More of Goa

I’m finally settling into Goa. I’m more comfortable on the scooter. On Christmas Day I got caught in an Indian cluster fuck. I thought I would go South and try to find Calangute Beach, close to where my Delhi friend is staying. Boy was that a mistake. I had to get on a major highway, which was manageable, but when I turned off to go to the beach, it was an Indian nightmare. It was bumper to bumper traffic with car, motor scooters and people everywhere and going in all directions. Luckily, there were no cows to worry with! I gave up and turned around and finally made it out of the mess. I now feel initiated to driving in India. I am use to walking more, but here you pretty much have to drive your scooter everywhere. It gives me a boost of confidence when I can drive on the main roads and not be terrified.

Yesterday I explored the northern coastline of Goa. Arambol Beach, seemed more hippish to me, Mandrem and Morgim were overrun with Russian tourists. I hear there is even a Russian mafia here! Anjuna Beach, close to where I am located is my favorite beach of the area so far. Goa has over 108 kilometers of coastline. I am pleasantly surprised for India how clean the beaches are. Everything else in India is filthy.

I have met a few people to talk to at the beaches, but no real connections to go beyond that. For four months I have has something to do almost everyday I wake-up. Now in Goa, I don’t have class or a program. I think it is good for me to have the structure and to learn something new. It does not take long to get out of the routine of doing yoga everyday. I am thinking about talking an Ayur Yoga Massage Class. But I want to try the massage to see if I like it and it is something I want to incorporate in my massage practice. It combines Ayurveda Massage with the stretching of yoga. I am imagining similar to Thai massage. Anyway, the class is expensive and a long time commitment, so I am unsure at this point. I attended a yoga class which was taught by 7 soon to be graduates of the yoga school. Each student took 15-minutes to teach. It was a free class and quite good.

I met my Delhi friend for coffee. We meet in the darnest places; under highway signs, in the airport, at a church, on the street. Thank goodness for cell phones. He was a bit grouchy. I think he needed a massage, but I am unable to give him one since I am staying with my friend. I didn’t feel it was appropriate to bring him here.

I have been drinking a beer or two on the beach just about everyday. I shouldn't complaining as you can get a Kingfisher for just under a dollar. It is really cheaper to drink beer than a soda. The Sizzlers are good. The prawn and veggies one was delicious! It comes out sounding like fajitas on the grill. Boy a margarita sounds good, but they are expensive here.

Yippie…………the USD has increased from 42.5 rupees to the dollar to now 51 since I have been here. I heard it went to 53 for one day. That’s over 20% increase for us. I didn’t realize how large until I looked at an old spa menu and they gave prices in dollars, rupees and Euro dollars. Definitely better to pay in rupees! The airfares are expensive in India now though. I think because the middle Indian class is so huge. 300-million Indians are now considered middle class. That’s the size of the US population. The last few days the beaches are now overrun with Indians!!!!!