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Published: October 1st 2006
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Tok Tok
4 in a tok tok. I have seen some crowded with about 8 schoolkids in them before. Hello everyone,
Well now and for the last week I have been chilling in Northern Goa and am having a great time doing very little.
Since I wrote last when I was in Pondicherry I have travelled by a combination of bus and train from Mahaballiprum , into Madras and across South India back through Bangalore to get to my current destination of Northern Goa.
Madras centre was certainly an experience when compared to Bangalore. Bangalore which is known within India as a rapidly growing IT business district is in my view in dark contrast to Madras which is apparently a growing call centre metropolis. The number of people sleeping on the streets and in shacks was shocking and seeing women washing their kids in bowls of water on the high street was something I was not expecting to see. It may sound crazy but in Madras, whilst walking down the street, you could find it hard to establish if the food on the pavement is rubbish, someones dinner about to be eaten, food for the dogs/cows or what.
In contrast again, between the cities Bangalore has a growing reputation for medicine
Monkeys
For Stella and doctors whereas Madras has a reputation for of all things....people selling one of their kidneys in an attempt to escape from Poverty.
After a few days in Madras which involved some nice sightseeing and the usual temples, I took a very pleasent train journey back to Bangalore where I stayed for a night before catching a bus to Goa. India is such an immense and crazy country that after seeing what I had seen in Madras and many of the other places that I have travelled since, to return to Bangalore especially on a Saturday night, was very pleasent indeed and I enjoyed a few drinks in the City with some software professionals whom i met. This also made me fell less guilty about spending some money and I enjoyed a little retail therapy courtesy of Lacoste. .
The bus to Goa the day after was terrible. The journey which was supposed to take 14 hours actually took 19 hours. I can explain an hour lost due to a
Stone
I loved this elephant.. puncture and an hour lost due to stops to load the top of the bus with just about anything that can be bought in India. Perhaps, the extra weight slowed the bus down. Who knows.
I have now been in Northern Goa for the last week which is a state very unlike the other states of India. It has been a very nice relaxing week and again the people here have been very pleasant and helpful. Goa is a very nice resort and I can understand why so many people like to visit. It is cheap, clean, the beaches are lovely and the food is great. I have spotted a few hippies and freaks here and there but it is ok because they usually find a spot away from people to live which is nice.
The 'Goa' tourist season is due to kick off in mid October so it has been not to busy here and aside from a few tourists like myself, the people in Goa have been Indians visiting
Madras Road Hell
You try crossing it. from nearby areas such as Mumbai which has been nice.
Tommorrow I leave for a 12 hour train journey to Mumbai which by all accounts from the stories I hear will be another city experience altogether and i look forward to telling you about that soon.
Best Wishes Everyone.
AC
Things I have learnt/not learnt this week:
.1 I can understand the very many benefits of air suspension on a bus. If anyone of ever travels to India, ALWAYS ride on a bus with this. My bus to Goa did not have this.
.2 In India, I have now realsied and started to get use to people nodding their heads sideways to say yes instead of like the rest of the world which nod up and down. It reminds me so much here of the old 'Carry On' movies when they do this that I cant help remembering this and laughing when people do this to me.
.3 Cows do have tempers. After annoying a cow on the beach yesterday, it actually charged a couple of feet forward at me.
.4 In India with every meal, they serve
Madras Church
The Popes old hang out. you free tap water. Of course you do not drink it but what they do is keep putting more glasses on the table, taking full glasses away, replacing full glasses etc etc. There have been numerous times when I have had 3 full glasses on my table. I am still trying to understand why they keep doing this, if i am supposed to wash my hands with one or something.
ps, anyone wants to go to Goa, check out Raman beach resort on Calangute. Lovely huts on the beach which you wouldnt find unless someone told you about it..just awesome..0091 9822180133
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Mum
non-member comment
Hurry up and come home!
Hello andreas mou it all looks very exciting I like all your messages they're very funny but we're missing you. I'm making yemista today so we'll be thinking of you when we sit down for dinner. Jimmy's coming over today to pick up your sleeping bag, so I might send a tupperware with him for you . . . . Look after yourself love mum x