Still in Goa

Some people are good at being a beach bum. And yes, maybe a few years ago I could be a good one too. Or maybe it is Goa. This area is way too big, spread out and much too crowded for my taste. I am hoping Ko Phangan Thailand will be more to my liking. I think I am also having a major let down of having to leave India in a couple of weeks. My visa is expiring soon.

Right now I can hear the nearby Catholic church playing Christmas music over their loudspeakers. Christmas was 5-days ago. In the background I hear trance music from a bar. Mosquitoes are eating me alive!!!!!!!! The bites hurt, but the pain goes away fast and doesn’t leave a mark after a few scratches. As the night progressed, I got more annoyed with the church music and even went outside to look around. They were playing to a total of 10-people and it went on from 2:30-11 pm!

I had a minor accident on the scooter. I am lucky to not have gotten more hurt. I just stretched my calf muscle and am limping today. No bruises or abrasions. I did a U-turn right into a concrete road side religious cross on a base. Funny I had just politely yelled at the guy walking in front of me that I wouldn’t hit him as I made the U-turn. I was embarrassed when he came running over to me. So I got right back on the bike and kept going. I’ll take tomorrow off from yoga to let my calf heal. I new I was going to have an accident. I felt it coming and I knew it would be minimal. I have gotten even more intuitive, if I would just trust my self. Everyone I know here has had an accident on their scooter.

I watched the kitty go after a small mouse that came through the window. She wasn’t sure what to do with it. I don’t think she killed it, but not sure what happened to it. I also watched 8-ants carry off a morsel of her dry food. Pretty cheap entertainment! I’ve been coloring in my chakra coloring book. These aren’t just kid like books. They are on beautiful art paper and are impressive. I’ve enjoyed being artistic.

Some ladies are not shy about wearing a bikini on these beaches. They are all ages, sizes, shapes and antionalities! I guess I am more self conscious and I don’t want to make anyone sick. Hehe. I’m a rarity with my belly covered up. Many ladies are topless, which is a no-no in India. I hear there is a hidden nude beach! I’m sure the police are bribed to turn the other way. I am trying to find someone to make me a bikini and get over my belly shyness!

I met an Aussie gentleman on the beach one day. He was lost! We hooked up later that day on a beach bed when I asked if I could join him. We had beer together and several days of fun! The highlight was New Year’s Eve. We had planned to take a private car out for the evening, but it ended up being too expensive so we decided on staying on the beach instead. We had dinner on a beach hut called “TANTRA”. I liked the name! We had to climb a ladder upwards and we sat on the floor on cushions near the beach for a relaxing dinner. Several Indian’s came in to our private hut and just sat for a few minutes then left. It was bizarre. Later we went to his place (above the beach) for a beer and then by midnight we walked out front and witnessed the most spectacular firework display I had ever seen.
My birthday is the 4th of July, so it takes a lot to impress me. We were high enough to look down onto the entire beach. Every beach hut (bar & restaurant) had their own private firework show. Granted none were spectacular, but together it made a nice display. The ambiance could not have been better. We could hear the crowd of thousands below, oowing and aahhing while our intimate crowd of 30 or so on the hillside enjoyed the distant view. We were close enough to be loud and thrilling without it being too loud and dangerous. There were even a few red Chinese lanterns filled with propane intermixed with the fireworks. The hash smokers were out in full force and you could get a whiff of the aromatic smoke.

My friend Karen has arrived and it is great to see her! She knows everyone in town and where to go. The beaches have gotten uncomfortably crowded, mostly with either Russians or wealthy Indians. They seem to be the only ones with money right now. I guess the week between XMAS and New Year’s and the week after is the busiest time of year in Goa. I honestly don’t like the crowds and will be certain to never return during this time period.

We have had a couple of relaxing days around the house, a little yoga at Brahmani studio and at home. Karen gave me a special instructor for Kriya Yoga, a meditative type of yoga. The yoga at the studio was more of a Western style power yoga which I don’t care for as much. Sure you get a good workout and get all hot and sweaty, but for me it does not give you the mind body connection that yoga is suppose to be about. A “union”, to yoke the mind and body is what yoga actually means.

We had a nice Israel dinner one evening. The scooter ride home was lovely. And I got some sort of 24-hour bug and was bed ridden with a high fever, cramps and diarrhea. Thankfully it didn’t last long. During my hallucinogenic fever stage I am thinking to myself I must have gotten Malaria.

We ran errands at a nearby town and I had hoped I got my camera cable sorted out but did not. I have been unable to use my camera for months because of a dead battery. I’m having a hard time finding the right sized USB to recharge it. Today we go to her landlord’s birthday party for lunch and then a concert tonight, Prem Joshuha, a world fusion artist.

So I am staying pretty busy. Thank goodness. I was drinking way too much beer on the beach and getting really bored with it and with Goa overall! I realize I am happiest when I am busy, doing yoga daily and have a purpose in life. The purpose which suits me for my time in India has been when I am taking care of the animals. I already have a new project picked out for when I am able to return to India again.