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Published: November 6th 2006
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We are almost at the end of our time in India and I can happily say that it was a very different experience to last time! Mind you, we have spent all of our time in Goa, which isn't the "real" India in that it's much cleaner and easier to travel in, but much less stressful!
We have spent most of our time in a small beach town called Palolem. It has been fun to meet lots of other travellers, who basically fall into two categories: those that have been travelling in India and are here to escape the reality of it all, and those that flew straight into Mumbai, couldn't stand it, so came straight to Goa!
We met one British guy who flew into Mumbai, got a rickshaw for 30 minutes into the city, decided he hated it, and told the driver to go straight back to the airport, where he got on the next flight to Goa! We also met an Australian guy who was here for a wedding, but he had such a terrible time that he changed his flight and went home early, missing the wedding - and he had only been in Mumbai
and Goa!!! We have also met quite a few girls travelling who have come to Goa to have a break from the harassment from men in most parts of India!
For us, Mumbai was a very pleasant surprise after Delhi - clean, safe, friendly...When we tell people this, they can't believe it! Palolem is also a great little place. You could almost be anywhere in Asia apart from a few telltale signs. For example, the packs of snarling dogs that roam the beach, the packs of staring men that roam the beach (not sure which is scarier!), the toxic burning garbage, and my favourite, the mellowed out cows that come down to the beach the sunbathe every afternoon. They become the star attraction, having their photo taken a dozen times a day! One day, we saw a cow trying to enter one of the most popular restaurants on the main street. A waiter saw it and hand-fed a dough ball into its drooling mouth. Then, we watched as he walked straight into the open kitchen, mauled a naan bread, and took it out to a table, without ever washing his hands! If that kind of thing goes on in
public sight, I dread to think what goes on behind the scenes!
As is customary in India, we have both been sick again this trip. It almost seems like a rite of passage. Mine lasted for exactly 24 hours, before suddenly breaking fever and getting better again, and now Scott is sick, having thrown up 3 times last night. Guess who had to keep emptying the bucket?! If it continues, we will have to move to somewhere with attached bathroom for both our sakes! Luckily, he seems to be feeling much better today.
Tomorrow we are heading up the coast, making our way up to Mumbai where we fly to our next destination - Thailand.
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