May 21, 2007 10:38 PM
4254 Views
Familiar sounds of Mashe Fude Chal(please move forward), Awoi(O My), Clanging sounds, Splashing of water and a low rumbling sound of the motor inside the ferry all this happens with this beauty is berthing. What is beautiful about a Ferry? You may ask, it nowhere looks like a Yatch, but for the common man, I guess she is a part of his or her life. In Goa where for the farmers, fisher folks and the upper middle class the ferry is a boon and a blessing in disguise. Just imagine about a 2 hours bus ride all the way from Bicholim in North Goa to Mapusa all the way down to Panjim and then to Old Goa and finally to Marcella. A person from Bicholim can just hop into a ferry up to Santo Estevam Jetty catch an eagerly waiting bus to Marcella all done in 15- 20 minutes. By the way the Ferries and Buses have a very strong compatibility and affinity to each other as they can always rely on each other for their fill for a trip.
The raised gangplanks are always ready to welcome heavy vehicles, two wheelers and passengers. There is always a nominal fee for the vehicles. Sometimes you do get frustrated where the rivers are so small and the ferry has to just shift from here to there, turn around the whole weight, where as a bridge could be built.
A ride on the ferry is really interesting, you get to walk all around the ferry, but don’t go and investigate the motor room, The view outside the ferry is breathtaking especially when you see fishes jumping in and out of the rivers, the greenery, the coconut palms, and village life in its natural setting. Since Goa is crisscrossed by many water bodies, rivulets and rivers this is the one of the important means of transport.
Incase you want to know the areas between which the ferries ply I have a list taken from https://mapsofindia.com
Aldona-Corjuem Amona-Khandola Aronda-Kiranpani Assolna-Cavelossim Carona-Calvim Cortalim-Marcaim Cortalim-Agassaim Durbhat-Rassoi Keri-Tiracol Narva-Divar Old Goa-Diwar/Piedade Raibandar-Diwar Panaji-Betim Pomburpa-Chorao Raia-Shiroda Raibandar-Chorao Sarmanos-Tonca, St. Estevam Savoi-Verem-Tishem Kothambi' Siolim-Chopdem Vanxim-Itagem(Divar) Vanxim-Old Goa Volvoi Surla-Maina
