Serendipity

goa was strange. i met all sorts of different people there. i found opportunities, got challenged, did some partying, it was a whole new world again, for the second time in the same country.
i met a plutonic couple from pensylvania/chicago who were in a cult. met a director at a bar, he seemed like he was on acid. he said to me “you change clothes a lot, huh?” i said, yeah, does it mean something? we had a strange connection going on. he told me he wanted to make a movie but he wasn’t good at practical things. i told him i had a lot of skills that would fit production. i think i could have went for it, but i didn’t. i hesitated–i don’t know shit about movie production. but it was an opportunity. and next time i’ll be more ready. met a 74 year old guy still going strong. a 45 year old ex drug-rehab worker about to move out of the city to a ranch. said we needed to get back to nature. that it was too late for the planet. i said i thought we still had time but couldn’t really say why.
so i’ve left beachy, zooish, touristy goa. it was getting pretty tough to find a good party there in early season. but now that i’ve arrived in bombay i found it’s off here too. i had heard about the circumstance in question already but didn’t quite fathom the significance. the dance or ‘chandi’ bars have all been shut down. seems the man figures they’re a source of moral decrepitude and decadence. bombay seems a place a bit out of time. old-world. civilized. anyway, thrill seekers and geezers are heading elsewhere, bangalore, dheli, singapore, wherever to get their kicks, and business goes on.
so it’s a good place to do some shopping, and hanging out in my hotel room. went to the art gallery today. nice exhibition of an Indian artist named Sabavala. maybe he’ll be rising up now that he’s expired. heard one of his paintings just went for 6 kora, whatever those are. (it’s a lot)
back to the important thing, oh yes–shopping. randomly went up to a side of the road tailoring shop, and found my self getting fitted for some new tailored clothes. two shirts, one chinese collar (yes!), light blue, and one french collar, maroon. one single breasted blazer w/ 3 buttons, the fancy kind (where will i put this?). one pair trousers. bought a copy of harvard business review. (huh?) i’m still trying to figure out what i’m up to. oh yes. and new shoes. the only fashion thing i get obsessive about is shoes; takes me forever to decide what to get. after trying on about 10 pair i settled for some black smart-casual style, which basically means they look like bowling shoes. i saw some killer shiny maroon red dress shoes, but i figured they might look a little funny hanging from the side of my trekking backpack. ah yes but i will remember them, yes precious, yes.
off to tel aviv tomorrow. too bad, wednesday night is hot in bombay.

almost time to leave Goa for Bombay, then off to Israel. Goa is great, there are so many nice people here, and beaches everywhere. The other night was a great party, and it kept going till sunrise. I would really like to come back here and spend more time. It’s easy to dream here.

Posted some pics finally!
The big Durga festival in varanasi - click

From the lodge in varanasi, the shiva ganga
The scenery around the ganges view
Pics from the sreet
From Varanasi to Goa.

i was not trapped in any earthquakes, i avoided the bombings in New Dehli, and i was not in the train crash in Kerala. i’m having good luck here! I’ve traveled to Gokarna because I heard there was a village here with many artists and alternative-type people. Could be because it’s early in the season, but haven’t seen much of that sort here. So now we’re off to Anjuna in north Goa, spending a few days there before I head to Bombay and then Tel Aviv. Right now I feel pretty tired, so I’ll make it “shanti” (relaxed) for a while. I’ll try to post some pics!