I have now been in Goa for the third and final night. Last night in India before my flight tomorrow at 1:45 pm!!!! I will land 11:30 am saturday.. straight to lots of Chinese food, pedicure, target, costco, laundry (running the soap at least 2 times).. I’ve done the laundry once here but I dont know if it cleaned it or made it worse.

Yesterday, I took a taxi to Anjuna Beach. Much better than Baga, a young crowd, new age hippies as well as hippies in their 50′s and 60′s who have left their free-spirited souls here, and have come back to revisit it. They were the true hippies back in the The Beatles Era, who also as young rebels ventured into India in search of spiritualism which turned into lyrics into songs we love today. These original hippies discovered Goa back when they backpacked and are now back for a reunion. 40-60 year olds partying on the beaches , acting more liberal than us, raving on drugs, tatted up, dyed red hair, sporting tie-dyed shirts dug up from the attic.. anorexic slim bodies, overly tanned rubber skin.

I settled at Sunset Bar & hotel, for 900 rupees -rip off, about 23$ a night but I had 2 bags and they are too heavy to allow me to roam farther off the beaten tourist path for a cheaper deal. The local merchants here are more aggressive than any culture I’ve experience, borderline scary cougar women! I wouldn’t be surprised if Anjuna Beach is a matriarchal society. EVERY SINGLE stall, they scream, “COME LOOK AT MY STORE!” “come back! u promised!” My temper and patience level became low although I still had a fond appreciation of their effort.

I have grown attached to roaming cows and your occasional Goat. The stray dogs here though are despicable.. i don’t get too close because they may have rabbis, and other nasty diseases.

I had late lunch at San Francisco’s cafe, a beachfront restaurant. I befriended a Norweigan girl named Freddy (short for Fredirica) sitting close by, reading the book ‘Shantaram’ which soon becomes my new interest. I approached her and asked if she had been here a while and where the nightlife was. She immediately opened up to me and introduced herself. She was traveling with a friend for 2 months through southeast Asia and invited me out with them. Everyone I’ve met have traveled at minimum 1 month up to 9 years!!! Oh I envy them!

I shopped around after lunch and now have a bag full of clothes/scarves/bags and met up with the girls back at my hotel for some beers outside the bar. Freddy and I went to Baga (ironically, a better nightlife than in Anjuna Beach)..

We found a restaurant with lawn chairs/tables packed across the sandy beach with people, and found ourselves joining a table with a heavy set local Indian girl, that we suspected is a Hooker. She was a blast. It was mostly packed with an older crowd and believe it or not, it was Bingo night! After Bingo night, the music started playing as crazy menopausal women went up and danced as me and Freddy drafted up stories of their lives. That’s fun.

Then there was a performance on the beach, the famous tropical fire ring with a young boy hopping through 1, then 2, then 3. Then a continual of the crowd’s applause. Another show with a man holding a stick, a heavy basket on his head walking through a rope high up in the sand. Talented individuals to say the least and an impressive performance for a random night!

At around 10, we went to the much raved about Tito’s club. It wasn’t very packed, although it is known in lonely planet as perhaps India’s most famous club. People watching was worth more than a good crowd though as it was all locals. The Goan people are very liberal compared to the rest of the nation, they may be slightly religious by default but by no means traditional. All succumbed into the sex, drugs & rock n roll scene that the backpackers of the 60s may have brought and left behind. I have some of the dance moves and awkwardness filmed. There was one short Indian man that was hilariously funny with his dance moves, very creative and lured us into dancing in a circle with him. He was with a girl, which we made up as a cousin that he’s being arranged with.

After some Mojitos, we were ready to hop to the next. On to Morries next door! The vibe was more of a hookah/lounge scene, more young backpackers and a comfortably cozy place so we invited ourselves to sit with this Young, welcoming attractive Israeli guy. His story, he tells us is that he works for the Israel Embassy, in which a year ago while working here had met a Bollywood model. They recently started dating, and he came to meet her but it didn’t work out. He seemed down n the dumps, quiet, mellow, but lightened his mood when we sat and acted silly.

We had some more mojitos at Morries and then hopped to the next. The name something along the lines of Cock n Bull bar. Apparently I unconsciously managed to make this guy think that I was pissed at him for something he did, which was untrue, but perhaps due to his drunkeness was lead to believe so. So 20 minutes later, he showed up with 3 beers for us to say sorry.

We were bored with the night so we headed back to Anjuna to see if Paradiso club was happening.. it was around 2 or 3.. it wasn’t, however the lady outside with the drunk food was wide awake.. and made us each an egg sandwich with cheese, raw onions, salt pepper.. My new favorite drunk food next to bacon wrapped hot dogs outside of LA clubs !!!

Wednesday morning.. I woke the girls up around 9:30, we went to Manipal by public bus.. 8 rupees a person, about 20 cents.. quite disgusting packed with people but an experience.. the local town to mail a package for Catalina to the locals she met while in med school.. and to pull out more money.. We decided we couldn’t handle a bus again so we took a taxi.. Went to a restaurant (all beach front, in hut like joints) by our hotel rooms.. I had a Red Snapper fish which was pretty good but too many bones.. The seafood here is cheap and amazing and fresh..

Afterwards we went to the Wednesday Mapusa flea market.. It was fun as it was packed on this empty land that reminded me of Coachella or what I’d imagine Woodstock to be.. Didn’t get anything since its the same stuff i’ve been seeing everyday… Afterward we laid on the beach during sunset, started the drinking with a beer around 5.. and a quesadilla..

We went to Curlies bar afterwards for about an hour which was highly recommended to me by 3 different people.. There were about 10 steps from the restaurant to the beach as everyone, mostly the older hippies , already high off something watching the sunset..

That was probably the highlite of my day.. We showered after and headed to Nine Bar which was said to be something one must experience in Goa. We were there for about 45 minutes. Basically a rave, hard core trance people, mixed with locals and travelers..

At this kind of place, anything can happen.. FOR EXAMPLE. An old traditional hindu looking lady , around 55, the type u see just walking on the street … came up to us and asked us if we wanted Weed. Can you believe it? Yes , anything can happen in Goa. The beach at Anjuna was nothing special.. but it was the party packed scene which made it unique. After nine bar, we went to another club, that playd a mix of hip hop and trance.. It was nothing special and i was getting restless, so i left shortly after, as it was just a stumble away from my hotel.

In the morning I was over Anjuna and took a taxi to where I am now, Palolem beach. My favorite.. its less crowded, the beach is prettier, basically the sand circles the ocean.. a lot classier although filled as much with young hippies and backpackers, a much better looking scene of young men.. It really make a difference when you have a nicer beach with good looking men.

I had some Kingfish at a restaurant on the cliff.. about 6$ for a great meal.. started shopping and inquired about taking a boat to Butterfly beach to see Dolphins.. the local called his friend who does that every morning and he came quickly. I dont remember his name but a real chill nice local.. He said tomorow morning at 8 am would be better to spot dolphins. So i shopped a bit, and inquired about my last Ayurvedic massage – as u can see, im addicted. That same guy directed me to this little hut his friend owns.. i did an 80 minute full body massage for 14$.. it wasn’t as good as the one in Thekkady (which is unforgetable) but not bad.. it was in a little hut, smaller than my living room, with 3 beds, seperated by cloth in between..

When I got out, that local had waited for me (these locals think , and i guess it is true in many cases, that western girls are easy.. since our media portrays it that way, and Westerners tend to be more open about their sexuality..) I asked him where I can shop more and he offered to take me on his scooter bike (everyone has one, even the travelers rent one, about 5$ a day..).. It was a bit sketchy but i said why not. He took me on his bike through the village to the main shopping strip on the other side of beach. He tried to invite himself to dinner with me but I had fabricated a story that I was meeting with 3 friends. He asked why i was asking about the boat alone then, I said they had already gone.

After some shopping, i stopped by this restaurant/bar (tehy are all like that..) for some food around 4 pm.. 3 English guys invited me to sit with them. The craziest, funnest guys I’ve met so far.. Im meeting them after this blog at the same place for booze. One guy is in his 50′s or 60s, says his occupation is Golf back in eNgland, is in Palolem beach for 4 months, just right there, not movin anywhere.. totally a hippie with penguin tattoo’s circled around his arms.. the other guy is an actor in England.. and the third is in the music industry, both in their late 20′s to 30′s.. Absolutely hilarious, having vodka and tonic and dancing away.. I’ll have to share with you the album names we were listening to..

(he has a thing for penguins)

I had a chicken curry. which i requested death spicy, indian spicy.. but wasn’t that spicy. Im not sure if they are not believing me that i truly want it intoxicating spicy, or if my spicy tolerance have gone over the edge where nothing satisfies me. I think my next journey could be destinations known for their spiciest food. We’ll see..

I just showered and freshened up.. its around 8 pm. my last night!! Oh im so excited to be back. not that i dont wanna tour india some more, but 3 weeks is such an awkward time to go through india.. Tomorrow morning i take the boat ride, then get some Henna,.. and i have a taxi the English boys scheduled for me at 11:30…
Farewell india.. i’ll be back in several years for at least 3 month of traveling.. to a year.. and becoming of the local hippies with scooters, a vegetarian, anorexic, henna everywhere..

Oh and my standard of living here seems to be getting more disgusting.. My last night here, i thought i’d get a nice hotel, but instead the first hut i saw, Rainbow Bar & hotel, i settled.. its literally a hut built by bamboos, covered by cloth.. with 2 community bathrooms/showers in the back.. I have been brushing my teeth out of shower faucet water.. Only my first 2 nights did i have hot water (which i dont mind cuz its so humid here)..

I am really surprised that i have not gotten sick, since it is suppose to be a fact that everyone gets sick, diarrhea, vomit.. I think that I eat so much junk in the US my bodies immune to it.. take it as a good or bad, i dont know.

Alright, off to some King Fisher.. and im sure vodka eventually with the English whacky boys who have “taken over this bar” for the week and promise to make it a hit tonight. See you Saturday night !!!

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Dolphin Spotting at 8 am

Oh, P.S. Aside from having to be in a Bollywood music video, or movie, as a main actress – Maybe as the Asian mistress from Vietnam, Japan or China as the man is doing business there in the booming industry.. or the Tibetan/Nepali girl the Indian falls for although his family shuns… I have decided before I die, that I must get Dreads.. It will have to be in a travel experience of at least 2 months, as there is no way in hell Im going back to the states in Dreads..

The end.

Last night, Bunty took me to the Gate of India monument.. which was on Marine DRive.. Chowpatty beach.. then we went to the oldest, most well known hotel in Bombay the Taj Mahal Hotel.. it was beyond elegant, comparable to the Grand hotel in NYC. I had a dirty martini there.. same price as US.. about 15$. its amazing the dichotomy between rich and poor here.

Then Bunty took me to his favorite indian restaurant, and OH MY, IT WAS DEFINATELY THE BEST FOOD OF MY LIFE. We got Masala poppers, which is papadum, sprinkled with spices, raw onions and lentils?? and then Chicken Kabob.. amazing.. and LAMB CURRY. It was perfectly spicy.. and I was in heaven, along with my king fisher.

Thereafter we went to a local club.. it was definately happening, 5 stories, hawaiin style.. with indian bartenders in hawaiin shirt.. i had a great time, they played old hits like “Girls just wanna have fun”, guns n roses, all real good music..

I had quite a lot of whiskey last night.. and had 1 hour of sleep before I got up at 3:45 am to get to the airport for my flight to GOA. I was very drunk, stumbling through the airport.. (what an experience). Got to GOA at 6 am, met a lady from spain, we shared a taxi and decided to go to BAGA beach.. we both checked in some hotel for 14$ that we are sharing and passed out til 11 am-ish.. I got up to walk around and to get some food when I realized the beach was filled with 45+ western traveler couples and tour groups.. the beach is dirty, overly congested with sun beds and umbrellas.. and completely tacky..

I ordered a hamburger at the restaurant as I am majorly feining for red meat, I shoulda known better but I had to try it.. that it was completely disgusting (people dont eat red meat here).. But the chicken soup i ordered was good.. I shopped around a bit.. and now am searching for my hotel.. I dont know the name, nor where it is exactly.. but remember Tito’s restaurant around it.. so im searching aimlessly for it, so that I can check out and hop to the next beach – Anjuna.. south of here to find people my age to party with.. There is suppose to be an overloaded population of israeli and european boys here to party.. Why not.

Thankfully the hotels I’ve been staying at have been dirt cheap, I don’t feel so bad checking out after half a day when I realize it’s not what I’m looking for.

I feel like I’ve been here forever.. trying not to regret going to North India instead .. but it will make me appreciate it that much more when I come again.. to Rajasthan, Bodh Gaya, Darjeeling, Punjab…

Hopefuly my next entry will be about the beautiful beach , with the beautiful bars , and beautiful people i’ve found