En otra India
Trip Start
Jan 14, 2008
1
100
105
Trip End
Dec 19, 2008
Goa,
Goa,
India
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
En Chapora me reuni con Eva, Sandra (un par de catalanas de lo mas majas que conoci por este pais) y Kaushal, el particular heroe de Sandra en la odisea de Mumbai y que la acompaņo hasta alli para conocer tambien esta area y no dejo de sorprenderse de nuestros habitos occidentales y de como nos tratan de engatusar los vendedores.
Basicamente nos dedicamos a recorrer playas en moto, disfrutar del sol y el mar y el pescadito rico.
Aunque las playas no son lo a lo que estamos acostumbrados... pero es una experiencia divertida.
Para empezar, todos los indios preguntan si se pueden sacar una foto contigo. Es algo a lo que ya estoy habituada, pero no en bikini! esta vez no, no me gusta la idea de que alguien tenga una foto conmigo medio en bolas. Por otro lado, los vendedores ambulantes, muy pesados, y las seņoras, muy listas. Primero se sientan y charlan contigo y cuando te quieres dar cuenta ya te has dejado hacer trenzas en la cabeza, las cejas o has comprado unas cuantas pulseritas...
... y, por supuesto, las vacas sagradas. Tiene toda la gracia, pero hay que tener cuidado. Si te descuidas y te vas al chiringuito, igual te toca correr porque una vaca gigante se dirige hacia los pareos para comerselos de merienda!!!
Tambien fuimos una tarde a Goa vieja, capital de la antigua colonia portuguesa, muy pintoresca por el contraste de culturas... era la fiesta de Francisco Xavier y habia una misa masiva (como todo aqui en la India) y resulto de lo mas curioso ver los habitos de los curas, de lo mas brillantes, o mujeres asistiendo a la misa en sari. Se nota la influencia de la colonia, no solo por los edificios, sino por los atuendos de la gente, su actitud y a veces hasta el lenguaje. Resulta de los mas raro oirles hablar en portugues.
Me gusta esta India.
By Pato
In the moment I got off the plane I noticed that everything was different. This was another India, from what I had lived before. I was sourounded by an unusual calm and palm trees and tropical heat. Just what I was looking for my last days of the trip.
I went to Chapora beach and I met Eva, Sandra (two catalan girls I met before in India) and Kaushal, Sandra's personal hero from Mumbai incidents and who came with here to Goa to see it for the first time. He was always surprised with our western habits and how sellers were always trying to chat us.
What we did was to visit beaches by motorbike, enjoying the sun and sea and eat good fish (with white wine). The beach is not what we are used to... but it is a lovely and funny experience.
All Indians want a picture with you. That is not unusual for us but the problem here is that we are semi-naked! also there are the sellers... most women and quite persistant. First the sit besides you and start a
conversation and questions about our culture and life. Yo have always the thought of not buying anything! but then you realize that you are already buying! or you have braids in your hair, or even you let them pluck your eyebrows!
And of course... the holy cows! It is very funny but one must be carefull. Be aware of your belongings if you go to the bar, perhaps a huge cow is going to eat your pareo!
We went also to Old Goa which was a portuguese colony in the past, quite funny and full of contrasts. It was Francisco Xavier Festival and there was a massive mass (as everything here in India) and it was bizarre for us seeing the priests clothes (so bright) or women receiving communion in their saris. The influence is not only there and the buildings but also in clothes in normal people, their attitude and even the language. So funny hear Indian people speaking portuguese!
I like this India!
