Hung out with David for breakfast in the hotel, then had lunch at the place in the mall. The central staircase between the escalators was blocked in several places by store displays. Probably not a giant fire hazard at all. Safety third, right?
We dodged the usual tuk tuk drivers and found another atm around the corner. I took out a relatively large amout of cash , 10000 twice, then paid david back the 2000 I borrowed to cover two thirds of my bus and train tickets.
Back at the hotel we had another of our spirited debates, working to find common ground and both hoping for the best from Cheeto Hitler. David will hang on to my laptop and associated gear to lighten my load in Goa. I chose not to ditch anything else, so I have no excuse if I don’t use something. I am testing out my packing list, basically.
I worked on reorganizing my bag a bit and managed to get the Pilot inside the Sky Train, but after Raju’s typical hectic ride to the airport, I found it was overweight for one bag so they asked me to carry it as two, as if that somehow makes it lighter.
They also talked me into 550 rupees for the lounge access.
Up the stairs to security I found the typical abundance of staff. 4 guys behind the scanner and one using a hand metal detector on everyone who goes through the big one, which I am fully convinced just is a motion detector, since it beeped with nothing in my pockets.
Despite my pleadings they didn’t want to let me keep the tsa approved multitool. So they suggested going back down and checking my bag. They cancelled my boarding pass and I sheepishly approached the same AirAsia lady back downstairs. We removed my cables and chargers from the redoxx and checked it in.
After security I went straight to the lounge.
The first time up into the lounge I went in the exit and the staff didn’t notice. I charged my phone, booked an airbnb in Anjuna and had a paneer dosa and water in a tiny 200 ml bottle. My free wifi expired so I figured it was time for a change of pace.
I walked around the airport to find my gate and though it was fine it was a little crowded and would have been hard to find a seat. So I went back up to the lounge and this time had to show my proof of purchase , and they took a photo of my boarding pass on a pocket camera. They did however give me a ticket with a code and a scratch off pin for 24h wifi
This time I grabbed a really comfy leatherish recliner and plugged in again. I finalized some details of my evening and jos and I talked over chat, then tried video and settled on phone, all over fb messenger. The bose noise cancelling headphones made it easy and comfortable. I grabbed another paneer dosa in a napkin and headed for my gate.
There were three boarding zones but no announcement so I just boarded when the line started moving. There were 5 or 6 people who each checked my boarding pass on the way down the ramp! You would think they could all just stand together since they were accomplishing nothing by rechecking the same thing.
The a380 is 3 and 3 seats, with different colored seat covers in the first 5 rows, possibly identifying an apparently pointless higher class.
Once I realized I lost wifi I flipped through the in-flight magazine which was mostly about Malaysia and other places AirAsia flies. Lots of pretty pictures of empty beaches mostly. I wonder how hard it was to clear all the inevitable people for the photo shoot.
I paid 100 for some snack mix, figuring it might come in handy later. I always worry about getting hungry late at night and not having a way to deal with it.
The airport in goa was pretty uneventful, though the smell of the bathroom was the worst one so far. No attendant and I didn’t waste any time before moving on.
The taxi drivers greeted me in a chorus and I had heard there was conflict between the official taxis and the others. I named my destination of Anjuna and expected price competition but the two men stuck at 1500. They both took me away but the younger said “do you want to go with him or me”. The older one was a little more convincing so I went with him. He later said he was an official taxi and they have had trouble with the new people
On we went and my driver made a brief stop to chat with another driver about the evening since both were taking their last runs. Milton told me about his three kids, showing me a photo of them in what I did confirm were Santa hats. The crucifix on the dashboard helped my guess too. I mentioned there are so many things we don’t know before we go someplace and that I am trying not to offend anyone. He was easygoing with a laugh which came frequently. Another stop for a bit of petrol and on again. Passing more villages on roads less crowded and and in better condition than the ones in Bangalore. At least the “highways” were where he got up over 100 kph.I think he was showing off. There are a lot of SLOW vehicles on the roads.
He said he had three beers but he was no crazier than anyone else on the road. The small roads however are much worse than Bangalore, which is a terrifying statement.
First it was mostly rural but then we went through several towns with lots of restaurants and large well lit shops. Once we hit anjuna it suddenly turned into a tiny village with twisting roads too small for one car, let alone two, yet somehow my driver had no trouble.
We found my rooming house which seems serviceable but sparse. The guy provided tp and a towel. The room is old and worn but not disgusting to me. There is one outlet which works. A wire from omething from outside goes through the window and is plugged into the bathroom outlet.
I got the wifi working and waited two minutes for the ac to be ready to turn on after the switch was thrown. The ac had a remote which was brought with the other supplies and a requested water bottle. I shut the bathroom door because the window is open due to the aforementioned wire. There is also a loud and unbalanced ceiling fan and a night light.
I had planned to turn in for the night but changed my mind. I locked the big heavy hasp with the probided padlock, first verifying I had the right key. Also I confirmed the frog under the hasp was indeed alive, despite his overall indifference to the hasp and myself. He’s like “dude I live here , you’ll be gone tomorrow”
It is interesting how it looks here. The closest comparison for me is puerto rico but that is probably due to my lack of experience with this sort of thing. Still, old tropical former European colonies probably share more than not.
I walked most of the way to Curlie’s which is one of the more well known nightlife spots. The road had a soft dirt shoulder and I just barely stopped myself from falling into a hole as I dodged vehicles. The local dogs are abundant but also indifferent as though they know they are at the beach.
I passed one large family but otherwise I was the only pedestrian. As i got nearby a taxi driver told me the party was over and I should go to lilliput or some place that starred with an S where a lot of russians go. Lilliput was closer and I paid 200 which was probably a lot for a half a km walk but I was glad not to have to backtrack. I probably could have gotten there faster if i walked the beach, but I had no idea where it was till we got close.
Lilliput was also shutting down, as I had just arrived after last call. I passed the barren dance floor and bar area but the terraced seating leading to the beach seemed relatively busy. Groups of either couples or a half dozen young men huddle around folding tables with an unfamiliar design. Most tables have a hooka containing fragrant tobacco being shared.
A large garbage can overfilled with beer bottles shows why so many cars and scooters were leaving here. Also it explains why a team effort was being applied at one table to help a guy consume a large bottle of water
Two vendors with blinking and glowing things, plus a dangerously wielded green laser wander back and forth wishing there were a party.
Milton had told me that the groups of police by the road in a couple of spots were for the election. I had seen election signs in Bangalore but didn’t know if the number of khaki uniformed police there was normal. Many wear a hat similar to a cowboy hat but with one side pinned up. I’m sure there is a name for it.
I asked why there are police for the election if it is not tonight, and he explained it is to reduce corruption. Apparently politicians or their agents drive around giving cash or alcohol to buy votes and somehow the police standing around by the road can stop this. They aren’t searching cars though so I am not sure what mechanism is expected to work.
Regardless the presence of police has universally been blamed for the lack of parties going on by all of the few people I have spoken to. Apparently this area is known for it but I am unlucky to be here now.
I don’t really need a raging party but I am feeling a bit alone here on the comfortable blue cushion on the stone terrace, listening to the crash of the ocean yards away and the laughter and chatter of those around me.
Tables are being folded up, and I finished my seafood pasta, which was clams, calamari and tiny prawns with a red sauce and ziti. 490 including another huge bottle of water and the credit card worked.
It is hot and muggy but ok at night. I wonder if the heat of the day will seem oppressive. Milton told about the 4 months of monsoon (it rains all the time, sometimes very hard… But the river doesn’t rise?) And I told him about our cold winter. It is winter here too which means 99 instead of 105. He says he has never worn a sweater or jacket.
Aaaand now I am writing from the firm foam bed in the room. The frog was still there. It smells a bit like cat pee which is probably better than rats. Come to think of it I should move the bag off the floor. I have seen a few rats outide and the local cat really wanted to come in here.
Speaking of animals,I was pursued by a pack of dogs on the walk back, but after ignoring their barks for a few hundred feet I snapped back at them with a stern shout and they dispersed. The next pack of large puppies was stopped dead in their tracks by my flashlight beam. I can see why no one walks.
Bedtime for me, it is 2 am. This is a bit disjointed probably as I wrote it in a few sessions but i will post it anyway.