Goa - going the well-travelled road

mpachauri — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:26:10 +0000

Only a few places are small and rich enough to exemplify what has happened to adventure in the last few decades. Dropping and breaking out is now in. Ascetism is now luxury. Purification has turned to pleasure. I took my own course in all that turning inside-out and downside-up, some of which happened here in Goa.

Some seeking the desert, stayed on the sands here comforted by each other’s presence. Did I go far enough if I still recognise those around me? Have I entered the unknown yet? Does it really matter and do we still have a chance?

All these and other essential though inconsequential questions are more easily pondered or ignored here in Goa.

Take it easy, hang loose and enjoy!

Time-travel in Hampi

mpachauri — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 09:18:03 +0000

We drove there more than 12 years ago. A man and a woman, bundled up against the smoke and heat of the road. We stopped just for coconut water at small villages where, still mounted on the bike, we drew crowds that just stared at us in silence till we roared off - one hand raised. We rode backward through time to a pristine landscape of boulders against the sky and then through the timewarp, we were going forward again. Small shacks appeared and these led to an old temple against the sky, dim figures outlined it.

Too late to discover these, we fell into bed - grateful for the mosquito net up to protect our sleep from the immediate needs of more transient lifeforms.

travel mandakini´s way

Goa - going the well-travelled road

Time-travel in Hampi