I slept remarkably well despite the primitive conditions on the train. Now that morning had come, I was glad to be able to look out the window and see the Goan countryside passing by. Green hills and rice fields, and many rivers and waterways.View image. But the beauty of the what was outside the window was tarnished by the window itself: a two-foot square, glassless hole with horizontal iron bars, reminiscent of prison-trains bound for Aushwitz. I began wondering if perhaps there might be a nicer way to travel India...?

Indian passengers in our (good) part of train:View image

When we arrived at the station in Margao, three of us travellers were headed for the same place, a reportedly idyllic beach called Palolem, which is more beautiful and chilled-out than trance-party-central Anjuna / Vagator, which I might have a look at when I feel stronger. Getting off the train, of course involved being approached and hassled by people selling services or wares -- I was surprised and rather shocked to see how superior and unpleasant the Swiss girl was in dealing with these indians, especially considering she is here as a volunteer, to help, as it were. I wondered if I would become like her after 6 months in India, but suspected that it had more to do with her sheltered and priviledged background, and decided to keep my distance from her and her negativity.
We shared the cost of an auto-rickshaw (like an Indonesian Bemo) which bumped and buzzed along winding lanes for over an hour till we arrived at a place that looked strangely familiar... then I realized that this is where "The Bourne Supremacy," with Matt Damon, was filmed. I had seem the movie during a depressing wet day, while working in Chicago a couple of months back, and had thought to myself, "So that's in India; I wonder if I'll see a beach like that on my travels." Suddenly, without even planning it, there I was, standing in the middle of a movie location, and it WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL, a sweeping, mile long, palm-tree lined bay, with mountains behind and golden sand and green tropical ocean in front. View image
Simple huts on stilts made of wood and woven coconut fronds provided most of the accommodations.View image View image View image View image

I knew I had come to right place to relax and recover.