After much deliberation I decided that I would spend the majority of my last week in India on the beach in Goa. I flew down here on Tuesday morning after a shower and complete overhaul of my packed overnight bag to convert it from cold mountain hiking to beach and clubbing wear. All went very well in the morning, my train actually got in early and I had plenty of time to shower, breakfast, and pack before my taxi to the aiport. I arrived at the airport and checked in with no problems with plenty of time before my flight and was blown away by how nice Delhi's domestic airport was. The shops were wonderful and not overly priced, the food court was filled with variety, and the toilets were the cleanest I had seen since leaving Chicago. The airport is set up a bit differently than at home. You are to wait in the main shopping/waiting area until your flight begins to board and only then are you allowed to the gate. From there you board a bus and are driven to you plane. It was actually extremely efficient and there was not the loads of wasted space encountered at most airports. Flight was 2 1/2 hours and I arrived in Goa. Caught a taxi to Anjuna where the 2 girls - Lucy and Emily - I was travelling with were. We met and got settled in the guest house and went and had dinner. After dinner a walk on the beach to a club which had a Rave going that night. Very interesting to watch, but the drugged people dancing to trance music were not our scene, so we sat at the egg sandwich and chai stall sitting outside the club and watched for awhile then went to the bar next door for a couple drinks. While at this bar we met some NRIs (Non Resident Indians) who lived in the US and Canada. We talked with these guys for awhile and had some drinks and from there we all decided to go to another club as the ones in Anjuna were closing, so we traveled to Baga beach to a club there and danced, smoked hookah, and hung out until they closed down at 4 am. Had some late night food and got a taxi back to the guest house for a couple hours of sleep before the beach on Wednesday.

Wednesday began with the girls I was traveling with sorting out some travel plans, then breakfast of much craved eggs - it's amazing how much you miss eggs when they aren't readily available. After breakfast we went to the beach and did not leave until dark. The 6 hours in the sun was incredible and apart from the annoying fruit, peanut, ice cream, massage, manicure/pedicure, and jewelry wallahs (salespeople) the day was extremely relaxing. After dark we all got showered and changed for dinner then went to a restaurant on the beach for some Goan food. I had seafood vindaloo which is probably my favorite dish I have had since being in India. We sat at the restaurant for a couple hours and debated meeting up with our friends from the night before or going to bed. In the end bed won since we had only slept a couple hours the night before and we were all in bed, asleep by midnight.

Thursday was spent entirely on the beach which apart from a mild sunburn was phenomenal. Since we all had flights the next day we got a bus to a town near the airport and checked into a cheap hotel for the night. This was by far the worst hotel I have ever stayed in. There was an indescribable smell that you could not get used to, mold on the ceiling, and suspected beg bugs, but it was only $8 and it was just to sleep at. We all made due and got some sleep. After saying another set of goodbyes, Lucy and Emily left and I had some breakfast and just hung out in Vasco until my flight this afternoon. Then back to Delhi for one last night and full day of shopping, errands, and packing, and some final goodbyes.