India

to all from beautiful GOA, INDIA!
 
We've been here for 6 days now and leave tomorrow on a train to Kalicut and then by bus we'll travel the 5 1/2 hr journey into the mountains up to Ooty (7500 ft).
 
When I imagined Goa, I pictured a load of honky-dreadlocked-granola-eatin-potheads laying around the beach getting baked.  Goa has, in my mind, always been a hippy destination.  A sort of mecca for the western worldview drop-outs.  While Goa's beaches are sprawled with pasty white dudes they seem to be the "plump"-speedo-wearing-Russian types.  Alas, Goa (at least not the parts I've seen) do not have many of the aformentioned earthies at all, but rather a mass importation of stein fisting Russians with their equally sized thong-wearing spouses.  I love Russians - but their choice in swimwear is a bit - how you say - gruesome.
 
We love it here.  We met Dave & Suzie (along with Suzie's brother, Chris & family) here last Thursday and have been slowroasting under a tandoor sun everyday.  It's cool at night, warm in the day - incredible and incredibly cheap food at every stop along our walks to and from the water front makes for a steady intake of tasty curries ALL day long.
 
I'm fairly positive that this may be THE softest landing anyone could ever have into a country like India and we're still bracing ourselves for some of the inevitable culture shock(s) that will come.  But thanks to the spandex wearing Russians we feel somehow - at home.....

...This is coming a little late and are now in Ooty, Tamil Nadu - read my post on our blogsplot to read about this new leg of our travels.

Bless you all,  Thanks for reading, and praying.  Onwards & Upwards!
 
Travis (for Chela, Amaris & Love Bump #2), January 20, 2008
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