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Published: March 28th 2006
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Saying goodbye to Fi was a bit of a struggle. Not helped by Mumbai traffic and our unbelieveably slow hotel staff. By the time breakfast arrived we were on track to be late as it was, and it turns out that the day after the Test was the day that Mumbai opted for gridlock. By the time we got to the airport, I had about 45 minutes before my flight left - made worse by the fact that we were at the International airport, instead of Santa Cruz, the place I had to be. So it was a pretty rushed farewell, really.
And the taxi between airports was India in a nutshell. Nice driver, great English, stiffed me on the fare because he could tell I was desperate, and did all he could do to get me there on time. In other words - a chancer, but one who did a damn good job. Big downside for him was that his 150rp fare cost him his cab. Just as we were getting to the airport, his car died. I'd have liked to have been more sympathetic, I really would, and god knows what he was going to do, what with
Panaji festival
Just happened upon this one night. As you tend to do, in India. a dead taxi facing the wrong way bang opposite the airport's entrance. But I had a plane to catch. I'm sure he'll be fine...
Catch it I did, but only in a Hollywood-being-rushed-through-the-airport style. Check in desk was shut, but fortunately the man I spoke to had a big enough tache to mean that he was allowed to bend the rules. Although I didn't much fancy my chances of seeing my luggage again.
After all the drama, the flight itself was quiet. Gave me a chance to think about what I was doing. Not really a good thing, especially with a king sized hangover - always useful if you want to ensure a few hours of fairly depressing introspection. Thinking about things has a way of exposing any flaws in your plans. Not great, seeing as my plans didn't really extend past 'getting off the plane and finding out how to get to Panji.' 'On my own'. 'With not much cash'. India's a pretty big country, and it's a lot bigger when you realise you're there on your own. Suddenly the great adventure seemed more like a slightly foolish attempt to prove a point.
Anyway, enough navel
Another festival photo
Is this artistic, or is it just crap? gazing. Fretting wasn't going to help anyway. And luckily the process of getting a taxi wasn't too painful. Although again, I had to do that attitude switch that comes into play every time you move between different parts of India. I must have looked lost, because someone collared me and asked if I wanted a taxi. Clearly a tout. But, let's face it, I was lost, so who cares if I had to pay a bit more than I should.
Turns out, though, that he wasn't a tout at all. He was just someone helping out someone who looked totally lost. No angle at all - just a nice bloke.
Minor hitch with the taxi, though, in that he couldn't speak a word of English. When we got to Panaji, rather than work out where my hotel might be, he just kicked me out of the cab. Thank god it's the perfect town for walking in. Got lost a couple of times, but made it to the guest house in the end.
The first impressions were all good. I'm learning that, on the whole, India doesn't seem like "India" - the country is so amazingly diverse that holy cows, temples and sadhus only represent the tiniest part of the nation. Panaji is like a totally charming, laid-back town on the med. To be expected, really, given it's Portuguese heritage. Loads of winding alleyways - the perfect place to just aimlessly wander around. It's sleepy in the best possible way... the kind of sleepy that you get after a big lunch and a cold beer on a hot day. (True sign of middle age - not only is sleepy good, but I can even describe the type of sleepiness...)
I think it's helped by the hotel though. The Alfonso guesthouse, if any of you are ever in the Goa area. You couldn't find a friendlier place to stay, run by a really helpful family - who, best of all, have perfect English. The woman in particular is absolutely great - been really helpful with travel plans, and just to chat with for a bit. Just what I needed after setting myself so spectacularly adrift from the known world...
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Gaz
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Alright dude. Don't be such a Jessie! Travelling on your own is an excellent opporutnity to truly get to know yourself. Anyway, you'll be fine. When are you back? I'm about to buy an xbox 360 premium console, so we can have some xbox live action when you get back...