Watching the Waves

MONSOON HISTORY !!! Once I worked in Kelantan and my friends and I used to go to the seaside every Thursday evening to swim in the sea. The beach that we used to go to was Beach of Passionate Love (Pantai Cinta Berahi). However, during the monsoon season (Nov. to February) we could not swim in the sea as it was too rough and dangerous. Instead we would explore the beach during this time. On one occasion we saw some local villagers watching the waves breaking on the beach and then ran towards the sand to pick up coins washed up by the waves. Curious, I too tried to pick up the coins, however, I failed to pick any because the moment the waves recede, they wash the sand downwards and the sand would cover the coins. So, unless our eyes were very sharp, alert and vigilant, only then can we pick up the coins. This required skill and training. This activity of the villagers has remained vividly in my memory.