Sun, Sand, Beaches and Soccer in Brazil

Pengba Aruuba Eshingee *

For a die hard football fan, getting a chance to visit Brazil -- the birthplace of the God of Soccer, Pele -- when the country is gearing up for its team to have a go at the world title, is like reaching Mecca to the followers of Islam.

Hence, landing at the Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport, better known by its former name Galeão International Airport in Rio de Janeiro -- Brazil's celebrated city, with less than two weeks to go for the soccer World Cup in South Africa gave a sense of being closer to the God.

No matter how much Maradona tried to impress through the programme on Emirates' inflight video during the 14-and-half hours journey from Dubai, to a Pele worshipper the Argentine's 'Hand of God' goal in 1986 Mexico World Cup is an act of cheating.

Soccer fever at a street in Copacabana

So when in Brazil, Maradona is the last man to be thinking about! One had done a little bit of research before embarking on the journey to Latin America's biggest country. Like any emerging nation, Brazil has its own pros and cons, good and bad and the city of Rio de Janeiro just presents that picture.

While the beaches at Ipanema and Copacabana are world famous and present tourists a once in a lifetime opportunity to admire the best of the blue waters of the Atlantic washing the sandy shores, the city is not the safest to be alone. At least that was the impression created.

Hence it was a wise decision to follow instructions strictly. Lock your passport, valuables, credit cards, wallet and watch inside the hotel room locker. One must say the Caesar Park Hotel, standing opposite the beautiful Ipanema beach didn't disappoint in providing that facility.

One had to roam around in the city with just a few notes of reais (Brazillian currency) in the pocket in order to minimise loss in case of mugging. While the fear psychosis was working a bit in the mind, when one actually went out things seemed to be pretty normal.

It was nice seeing that football juggler whipping up the soccer fever at the streets of Copacabana, so was the t-shirt seller at Ipanema beach. And some had already started building mood for the 2016 Olympics in the city through sand castles. The flea market had lots to choose from, if only one knew how to bargain.

The Brazilians appeared to be health freaks as one could see them jogging at the beaches right from the dawn till midnight. On Sunday, the beach is swarmed by people, playing beach volleyball to football, many made hay skating, cycling while the rare sunshine in the pre-winter weather blessed the city. A sight best captured in the camera.

The majestic Atlantic Ocean clicked atop Sugar Loaf

Talking about taking pictures, a visit to the 'Sugar Loaf' presented an opportunity where there is no end to clicking, till the camera ran out of battery. Shaped like a refined loaf of sugar, the peak at the mouth of Guanabara Bay emerges out from the Atlantic Ocean offering visitors atop it a bird's eyeview to Rio. One has to use the cable car with a stopover in between to reach the peak and the experience is such that it would be etched in memory forever. Although the inability to see Christ the Redeemer from a close range will remain a life-long regret till a next chance to visit Brazil presented itself.

While in Rio, it's a must to have dinner at Marius restaurant at Copacanaba, where the experience is like having food inside a wrecked ship, sank in the sea by pirates. The creator, as one was told, was a bit crazy but it was that craziness that made the seafood joint stand out from the rest.

With all these, it was just too easy to fall in love with the city. And when one had the chance to listen to the extempore speech of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil's dynamic President, the love got even deeper. From emerging market economy to solving problems of the people and restoring the self respect of Brazilians, his vision of the nation was something that leaders in back home can learn a lot from.

If only Ibobi can have one per cent of Lula's vision, there won't be any economic blockades, no Meita-Naga one up-manship. It would have been a Manipur, where life is fun lived to the fullest in the midst of nature's beauty and not one dictated by the rule of the gun. Day dreams? What the heck?

As John Lenon sang ....
"You may say that I'm a dreamer,
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one..."

See a photo Gallery on this trip here.