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Published: January 29th 2008
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Sunset in Goa
Peaceful Thinking Connections and Print-outs
Back to some of my roots!
My fifth time to India, marked by adventure, as usual!
From Cape Town to Johannesburg to Mumbai to Goa, with three different airline companies, and three different tickets... which meant that, were any flights to be delayed, I would be in logistic trouble!
The flight out of Cape Town was delayed... by ten minutes, but, you know that feeling of cold sweat and resignation/hope until the next announcement... to board! Whew!
In Jo'burg, change from domestic to International and queue to check in, under the stipulated two hours, hoping that the never-ending line is for my flight, not some later one and that I will get there too late! Tricks the mind plays when left with too much time to think of scenarios!
Anyway, all went smoothly, until I had to change terminals in Mumbai.
I had the code to my ticket, but, no print-out, which the security guard promptly took advantage of!
As it was two in the morning and there were not that many people about, he said I could not go through to the shuttle bus without the printed confirmation.
OK. How do I get a print-out?
No chance, all offices closed and muddled head after over 20 hours traveling - crisis!?
No, wait. There must be a solution!
There was something in his smirk and the things he said that made me understand that there was another way out... which worked like a charm!
So, after a quick trip to the bank (that was open!) to get some rupees, I managed to get on the bus to the domestic terminal, minus the double commission!
The porter, after literally grabbing my bag out of my hand and throwing it into the hold, asked me for some baksheesh (tip), was disappointed when I told him to go and get his share from the guard!
Anjuna Family
I landed in Goa at 6 a.m., managed to share the 750 Rupee taxi fare with three French tourists (I just walked up to them and asked where they were going) who were on their way to Anjuna, and even found my aunt Chantal's house, telling the driver at which coconut tree to turn! Total cost: 200 Rp (counting tip) or about
4 Euro's for 2 hours in the taxi!
My aunt, uncle and mother had organized a little cabin in the trees, shared with my almost-sister Ava!
A trip back in time, with monkeys rattling the tiles on the roof and the serious risk of getting hit by a falling coconut!
My years in Goa as a child, came flooding back and I was energized, passing on sleep until the night to get into the swing of things, even going to a party in the evening!
When I finally passed out to the serenade of barking dogs, I had been awake for over 36 hours!
Baga Friends
I re-visited many of the places I had lived in in the late 70's and early 80's, mostly on Baga Beach, even seeing some old friends (of time past, not of age)!
The house we had lived in and where the large group of flower children had founded the infamous Baga Beach Superheroes Club, was unrecognizable as well as unfindable!
The Good Luck Cafe' still brings the luck of days' gone by, and Johnny has his perennial wistful smile and good tales
Life!
It's all about balance... of his adventures in the Caribbean...
I was then visited by Jordi, Vanessa and Linda, all on their first trip to India and served as tour guide to them, while rediscovering beautiful Goa myself... Which accounted for some interesting, unintended side trips (OK, I got us lost!).
Gokarna Go!
We even took a longer trip to Palolem in the far south of Goa and a little inspiration at the Shiva temple in Gokarna, one of the major ones on the pilgrimage tour!
Goa is sort of a stepping stone into the real India, where coffee and toast are readily available, and everybody speaks English...
As we entered into Karnataka state, my shaky Hindi got us breakfast:
An adventure in spicy curry and strange cereal pancakes. Linda passed with a queasy look on her face, Jordi dug in and Vanessa gingerly nibbled as I laughed at the Indian school-kids trying to, not so surreptitiously, get a good look at these two beautiful western girls, especially Vanessa's blond locks!
We then had our dose of religion and got taken for a Puja (ritual) ride by the local Brahmin priest for the
A Rose
Service with a smile! good luck of our families at the demanded donation of 100 rupees each!
A good deal for all the divine providence we had just received bestowed upon ourselves and our families!
After a wonderful day at the peaceful and calm Om beach, we made it back to Palolem and our early morning dolphin boat ride at sunrise... I even got some great pictures of disappearing dolphins, which you can't see, but, we saw them, honest!
Next, I would love to invite you on a tour of the Golden Triangle with extra Rajasthan, rituals and recreational vehicles!
Om
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wayann
non-member comment
here we GO Again!
where you got that title? from Shanti? hehehe so when and where is next stop? I guess it will be disclosed on your next blog entry... keep us blogged! ciao!