welcome to Goa

Goa IS good.
Ah to wake up to no sneezing, coughing, running nose and an English newspaper under my door. Granted, the train ran right through the backyard of my hotel last night and i had to share my room with a giant gecko, but i am in Goa.

After a very good talk with Nakul where he was so supportive and encouraging I woke up two days ago with the knowing that i would go to Goa. After a few attempts (thwarted by a couple power cuts) i booked myself some airline tickets online to get down here. The next morning me, Nakul, little Gunnu jumped in a taxi and drove me out to Jolly Grant airport at Dehradun, which, incidentally, is a stupendously convenient airport to Rishikesh, i didn't realize. I think i once paid more to have a car drive me from delhi to rishikesh than it costs for a one way ticket from Jolly Grant to delhi and the airport is only 30 minutes drive from our house. The building is huge and modern and all glass, quite impressive. Flights only run to Delhi and our particular aircraft couldn't have been more than an 80 passenger puddle jumper. Our passenger list was an ecclectic one, flying out of such a quiet corner of India. Our motley crew included one yogi ascetic whose greying dreads were piled high upon his head so that his hairdo almost touched the ceiling of the aircraft while seated. Dressed in a brilliant saffron robe and perched atop traditional wooden platform shoes resembling the Japanese version except 4 inches high, he made quite an entrance as he strolled down the runway, wheeling his carry on. Also on the plane was myself, several business looking business men, one very butchy looking lesbian (is that politically incorrect? surely it is, but she was), and one interesting couple comprised of one sunglassed blonde woman and her english speaking but muslim looking male counterpart. They looked married. I always forget to look for rings. I think they were both foreigners because both spoke unaccented English to my ear. Perhaps they were in India visiting his family? Or perhaps he does business here and she came along for the ride. They looked very modern and rather sophisticated. These kinds of people always intrigue me because I am also half of one such peculiar combination.

Flights were uneventful, thank god. Dehradun to Delhi, Delhi to Goa. Spent a few hours in Delhi airport terminal 1D browsing around, people watching, eating foods i haven't laid eyes on in weeks. it was fun. I notice that i am getting so blase about travelling these days that flying from Northern India to Southern India feels like going to the corner store in your pajamas for milk. Don't know if thats a good thing or not, it just is.

on the drive to Dehradun airport we passed many signs in the elephant corridor with pictures of elephants overturning cars warning: beware of wild elephants. wow. its both cool and terrifying at the same time. it happens.

So now i am staying at a hotel called the Seven Seas close to the airport in Goa. Its like an indian style resort hotel. Similar to the place I stayed when i was in Chennai several years back. I like the upper to middle scale hotels geared towards indian guests, rather than high end hotels or mid to high end hotels geared towards foreigners. Its reasonably priced, clean, has room service and all the amenities you need but doesn't gouge the pocket book, plus they have all the good indian food on the menu and breakfast buffet. So i am just resting up and will make the trip to arambol tomorrow.