Palolem - Day Three

Today I went hiking on Palolem Island, affectionately known around here as Monkey Island. At least this one was trailed, top to bottom. Still, it felt adventurous, since I was the only person on the island. I saw many cool little critters, but was too slow with my camera to capture them on film (skinks (small lizards), blue parrots and some monkeys). The few at the far size of the island was incredible - while there I watched a mated pair of eagles flying in and out of their nest (which I couldn't see). I did manage to get a nice photo of the male perched in a tree.

Later in the day, I went to visit the next beach down the coast, Patnam Beach. It was pretty much the same as Palolem, but more calm - vendors are not allowed on the beach there. Still, it was nice to see more than just my beach. Today (Day Four), I may go the other way, past the island, to see Butterfly Beach - not sure yet. For now I am taking two fellow travellers over to Palolem Island.

Last night I went for dinner in an Italian place to have pizza (it was great, although WAY overpriced). While eating, a cow walked into the restaurant, and no-one tried to get it out - they really do revere the cow here!

Thats about it - how about some of those promised photos???

Palolem Day 2 Photos

Lagoon, just before entering the mountain jungles

Some monkeys avoiding the noon sun

The tarantula nest I almost stepped in

A shot of the countryside around Palolem

Palolem Day Three Photos

Termite Mound on Palolem Island

The male eagle on Palolem Island

Patnam Beach

He just couldn't get a seat!!!

Thats it for the Goa updates today! I've already checked out of my hut and my bags are being stored for the day. Later, I'll make my way back to Madgaon to catch my train to Hampi first thing in the morning. Yeck, another night sleeping in the train station (at least its free, and Im all about the free shit), likely on the floor, like everyone else, lol! See you in Hampi - land of 1,600 year old temples!

Palolem, Goa - Day Two

Well, I wanted to play Indiana Joe a little more so went trekking into the mountains to the west of the beach - just for the sake of a few photos of the beach. Yeah... the trail I had been following died rather soon after I got into the jungle, so I had to make my own. I should have listened to my instincts and gone back out and found another way in. But no... to me, it was about the journey and adventure. The near stampede of wild oxen, the 1,000,000 bites from midges and mosquitos in the mangroves and the attack of the fire ants on numerous occasions were worth it in my mind - not. It took me three hours to get in and find a way back! I did see some really cool shit though and even had the state of mind to shoot a few pics. The tarantula nest I almost stepped in was cool - LoL! Aude is SOOO going to fucking kill me. Especially since I didnt learn my lesson and did it again today on the island to the west of the beach (a much better excursion with no adventures).

Photos to follow soon... Ive got to go to another beach for the day and the people I'm hanging with are itching to go now! LoL!

Palolem, Goa - Day One

All I can say is wow... Ive only been here a few hours and I already love the chill vibe, the long beach and the beach hut Im staying in (with requisite mosquito net!). Not much to say really... went swimming in the Arabian Ocean (clean as hell), its around 40 degrees right now, and I've got some photos already! Lots of smaller beaches and stuff to explore in the area, but thats for tomorrow - Im exhausted from the transfer from Mumbai.

Like this needs any intro

Me, with the beach behind me!

Palolem Beach!

More to follow! Stay tuned!!!

Mumbai - Its Bollywood Baby!

Oh yeah! I am in the home of Shah Rukh Khan, my favourite Bollywood actor - and do you think I can find any of his movies for sale on the street??? No way - the pirates of Mumbai will not touch his movies, which in a way is rather great - theyre supporting their favourite actor. And SRK (as he's called) is HUGE here in India - more than any actor I can think of in the USA or Canada. I'm going to try again this morning before catching my train to Goa.

I've been really impressed with Mumbai to be honest. At first I was completely overwhelmed by its size. And that comes from someone who grew up in Toronto, which takes an hour to cross on the highway. Mumbai is likely 2 times the size or more, and has WAY more people in it than a 2x's multiple. The streets here are BUSY!

The pollution is kinda rough. Too many cars and boats in the harbor. Hell, there's oil refineries in the harbour too. They even have some huge operation on Elephanta Island, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You lose detailed sight of the harbourfront (from a boat) at about 0.5 km away. Which tells you that I went to Elephanta - and totally felt like I was in some cut scene from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom! LoL! And for those of you who really know me, that is saying something. Want some photos of Mumbai now??? I know you do... and for the cave temple photos, understand one thing: everything was hand carved from the rock. NONE of it was added later...

Gateway to India & Taj Mahal Hotel - Colaba, Mumbai

Not the Lord of the Rings, this is Elephanta Island's main cave

Entrance to the main cave

A wall carving of Kali

A lingum - with wishes placed around it - yes I made one too!

CST - Mumbai's main train terminal

Thats it for now... still have a few hours here though, so may have more later. In the meantime, be healthy and warm my friends and family. I know I am (35 degrees today - lol!).

Udaipur - Photos Update

So, I'm in Mumbai at the moment (that post will follow) and since they have working computers here (you'd hope so anyways ... its Mumbai!), I figured it was best to get some updates done before I leave for the beaches of Goa and the Temples of Hampi, later today actually...

Lake Palace Hotel - VERY expensive to stay here

Hanuman Ghat Hotels

Sunset over the mountains of Lake Pichola

Lake Pichola at dusk

Alright... next update is for Mumbai.

Udaipur - Day 2

I'm currently in Udaipur, reputed to be India's most romantic city. Me, I don't see it... instead I see a steady stream of gang types, harrassing innocent tourists for money, cigarettes, etc. I even had one person yesterday try to intimidate me into stopping writing in my notebook on the ghats at Lake Pichola. Not cool...

Anyways, no photos today. This cafe wants to scan my USB key, and Im not sure Im okay with that... something seemed off with the idea of it. So... you'll all have to wait until I get to Mumbai, for which I leave tomorrow on the train. 950km... good thing its an overnight train - just hope I can get some sleep! Mumbai and Bollywood baby! Lets hope theyre ready for me! LoL!

Im looking forward to it, to be honest, maybe a little too much! Bollywood, CST, Colaba, Gateway of India and Elephanta Island. Not to forget the slums! And then 2 days later... Goa at Palolem beach!!! J'ai hate!

I've decided to visit Hampi after all, since I'll be in southern Goa, which is the best train connection to Hospet and Hampi. I can't come all this way and not see it - 1000 year old temples in the middle of the mountains??? Oh fuck yeah, Indiana Joe is on the way!!!

See you in Mumbai friends!!!

Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Deshnok and Jodhpur

Lots has happened since the last post, and as you can see, I've been on a whirlwind of city hopping! Literally from Jaisalmer on the 2nd to Jodhpur on the 4th... and I'm exhausted! LoL! But I've got tonnes of good photos! Stopped in Bikaner for a day to go see the Karni Mata temple in Deshnok (the rat temple). It was as fucked up as I thought it would be, and you KNOW I took lots of photos there. Even managed to sneak some video in too!

So, it's the 5th and tomorrow I leave Jodhpur for Udaipur - really looking forward to it. I'm about a week and a half away from being in Goa (Beaches baby!!!), with a stop in Mumbai (Bollywood baby!!!) for a few days. Gotta stop there for a transfer on the train anyways, so may as well stop for a few days and visit Elephanta Island and see the CST train station - maybe go find Shah Rukh Khan and get an autograph (I wish!).

The weather in the desert is really agreeable this time of the year! It may be in the low 30's, but its dry so not too bad. A week from now it'll be in the 40's and humid as hell - thank god the ocean will be right there! Anyways, time for some photos!!!

Jaisalmer - Sundown from Sunset Hill

Jaisalmer - Happy Cookies from the Bhang Shop

Bikaner - Teaching english in a primary school!

Deshnok - Karni Mata Temple

Deshnok - A rat sleeping in the middle of a gate!

Jodhpur - Yes, live, free roaming parrots!

The Jodhpur Fort - Amazing fort to tour!

Jodhpur - Me on top of the ramparts looking at Blue City

Thats it for this installment. And yes, Bhang Lassis and cookies were awesome! Too bad they wouldnt let me take pictures or videos in there... I know you can in Varanasi, so I'll do it there. So, see you all in the coming days in Udaipur!