Our life is a finite one suffused with umpteen eventualities. Amidst all the vagaries of the finite life, something remains infinite; the joy of an infant. Infants and babies are exposed to a new world far apart from the safe cocoon of a mother’s fluid world. The cutting of the umbilical cord marks a new path exposing the road to the realities of routine life. Slowly and steadily, they get acquainted with the ways of the new world. They start exploring anything and everything in, around, and within them. They are always on the lookout for the presence of wonder. I feel I should not digress from my story and it’s time to introduce the hero of all my musings. “A walk is only a step away from a story, and every path tells”, says Robert MacFarlane. The pages and stages of my stories are basking in the warmth of my little one’s inchoate rhymes of walking and talking. Every experience offers me a chance to elevate my level of imagination to a world I have not even dreamt or thought of. After all, the child is the father of man and even a walk-and-talk experience will end up like an extravaganza. He is all set for a trip always. Kunjapp has to wait for his dad and his dad has to wait for his holidays. His expectations will never go futile on the holidays. His Goan days as a diaspora offer him a new world to dive into and delve into the depths of the experiences lavishing in wonder.
One fine holiday, we have decided to go and enjoy to the utmost bounds of our human fantasies. Jeeth has already told Kunjapp and his mom that there is a spot named Nandanvan. He even said there is a lot to walk and explore. Lil Kunjapp may get tired and he may ask me to carry him. Still, the curiosity of a two-and-a-half-year-old baby is above par. I thought it would be better to give a try at this farmland. Once as a newly wedded couple, we explored the farmlands of Coorg. The shades of leaves, canopy, and the serene touch of nature were indeed a cooling experience for us. Without any ado, we have decided to take a trip to Nandanvan. Like our Froggyland adventure, this was not a planned one. We decided to visit Nandanvan, one fine day morning and started getting ready at our pace. As our Baleno car and the driving prowess of Jeeth can ease the distance and discomfort in traveling, we got ready ‘apne aap’ in a natural way with the blue and teal ‘WoW Mom’s bag carrying all the essentials for Kunjapp. We reached there in less than an hour.
Gaonkars’ Nandanvan at Khandepar, Goa remains a testimony to an unforgettable journey that enables us to soar to new heights, conquer the rapids, and unwind by the campfire by rediscovering our zest for life. It was an excellent venue for a fun-filled day and celebration. After collecting the tickets, we proceeded to the interiors of the Nandanvan. Is it a van/forest or adventure sport or spice garden or a Heritage house? I don’t know what to call it in specific but it was like assorted cookies wherein you get a flavor to satiate your gastronomic, emotional, adventurous, wild, and natural cravings. I was totally in awe of the mystic beauty of this forest of pleasure that began right with the flower-showered welcome.
We were immediately greeted by a staff who started expounding the intricacies and the marvels of this majestic land sprawling across 200 acres. We showed our interest in seeing the Spice Shop and the Heritage House first. The house of heritage was indeed a house that made me feel the glory of ancestors or the house has inherited the features of the floor made out of the dung. I just removed my shoes and touched my feet to feel the cooling effect and the remembrance of the things past. We really spent some time exploring the spices available at the shop. We were confused regarding what to buy and what not to buy. Jeeth was so fond of cloves and he ended up buying that along with Haldi powder. We purchased two to three packets. We were offered lemon grass tea and bananas. Kunjapp’s fondness for ‘manaana’ made him eat one. We still miss that tea and its spicy aroma. After the spice tour, it was time to slide and glide in the pool. We were not that keen on going there with Kunjapp. The fragrance of the spices made us walk and explore the jungle for a while. The moment we started walking, Kunjapp started giving me hints to walk by pushing and pulling his body. The walk through the narrow roads, bamboo seats, and picturesque locale made us stand, relax, and capture some of the moments that must become a part of our evergreen Goan memoirs. The interiors of the forest made our fast and furious Kunjapp dance in the wilderness. He was sweating and feeling thirsty too. His excitement made him oblivious to all that was happening in and around him. His fine frenzy made him feel the beauty of butterflies, the enchantment of a farm dancing in the diversity of the farm’s ecosystem. It was indeed a realization to me that Kunjapp was steadily mastering the ability of trekking. As the father, so the son. My realization turned out to be a reality in the recent trekking to Thenmala. He had fallen absolutely for the wonders of nature.
Having explored the rhythms of the jungle walk, we have decided to make our rhythmic steps to the dining service area. What a warm welcome with the authentic food of Goa in such a spacious venue. My eyes diverted my attention to a list displayed. I got to know from the staff that those were the names of the people who had gathered for a celebration and all. Their booking details were displayed over there. The moment we stepped into Nandanvan, we could hear some sounds that ended up in boisterous laughter. We got to know that some reunion and birthday parties were happening there. It was a real pleasurable destination with cultural and culinary insights. We reached well before time to dine. The lunch in the buffet model started and Jeeth occupied a space in the queue. Kunjapp and Mom occupied places for the three of us and the dishes on the way. Jeeth had a tough time carrying two plates and managing to decorate both plates with all veg and non-veg delicacies. He came to us, kept a few things, and went again for a second round to make sure that we tried and tested all items. The taste buds of Kunjapp made him savor fish in special. We tasted Goan bangda thaali long back. Here, we had an array of dishes comprising salad, rice, fish fry, plain rice, bhaji, pappad, and whatnot. We ate to our best. What attracted me the most was washrooms and wash basins were in plenty. We did not wait with the baby for hand wash and all. Our bodies made us wait for a while to make proper steps. The weight of the overloaded thaali lunch made us walk in a dead slow mode to the kids’ area. Kunjapp jumped and started testing each toy. He spent some time making his hand move along with the steering of the toy gaadi.
We spent some time over there and started moving back to the entrance area. Kunjapp’s eyes caught our attention with the charmingly decorated bullock cart displaying Nandanvan. His standing pose made me sense that he was waiting for me to capture that moment for eternity. He roamed around in the van/forest for a while exploring the radiance of trees that have assumed shapes in impressive forms. We started making a move after making him enjoy and enthrall in the bounty of nature bestowed by the real Nandanvan, the Garden of Pleasure, or the Forest of Pleasure. We receive far more than we seek in the glory of nature. The words of the transcendentalist philosopher, Henry David Thoreau started echoing in me – “I took a walk in the woods and came out taller than the trees. “Let my Kunjapp discover the roots and routes for his life resplendent with infinite joy. Let him bask in the glory of his infinite joys of lot many Nandanvans. Let the wilderness make him fit in tune with the fabulous music of the vast world. I earnestly wish my Kunjapp take a walk in various woods and emerge taller than the trees in his thoughts and deeds. The little adventurer is in the making. I can sense it in all his senses. Nandavan’s experience will remain exceptional forever in Kunjapp’s tiny world of wonders.
Aparna Ajith
Dedicated to Sujeeth and Anvik Sujeeth, the priceless possessions of my life who make me go ahead with all my daily delirium and creative lunacies. Love and hugs to my warriors!
About the Author
Dr. Aparna Ajith serves as an Assistant Professor in the PG Department of English at Sree Narayana College for Women, Kollam affiliated with the University of Kerala. She is the author of Musings of Venus, An anthology of poems. She is the recipient of the Panorama Global Youth Literary Award 2020. She is one of the recipients of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Research Grant 2020. Being a freelance journalist, she writes and translates articles for the Information and Public Relations Department, Govt. of Kerala. She is an avid reader and blogger who dabbles in the world of prose and verse. Having lived in four Indian cities and a quaint hamlet, she soars high in the sky of artistic imagination wielding her realistic and diasporic impressions. Her academic and creative pursuits bestowed her the opportunity to travel to 18 states and 2 union territories in the country and get a glimpse of their varied cultures. Beyond her professional pursuits, she finds joy in navigating the highs and lows of life alongside her beloved baby, Anvik Sujeeth, whose presence often breathes life into her poetic expressions.
