It is all Eat Pray Love in Goa (India's riviera)...now.
It started with a major disappointment though. The planned volunteer project does not start until November which we only learned upon arrival in Goa....was very much looking forward to doing something meaningful, meetin interesting people, staying in one place for more than a few days, relaxing, learning mlre about Indian culture and religion and last but not least, not spending more than a few hundred rupees for a few weeks, i.e. BIG fail! The last three weeks of the trip are already reserved for ultimate relaxing on Bali...a few additional weeks of relaxing on the beach seemed it bit too much (I appreciate that readers behind their desk in rainy Europe or USA may ot get this comment).
Scooter Benny and yogateacher Shailendra changed everything though!
After having the disappointment washed away with a chilled bottle of white wine, decided to find a cheap place at the beach for a few weeks. Found a very lovely, but slightly moist, hotel room with a beautiful view over the rice paddies, two little frogs living in the shower (a bit scary at first, but they are behaving very nicely really) and close to a cosy restaurant with good food where a pianoman is performing classics every night.
Not wanting to hassle with an Indian cab driver ever again, made the best (or maybe second best) decision of the trip: rented a scooter named Benny. What a relief and joy to have our own means of transportation!! No more drivers trying to drop you off at their friend's cousin's pashmina shop or refusing to drop you off at the restaurant of your choice ("Restaurant not good, I know much better one"). Get the motor running, head out on the highway.... Wooohooo!
Do not believe anyone who tells you Goa "is not India, has too many tourists and resembles Europe"...it is not like that at all, in the pre-season at least! First of all, it is India but with friendly, smiley people and less cow poop and garbage in the streets where they serve decent wine and delicious seafood! Second, there is hardly anyone and beaches are deserted. Third, do not expect European standards!
Exploring the small province of Goa by scooter is kind of dangerous (due to the reckless driving of the other motorized vehicles, but even more becuase of the sacred cows, dogs and occasional elephant walking in the middle of the road), but it is much fun and the scenery is amazing: a landscape of rice paddies, banana trees and coconut palms, dotted with Portuguese churches and lovely little villages. Every day you easily discover another beautiful isolated beach with a tiny restaurant where smiley Indians serve their catch of the day (usually Kingfish or tiger prawns) grilled with lemon and garlic and served with fries and a salad on the side. You quickly learn that a Kingfish is enjoyed best with a Kingfisher, the local beer! Yum!
Second best (or maybe best) decision of the trip: signed up for two weeks of private yoga lessons taught by an Indian version of Ketut (you may recall him from Eat Pray Love), named Shailendra. As of now, will start each day very early with Ohm chanting and sun salutations! Although Shailendra is Indian and much younger, he reminds me of Ketut every time he smiles or gives "very important advice" (will share a few later). Let's see what he can accomplish in two weeks with someone who cannot sit in the lotus pose (yet)! To be continued...
Life in Goa is good!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Goa province, India
