A Journey By Boat

It is a great pleasure to go on an excursion. During such picnics, outgoings, and excursions we forget the hurries and worries of life. They are indeed the best form of recreation.

I joined the school party of 20 boys which went to an educational trip to Mumbai. There we put up in a hotel on Marine Drive. I saw the sea for the first time. There were water and water as far as the eye could see. There are hidden rocks, lofty mountains, and islands in the sea.

One day our teacher took us to Ajanta Caves in a boat.

We vied with one another in getting first into the boat which was a really nice one. It was painted green. The blue water of the sea was full of waves and ripples. The boat was launched out into the sea. It made a slow start, yet how delicately. We sailed on the bosom of the mighty ocean. A cool breeze was blowing. The breeze sprayed us. The weather was delightfully cool.

The boatman began to sing jugal clownishly imitated the boatman's song. We all gave rhythmic beats on the sides of the boat. Naresh offered to sing. He entertained us with his melodious songs. Kapur's song and Sham's tunes of the mouth-organ were a great treat.

We enjoyed the boat journey very much. Some of us tried our hands at rowing. The boatman was found to be a good talker. He gave us graphic accounts of his sea adventures. He was strong and doughty. He had grown familiar with the sea and its occasional storms and roughness. A strong wind sprang up, all of a sudden. The boat began to toss. But he laughed and calmed all our fears.

It took us two hours to reach our destination. We visited the historic caves. They are some of the wonders of the world. There were big halls, the roofs of which were supported by lofty and massive pillars. There were full-size images of the gods and the goddesses. Every pillar and every image was shown out of solid 'rocks. We marveled at the skill, devotion, and patient labor of the old sculptors and architects.

Some of us, however, felt hungry. We had mangoes, apples, and some sweets. All of us finished what we had. Never had we enjoyed sweets and fruits as we did on that day.

In the evening, we returned to our hotel in a steamer. All of us enjoyed the excursion. It was really an unforgettable boat excursion.