Some time after we landed in India, we look back and laugh about our first days in the country. We arrived so excited about the beginning of our trip. Also a little frightened, as you can read many scary things about these countries and because some people talk about many different dangers here.
So began our journey, 2 travelers, 4 backpacks and much anti-mosquito spray. We actually were a little stressed about when to put the spray and decided to put it in the airport hall before going outside. That was our first revelation: when you go out of the airport, there are not thousands of mosquitos waiting for your occidental blood to attack you the first chance they get. On the contrary, no mosquitoes, but many dozens of men asking you if you want a taxi.
Don't get me wrong, you have to be careful with mosquitos. Probably in other parts of India the situation is worse and you need more precaution. But in the coast of Goa in November to January we have had no big trouble and have rarely seen a mosquito. So if you go there you can probably avoid the permethrin impregnation of clothes and other rough techniques. Get specific info about the area and period, preferably from people who have recently been there, before you get too much chemical on your skin.
Resuming with the airport, there we discovered our next challenge: getting cash money. An airport will almost for sure have an ATM, right? Eh... Yes, the airpot in Goa (GOI) has. But it hardly works (at least that day and, according to locals, many days before). So if you want to have cash the first days, better get it from your country before you fly, even if the exchange rate might be worse.
The good thing, that took us a little to really believe, is that people are actually trying to help you. Even if they are a little overwhelming sometimes going to you for business. After we tried walking in the dark to the guest house where we stayed 2 nights, we decided to give a try to a taxi, saying we have no money and we need to stop at an ATM. It worked, we negotiated the price and got the ride. We stopped at 2 ATMs with no luck (one not working with international cards, the other closed). We were so lucky that our host let us the money to pay the taxi, and we had a nice room to sleep after one day of trip from Madrid to Goa.
First morning in India. We were amazed walking on the streets surrounded by palm trees, and decided to go to see the beach before we went back to the ATM that was closed. We found Bogmalo beach, large, not crowded, clean water... so nice.
After a long walk at the beach we headed to the ATM. On the way, people asked us (of course) if we wanted to see their shops. They were really interested on us, from where we were, how long we where going to be, where do we stay... Even if we were british army, they asked us! hahaha. Andrada in some moment decided to say we were looking for an ATM, so maybe the man that was asking us would know any one closer than the one we wanted to go to. His answer: "Yes, I have an ATM" (WHAT?). I was scheptic. I mean, how is he going to have an ATM in his shop? But well, we went with him. When we entered the shop it was all dark, walls covered in carpets (a carpet shop, of course), and he tells us to go to a room a little more in the back of the shop. I was praying to keep all my organs with me, and ready to fight. Then another guy comes in for the business. The ATM is his TPV to pay with card, and we would make a payment to him of the amount we wanted +5%, he would give us the cash. We thought it might be some scam and could not wait to go out of there. So we said thanks but no, and went to continue our walk.
35 °C on the street. No breakfast, only a short coffee. Uphill for more than half an hour. But we arrived to the ATM... wait... still closed?? Yes! out of service... No other ATM near. Sweated, desperate and so hungry we decided to give it a try and actually went back to look for the guy and his shop. He turned out to be a nice, cool guy. We made the payment, got the cash and a nice conversation with him about India, Goa, the locals and life in general. After that was already time to go for lunch!
This is where it got interesting for us. We were told many things about indian food, to be careful of what we eat, that the one in our countries is adapted... People go vegetarian in India because it is risky to eat meat.
Well, we decided to enjoy a basket of cheese-garlic naan and a tasty chicken tikka with spicy sauce right in front of the beach. Really good price and we were as healthy as always.
We had a full belly, we had cash... time to chill! We went back to the beach after the day intense on emotions, we walked a little more (this time calmer and with our feet in the water), we took some pics and checked what was in the surroundings. We stopped to relax with the sound of the beach that we really missed that year.
We were devastated, and still not recovered from the flight and the way to the guest house. So we could sleep really really well.
The next day, after paying the guest house, we were again without cash (they did not accept cards). The best way to get to the next place was by taxy. Lucky for us, the driver stopped at another ATM on the way, this one worked, and we could go to Colva beach, our next stay for the following 2 months!
In those 2 first days we saw that many of the things that people say about places are actually not true, exaggerations or even just personal and isolated events. Be careful on your trips, but also make sure you get your own experiences! :D.
If you want to see some of the pictures we took, visit our gallery!