Mira Hotel Calangute

... to go to the beach because we first of all don't want to see more tan old couples, and we don't want the attention from men. One of the days we did go we sat down on the beach and three 10 year old girls came up to us. I didn't realize that they wanted to sell stuff to us, so I naively asked them what they had bought and they pulled out all sorts of handmade jewlery for "Very good price". After saying no to them over and over, we began to ask them questions and it turned out to ...

... side with horn so as to play by the side of the cows front right leg the cow stepped up onto his legs with her back legs too. Applause all around. Big smiles. And while he was playing the cow sort of bobbed her head up and down to the rhythm of the music. It was quite a sight. So, India--just when you think there's nothing else to see--kokopelli comes and sits in your lap. Or stands. As the case my be.

... that happened was our sink got blocked and 16 year old Dilshaad got down on her hands and knees and unblocked the sink! She literaly unscrewed it with her bare hands, got all the **** out and screwed it back on again! She then got on with making dinner (after I'd made her wash her hands). I've noticed that the Indians have a very practical streak about them which is such a direct contast to their general scattiness and craziness!

... onto. Imagine my glee when I found out that the super fast train I had paid extra wonga for was running a tadge late - 8 hours late. Its actually crept up to 10 now and I suspect I may be having another night in Goa except not the beach but the station. Oh well I was warned about Indian time keeping and they probably have a slightly better excuse than leaves on the track. Never mind 6 hours down 4 to go. I think I may go in search of some Kingys.

... dark so I set out to replace some lost fluid. To be honest this is one of the nicest beaches I have been to. Its not deserted but it has an enormously cool feel about it probably due to the fact that its a little quieter and hence the chill out vibe is all around. 3 days gone already. I could stay here for weeks but 7 days will have to do before I journey south to Kerala and probably the monsoon. It doesn't get much better than this surely?

... he would drive us up to the furthest northern beach, called Arambol, which is supposed to be one of the nicest and least populated beaches in Goa. I was greatly looking forward to this, as I wanted to go, but didn't put anything in motion to get there, transport, etc. The next morning I met him as scheduled at the coffee shop. Minutes later, his older businessman cousin arrives and invites me down to his shop... (See next entry.)

... or you don't, I usually like to hit them. So my time here has been really chill and I've been able to read a lot, I've finished 4 books so far. There's this book store by my place where I pickup new material, I sell back the books I read for half price. My newest book that I picked up is Ghandi's health guide. I've only just read the first few chapters but I like it already. Ghandi actually reminds me of myself a lot. He never believed anything that was told ...

... such a shame that the room was minging, as it had the most stunning location and view imaginable. Built on a small cliff-edge, the sea was a mere ten feet below. Although Arambol had been shaping up as the best beach so far, I started to feel like I was in a travellers cliché. It didn't have the same hard sell vibe as previous beaches however, in its place was Bob Marley posters, trance music, chillums and psychedelic t-shirts precisely embroidered with the ubiquitous marijuana ...

Well we spent 2 weeks in Anjuna which is famed for its hedonistic, hippy, acid party trance music scene. I cant believe how quickly it went. Although on a couple of occasions three day benders seemed like one day. We arrived in Baga after flying from Delhi. Baga is a tourist resort in Goa which has alot of 2 weeker package people from England. We did not like it and immediately were given the impression by couples and groups of Yorkshire and Scouser people that the party days were ...

... in our treehouses. the ride down was pretty hectic, just under 40 hours of non-stop travelling by train. tweleve hours spent on noisy indian platforms being gawped at constantly. a real eye opener but eventually we made it and are now intending to spend two weeks of peacefull nothingness till its off to Mumbai and the cricket. speak soon