Beach Bum Returns

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India continues to be a crazy place, today's news being the bombing of the German Bakery in Pune, killing 9 women.including foreigners. For those not familiar, German Bakeries are coffee shops geared towards tourists all over the main tourist places in India, although the Pune one is very popular with young locals as well. Only 200 meters from Osho Commune, this is a big blow by the bad guys, and it seems, predicted. Just shows that they can strike anywhere, anytime, so, in my opinion, nothing to do as a traveller but get on with it, and don't disturb unattended packages, which it seems this one was. Can't help but be shocked though when a place that I'm familiar with, like the Taj and Leopolds in Mumbai last year, is targeted and it could have been me in here.

On a happier note... Hey, I'm back! Four weeks on the Andamans with Narayani could not have been better, and ultra slow dial up connections ensured it was an internet free holiday. What a lovely place, small enough to see the whole island by scooter, large enough to get into rural places away from tourists. Simple inexpensive bamboo hut resorts and plenty of good food, touristy and Indian also. Diving is one of the big draws and I did an open water course of 5 dives and am now certified to dive. Narayani unfortunately developed a head cold and was unable to equalize pressure in her ears by pinching the nose and blowing gently, so diving was too painful for her, although the preliminaries, breathing underwater, removing regulator and mask and getting comfortable with the whole thing went well for her and gave her confidence in her ability to do it another time.

Without giving too much detail- unlike me I know- I can tell you that we got on beautifully, maybe the best month we have ever spent together, and my guess is that our future together looks pretty rosy. If only it could all be spent almost naked on beautiful empty beaches! So, those of you who were concerned about us can breathe a little easier, the love is still as strong as ever.

Birding was excellent, we were seeing new birds right up til the last day, and Narayani's spotting ability and superior hearing added plenty to my listings, including a couple of real rarities.

So, back in India, in Chennai again for a few days, assessing my future and getting back into travel mode. A planned trip to Goa has been cancelled as my brother Adarsha left unexpectedly, I hope you had a ball buddy, and really sad not to see you in our home territory.

In the past, after Narayani has left me here, I usually lose momentum and return to Britain soon after. We'll see how it goes, but I suspect that this time it has invigorated me, and new adventures await if I don't start missing her too much. Visa and return tickets are considerations, as is weather, getting increasingly hot in south, but still winter in hills. Both Sri Lanka and Nepal are options at the moment. Doesn't sound bad, does it.

Happy to be in touch with you all again, I hope I'll have plenty more reports to come in near future.

Love love love

Samaya

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Comments

[vicki]

i'm so glad
hello samaya . I am so glad to know that for you and narayani the love is as strong as ever. Its the best practise we can have --that of a marriage (not nec to have the piece of paper!)-- living, planning, sleeping, sharing. Doing all these things together in love is a risky path but can bring more happiness than owt else. xxxx

[Kirsty]

Great to hear that the Andamans were wonderful and that all is good with you and N. Enjoy whatever's next .. if it was me it would be Nepal. So much to do!! Cheers xxxxx

[samforest]

sign your comments
love to hear from you, but who are you? xxx

[samforest]

who are you?
afraid i can't see who comments unless you sign thanks for your thoughts though love