If you’re not one for beaches, you’re probably bored out of your mind with these last few days of the blog. (Sorry!) After almost four months of travel, Andrew and I were so happy to be bored (but not really) at the beach. I don’t know why I was surprised by Goa, because after nearly five weeks in India, I should know better by now that nothing in India is going to be what I expect it to be. Nothing. Goa certainly fit this bill. First of all, we made plans to be in Goa over Christmas totally unaware that it was the high season and rates for rooms nearly quadrupled in price. It was like Mumbai all over again! We were picturing something a little more Portugese as well. A small town on the beach. Maybe some cobblestones in town and colorful store fronts. Calangute was not this. It was pretty much just like any other beach front. A small main drag led to the beach, and restaurants with chairs dotted the waterfront.
Despite the guidebooks recommending Calangute, we wondered if we were in the wrong spot. We were also surprised by the crazy number of Russian tourists and as I mentioned before Indian “dude-bros” (this is what Kate and Andrew referred to them as, and I found it fitting). Basically, Indian men go to Goa to take a break from the traditional rules in society. I didn’t see one (NOT ONE!) Indian woman on the beach we were at, which was a little creepy. Just lots of groups of Indian men in their 20s and 30s staring at the women who were on the beach. With the news, and reports of western women in the past getting into trouble in Goa, it was actually the first time that I felt uncomfortable on the trip.
Unfortunately, my discomfort was totally justified when a couple of guys came up to us (Kate, Andrew, and myself) in the water to get in on our football toss. When Kate left the water, I kept my eye on her as they asked for a photo. Not surprising. But then one of the guys tried to cop a feel and Kate threw up her arms in defense, shook her head “No” and walked away. As Andrew and I started walking in from the water, a random tourist walking by shook his finger and head in disdain at the offender. When we got to the small group of guys, as if nothing happened, they held up their camera to take a picture with me and Andrew. I shook my head at them and mimed him touching Kate inappropriately and yelled at him. The strangest part of it all was how genuinely caught off guard he and his friends seemed to be. As if they didn’t understand what the problem was trying to touch a woman. in sensitive areas. in a public place. It was infuriating, yet I found myself completely incredulous at his reaction, especially considering the (completely justifiable) uproar against violence against women in India at the moment! FOR SHAME Indian dude-bro! FOR SHAME!
