Much has been said and written about Goa in the monsoons, and for good reason. The region transforms into a lush green paradise – dreamy and pleasant. While the sea becomes too rough for swimming and beach-side shacks close for the season, the weather provides the perfect opportunity to explore Goa's lesser-known treasures beyond its famous beaches.
One of my favourite ways to spend my time here is to head into the hinterlands and swim in a natural pool. I wish I could say I get to do this every day, but unfortunately I don’t. The most sublime streams and waterfalls are often hidden, known only to the local community of that specific area. It's not always safe to explore these water bodies alone without sufficient knowledge to assess risks—which I lack. So, I typically go the tourist way and do a day trip with a local ecotourism company. This time, it was The Local Beat.
My mother and I started from our place around 8.30 am and drove through the picturesque countryside to meet our host in Rachol. We took a ferry across the river, then drove to the forest where we'd picnic that afternoon. Peacocks and peahens greeted us, followed by a chorus of bird calls as we took a pasoi (leisurely walk) through the forest to a stream. Our host had built a small makeshift hut where we savoured local breakfast—watermelon, pineapple, sweet poi and pav, aloo sabzi, yellow peas (matar) curry, and kadha tea.
We then made our way to a beautiful little stream with a waterfall. Our only plan for the afternoon was to swim, float, and relax by the stream, munching on sweet poha.
I love being in water. All the more now that I know how to swim. I can sometimes be (and feel) rigid, and this manifests in my body in the form of a stiff back and inflexible joints. Being in water helps me loosen up and let go. The weightlessness I feel when I’m floating is liberating. It reminds me of Bruce Lee's famous words:
“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves.
Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”
- Bruce Lee
I want to be like water. Flexible, soft, strong. Without inhibitions. Unafraid to change form.
After two blissful hours of swimming, floating on my back, gazing up at the canopy of trees, basking under the waterfall, and letting tiny fish nibble at my feet, it was time for lunch. We returned to the hut to savour a delicious Feni cocktail and a spread of local delicacies: rava-fried fish, prawns, bitter gourd, Konkani chicken curry, dal, and mangane (Goan payasam). As it began to rain, we played Tambola, and once the rain stopped, we roasted fresh cashew seeds over a fire, giving it a delicious smoky flavour.
All our meals were served on 'chaand ka paan' or 'moon tree leaf,' which, like the banana leaf, releases an aroma when hot food is placed on it, and grows abundantly in the forest.
Afternoons like this are my favourite way to spend time in the wilderness and simply be. No notifications to check, no distressing news from the human world – only bird calls, trees, the sound of falling water, and silence. I savour these moments and work towards a future where I can experience such beauty more often. What else could I possibly want to do with my one wild and precious life?
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Sounds like a wonderful Monday! I liked how relaxing it felt just reading it. Hope you find a way to have more weekday swims in Goa's natural pools.
I love how you are able to transport us to your beautiful world with such ease. Felt such calm after reading this piece. Well done as always, Eels. <3