Congratz Masala Records (-°-)

Just got the news that a mate of mine started his own label. Check out the vid below and the link to the site.

http://masalarecords.wix.com/masalarecords

 

 

 

Bombay2Goa

Perhaps it’s because I’ve done this trip meself for dozens of times that I like this movie so much. But nevertheless it still remains one of my favourite Bollywood flicks! (Starring a very young Amitab Bachan) Enjoy!

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Goa revisited prt.1

After working and living in Indonesia (95/96) I went (briefly) back to Belgistan only to find out that I’ve left my heart somewhere in Asia. Rapidly, I was searching for new ways to get back to it (Asia) ASAP! It didn’t really mind which country exactly…as long as it was in that region. But, I believe if you want something bad enough (in a healthy way mind), the Universe picks it up and will bring you closer to it. So while strolling through Antwerp one afternoon I stumbled upon a wee shop called “Ganesh & Co”. A typical hippie/India/incense/statue-shop that you’ll  find pretty much in every town these days. I got acquainted with the owner of the shop and during one of our conversations he shared his idea of wanting to start a guesthouse in Goa, India. If only he could find someone who was willing to run the place, since he (the owner) had to be in Antwerp most of the time. Needless to write I guess that I stuck onto his idea like flies to shit!

A few weeks later we both flew to Bombay, then the bus to Goa. (I’ll do a post soon on my first impressions of India, since it’s hard to describe it in just a few lines). We went scouting for locations and a suitable house…and found one in Anjuna (Goa). Anjuna was back then (already) pretty crowded. Especially on Wednesdays (tourist-season only) when the flea-market is held. It’s set up in a coconut grove edging the beach. Yes…there are worse spots to spend a Wednesday afternoon. ;)   And the market exists out of hundreds of stalls selling stuff coming from all over India. Tibetans selling beautiful silver jewellery. And even the occasional traveller with own leather-carving work, seashell jewellery, etc. Except that it has grown enormously in size since then (97) (it had already since the flea-market started back in the sixties), the flea-market still has the same vibrant buzz to it. Some will debate this…to each his own. (-°-)

Perhaps I should have called this post “Arambol revisited” rather than “Goa revisited”…then again….the word “Goa” probably scores better in the search-results, better leave it. ;) Since Anjuna demanded a pretty full-power kind of living-style, i.e.; too many of them “Goa-trance-parties” (which until this very day I loath!) and since there were just too many drugs on the scene it attracted (at least to me) the wrong kinds of people. And since, by nature, I get easily tired and bored of how people (mis)behave when they’re in groups…I set out on my motorbike from time to time to go and explore other parts of Goa. On one occasion I was driving up north from Anjuna when suddenly the road stopped at a river. I could cross with a shabby old beaten’ ferry. About fifty minutes later I was on the other side, driving through little roads crossing hills until I saw this sign saying “Harmal/Arambol”. I followed it and eventually I arrived at a very nice tourist-free beach. The beach had a nice cliff-side and near it big shark-tooth-like rocks sticking out of the sea. There was such an amazing pleasant vibe on this beach and the local people that I soon got to know were (and still are) diamonds! Guesthouses or hotels…if there were any at all at that time….were certainly not found by me. Someone in Arambol “town” had told me that there was a guesthouse in the village of Aswem called “Villa River Cat”. A peculiar name I found and checked it out. It was some sort of Portuguese roundhouse villa…ground-floor plus one  floor on top. It was set among coconut palms and the beautiful garden of the house edged on the river. It was an amazing lush beautiful exotic spot. (little did I know that some years later I’d be working here). The place had also a fair share of cats (hence the name) and some dogs. All peacefully living together. The whole place exhaled tranquility and seemed so far removed from the mindless pill-popping crowds in Anjuna. I decided to book a few nights. And promised myself that…from then on, if I should visit Goa again…I’d make Arambol my base. TBC…

Dropouts (-°-)

Documentary about “Hippies” in Goa.
Enjoy. (-°-)