3rdJanuary 2005 – Goa to Gokana 4 hours

The three of us traveled just four hours into the Indian state of Karnataka to Gokana, which is regarded by Hindus as one of the most sacred sites in southern India. We thought we would gently ease ourselves back into traveling after our lazy two-week holiday in Goa. Its back to thalis, masala dosa’s, local buses, cheap accommodation, less or no alcohol and earlier nights.
Our accommodation was cheap at Rs100 (approx 1.25) per night and very basic but served it’s purpose. It was once a finished building until they decided to extend, not onto one side of the building like a conventional extension, but around the outer perimeter of the existing hotel. This meant that you were enclosed by a half finished hotel. Very comedy!
I liked Gokana it’s quirky with narrow alleyways with entrances to temples and doorways. The main streets were partly covered to shade the street markets that sell holy souvenirs including colorful Hindu illustrations and brass ornaments. The town hasn’t adapted to much for tourists which was refreshing after Goa.
Om beach was worth the 45-minute walk from town to see the breathtaking view when you reach the edge of the headland. If you had the time you could loose weeks chilling on this beach, it looked like a lot of people had done just that. One of the café’s just had hammocks as furniture, That’s a design concept worth remembering. You can get a really basic coco hut built directly on the sand for Rs50 (60p) per night but those are as basic as they come with no luxuries like electricity. Fine if you don’t mind turning into a sand urchin.
Hippies are a common site in both the town and on the beaches of Gokana. Some have probably come to find themselves but a lot look like they have lost themselves along the way.

Dress code for men hippies:
-Nothing but a sarong around the waist, worn long also one occasionally wrapped around the head.
-Big sandalwood beads
-Hair, left to grow how it will and put into a high ponytail or bun when doing physical activities like juggling.
-No shoes, they are very uncool even though the town is full of fresh cow crap.
-A carved walking stick, even if it is not required to assist you walking.
-A small embroided suede pouch/bag worn diagonally across the shoulder
-Lose some body weight so the rib cage becomes defined.

Whilst on the subject of fashion I now know where the haulterneck top originates. It seems to be favored by more of the working women. They still wear a sari style dress but the top is fitted like a haulterneck exposing their shoulders and back, which is unlike other women’s traditional Indian dress I have seen.
I don’t know if it’s the fact that I am currently traveling with two boys or this is something you do when your traveling but we have actually got a league table set-up for the card game shit head. Yes we are actually playing it that much it justifies one.