I Found Paradise in India

Hey,
I never thought I would find paradise in India, then I arrived in Goa. It's a lot bigger than I imagined with the north and south being two and a half hours apart by car.

We started in the north and had our first Indian beach experience here. You will remember what it was like in both Thailand and Cambodia where you are constantly hassled to purchase food, clothes and jewelry on the beach, well the north of Goa is exactly the same but you have the added nuisance of large groups of men just hanging around. They show way too much affection towards one another while starring at us which is a huge deterrent for us to go swimming. Plus there's only so many photos I want of me in a bikini floating around India and the Internet!! Haha (Indian men are known to take photos of foreign girls and pretending they are their "easy" western girlfriend.)

The south of Goa is a world apart, with less crowded beaches and no sellers allowed on the beach...woohoo!! Palolem Beach is lined with palm trees hanging over huts and with restaurants flowing out onto the sand. I had always wanted to stay in a beach hut so we rented one while we were here. It's so great walking out the door and being able to see the beach and hear the waves at night. I love never needing to wear shoes as everything you need here you can get with the sand between your toes...plus I finally got to swim!
Tomorrow we leave this paradise for the chaos of Colombo, Sri Lanka. It's a little sad leaving this place as it was leaving our 3 tiny now flea free kittens in the north.


Hopefully I will return soon...with my favorite American travel companion!! (Hint hint!!)
Miss you,
E xx

Fish Spa and Kittens

Hey A,
Today I had my first fish spa. This is where you put your feet into fish tanks and the little fish eat the dry skin off your feet. I had seen this before in Thailand but never really wanted to try it before seeing it here in Goa.
We first had our feet washed then as soon as you put your feet into the tank your feet are mobbed by hundreds of fish. It's the strangest feeling at first feeling the dry skin being pulled from your feet and seriously ticklish!!
Once I started to relax it was a really good experience and my feet feel much smoother.
While we were at the fish spa a guy pulled 3 teeny tiny kittens out of a box he had rescued and started feeding them cow milk from a babies bottle. This horrified me as cats are lactose intolerant so this really upsets their stomachs and is generally bad for their health. I got talking to the guy and offered him some advice on taking care of them. They are so adorable just fitting in the palm of my hand, but constantly meowing as they are riddled with flees. My heart really went out to these poor little creatures so I'm heading back there tomorrow to help bath and get rid of some of the fleas. This trip has really made me realize how much of an animal lover I really am, even though you had been telling me this years ago!
Missing you,
E xx