Velas, Not Just About Olive Ridley Turtles

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Velas, Not Just About Olive Ridley Turtles
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Velas, Not Just About Olive Ridley Turtles

• After opening eyes slowly
•  
• T (turtle) - Where am I?
•  
• H (human) - Hello little fellow, Welcome to this
  world
•  
• T - Oh! Thank you, who are you? And why are so
  many people surrounding and shouting at me?
•  
• H - I am a Human baby. They are cheering for the
  beginning of your life and wishing you good luck

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Velas, Not Just About Olive Ridley Turtles

• T (turtle) - But even you are a baby, then why
  arent they cheering you?
• H (human) - I am common everywhere, 4 humans
  take birth every second. You are an endangered
  species. People have travelled miles, leaving
  their busy schedule just to see you, because you
  are rare.
• I imagine this conversation between one of our
  baby participants in the group and the cute
  little Olive Ridley Turtle as it makes its way
  towards the sea on the Velas beach. Velas is
  located on the southern stretch of coastal
  Maharashtra. Here the system of Homestay works
  best. Even we were staying in a Homestay. I must
  say, the people here are incredibly hospitable.

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Velas, Not Just About Olive Ridley Turtles

• A night before, we were a group of 25 who boarded
  an overnight bus, having some boisterous
  conversations. We went through bumpy rides on the
  rickety roads. While speeding on the bumpers and
  potholes, it jolted me badly. I ended up doing a
  head bang like a rock star! We reached the beach
  just in time as the turtles were not yet
  released. We formed a semi circle behind
  barricade, armed with our DSLRs, ready to shoot
  them )

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Velas, Not Just About Olive Ridley Turtles

• I was excited to see the famous Olive Ridley
  Turtles. As they put the baby turtles down one by
  one, my heart instantly melted by their innocent
  sight. Amidst the murmuring crowd, I just kept
  adoring to these little creatures. They were
  small, like really very small. Those 4 turtles
  could have easily fit inside my palm.
• I couldnt get enough of watching them. One of
  them lost its way and was walking in the opposite
  direction. To my advantage, I got to see him even
  closer. The baby constantly flattering through
  sand left its unique trails behind.

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Turtle Festival Tour Velas

• After the turtles went in the sea, the beach
  suddenly got empty within few minutes! Clueless
  of what we should do next, we started playing dog
  and the bone. It wasnt easy to trick when the
  opponent was equally smart. I swiftly grab the
  bone are rolled towards sideways to avoid
  touching before getting back to the safety line.
  Nailed it!

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Velas, Not Just About Olive Ridley Turtles

• The velas village itself is a getaway from the
  hectic scheduled life. You just feel the peace as
  soon as you enter this place. The smell carrying
  light mud is pleasant. Wooden clogged Huts,
  colorful bungalows, Cocks hovering around,
  casuarinas and coconut trees covered with smoke,
  and then occasional curious looks of the
  villagers.
• Our bus was parked 2 kms away from the home stay,
  it made us walk the whole stretch, and trust me
  that was the best thing one can do. Walking down
  the quiet roads where only cycles and motorcycles
  run is pleasant.

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Velas Turtle Festival 2017

• In the Afternoon, we went towards the historic
  Bankot fort. Bankot fort itself is not much
  appealing due to its dilapidated condition. But
  its strategic position overlooking the sea is
  marvelous.

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Velas, Not Just About Olive Ridley Turtles

• The pale blue colors of the sea and the sky,
  blurs its horizon. The waves are not on the
  shore, but in the middle of the sea. The huge
  jungle on the left side still holds its greenery
  in summers. The numerous trails through the
  jungle leads villagers out with a basket full of
  raw mangoes.
• The pleasant breeze gives the strength of sitting
  under the blazing sun. Actually, it makes it even
  more pleasant. Why cant we have such beautiful
  experience in cities? Maybe thats why people
  tend to escape in search of serendipity.

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Velas, Not Just About Olive Ridley Turtles

• We once again went to the beach in the evening
  for turtle sighting. There wasnt any hatching,
  so we couldnt see any turtle. We decided to
  climb a small mountain at the western end of the
  beach.
• There wasnt any laid path, so we had to make our
  own. One of the participants was extremely
  frightened as she had never trekked in her life.
  But I forced her to come up, and I was glad to
  hear that she enjoyed it.

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Velas, Not Just About Olive Ridley Turtles

• As we reached on the top, the obvious cool breeze
  greeted us while brushing off our face. As the
  sun was setting, I braced myself for the best
  part of the day.
• The fireball was slowly dissolving itself in the
  saline water. It lit the beach like a torch in
  the middle. It felt as if the Goku of Dragon
  balls Z was saying kameha meha before attacking
  in the sea and the sky.
• The sky soon got dark. As we were getting back
  through the small, dense forest of casuarinas
  trees, the moonlight pierced through it giving us
  the spot light. Back at home, the night ambiance
  was turned into politics as we played Mafia.

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Velas, Not Just About Olive Ridley Turtles

• Silence, cunning moves, Arguments, blames,
  defense, we enjoyed everything in those 2 hours.
  The funniest part was that innocent people were
  blamed just because they looked like a mafia from
  face! P
• The following night was illuminating and
  lustrous. The stars filled the lonely sky as if a
  part of the moon busted and scattered everywhere.
  The coconut trees lined up below the moon was
  just tripping.
• What could be better than getting a chance to
  sleep on the terrace and gazing such beauty?
  Talks overlooked the night until I finally gave
  up at 300am!

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