I firstly should apologise for the awfully written previous post. It was written in the early hours on of the 18th and reading back now it would appear I was somewhat tired at the time. Not that this one will be any better I expect. I have now made some corrections and I’m sure I’ve still missed some. However it does go towards some proof of the following days I had install for me.
After Sunday’s early start the rest of the week was filled with some very long days at work. So much for seeing Suzie as I’d hoped. Monday wasn’t too bad as I had the chance to spend the morning and some of the afternoon with her before work.
I revisited the Mahalaxmi temple and added a further Rahki to my collection. This is not an intentional thing but it is the path that you seem to follow with Chodu on your route out. We both received a Bindhi each, this time I quickly took mine off, being a little less frightened of what the gods might do this time. Outside the temple is a short lane where street sellers and old ladies look after your shoes for a few rupees and sell a plate of offerings to take into the temple. I took a few snaps of Suzie with her blessed items and her newly adorned Bindhi. Within seconds she was swarmed by some girls wanting there picture taken with her, so I appropriately obliged and they all found it highly entertaining. We then found Chodu arguing with an old lady who had been pushing us to get her to look after her shoes but we had refused. So to settle matters we offered her a few rupees and I bartered her for a photo. It seems the trick of getting a photo works very well as her and her friend had a good laugh observing the pictures I had taken. The digital camera is a good invention in that respect.
From then on the next few days were dominated by work. I had two jobs a day from 10 until 11 at night and hardly saw Suzie at all. Yohann kept offering to take us out for a meal but it didn’t materialize until Wednesday night and only just. I raced back to the hotel (I of course have no control over that, plus you never go over 40kph so you can hardly call it racing) and we were out for 10.30 in the evening. Just as well they eat late in Mumbai.
Friday couldn’t have arrived sooner. Having managed to secure a few days away with Suzie, much to the companies’ approval, we jetted off to Goa for some sun and relaxation. It has come as a sweet relief compared to the madness of Mumbai. Several weeks of travelling around in a car everyday with the dirt, pollution, overcrowding and noise can become quite overwhelming. Goa feels like a whole different world. I guess when most people come to India they soon head for the hills, the beaches and the villages and I’m glad I’ve managed it too.
We arrived in a sweet little place run by a British couple a couple of hours drive south from the main city of Old Goa. There are a few beaches round the corner and a good few bars and restaurants. I’d guess the area has received a little bit of the tourist treatment since the backpackers started arriving many years ago. It is not too its detriment though and helps us western travellers soak up the Goan landscape while feeling a little at home. Suzie and I are prime examples of this and took full advantage the following morning, tucking into a tasty English breakfast.
We have since hired a scooter and taken a little drive around visiting the local beaches and temples, making way for the many cows, goats and buffalos that idly roam the roads as they please. The scenery of Goa is absolutely beautiful and it’s not until you are out and about riding around the country roads that you can take it all in. The scenery is laced with flat plains of Palm trees and paddy fields, Buffalos bathing, women walking along the side of the road carrying many a large parcel on their heads. You then head up into the hills for breathtaking views of the sea.
I only wish we could stay a little longer and the thought of heading back into the cluttered abyss that is Mumbai isn’t a cheery one.
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