well, that's the beauty of the beast. You don't trouble them, they don't trouble you (unless of course hungry).
This painting deserves a space on the wall.:):)
You are in my favorite list...hope you don't mind.:)
That's a lovely painting Sai.You ought to post some of your other paintings sometime,would love to see them more. Never been to Alibag but this painting did take me back to my dad's native near Bangalore.About the snake encounter,you already know I am pretty terrified of slithery creatures,I probably would have been too shocked and scared to even recall any first aid tips if I were to face that situation:)
Lived in my grandpa's farmhouse for a while. Every harvest season, snakes used to literally line up to catch rats there. A couple have even managed to come inside the house. And ironically one huge cobra was found in front of a God's photo. Eerie and exciting
Hi V:
Yes I remember that incident and it wasn't a cobra but a HUGE PYTHON!!!!! There was a guy on a two wheeler next to us and he was shit scared!!!
Ha ha ha to mother chanting Ramraksha, that too when she was well protected in the car!
Hey Lotus:
I would love to my own home by the beach as well.....some day.....sniff sniff....don't know when.
K's dad bought that property was back in the late 70s to early 80s and the value has increased ten times more. All their neighbors are from Bombay and they have a very famous next door neighbor......not Karan Johar though ;-)
Hey NainaAshley:
Which resort did you go to? I know that area very well. It is very safe but for snakes and scorpions!
Hey Sanjay:
Thanks a lot! Yeah it was very scary.
Hey Asha:
Thanks! I am certain most people who are from India and have been to rural areas have seen deadly snakes.
Hey Anjali:
Feel free to put me in your favorite list....and thank you for your kind words.
Cobras don't eat humans....pythons do but small kids as opposed to adults.
Hey Fuzzylogic:
THanks! I will certainly post my other paintings online as well.
Oh absolutely this is the typical landscape of the konkan region. I have been to Bangalore from Goa via the coastal route and it is an amazing view!
Hey Cacophoenix:
Yeah I can imagine it being eerie and exciting!
Sai,
It wasn't a resort. It was a place called Shintre wadi. The owners have built 4-5 cottages on a property next to the beach. It was be a few miles away from the main town... don't ask me what direction though..I have no clue.
LOL @ Karan Johar, Sai. Guess not everyone has my kinda luck! ;) I'm dying to ask you who the famous neighbor is but I know you can't reveal that here.
I should try to get in touch with KJ one of these days, perhaps he'll have me on his "Coffee with Karan" show? LOL
Hey NainaAshley:
I don't know where this place is located. Alibag is a big place with a lot of beaches so it depends where it is located.
Hey Lotus:
Yes I cannot reveal it here. The person is not from the film fraternity.
I have watched two to three episodes of K with K in India and have seen KJ act like a Queen ;-)
Sai, you are a talented painter! And also talented in keeping a cool head when encountering a snake! :)
Hey Dan:
Thanks a lot! Although I started painting my home and made a big mess :-)
Well my cool head was because I was frozen with fright and that was my very good luck!
Gorgeous painting Sai :) and let me imagine you sleeping with on eye open and thinking about Cobra *shivers*
Stay Beautiful...!
this was a very interesting post, very detailed compared to others i've come across these past few nights. take care.
Great Painting
beautiful painting ...
Hey Sugarlips:
Thanks for your comments.
Hey Wayne Allen Sallee:
THanks for stopping by and for your comments.
Hey Prashant and Magic Eye:
THanks for your kind words.
OMG! I hate snakes! I don't know what I would have done if I saw one. I hope I NEVER find out!!!
I love the painting!
Hey Anali:
THanks a lot!
Yes I agree I hope you never find out regarding the snakes!
Ahhh, lol, so it's "Koffee With Karan", I am forever mixing up names and phrases. I am now told that this is a Cancerian trait! :)
I'm going to check out some of the latest episodes on YouTube, he interviewed Mira Nair and Tabu recently and I'd love to see them. Are you planning on watching "The Namesake"?
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Yeah, he makes a great queen! ;)
hey Lotus:
LOL I mix phrases and names as well.
It is funny you mention Namesake. I just saw it this evening and have blogged about it as well.
That's a lovely painting Sai.You ought to post some of your other paintings sometime,would love to see them more. Carpet Cleaning Vancouver Never been to Alibag but this painting did take me back to my dad's native near Bangalore.About the snake encounter,you already know I am pretty terrified of slithery creatures,I probably would have been too shocked and scared to even recall any first aid tips if I were to face that situation
Its a beautiful painting and I will appreciate your efforts. Its really one of the finest blog I have ever commented on. Great piece of writing also.
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