On one of my last nights in Pokhara, Nepal, I came across a free showing of the recent Beatles themed movie “Yesterday”. A charming and really engaging little movie about the entire world shifting to a plane where the Beatles never existed. except for one guy who proceeds to reintroduce the world to their music by him taking credit for writing and singing all the songs.
its a modern day movie, but on a tour through Russia, he sings Back In The USSR. Which hasn’t existed for 30 years. everyone looked at him quizzically. Good movie, check it out.
Back In present day, I am in the smallest state in India, still its 3 times the size of London with many little beach towns and inland villages to keep visitors wondering where to hang their hats for some winter sun and fun.
Its known for its beaches, food, history and nightlife. Its nightlife is mostly late night electronic dance music (EDM). Without the aid of hallucinogenic chemicals, my old ears just hear repetitive soulless percussion beats with no beginning and annoyingly no end. Probably, just a little less annoying than a 1990’s dial up modem connection. But only a little, at least you know the modem music was only going to last a few seconds with an internet connection at the end of it for your trouble.
Thats right, not a fan. I asked around with the caveat that I wanted a quiet place to hang. South Goa is known as the quiet half of Goa. Looking at hotels on Expedia, its also the much more expensive half.
I also got directed to Morjim Beach. its across the river from the techno beats of North Goa. Very Quiet.
I went for very quiet and got the cheapest room I could find near the beach.
Inn Morjim in case you were looking for a place. Simple but clean and above average hot water. Average because the shower would pulse between freezing and scalding no matter how much I monkeyed with the settings. Better than no hot water.
It was very quiet as promised. but not a chill hangout listen to muaic and chatting quiet. It was dead as in the bars and restaurants were mostly empty.
The only other people were Russians. So much sp that all the menus were in Russian with small print English translations. Russians are not known for their quiet demeanor especially when they are on the party train.
These russians were content to sit quietly around their dinner table, smoke, eat deserts and tend to their babies.
Yep it was mostly a family crowd. not a vodka bottle was in view.
The only way I would have known they were Russian was there general dower demeanor. If a Russian smiles at you, I can almost guarantee that you juat got the short end of the stick.
Russians are not well liked in the retail world because they refuse to pay full price for anything. They will haggle for hours to save a quarter on a 5 dollar bill.
I walked into a sundry shop for cold bottle of beer as there some heated haggling was going on over the price of several cartons of cigarettes. When the shop keeper saw me, he gave the russian what he wanted and am pretty sure he just added the difference to the price of my bill cause he knew I wasnt going to put out the effort to fight it. I know this to be true cause when I went in for another the next day, half the price.
All the locals bemoan the Russians and were always happy when I said I was an American. They knew they would be able to close up early that day if I bought something.
The beaches of Goa are pretty good. The water is warm and beaches are are wide sandy and pretty clean. A clean up crew pretty much rakes the beach every morning of the debris of the late night partying. The beach vendors selling crap are a bit annoying but I have been at way worse beaches around the world for that. The beach shacks sell pretty good food and as long as you buy something you can sit on their beach chairs for no additional cost.
The cows and dogs on roaming the beach are annoying. Mostly because of what they leave behind. I thought tar balls were hard to get off the bottoms of my feet.
In short, Goa has a.little something for everyone. thw techno party crowd, the beach relaxer, and history buffs. I was well readybto move on after about 5 days so staying for 10 was overkill.
Slow connection so here is a link to the Goa pics…..
https://photos.app.goo.gl/p8ShqgNbdQ7hjiQp9
