Christmas in Goa

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After 2 hours of sleep and a short break in Bahrain, I finally arrived in Mumbai, famous recently in the news but unfortunately for wrong reasons. Hence why there are so few tourists here (good for me but bad for the locals). My first minutes in Mumbai were slightly manic but it reminded me of why I love Asia so much. At the airport, someone told me that there is a free transport to a hotel, as they want to take care of the tourists following the bombings. I thought that makes sense, and go to the hotel where the tenant tries to sell me a shower at an incredible price. A bit annoyed, I stop a rickshaw, ask him if he has change and to go to the nearest bank (I still didn t have any rupees at the time). Next step: get to Mumbai centre as I was in the suburbs… And that s where it went funny as I took the train in rush hours in Mumbai (take 2 times the population of Paris and its suburbs - 20 millions approx.), 3 indians helped to get in the wagon with my big bag pack… But I managed to get another potential accommodation for when I ll be back to Mumbai. After a nice nap, a stroll around the posh part of Mumbai and its garden, and a nice birthday Tali (assortment of different dishes/sauces with bread like condiments), I make my way for a night in the bus to Aurangabad.

Auragabad has its interest in being closed to splendid sets of caves, dated from AD 600 to AD 1000 for Ellora and from 200 BC to AD 600 for Ajanta. On my first day, I explored the Ellora, with Jain (a religion known of its extremism in their respect of creature), Buddhist and Hindus temples carved in the rocks. I was surprised to discover that only 0.76% of the population is Buddhist, comparing to 82% of Hindus, 12% of Muslims, 2.3% of Christian and 1.9% of Sikhs. I have had the chance to see the biggest monolithic temple in the world, this means the biggest temple built in one piece of rock (directly in the rock, from top to bottom, and front to back… and there I said wow… when you think there is about 1000 of these caves in the region and when you admire the Kailasa temple (name of the biggest monolithic temple) with Hindu sculpture sticking out of the ceiling… I was bluffed. And the day after when I saw the paintings in display in the Ajanta temples and knowing the age of such temples, I was even more wow… Having paintings of this quality remaining from the time of Jesus Birth (I mean the calendar one, I m not gonna start debating the real date of his birth…).

After Aurangabad, I made my way to Goa in a fairly tiring 20 hours journey in Buses going from one little village to the other. Driving crazy through the little road circling the mountain, I have had a chance of admiring some beautiful mountain scenery before arriving in Panaji, the main city of Goa. Portuguese style architecture and incredible sea food made this city a very nice stay for one night before heading to the beach where I am at the moment… After 2 min, I found a room and a motorbike for 2.5 euros/day all together… aaaah, I feel free again 

Christmas in Goa wasn't much of a thing. Because of the terrorist attacks, they are very cautious about organised parties and except going to a old fashioned Trans party (kind of fun in some way, but you get the same in Germany ;-)), nothing much is happening this year. Still a very nice place to take some relaxing time... But now I m bored and off to Hampi for some more cultural stuff.

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Photos

Cows and funny english
I think it meant tonight and right to kill... who guess the other one? As sacred animal, a cow can be fairly evil minded here... stopping in the middle of the street or eating customer s food in restaurant :-)

Comments

[Chinese Tiger]

Wow!
Hey boufon!... vvv jealous of all your travels!!!... someday we meet each other next!... hmm.. far east? russia!? east europe!?