Well thank god this week has come to an end.....what i hear you gasp you've just spent a week in a tropical paradise. Well yes i have and it bored me to tears. Only today as i am leaving have i had my first conversation with a couple of intelligent and for that matter attractive Canadian girls. One of whom has just come from the Ashram i am going to and she said it was amazing so although she said i may not survive the 26+ hour train journey, i will love it when i get there. Phew! here's hoping.
I need some real India. Goa sold it's soul a long time ago and now it's like a pilgrimage to a forgotten and buried lifestyle. Trying desperately to cling on to a few Rupees no matter from whose hands they come from.
Goa was great but not for me, Hey I've always got Clifton or Camps Bay.
Hope i find a more meaningful experience in Kerela.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Sunday, 15 February 2009
High Tide
Oh the effort! It is so laid back here things are almost horizontal. Well people are most of the time.
I have been indulging in the art of hedonism doing bugger all basically except for an extraordinary massage yesterday for over an hour and costing about $5. Eating everything under the sun from grilled fish smothered in garlic to curries of various descriptions (will learn more before i comment too verbosely) Everything has been good, sometimes even excellent! ....But you know what? I am bored stiff. Where i am seems to attract amongst others British Midland over 50's on SAGA tours or the inevitable German stereotypically claiming their deck chairs so not really my cup of tea.
In light of this i have decided to head for Kerela on Thursday to the ashram there with the hugging mother. I might get a hug too. As i mentioned to some of you they get involved with community projects so I'll see what i can do there...perhaps just chill and meditate for a couple of weeks, we'll see.
I have been indulging in the art of hedonism doing bugger all basically except for an extraordinary massage yesterday for over an hour and costing about $5. Eating everything under the sun from grilled fish smothered in garlic to curries of various descriptions (will learn more before i comment too verbosely) Everything has been good, sometimes even excellent! ....But you know what? I am bored stiff. Where i am seems to attract amongst others British Midland over 50's on SAGA tours or the inevitable German stereotypically claiming their deck chairs so not really my cup of tea.
In light of this i have decided to head for Kerela on Thursday to the ashram there with the hugging mother. I might get a hug too. As i mentioned to some of you they get involved with community projects so I'll see what i can do there...perhaps just chill and meditate for a couple of weeks, we'll see.
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Goa
I awoke quite suddenly in the middle of the night or 4.30 really and knew sleep was over. I was quite relaxed though and waited for 6.15 to roll on. Well it inevitably did and i got up to begin my journey. I noticed a heavy but wet snow falling outside and suppressed any feelings of worry. about delays and the like.
Mercifully the taxi came early and i was ready to go to Heathrow T2. After a hair raising journey on the M4 narrowly missing a collision we arrived.
I was able to get an earlier flight to Frankfurt so i took it as i only had an hour between flights otherwise.
The flights were thankfully uneventful except for the final one landing in Goa lets just say i've had smoother ones.
I was met as arranged by the hotels driver with a sign and a sigh of relief as i was taken to the hotel in about an hour of which the first part was in darkness. My first impressions of Goa would have to be the countless palm trees popping out of a thick fog. Humm, ok, i think i am going to like. As the sun rose quickly i saw the Portuguese style buildings everywhere. The traffic although right from the start it was never quiet began to pick up. The main mode of transport seems to be scooters with largely helmetless riders.
My room was amazing En suite bathroom, air conditioning, satelite TV and clean....well at least until i got into it. On the pricy side but i wanted a gentil toe dipping experience to begin with.
I had a quick shower and changed into a pair of shorts. God! how nice that feels after endless winter.
So i slept a few hours and woke up deciding to try the food. It's got to ok right? ok here goes nothing i thought. I went for the butter chicken and rice. It was delicious and so was the lassie (drink) that went with it and then the pancake discovery. Oh dear the pancakes. Well they were good.
While i was eating i heard a loud voice booming around the bar and pool area. A 6`3inch Canadian Shaun or Shaaaaaunn. was organising music and generally orchestrating, beer bringing and Just being how some people are when on holiday. I sat near by and soon found myself drawn into conversation. He had a side kick Bob from Manchester with a very strong accent which amused me as i could just see the communication difficulties he would face. He was quiet with a perpetual grin on his face. Wonder why? Soon a group of 3 Indian girls had joined us due to Shaaaun's persuasiveness. The evening came to an end at about eight and i went to bed happy to have arrived and knackered.
Mercifully the taxi came early and i was ready to go to Heathrow T2. After a hair raising journey on the M4 narrowly missing a collision we arrived.
I was able to get an earlier flight to Frankfurt so i took it as i only had an hour between flights otherwise.
The flights were thankfully uneventful except for the final one landing in Goa lets just say i've had smoother ones.
I was met as arranged by the hotels driver with a sign and a sigh of relief as i was taken to the hotel in about an hour of which the first part was in darkness. My first impressions of Goa would have to be the countless palm trees popping out of a thick fog. Humm, ok, i think i am going to like. As the sun rose quickly i saw the Portuguese style buildings everywhere. The traffic although right from the start it was never quiet began to pick up. The main mode of transport seems to be scooters with largely helmetless riders.
My room was amazing En suite bathroom, air conditioning, satelite TV and clean....well at least until i got into it. On the pricy side but i wanted a gentil toe dipping experience to begin with.
I had a quick shower and changed into a pair of shorts. God! how nice that feels after endless winter.
So i slept a few hours and woke up deciding to try the food. It's got to ok right? ok here goes nothing i thought. I went for the butter chicken and rice. It was delicious and so was the lassie (drink) that went with it and then the pancake discovery. Oh dear the pancakes. Well they were good.
While i was eating i heard a loud voice booming around the bar and pool area. A 6`3inch Canadian Shaun or Shaaaaaunn. was organising music and generally orchestrating, beer bringing and Just being how some people are when on holiday. I sat near by and soon found myself drawn into conversation. He had a side kick Bob from Manchester with a very strong accent which amused me as i could just see the communication difficulties he would face. He was quiet with a perpetual grin on his face. Wonder why? Soon a group of 3 Indian girls had joined us due to Shaaaun's persuasiveness. The evening came to an end at about eight and i went to bed happy to have arrived and knackered.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
1st. India trip.The day before departure.
What a countdown! I mean, really! I applied for my visa about six weeks ago and then for those who don't know the Indian High Commission lost both my visa application and passport and only found it on Tuesday so the application was ready.......wait for it, at 3pm this afternoon. For God's sake! Anyway, I am all set with a rucksack weighing about 15 kilos of which most is made up of medical supplies and the lonely planet guide book.
Now, weather permitting I will be off at 9.50 U.K time. I am due to arrive in Goa after catching a connecting flight at 6am Indian local time.
I have allowed myself the luxury of three nights in a good hotel right on the beachfront to unwind and relax a bit before I prepare myself for the unknown.
So my last evening is being spent with friends in London having a beef casserole which is most welcome as cows are sacred in India as far as i know so Yum! oh, how could I fail to mention the 1998 Lynch Bages breathing nicely ready to quench my thirst. So with that in mind, I shall bid you farewell until I arrive.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)