Cocktails and Dreams

Another amazing, yet drenched day in Goa...though it has not drenched our spirits. We have pretty much fell into a routine after almost 6 days in this sleepy (well sleepy in off season) little beachfront town of Palelom. We begin by rolling out of bed around 10ish and then a quick spruce up in the cold running water only bathroom then onto the 1 resturant we eat, drink and watch the football in...Cocktails and Dreams...that's right folks...we are not lying...it is called Cocktails and Dreams complete with shirts and the insignia from the hit movie Cocktail; however, there is no Tom Cruise to be seen...only a plethora of various Indian and Nepalese waiters with an aray of teeth issues, but we have become regulars and they know what we like to eat on the menu. Of course, our pack of dogs follow us to the resturant and sit around the table under the chairs warming our feet with their licks and fuzzy bodies. Then. we have to choose what to do next...either we go into the sea (rain or shine, but mostly rain during this time) or rent a scooter and go scootering about all the random villages and towns around this area...free whelling motorcylce diary style scootering with no maps throwing caution to the wind...it sounds daring, but you know I am gripping on to the side handle bars for dear life and sometimes closing my eyes and praying, but wow, what a rush it is. Today, like yesterday, we chose scootering...knowing full well the the weather will be monsoon downpours for 48 hours and we are now in the 50th, but we have hope. Today, we decided to first stop off at the GAWT again to pet the 10 baby kitties, 2 puppies, 20 dogs and 1 calf. We are a little bit obsessed...we came during feeding time and we wathced as the Indian animal workers cooked up some chicken and rice for the dogs and fish and rice for the cats. We were mesmerized by the sounds of chomping bones in the background, while we watched them feed the calf with a baby bottle..but only after the vet assistants cleaned out its gaping anus wound, as it was found with maggots eating it alive from the anal cavity out. There are a lot of anal issues in this country...we saw a man sitting on his thrid foot that was growing out of his anus in Mumbai...yes, a third foot, the calf with the maggoty butt and another dog running around today with its entire anal cavity hangin outside where it souhld have been in...pink and flesh toned in colour...very disturbing, yet you kind of just become uneffected after 23 days. After we stopped for some pet loving, we got on the scooter and ventured off down a long road that is blocked off by a red and white barrier and says Government Road on it. I ogt my brave face on and asked the man if we could go through and he lifted the barrier and away we went down what we can only describe as the most scenic and amazing rain forest ride of our lives...complete with hidden waterfalls that are most beautiful during monsoon season, but a bit unaccessible. But, not for the dynamic duo who clearly have a death wish. We drove for hours through the Goan Rain Forest Re-forestation area in which the Government is replenishing with baby sprout like trees and various nurseries with new baby plants and flowers...it was amazing. Very few people ride down this very well paved road, so Alex and I found it to be relaxing and compelling. After you get through the re-forestation bit, you are deep into the actual well established rain forest, which is an ocean of greens with tiny four-petaled baby salmon coloured flowers dotted intermitedly throughout...kind of trippy like and acid rush of green with these specks of vibrant orange...dazzeling. Then, you listen closely for the sounds of waterfalls and park the scooter and go exploring into the thick bushesm trees and foliage until you come across the most perfect silver white fresh water waterfall one has ever seen. You have to be so careful when climbing up or down to the where the waterfall begins or ends, but what a feeling to put your feet in the cool open clear water at the bottem of a pounding spray of freshness! It cannot be described. We took pitures with the waterproof camera, as we have suffered some water damage on the good Coolpix camera yesterday in the downpour. We found about 4 waterfalls in total and we just could not pick our favourite if our lives depended on it, as they were all so different. We went from one end of the rain forest to the other and then the heavans opened up and we became prunes while desparately trying to get back to the warmth of our hostel cafe and some delicious spicy chai to warm our hearts, souls and insides. We did eventually make it back, barring a few stops along the way due to stinging blindness inflicted by the rain...I don't think I can describe this type of rain and what driving on a tiny scooter in flip flops and beach clothes actually feels like...a monsoon is not like any other rainstorm ever experienced by those in England and America...it is like secondary drowning while being stabbed in the face by thousands of needles made out of raindrops, yet it is surprisingly refreshing at the same time...such a dichotomy I have yet to match! So, we made it to the hostel cafe (we have heard some stories about unwell tummies from this cafe so we stick to chai) and tucked into a cuppa and a lovely chat with a father/daughter duo travelling together for a few weeks. They are heading to Jaipur and we exchanged some stories and they told us of the amazing dentistry here in our little town, as the daughter, Grace, had her teeth whitened and some white fillings put in...and they look great...and she lived...so tomorrow we may check it out! Then, we went to Cocktails and Dreams for some delicious curry and watched a bit of football...yesterday was such an amazing day for it...Go England Go America, it could not be beat! Now, off to bed until tomorrow...our last day in Goa. It is with a very heavy heart that we leave this place...this little slice of heaven that saved us...another overnight and full day train ride await us until we get to Trivandrum and yoga...let's see if can even come close to this magical place.