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Published: January 28th 2009
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My good friend John
Mr Happy, I think he's waiting fro a bar boy GOA - INDIA
PLANET INDIA
Maybe I should first explain my overall impression after a week and a half of PLANET INDIA.
It is a different planet without a doubt, someone drugged us and put us in an intergalactic spaceship and transported us to a new, but familiar world. Everything is new to us, the smell of incense, wood fires and glorious Indian cooking. The people are beautiful with smiling eyes and rainbow coloured clothes. Even the beach trinket and fruit sellers put our kings and queens to shame with their sartorial elegance & attire.
I personally have come to the conclusion that the dogs here are running things. There are hounds everywhere, all seem healthy, happy and fed. I have never in my life come across a dog who doesn’t beg for food, not in Goa though. Food of every flavour and nationality abound, it seems in this part of India at least everyone is feasting…… but the dogs don’t beg. They spend most of the time playing on the beach. They get lots of attention from the locals and the tourists and obviously lots of good pickings. These animals are all more or less feral,
but they retain their dignity in a sea of human madness. I’m sure on a couple of occasions while walking back to our apartment at night I’ve heard a dog lurking in the shadows shout “taxi, Sir?”. The sacred cows are up to no good as well.
Everything is not as picturesque in paradise though. The traffic is crazy, no rules of the road just everyman, dog, cow or elephant for himself. We’re constantly hassled by beggars and hawkers, you have to have a thick skin here or you’d be penniless within 24hrs. Then you’ll stumble across extreme poverty among the bright lights and shiny things and it shakes you to the core. I know we’ve seen nothing yet as we’re in one of the wealthiest parts of this coastline, we’re finding it’s all very humbling though. I’ve felt ashamed and guilty at times wielding my camera around; it’s a year’s wages to these people!!! Pili has collected a few waif and strays already. As my friend John says, “It’s a rupee vacuum”. Of course knowing this I’m very aware of our personal security but my ninja senses are on full alert and my monopod for the camera could
make a hell of a whacking stick, and I know how to use it!
The most impressive thing for me here is the amazing bird population and the golden light from the very big Indian sun. It gives an incredible depth to all the colours around us. It really became apparent when we first started looking at our photos, they just jumped off the laptop screen; I hope you all appreciate them.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to damage to my portable hard drive not all the photos I wanted to show are shown here. These missing photos willbe uploaded at a later date. Hopefully the 60,000+ photos stored will be retrieved in England where my valuable drive lays in the hands of my good friend, Paul come good for me pleeeeeeeese!
25-26th November 2008
Our journey was from Sydney to Singapore (2hr wait) then to Mumbai (a 5hr wait) then to Dabolim and finally via taxi to Calangute. It goes without saying the journey was long and tedious, about 27hrs in all. When we arrived our driver Vinny (not his real name) took us directly to the apartment that my good friend John had organised
Braminy Kite
These majestic birds pratrol the beach all day for us. We were very happy to see a shower and a bed and a clean working fridge and also it’s a good 10minute walk from the main chaos. We were both knackered, especially Pili but we’d arranged to meet John at the beach at his favourite bar “Bobby’s” at 10am. We later found out that Bobby’s brother owns the apartment we’re renting. We figured if we can stay awake all day at the beach we’d beat the jetlag, it seemed like a plan.
At the bar we found John waiting with his favourite mistress, a cold vodka lime & soda. He was sat overlooking the eleven mile beach that was already filling up with people. For the last 10yrs I’ve known John he’s been asking me to join him here (he’s been coming at least twice a year for 15yrs or so), it was very surreal finally sharing a drink on a beach in India with him.
In the afternoon John led us through the chaos so we couldn’t stock up on essentials, water, mosi spray and international wall plugs. We then headed back to the apartment where I shaved of my New Zealand beard. I kinda
miss the furry little fella but it would have driven me mad in this heat. Pili had warned me if she sees a noodle in my beard she’s going home, it had to go.
I can see myself with a big grey beard, long white hair and a big Ghandi nappy living on the beach. Sorry mom the dolphins are calling.
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