A New Generation of Pilgrims Hits India's Hippie Trail

Digital Drifter · Apr 8th, 2006, 15:20

The question is, why are ther no quotes from IMers?

AS a crimson sun sets over the Arabian Sea behind her, the British singer Helen Jones leaps onto the stage of the oceanside Cafe Looda, grabs the microphone and unleashes a fiery anthem to the crowd amassed under the thatched roof of the open-air bar.

"There ain't nothing like this in the real world!" she sing-shouts, flinging her strawberry-blond hair as an Indian-British-Iranian backing band called Sattva (Sanskrit for "righteousness") kicks out a wailing funk jam. The beer-drinking throng, which appears to include European rock chicks with nose rings, goateed Israeli beatniks, Australian Green Party voters and a miscellaneous coterie of hipster backpackers in every imaginable type of sandal, nods in rhythm as the music resounds along Anjuna Beach.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/travel/09goa.html

karmaman · Apr 8th, 2006, 17:57

yawn........

cyberhippie · Apr 8th, 2006, 18:10

Not a bad article I thought nothing grounbreaking in terms of the popular Goa image but a good read anyway!!

I'm just suprised so many authors get away with portraying these types of articles as news!

I must have seen dozens of these reports about Goa through the years all saying pretty much the same thing!!

Sama · Apr 8th, 2006, 18:21

the funny thing is, as an OLD hippie, I have no desire whatsoever to go to Goa, kind of like the "been there done that" mentality.

However, I am looking to get out of here within 10 years and the thought of opening a yoga place like Purple Valley weighs heavy on my mind....any suggestions for a spot to re-locate to in South India? I have a 5 year visa now so I can do a lot of checking out!

seventies'hippy · Apr 8th, 2006, 19:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by yogagal60510

the funny thing is, as an OLD hippie, I have no desire whatsoever to go to Goa, kind of like the "been there done that" mentality.

Oh it's good to go back at least once to see how things have evolved since you where there,,,,,,,, and this time you can get the t-shirt ,,,,,,

cyberhippie · Apr 8th, 2006, 19:43

Quote:

the funny thing is, as an OLD hippie, I have no desire whatsoever to go to Goa, kind of like the "been there done that" mentality.

I can only say yogagal I had exactly the same attitude and didn't bother with Goa on my first 6 trips.

I sure regretted that decision as I missed out on many wonderful experiences I could have had in those 6 years!!

Asides the popular image Goa still has a lot to offer, the crazy beach scene is only part on the whole experience!!
My most intense Holi was spent in Goa last year, people look at me strangely when I say that but it's a fact, I'd never experienced such a "charged" atmosphere as that night, anywhere else in India for the Holi celebrations!!
Perhaps something to do with hinduism being subdued for so long in Goa's history!!

Goans are also some of the friendliest people you'll find anywhere!!

It's upto the individual where they want to go of course, I'm just saying I regretted waiting so long to go to Goa when I finally turned up In Palolem 9 years ago.
It was still the way the LP decribed it back then "impossibly beautiful!!'

Now it's just a pale shadow of that magnificent piece of coastline!!

Get there before it ALL disappears!!

Sama · Apr 8th, 2006, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by cyberhippie

Goans are also some of the friendliest people you'll find anywhere!!

I would love to experience that actually since it was my experience this time that the people in Kodaikanal were among the most unfriendly people I have ever met! Except for the Tibetans..... but, hey, maybe it was a bad 2 days, the stars were misaligned...

I think the fact that I've started my India travel so late in life (unlike many other people I know who lived in India back in the hippie era) is the reason I DON'T want to see Goa (as of now); I don't want to go BECAUSE of all the Westerners. Hard to explain, just the way I feel.

cyberhippie · Apr 8th, 2006, 20:17

Undoubtably Goa can deflect from a feeling of being in India because of the sheer amount of western tourists,
I also couldn't say hand on heart that it isn't without it's problems but many will tell you Goan people are friendly and I feel a little more westernised than other states.
This for some is a downside but I still find tham SO Indian despite their exposure to western culture but there's a point of contact because of this!!

Away from the beaches it's paddies, buffalo, beedis and hard work not unlike most of rural India and in the mountains there's some damm fine scenery and spots to relax!

Apr 8th, 2006, 15:20	#1
Digital Drifter bang a whore? Bangalore Dammit! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,878	A New Generation of Pilgrims Hits India's Hippie Trail The question is, why are ther no quotes from IMers? AS a crimson sun sets over the Arabian Sea behind her, the British singer Helen Jones leaps onto the stage of the oceanside Cafe Looda, grabs the microphone and unleashes a fiery anthem to the crowd amassed under the thatched roof of the open-air bar. "There ain't nothing like this in the real world!" she sing-shouts, flinging her strawberry-blond hair as an Indian-British-Iranian backing band called Sattva (Sanskrit for "righteousness") kicks out a wailing funk jam. The beer-drinking throng, which appears to include European rock chicks with nose rings, goateed Israeli beatniks, Australian Green Party voters and a miscellaneous coterie of hipster backpackers in every imaginable type of sandal, nods in rhythm as the music resounds along Anjuna Beach. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/09/travel/09goa.html __________________ Click here for the Indiamike train guide in PDF Last edited by indiamike : Apr 8th, 2006 at 17:47.

Apr 8th, 2006, 18:21	#4
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,199	the funny thing is, as an OLD hippie, I have no desire whatsoever to go to Goa, kind of like the "been there done that" mentality. However, I am looking to get out of here within 10 years and the thought of opening a yoga place like Purple Valley weighs heavy on my mind....any suggestions for a spot to re-locate to in South India? I have a 5 year visa now so I can do a lot of checking out! __________________ *My India, 2005-2008*

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Apr 8th, 2006, 17:57	#2
karmaman Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: london Posts: 34	yawn........

Apr 8th, 2006, 18:10	#3
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,013	Not a bad article I thought nothing grounbreaking in terms of the popular Goa image but a good read anyway!! I'm just suprised so many authors get away with portraying these types of articles as news! I must have seen dozens of these reports about Goa through the years all saying pretty much the same thing!!

Apr 8th, 2006, 20:17	#8
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,013	Undoubtably Goa can deflect from a feeling of being in India because of the sheer amount of western tourists, I also couldn't say hand on heart that it isn't without it's problems but many will tell you Goan people are friendly and I feel a little more westernised than other states. This for some is a downside but I still find tham SO Indian despite their exposure to western culture but there's a point of contact because of this!! Away from the beaches it's paddies, buffalo, beedis and hard work not unlike most of rural India and in the mountains there's some damm fine scenery and spots to relax!

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