LAST DAYS, PART 2: COW HORNS, COCONUTS AND COUNTING MY BLESSINGS!
What an eventful day this has been!
Isn't it remarkable that, even in this era of Covid and lock downs, the most interesting adventures can still occur?! Maybe not SO remarkable...this IS India, after all!
And, as always, the reasons to count one's blessings are ever present.
To begin with, I set out mid-morning to buy some vegetables from the little local market that is a two minute walk from the front gate of our society. Today is thankfully the last day of the strict, ten day lock down; during the last five, though, Pune residents have been allowed to go shopping, but only in the mornings.
When I reached the front side of the market, a large, black cow was trying to nose her way up to the vegetables on display; large boxes full of enough delectable produce to entice human and bovine alike! This particular creature was quite beautiful and, without a moment's thought, I did what I always do: made my approach with a little coo'ing noise to invite her for a scritching behind the ears! I was especially delighted because I have not seen a cow wandering the streets of KP since I have been living here. She was irresistible!
Well... I should have resisted her, dummy me! For, she had a beautiful little white calf at her side. Of course she would be protective of her baby! As I approached her and reached out my hand, she came at me head down and proceeded to jab me pretty forcefully with her horns! EGADS!
I was shocked! After six months in India, this is the first cow I have ever encountered that was even remotely aggressive. I have approached herds of them before, comprised of adults and babies alike. Admittedly, this was my first rendez-vous with an adult/baby combo by themselves. And, God only knows, I should have known better!
I can tell you that the poke of her horn hurt like heck. She got me in the left thigh, just on the side. Of course I backed up quick as a flash and the shopkeeper picked up his broomstick to chase her away. There were other bystanders who saw the incident and and smirked. Well, can't say that I blame them. I am sure they were thinking, "Good heavens, what a dumb foreigner to do such a thing!" And, dear reader, they would be right. I have to say, my sense of dignity hurt way more than my throbbing leg!
So here's where I count my blessings: she could have seriously gored me if she had so chosen. Clearly, it would have been "no contest" between a soft, small human and a several-hundred pound cow with hard, nasty horns. I really got off easy on this one. But, needless to say, I was rather badly shaken.
After depositing my hastily purchased groceries back at home, I took off trotting around my little circuit in the garden square of our complex. I direly needed to calm my shaky nerves and release the trauma of the cow encounter. I thought about how grateful I was that the horns didn't break any skin--or bones, for that matter!--and that apart from a nasty bruise, my leg is otherwise functioning and intact.
After my brisk little walk, I headed back to my guest house. On the way, I saw a sight that delighted me no end: coconut tree climbers! They were actually cutting down coconuts!!! And doing this for the first time in the two months I have been living here. If you haven't already read my previous blog called "Bombs Away ", you should definitely do so now. Then you will really come to appreciate how very thrilled I was to see those dear coconuts being harvested.
Glory be!
Not only was I thrilled because the coconuts would now no longer be going to waste, but I would no longer be facing the immense hazard of walking underneath a coconut palm, knowing that one of those nutty bombs could drop on my head at any moment! Furthermore, the spectacle is really something to behold. The men who do this work are like human monkeys. They are extraordinarily skilled and strong. They always seem to be skinny little guys who don't weigh much but are wiry and strong as all get out. What is incredible is that they have no supports whatsoever when they climb the palms. They do it with bare hands and bare feet and just shimmy up the vertical trunks like it is no effort at all. Trunks that are virtually as smooth as snake skins! I simply can't imagine the amount of strength it takes to perform such a feat. Remember, these trees are typically 80 to 100 feet tall! I doubt these climbers have insurance. I dearly hope they get paid extraordinarily well!
Best of all, the kindly neighbor (Kiran, owner of these trees) offered me two fresh coconuts to drink! Trust me when I tell you, friends, there are a few things on this earth that can compare with the deliciousness of a coconut just harvested from the tree. Especially when one is exceedingly hot and thirsty, as I was after my little garden romp. I couldn't believe my good fortune! I drank one on the spot--absolute bliss!--and saved the other for later.
What's more, Kiran's lovely mother--whom, along with son and grandson, I was meeting for the first time--invited me to come back sometime to visit. I don't know if she even speaks English; the only words we exchanged were "Namaste" in greeting. But she had the warmest and most beautiful smile. As is so often the case in India, their household appears to be a three-generation domicile. What a boon, then, to meet mother, son and grandson AND drink a luscious coconut all at the same time! Again...counting my blessings!
Only one precious week left in Koregaon Park, in Pune, in India. It is too little time, to be sure.
Is it any wonder that I absolutely, positively, don't want to leave?? Darned that silly visa!
Isn't it remarkable that, even in this era of Covid and lock downs, the most interesting adventures can still occur?! Maybe not SO remarkable...this IS India, after all!
And, as always, the reasons to count one's blessings are ever present.
To begin with, I set out mid-morning to buy some vegetables from the little local market that is a two minute walk from the front gate of our society. Today is thankfully the last day of the strict, ten day lock down; during the last five, though, Pune residents have been allowed to go shopping, but only in the mornings.
When I reached the front side of the market, a large, black cow was trying to nose her way up to the vegetables on display; large boxes full of enough delectable produce to entice human and bovine alike! This particular creature was quite beautiful and, without a moment's thought, I did what I always do: made my approach with a little coo'ing noise to invite her for a scritching behind the ears! I was especially delighted because I have not seen a cow wandering the streets of KP since I have been living here. She was irresistible!
Well... I should have resisted her, dummy me! For, she had a beautiful little white calf at her side. Of course she would be protective of her baby! As I approached her and reached out my hand, she came at me head down and proceeded to jab me pretty forcefully with her horns! EGADS!
I was shocked! After six months in India, this is the first cow I have ever encountered that was even remotely aggressive. I have approached herds of them before, comprised of adults and babies alike. Admittedly, this was my first rendez-vous with an adult/baby combo by themselves. And, God only knows, I should have known better!
I can tell you that the poke of her horn hurt like heck. She got me in the left thigh, just on the side. Of course I backed up quick as a flash and the shopkeeper picked up his broomstick to chase her away. There were other bystanders who saw the incident and and smirked. Well, can't say that I blame them. I am sure they were thinking, "Good heavens, what a dumb foreigner to do such a thing!" And, dear reader, they would be right. I have to say, my sense of dignity hurt way more than my throbbing leg!
So here's where I count my blessings: she could have seriously gored me if she had so chosen. Clearly, it would have been "no contest" between a soft, small human and a several-hundred pound cow with hard, nasty horns. I really got off easy on this one. But, needless to say, I was rather badly shaken.
After depositing my hastily purchased groceries back at home, I took off trotting around my little circuit in the garden square of our complex. I direly needed to calm my shaky nerves and release the trauma of the cow encounter. I thought about how grateful I was that the horns didn't break any skin--or bones, for that matter!--and that apart from a nasty bruise, my leg is otherwise functioning and intact.
After my brisk little walk, I headed back to my guest house. On the way, I saw a sight that delighted me no end: coconut tree climbers! They were actually cutting down coconuts!!! And doing this for the first time in the two months I have been living here. If you haven't already read my previous blog called "Bombs Away ", you should definitely do so now. Then you will really come to appreciate how very thrilled I was to see those dear coconuts being harvested.
 |
| Mahadev, kindly pausing--and posing--on his shimmy up the tree, so I could capture this photo of him! Doesn't he look relaxed and casual, like he positively lives there?! (The name "Mahadev" roughly translates as "Most Powerful God"--isn't that ever apt for one such as this?!?!) |
Glory be!
Not only was I thrilled because the coconuts would now no longer be going to waste, but I would no longer be facing the immense hazard of walking underneath a coconut palm, knowing that one of those nutty bombs could drop on my head at any moment! Furthermore, the spectacle is really something to behold. The men who do this work are like human monkeys. They are extraordinarily skilled and strong. They always seem to be skinny little guys who don't weigh much but are wiry and strong as all get out. What is incredible is that they have no supports whatsoever when they climb the palms. They do it with bare hands and bare feet and just shimmy up the vertical trunks like it is no effort at all. Trunks that are virtually as smooth as snake skins! I simply can't imagine the amount of strength it takes to perform such a feat. Remember, these trees are typically 80 to 100 feet tall! I doubt these climbers have insurance. I dearly hope they get paid extraordinarily well!
 |
| Here you see Mahadev, nestled comfortably at the top, hacking away the coconuts with his machete. He then ties them together and slides them down a rope to the partner waiting to grab them down below. |
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| Quite a high climb, eh!?!? Intrepid guy, this Mahadev! |
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| This is the size of a typical bundle that is slid down the rope--not an unwieldy package, to be sure! |
Best of all, the kindly neighbor (Kiran, owner of these trees) offered me two fresh coconuts to drink! Trust me when I tell you, friends, there are a few things on this earth that can compare with the deliciousness of a coconut just harvested from the tree. Especially when one is exceedingly hot and thirsty, as I was after my little garden romp. I couldn't believe my good fortune! I drank one on the spot--absolute bliss!--and saved the other for later.
 |
| The top of the outer shell is hacked away; a hole is then cut in the top for drinking out of. The younger the coconut, the more water there is inside to drink. The fresh, young ones are the sweetest! The soft meat--though sparse--is also quite tasty. |
What's more, Kiran's lovely mother--whom, along with son and grandson, I was meeting for the first time--invited me to come back sometime to visit. I don't know if she even speaks English; the only words we exchanged were "Namaste" in greeting. But she had the warmest and most beautiful smile. As is so often the case in India, their household appears to be a three-generation domicile. What a boon, then, to meet mother, son and grandson AND drink a luscious coconut all at the same time! Again...counting my blessings!
Only one precious week left in Koregaon Park, in Pune, in India. It is too little time, to be sure.
Is it any wonder that I absolutely, positively, don't want to leave?? Darned that silly visa!
 |
| The evil eye the cow gave me right before she attacked! |
Great read Supriya! I’m sorry the mother cow didn’t reciprocate in kind to your good intentions! Scary and yes so glad it wasn’t worse. I’m packing my lunch this morning with a box of coconut 🥥 water - won’t be close to as good as yours but I’ll think of you! I remember not being able to climb a rope in 6th grade gym class- I bet that climber could!
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