Going, Going, Goa!

Just when I was feeling so much at home here, my time has to come to an end.  While I love going abroad, what I love more is feeling AT HOME when I am abroad. Sure, in the beginning it is just finding your way around and coping with different environmental factors (the biggest challenge for me here was noise and air pollution – but the weather, which is not unlike summer in Los Altos was divine), learning how to navigate the neighborhoods, how to bargain and get locals’ prices for even the smallest things like a few pieces of fruit, how to greet people, how to get things done, and how to read body language.  

On that latter note, one of the first body language things that confused me was the Indian head shake.   On my first day, a question to a local vendor elicited a side-to-side, quick head wobble in the same plane as the shoulders:  Was that “Not sure?”, “Maybe?”, “Yes?”,  “No?”  To be sure I asked the question again, and it SEEMED to mean, “yes”, but I still had my doubts.  Sure enough, as the days and weeks passed, I saw the head wobble as a sign of acknowledgement or understanding, as ubiquitous as the American head nod.  I think.

The next thing that was challenging was English,  both understanding and being understood.  While it is clearly widely spoken here (although each state has it’s own language – 22 of which are officially in the constitution), the accents and word choices were different enough to require me to listen with concentration.  One night, when my roomie and I were hoping to get an auto rickshaw home, we repeated our destination and the local landmark 3 or 4 times, but still the driver seemed perplexed.  Suddenly I had a thought:  I’ve always been pretty good at imitating accents (just ask my children - I do a mean Hagrid), so I tried saying it with an Indian English accent.   Terrible, right?  But, don't laugh...much to my roomie's amazement the driver wobbled his head in understanding and indicated that we should climb in.  Note to self:  learn more of the local language for the next visit. Also, practice head wobble.

 To wrap things up, I took a three-day weekend to the next state down.  Goa reminds me a bit of Hawaii in its landscape and it’s more laid back feel.   From 1510 until 1961, this state was a held as a Portuguese colony, and one clearly gets that picture from the Christian names, the cathedrals and churches, and distinctive architecture.  

 

The fabulous Heather

Fellow yogini, Heather and I stayed in a hotel built adjacent to the site of Fort Aguada which guards the coast at the mouth of the Mandovi River.  We had a splendid view of one of the ramparts from our room.   A little beach walking, hill climbing, yoga practice and dining were about all we could muster our first day. 

The practice space was divine.

The second day included a little touring passed rice paddies, the capital Panaji, and a spice farm.  Mostly, we couldn't wait to get back to our beautiful resort and just hang out, read and take walks. 

Organic Spice Farm

In addition to nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon, curry leaves, cardamom, betel nut, chilis, allspice and mace, Savoi grew tropical fruits like starfruit, papaya, pineapple, bananas, coconut and jackfruit.  Best papaya I ever ate...

Signing off for now.  Thanks for coming along on my Asian ride.  Next visit here, January 2014!