Yoga in Goa

An article I recently wrote for Yoga Abode:

http://www.yoga-abode.com/travel/yoga_in_goa

Recycling thoughts...

So another phase of life starts again – one of slight uncertainty, both for me and the world, from smaller issues, to larger, more significant ones…. Where will I be next? What paths shall I take in 2009 and how will I affect those around me?

Does this really matter at all at a time when the media is reporting generalised economic meltdown? I hear plastic bottles recycling companies in China are closing down due to the fall in demand for packaging made out of recycled plastic – a third degree effect of the economic crash.
Now that’s more something I should be concerned about – and yet there is little I can do, even more so in Goa, where pollution from rubbish and plastic is rife. Basically, there is no organised system at all: general waste, when not burnt, is dumped at specific spots outside the main towns or on the side of the road for public services to deal with. This, I understand, means a regular gathering and burning of rubbish, to make it disappear in one way or the other, thus making space for yet new bin bags. These dumping grounds make a thoroughly scary sight.

Glass and plastic bottles usually get collected by those who so desperately need a few rupees, which they can easily obtain by going round residential areas to collect empty plastic and glass bottles – an effective way to operate indeed.
As for compostable waste, the cows are usually good takers – so far they've been showing some fondness for common kitchen leftovers: papaya skins, pineapple offcuts and the odd bit of rotten veg. Alternatively, they find a way into our gated compound to nibble on the green plants we lovingly water in an attempt to keep the garden as green and lush as it can be. Personally, I prefer feeding them papaya skins....

So I'm a little speck in the wider universe, littered by garbage and waste – if each little speck keeps producing so much of it, we will soon be one big speck wasting away.
If I can make my own personal life and actions a little lighter and shinier, this would be a wonderful achievement already. So whatever happens this year (for me, friends and others), will be nothing else but beautiful. Sheer shining little specks of dust. :-)

Christmas etc...

Alternative night markets, fashion and style.

Since arriving in Goa’s hippy hotspot, Anjuna, I have been everyday amazed by the ever changing trends, hangout places and people. The usual crowd gathers in the ‘usual’ places (ie. Ingo’s night market, Wednesday flea market followed by sunset at Shore bar, Ashvem beach on a Sunday and Anjuna on the other days), whilst the hardcore party goers have slowly migrated up north, towards Arambol. Anjuna’s now a little haven of residential, civilised living, with English language kindergartens, classy restaurants and yoga centres. There’s a proper village feel to the place. And even though the Wednesday flea market still attracts crowds from nearby resorts, car loads of tourists and keen shoppers, the whole area has definitely mellowed down over the last few months. The recent Mumbai events haven’t helped either. Now the Saturday night market has been canceled until further notice and there’s been a worrying atmosphere lately – both for businesses and on a social level.

So Xmas in Goa has been a bit of a let down for some. No parties, few decent dancefloors, and no one really knew what was happening each day. Is Hilltop open or not? What about Curlies? Even Atit, the local social diary organiser (who runs ‘good morning goa’ – a daily text messaging service which updates subscribers with parties, events etc) didn't quite know what had been allowed or banned, what parties were on or off. On Xmas day, the seasonal crowds were anxiously waiting for text updates of what was going on, but it all seemed very vague...

There’s a lot of uncertainty – socially anyway, which has been a bit unnerving and unsettling for some. It seems so hard to plan anything these days. Things keep changing. But this, I consider to be really quite positive in the end – don’t make plans, just go with the flow and be. Happy yogic Christmas!

And following from a Christmassy ‘nothing-ness’, New Year proved to quite the opposite. Choice and more choice. Parties and more parties. Mayhem on the beach, chaos on the roads and loud music everywhere. Just like back home really!

Happy 2009!!!