July 3, 2010- Later in the day
Goa is a beautiful place. I was just walking around by myself noticing beautiful things specific to India- like the way it smells. Sometimes it’s a mixture of a smoky, spicy smell that you walk through like it’s a bit of fog. Horns honk often, but during monsoon the sound of rain is the backdrop to everything. Sweetshops on every corner hold glass cases displaying orange, green, yellow and beige milk and coconut sweets. Brightly colored fabrics peek out from windows and doors of shops, and taxi drivers are always overly eager to offer their services to an obvious foreigner. “Ma’am! Taxi, Ma’am?” The sound follows me as I cross the street to the bank or the Gujarat snack stand. Rain is no deterrent to the continuous lives of the people. Clothes don’t change once the rain comes; women trek through the streets in elaborate saris and no one is hesitant to wade calf deep through a puddle in flip-flops. Most of Indian life, everywhere that I’ve seen so far at least, takes place outside. Even their houses were adapted to the weather, adding courtyards and verandas because the Goan weather invites outdoor leisure. Many, even most, shops only have a counter at the front and an individual buying a cake or a light bulb must point to the desired item behind the vendor’s head. Goodnight!
