The end of the world & a couple of observations

Since we have been back in Arambol we have been spending a lot of time on the beach and going for little nature walks. We are enjoying the hut we have been staying in, with all its 4 star facilities.




We having been spending time with some English people in the last couple of days. One couple called Danny & Joe and a couple of friends Ruth & Dan. Its been really nice and last night we went to an end of the world party. The party itself was not that busy and really it was pushing it a bit to call it a party. Basically we think one of the bigger parties may have been shut down by the police, so some enterprising Indian men set up some speakers on the beach and bought some drink from the bottle shop. 
The music was Goa Techno which just has a very repetative beat, but there were some very entertaining characters there, so definitely some people watching oppurtunities.

Craig and I left about 4am and as soon as the cab pulled off the beach, there was a man lying in the road, totally unconcious. There were a couple of guys standing near motorbikes on the side of the road, they made a pretty poor attempt of pulling him to the side. When they lifted him up, he had obviously been attacked, he was totally floppy and not there at all. Our cabby made a call and another big guy turned up on a bike and then we drove off. It was a bit scary, because i wondered whether it may have been a set-up and that we were going to get carjacked. We dont really know what happened but when Craig asked an Indian friend the next day why the police were not called, he said, if an Indian person calls the police to report the injury or death of another Indian person then the police will just charge the person that called them. We dont know if this is true but he said it is too much hassle to try and investigate so it is easier to just charge the person that is there at the time. Anyway not the greatest end to a good (ish) party, but a good reminder that we are not in the UK with the comforts our police provide. The police do seem to spend most of their time sitting with the life guards, posing in their aviators, and looking at girls (and yes they have nicked the lifeguards chairs!).

On a slightly lighter note here are the pictures of the sunset the day after the world was supposed to end, significant?

I also have a couple of random observations to make;

1) Cows in India like their food hot!












2) I did the Indian head bobble to Craig the other day in response to a question. I think that is definitely a sign that it is nearly time to move on. Here is Wikipedias explanation of what it means, but i have seen it used for yes, no, maybe, i dont know, left, right, i dont speak english, why are you talking to me, and the list goes on........

The head bobble, head wobble, or Indian head shake
refers to a common gesture found in South Asian cultures, most notably in India. This form of nonverbal communication is sometimes referred to as "Indian head shake" or as travel journalist Stephan Wilkinson has described it, "a vague cock of the head." The motion usually consists of a side-to-side tilting of the head in arcs along the coronal plane. It often means a yes. In India the gesture is common in the southern parts, but may not be used consistently all around the country. In India, this particular headshake can also be acknowledgement or encouragement. In the Western world, people often use a nod for the same purpose. It is not always associated with yes or no, and is actually used in place of no when the person doesn't want to say no

3) After asking various people i still didnt know what a Buba was, or what sinificance he has. I can however tell you that he seems to be very spiritual, homeless and people give him food, chai and drugs. There is one at every party and they are usually curled up in a little ball on the sand in the middle of the party. Anyway again here is Wikipedias explanation......

In Hinduism, sādhu (skt साधु sādhu, “good; good man, holy man”) denotes an ascetic, wandering monk. Although the vast majority of sādhus are yogīs, not all yogīs are sādhus. The sādhu is solely dedicated to achieving mokṣa (liberation), the fourth and final aśrama (stage of life), through meditation and contemplation of brahman. Sādhus often wear ochre-colored clothing, symbolizing their sanyāsa (renunciation).  Sadhus are sanyasi, or renunciates, who have left behind all material attachments and live in caves, forests and temples all over India and Nepal.  A Sadhu is usually referred to as Baba by common people. The word baba also means father, grandfather, or uncle in many Indian languages. Sometimes the respectful suffix -ji may also be added after baba, to give greater respect to the renunciate. It is also a term of endearment for small boys.

There are 4–5 million sadhus in India today and they are widely respected for their holiness,^[3] and sometimes feared for their curses. It is also thought that the austere practices of the sadhus help to burn off their karmacontemporarily, sadhus have often been viewed with a certain degree of suspicion, particularly amongst the urban populations of India. Today, especially in popular pilgrimage cities, posing as a sadhu can be a means of acquiring income for non-devout beggars.  There are naked Naga (Digambara, or "sky-clad") Sadhus which are non-shaven and wear their hair in thick dreadlocks, and Jata, who carry swords. Aghora sadhus may claim to keep company with ghosts, or live in cemeteries as part of their holy path. Indian culture tends to emphasize an infinite number of paths to God, such that sadhus, and the varieties that sadhus come in have their place.

I havent taken a picture of one as i think you have to pay for that, but here is one, that bears a striking resemblance to the one at the party.

4) Every sunbed comes with a dog under it and they are usually there all day so you better make friends with them, if you dont want them to pee on your throw.

Thats it, for the next few days. Arambol is getting a little busier now in the run up to Christmas, so we will be ordering our lobster in the next couple of days. Then settling down to a Christmas on the beach........