| Background:
Having intended to go travelling since he left University, Julien
procrastinated for several years being thwarted by various humdrum
life non-enhancing events. Also, during this time, he did a
whole range of dull worthy and dull less than worthy jobs.
As luck would have it, he finally
found a reasonably well-paid job that he really liked doing
(a first on both accounts there) - but it was a 6 month contract.
The very week he decided to go travelling at the end of his
contract, as there was nothing looming and he was free of all
commitments and attachments de coeur - was the week that
his bosses wanted talk to him about extending his contract.
There was much conflicting advice sought and unsought by all
and sundry, but ultimately, it came to "If I don't go now, I'll
never go", so off he went.
He didn't go alone, but with a friend Ed - they both bought a return ticket to Mumbai
and so the scene was set.
Welcome to India!
OK, so I reckon you're probably
at Heathrow now - but you'll be in India when you read this
- isn't the internet wonderful!
Hope the trip was smooth and that the culture shock isn't too
great yet - wish I was there to see it too.
Don't forget if in doubt, clench the buttocks - you can't go
far wrong.
Pa
| From Julien -
Oct 8th 2006 |
Hello. Just to put your minds
at ease, we arrived jetlagged and weary yesterday evening at
11.20pm (6.30 UK). The experience has been a lot less intense
than originally expected, although it's still very early doors
and I'm still seriously jetlagged. Anyway, let Mum and Niall
know that I'm not dead yet and that my bowels are still in working
order. (Why only this lunchtime I passed my first solid in India.
The first of many to come, Krishna willing.)
I'm going to go and look at some things now. Mumbai smells awfully
similar to Mombasa.
Peace be upon you.
Glad to hear you're in one
piece. Mummy voiced the question "I wonder what Julien's doing
right now" earlier. Niall thought you were probably being mugged,
while I betted on the toilet option. It didn't seem to comfort
her...
Mummy and Niall then argued about who should be the official
custodian of print-outs of Bubbub's emails - neither argument
was convincing to me as they discussed the merits of their respective
record keeping facilities - Niall's room and Mummy's drawer.
I hope that tomorrow will bring myriad novel smells to your
nostrils. Remember, don't have any spicy foreign food and watch
out for the darkies.
Looking forwards to my first
weekly present.
Hope you have as much fun reading this as I did writing it -
you can always refer to it as an example of Western-Decadent-Imperialism
if held at knife-point by a thugee.
Pa
| From Julien -
Oct 10th 2006 |
Arrived in Goa yesterday after
a pretty hairy rickshaw journey to the wrong airport. The taxi
driver on the way to the hotel offered to provide us with a
prostitute each, which we graciously declined. 5000 Rupees a
night is steep even for Brighton standards.
Hired bikes today and drove along the coast and into Anjuna
- a town not dissimilar to St. Neots' Indian quarter. The roads
may be a touch hectic, but the general survival technique seems
to be beep your horn and keep your eyes peeled. What larks.
Much as I hate to disappoint, both Ed and I are still passing
regular movements. So much so Ed suggested naming ourselves
the So Solid Crew. I'm inclined to agree.
The food in Goa is truly incredible. Why only last night, over
my tiger prawn bilchao, I could swear I saw the face of Vishnu.
(In retrospect, I suppose it could have been Shiva.) Over a
piping hot chai tea, Ed and I discussed the merits of colonialism
and the British Empire before toasting the Queen and retiring
for the evening.
Anyway, I'll leave you now tired, hot and thirsty, but in extremely
high spirits and keen to see what further adventures unfold.
Long live the Queen.
| From Paul - Oct
11th 2006 |
Hairy rickshaw - now that
must be a sight to behold - India truly is the continent of
great exotica.
I'm sorry but I don't believe the Anjuna story - Google Earth
and our atlas doesn't show any such place - we'll just have
to get a map I guess to follow you around. Thought you were
spending a few days at the Hari-Krishna temple? Very inspired
that there is a place in a far off land that is forever St.Neots,
have you been out at night and come back deeply disillusioned?
- ah that old town of yours.
So Solid Crew - "pride comes before a squit" - Dr. Johnson.
Pleased to hear of your bowel movements nonetheless - old habits
die hard. Always carry a toilet roll, useful at unexpected fiestas
as an impromptu streamer if nothing else.
Radha says that Goa is one of the most beautiful places on earth
- did you get the camera fired up yet? So what are the mid-term
plans? Niall and I are off to a dive show in sunny Birmingham
this weekend.
Did you state the purpose of your visit at immigration? Expected
you to be dined by the Viceroy by now - if you've gone native
then recruit a battalion of sepoys - they will stand you in
good stead. A stout elephant will be a good position to command
them from and make for some good "me on my holidays" pictures.
Have you sat next to any exotic nutters on the bus yet? (Ed
doesn't count - neither do you for him).
Pater
| From Julien -
Oct 18th 2006 |
Greetings from Goa.
The pace has slackened a little since our last communication.
No longer struggling against the human tide of Anjuna (it does
exist, honest guv...) we have decided to move to marginally
calmer pastures. Just outside a town called Margaou, we have
found a charming little apartment further south, about five
minutes walk from the beach. Banalim to be precise.
We left Calungate (south of Anjuna) a few days ago and headed
by bus to Panjim, the capital of Goa. We stayed in a truly horrific
hotel replete with bedbugs, mosquitoes and foul - but fading
- memories. The city itself was pretty nasty. Everyone seemed
righteously pissed off to be there. Including, as I'm sure is
obvious, both Ed and I.
In Benalim, we hired some bikes again and travelled, with our
Muslim guide Saleem, to the southernmost beach of Goa called
Palolem. The beach was about as delightful as any I've seen,
but the drive down was absolutely incredible. Rhada is right,
after Worthing on Sea, Goa is one of the most stunning places
on earth.
We plan to head back for Diwali which starts this Saturday.
Unfortunately, Goa is largely Christian so I'm not sure how
much it will be celebrated. Still, Ed and I have made some makeshift
fireworks out of driftwood and petrol to mark the occasion,
so hopefully it should go(a) with a bang. Forgive me. This heat
is getting to me.
I regret to inform you that we have already failed in our primary
objective of avoiding all fellow (dare I say it) travellers.
We call them "Whiteys" over here. It seems not all Americans
are cretins, although most of them are, and not everyone from
Wiltshire is inbred (based on a cursory search for webbed fingers,
thumbs on the spine and eyebrows on the cheeks) although most
of them are. I'll spare you the tiresome details, however,.
suffice to say a most pleasant time has been spent so far.
You'll be delighted to hear, I'm sure, that despite the occasional
"artists' spat" Ed and I are still committed members of the
So Solid Crew. So much so that I believe Ed to have been constipated
for a few days. He wouldn't admit it, but with my amateur medical
credentials and keen eye for such things, I'm pretty sure my
diagnosis is correct. It would certainly explain the surly behaviour
and "lie downs" that he's been having. Now if only I could find
those rectal sedatives...
Anyway, all is still very well here: So far I have: touched
an elephant, gone to a spice garden, had an argument with a
certain "Mr. Nice", nearly driven into a heard of cows, bought
three pairs of trousers - on separate occasions and which didn't
fit - and found a cockroach in the sink. I have not seen any
monkeys.
All is well.
p.s. It seems the Viceroy is an old school friend of yours.
The ruddy-faced gent was absolutely thrilled to make the acquaintance
of the son of his old Harrow polo partner and insisted on throwing
a most elaborate soiree in your honour. I confess to being a
little giddy on the champagne, but I could have sworn he mentioned
you had both fought in the Crimea...
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