Goa

Well, we've just left Goa. Though in a way I'm not sad to be moving on, which is strange because it's incredibly beautiful and nicely chilled out. And that's exactly why I was glad to be leaving... I've really had an awful time this week, the reason being that I miss Isabel so much (might still get that £20 Beth!) and being in such a beautiful spot watching a million loved up couples on the beach only emphasised it more! Was seriously considering my options as regards onward travel... But I am travelling with the best male partner I could have and we had a grand old chat about it, I was feeling a bit guilty being such a grump and worried about where my concerns left everyone else, Derek especially. So we both decided that getting moving again would be a good thing and really to play it by ear, only 2 weeks left in India then Sri Lanka and SE Asia and keeping busy stops too much thought about other things.. The worst part is being in so many amazing places and your first thought being, I wish Is was here and getting all sad about it. So have to try to start enjoying myself more otherwise be both agreed there's not much point in carrying on. Not travelling is preferable to miserable travelling. Hopefully it won't come to that though. And once we reach Thailand it'll only be a couple of months till Is comes out for a visit. We are considering the possibility of cutting down the time in S America because I certainly don't relish the prospect of another 3-4 months away from Isabel, mad I know, but I am mad about her!! Awwww oh for God sake!!! Anyway!!!
Apart from that the end of our few days in Palolem was pretty good, had the good fortune of meeting some people and suggestions turned to plans which led us to stay the night on a beach only accessible by boat sitting around a campfire listening to music, drinking rum and some people were smoking the marra ja wanna but we knew about peer pressure before so we knew what to do and we slept under the stars and woke up freezing cold and to the sight of a cow (how he got there we have no idea) munching on our breakfast of pineapples and watermelon, bugger! It was pretty cool, think we invited nearly everyone we saw in Palolem so had a very cool crowd of about 10. Didn't swim after dark cos of the dip and currents but the water was really warm, and Derek reefed his thumb with a swiss army knife which bled for hours and then went and reefed his foot on the rocks, poor Derek, he's still hobbling around, and my first aid kit is coming in handy.
Which brings us to the worst journey in the world (though not really, Shackleton and Tom Crean!) on an overnight bus to Bangalore, sweet Jesus!!! We knew we were onto a bad start when we forgot our parcels and the tuk-tuk had to use turbo boost to get us to the station on time where we found half the town blocked off with a political rally in the station, here we go... Of course nobody knew where all the busses had been diverted to, not the foodstall guys, not the random passersby, not the police. After an hour wait the bus was spotted from our randomly picked bus stop and we nearly had to jump onto it as it tried to maintain momentum, later we realised why... A sleeper bus, we decided the cheaper option would be fine, is a bus with a double bunk bed 1 foot shorter, as presumably per average population size, so you can't lie down and as wide as two narrow bus seats with two thin vertical bars to stop you falling into the aisle from the top bunk. Sounds comfortable I know but then the bus grinds and groans up every incline, rocks 5 foot to either side with every pothole, usually 3-4 second intervals and thank God we opted for A/C cos the heat was unbearable when they turned it off 2 hours into the 15 hour journey. Though we made it albeit with virtually no sleep and then got a bus to Mysore where I'm writing from. It's Sunday so not much happening and crashed into bed for a few hours before wandering. Food is definitely getting spicier as we go south though still able to handle it, Shashi you'd be proud!! Also revising our finances, we reckon we're being a bit too posh so we're cutting expenses (though still only spending $26 dollars each a day, about £12...). Still getting on well with Derek, glad we're travelling together, though still looking forward to seeing Is in a couple of months and the parents in Oz, if we make it :-)