Hello:)
This time from my living room in Lux.
Wanna see pics from our Indian adventure?
Hugs,
M.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Bye Goa, hello Mumbai
Our last stop before we go back - Mumbai, lately famous for the bomb attacks on Taj Mahal hotel. Been there, seen it... a huge mass of nicely shaped rocks. And loads of police around. But they were also in Goa, marching up and down the beach. For our own safety, as we heard.
Leaving Goa was quite emotional. Well, I usually get emotional when I have to leave seaside, but this time... Guys at our place were amazing, one big heart. Funny, we didn't have a lot of conversations, a few jokes now and than, a nice smile... and that was it. And on the last day when we wanted to pay for the food and drinks their boss decided that whatever we wanted that day it was free. Oooo... here we go, a tiny teardrop. He also gave a little present, Ganesha. Oooooo... again :)
We have been feeling incredibly lucky all the time and it goes even further. Our train to Mumbai was really cool, we had out little "room" and it felt like being on a school trip. Well, when we came to Mumbai we figured out that our train tickets were not exactly for the train station in M. we wanted to. Looking around and trying to figure out where were we a nice girl approached and wanted to helped us. She was at the counter in a minute, bought us train tickets and showed the way to our train. It was the first time that someone wanted to help us without asking for money. Thank you soooo much.
Adventure began. This was a local train, fuuuuuuul of people. And there we were, 4 blonds with not really small back packs trying to figure out how to jump from that crowded train. Bare in mind that train stopped at each station only for a few seconds. Of course half of the crowd cooperated and out mission was a success.
Do I have to mention that we got the last rooms in a hotel we wanted to? :)
Yep, we've been incredibly lucky all the time we've spent in this colourful country. Happy, happy, happy...
Not so happy about leaving in 2 days :(
Leaving Goa was quite emotional. Well, I usually get emotional when I have to leave seaside, but this time... Guys at our place were amazing, one big heart. Funny, we didn't have a lot of conversations, a few jokes now and than, a nice smile... and that was it. And on the last day when we wanted to pay for the food and drinks their boss decided that whatever we wanted that day it was free. Oooo... here we go, a tiny teardrop. He also gave a little present, Ganesha. Oooooo... again :)
We have been feeling incredibly lucky all the time and it goes even further. Our train to Mumbai was really cool, we had out little "room" and it felt like being on a school trip. Well, when we came to Mumbai we figured out that our train tickets were not exactly for the train station in M. we wanted to. Looking around and trying to figure out where were we a nice girl approached and wanted to helped us. She was at the counter in a minute, bought us train tickets and showed the way to our train. It was the first time that someone wanted to help us without asking for money. Thank you soooo much.
Adventure began. This was a local train, fuuuuuuul of people. And there we were, 4 blonds with not really small back packs trying to figure out how to jump from that crowded train. Bare in mind that train stopped at each station only for a few seconds. Of course half of the crowd cooperated and out mission was a success.
Do I have to mention that we got the last rooms in a hotel we wanted to? :)
Yep, we've been incredibly lucky all the time we've spent in this colourful country. Happy, happy, happy...
Not so happy about leaving in 2 days :(
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
The final countdown...
...has began. Unfortunately :(
One more day of Goa beaches, train adventure to Mumbay and back to cold, cold winter.
I'd just freeze these moments and never let them finish. It's a pretty good life - laying on the beach, refreshing in a perfect water (though not as perfect as in Croatia:)... and if this doesn't help with fresh juices, beers or mohitos.
Again we were lucky and got the nicest bamboo hut on the whole beach. We spoke to the hotel manager and he said that Mumbay attacks caused a great damage to the tourism - 60% less tourists. you can see that restaurants, bars, hotels aren't really full. It's fine with me but I don't think owners would agree. some won't even survive the crises. Place we are staying in is a quite new one, very nice and I keep my fingers crossed they'll make it.
Not only Mumbay attacks, law is not very favorable with a party scene. Bars should turn down music already at 10 pm. It was funny yesterday, a band had to stop at 10 pm but CD music kept on and on and on... (??????)
A funny place, Goa. You name it you have it. Holly cows marching up and down the beach. "Look at my jewelry, madam. Just look." "Want a massage, madam? Very good massage. You look tired. Massage good for you." Today even an ear cleaner appeared. Loads of white meat watchers too. and as Lonely Planet says, this is THE place for gracefully aging hippies. It seems that they have never left Goa.
The first day we came to Anjuna I thought my head was gonna explode. Very loud techno/house music everywhere. I'm ashamed to admit but yesterday I was so happy to hear Back Street Boys. Yes, Desperation was my middle name. In the evening there was a rock concert. Yes, ROCK concert. And today life is absolutely fabulous again. Bossa nova, Bob Marley... Thaaaaaank yoooooou!!!!!
Even if I want to complain I cant too much. Except for some minor digestion abnormalities but I'll spare you with details. And I really miss good old European food. So don't you dare to mention an Indian restaurant for quite a while. Seriously!
So, darlings, I'm off to the beach to accumulate some more heat.
Namaste.
One more day of Goa beaches, train adventure to Mumbay and back to cold, cold winter.
I'd just freeze these moments and never let them finish. It's a pretty good life - laying on the beach, refreshing in a perfect water (though not as perfect as in Croatia:)... and if this doesn't help with fresh juices, beers or mohitos.
Again we were lucky and got the nicest bamboo hut on the whole beach. We spoke to the hotel manager and he said that Mumbay attacks caused a great damage to the tourism - 60% less tourists. you can see that restaurants, bars, hotels aren't really full. It's fine with me but I don't think owners would agree. some won't even survive the crises. Place we are staying in is a quite new one, very nice and I keep my fingers crossed they'll make it.
Not only Mumbay attacks, law is not very favorable with a party scene. Bars should turn down music already at 10 pm. It was funny yesterday, a band had to stop at 10 pm but CD music kept on and on and on... (??????)
A funny place, Goa. You name it you have it. Holly cows marching up and down the beach. "Look at my jewelry, madam. Just look." "Want a massage, madam? Very good massage. You look tired. Massage good for you." Today even an ear cleaner appeared. Loads of white meat watchers too. and as Lonely Planet says, this is THE place for gracefully aging hippies. It seems that they have never left Goa.
The first day we came to Anjuna I thought my head was gonna explode. Very loud techno/house music everywhere. I'm ashamed to admit but yesterday I was so happy to hear Back Street Boys. Yes, Desperation was my middle name. In the evening there was a rock concert. Yes, ROCK concert. And today life is absolutely fabulous again. Bossa nova, Bob Marley... Thaaaaaank yoooooou!!!!!
Even if I want to complain I cant too much. Except for some minor digestion abnormalities but I'll spare you with details. And I really miss good old European food. So don't you dare to mention an Indian restaurant for quite a while. Seriously!
So, darlings, I'm off to the beach to accumulate some more heat.
Namaste.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
And now something completely, completely different
From Rajasthan to Goa, like entering another universe. When we were driving from airport to Palolem beach we couldn't (didn't even try to) hide our enthusiasm about the landscape. Looook!!!! It's so green!!! And palm trees!!! And more than 1 week of beaches for us!!!!!! Happy hippo! Happy bunny! Srecko Lakic! :)
We rented a magic bamboo hut near the beach, surrounded by numerous trees and bushes, like living in the middle of the jungle. It shows in the presence of the mosquitoes as well. Unfortunately they seem to love my blood and want to eat me alive despite all deet-shit I'm putting on.
These days are mostly about laying on the beach and looking for a cold beer or mohito in the shadow.
Today we moved to another beach called Anjuna. No as nice as Palolem, house/techno music all over the place, but... I thing I could handle a few more days at the seaside.
Have you ever heard about "white meat tourism"? No? Well... It's about Indians coming to Goa beached to look at white chicks in bikini. I can confirm, it's all true, very true. They come and STARE!!!!! In India everything possible. Oh yeah!!!
We rented a magic bamboo hut near the beach, surrounded by numerous trees and bushes, like living in the middle of the jungle. It shows in the presence of the mosquitoes as well. Unfortunately they seem to love my blood and want to eat me alive despite all deet-shit I'm putting on.
These days are mostly about laying on the beach and looking for a cold beer or mohito in the shadow.
Today we moved to another beach called Anjuna. No as nice as Palolem, house/techno music all over the place, but... I thing I could handle a few more days at the seaside.
Have you ever heard about "white meat tourism"? No? Well... It's about Indians coming to Goa beached to look at white chicks in bikini. I can confirm, it's all true, very true. They come and STARE!!!!! In India everything possible. Oh yeah!!!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
This is the end, my friend...
But only with Rajasthan. Before we went to Goa we spent a few days in Udaipur. Venice of India. The city of artists (famous for miniature paintings). Thanks to local law the cleanest city in Rajasthan. The city of staring men - I thought I'd get used to but here it was really above all limits. Otherwise nothing so much special about this place. A sacred lake again and some palaces and temples. And 6 elephants.
We managed to solve one Indian mystery. Why the traffic is the way it is? They get their driving license in 10 minutes (yes, minutes, not hours/days). Drive left, right, back, forward. Clutch, break... And roads, here we go.
Not much inspiration for writing today. Goa is waiting :)
Namaste and hugs to all
We managed to solve one Indian mystery. Why the traffic is the way it is? They get their driving license in 10 minutes (yes, minutes, not hours/days). Drive left, right, back, forward. Clutch, break... And roads, here we go.
Not much inspiration for writing today. Goa is waiting :)
Namaste and hugs to all
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Jodhpur, the blue city
It was quite a change, from the desert in to the blue city. So far Pushkar was my winner, runner-up is definitely Jodhpur. But I have to point out that only the old part of the town. When rickshaw drove us through the new part... Oh, shit!!! We are staying here!?!!? Now everything is good.
Actually everything has been OK so far. We love India, India loves us. I dint know how many times pr day do I say to myself how lucky i am to be here.
Before I came here I did thorough brain washing and tried to prepare myself not to freak out because of the people. And to bare with noise, traffic and dirt. Well, noisy traffic mixed with the smell of dirt is on schedule all the time. Singing of mantras or prayers in the middle of the night as well. Take it or leave it. I somehow got used to it. With a significant help of ear-plugs. And lately smelling more and more since my nose is slowly recovering. Actually it's not so bad to have cold here:)
Indian people...
This is a very special chapter. Most of the time I can look at them with a smile on my face. Line when rickshaw guys simply don't get why anyone would like to walk 500 meters if they could give us a ride for 50 rupees. When a bunch of kids run after us asking about our names and getting handshake with a white chick. Or one photo. Just one photo, mam. When some clumsy guys are pretending to take pics of some monument and it's more than obvious that we are the object of desire. When guys in front of the shops are trying all sorts of tricks to get us in. Come, just look. Looking for free. No? Maybe tomorrow? Yes, tomorrow. Whatever that means.
but then it comes to situations when my zen mind isn't smiling any more. When I give one guy a pencil and he wants more for his friend/brother. You don't have it here? Look, look your bag!!! Maybe you have. When I give and old lady a few rupees and she want more. When I give kinds money to bus some sweets and of course it's never enough. A simple thank you won't do here, a?
Oh, not to forget about disappointed faces when we only want lassi or chai and not the whole meal. Line there's not sin greater than this. The same cheap-white-ass look we get when we leave shop and instead of buying half of their collection we only buy one piece. Thank you mam for your small buy. With a lot of sarcasm.
Yep, all this is India. And I'm still with a big smile on my face :)
Namaste.
Actually everything has been OK so far. We love India, India loves us. I dint know how many times pr day do I say to myself how lucky i am to be here.
Before I came here I did thorough brain washing and tried to prepare myself not to freak out because of the people. And to bare with noise, traffic and dirt. Well, noisy traffic mixed with the smell of dirt is on schedule all the time. Singing of mantras or prayers in the middle of the night as well. Take it or leave it. I somehow got used to it. With a significant help of ear-plugs. And lately smelling more and more since my nose is slowly recovering. Actually it's not so bad to have cold here:)
Indian people...
This is a very special chapter. Most of the time I can look at them with a smile on my face. Line when rickshaw guys simply don't get why anyone would like to walk 500 meters if they could give us a ride for 50 rupees. When a bunch of kids run after us asking about our names and getting handshake with a white chick. Or one photo. Just one photo, mam. When some clumsy guys are pretending to take pics of some monument and it's more than obvious that we are the object of desire. When guys in front of the shops are trying all sorts of tricks to get us in. Come, just look. Looking for free. No? Maybe tomorrow? Yes, tomorrow. Whatever that means.
but then it comes to situations when my zen mind isn't smiling any more. When I give one guy a pencil and he wants more for his friend/brother. You don't have it here? Look, look your bag!!! Maybe you have. When I give and old lady a few rupees and she want more. When I give kinds money to bus some sweets and of course it's never enough. A simple thank you won't do here, a?
Oh, not to forget about disappointed faces when we only want lassi or chai and not the whole meal. Line there's not sin greater than this. The same cheap-white-ass look we get when we leave shop and instead of buying half of their collection we only buy one piece. Thank you mam for your small buy. With a lot of sarcasm.
Yep, all this is India. And I'm still with a big smile on my face :)
Namaste.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Back from the desert
We spent the last 3 days in the Thar desert. It might sound boring and monotonous to you but it was far from that. Another charming piece of Earth. I loved sand dunes and guides singing&camel's bell in the background. Not to mention camels' farting :)
There were not so many thing happening there days (of course!!) but we've met some interesting people. Two 19-years old girls working (volunteering) as an English teachers in a Jain village/community (Jains are known for their absolute non-violence, they even wear scarfs around their mouth not to swallow/hurt an insect, strict vegetarianism as well). There was also Hiro, a funny Japanese guy who gave us a Japanese language course - unko, cino, minko. Kan, an Indian loaded with money but living a very simple life. There was a huge party, about 500 people, in his tents a few 100 meters away but he preferred to have a chat with us. Nice guy, travelling a lot. We might even meet again since he is coming to Europe in May.
Culture check:
All the time you can see that the casts system really is present. Not that I'd approve of it but.. OK, I'll accept it. But yesterday I really got annoyed by this hierarchy. All the time we had great fun with our guide Bura and when Kan came (his boss) he vanished. Like he was no longer there. Why is it so difficult to sit TOGETHER by the same camp fire? God forbid to eat together. First guest, what's left for other guides.
Tech check:
Can you imagine being into the desert riding a camel and talking on your mobile? Now I can. It really works, all over the place we've been.
Health check:
Surprisingly good!!! It's just that my sinuses are up to a thorough cleansing programme, party all the time. And for the moment I can't stand Indian food. Normally I love it but it seems that my body had enough of it for a while. I hope it will soon pass.
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