My first visit to India started in Goa. My stay there had a single purpose, 100% of the time I would dedicate to myself as a participant in the “Sacred Sangha Retreat” organized by my teacher, @MomentumYogaFlow. The program of these 10 days was so interesting that the days passed in the blink of an eye. Maybe it was the healthy routine, the wonderful company or the curiosity about the local culture, it does not matter. In this article I want to share my impressions of the first 10 days of a month-long trip, which I spent mainly in Mandrem, Goa.
I arrived at the airport on the first day after about 20 hour journey. The taxi I had ordered from the hotel was not showing up, so I took a “pre-paid taxi” at the airport that cost me even less, about 1400 INR. A very convenient coincidence for me as an Albanian was that the Indian Rupee and the Albanian Lek have almost the same currency value. Therefore I did not have to do conversions in my mind every time I paid for something.
After arriving at the hotel, I calmed down a bit and went out after exchanging some cash to do the necessary shopping: a local sim card and a cheap carpet for those days. The sim card cost about 500 INR and offered 2 GB per day for two weeks, a package that was automatically renewed, because my visa was expiring soon. Buying the card had a procedure that took about 30 minutes and required the physical passport. At 4:30 the first Yoga class started and then the “Opening Ceremony” where all the participants got to know each other, dressed in white and the famous Indian Garland.
The days would be similar, in the morning we would meditate for about an hour, sometimes by the sea. Meditation was followed by “Dynamic flow” for about an hour and a half and then breakfast. After breakfast I would spend my time sunbathing and reading by the sea or the pool. Moments usually paired with fresh coconut water from the trees above. Since the Triathlon season was approaching, I took advantage of being near the sea to swim and run in the mornings, sacrificing the morning meditation. Sometimes I would join advanced sessions during lunch, such as handstands or headstands workshops. There were various massage centers nearby, with very reasonable prices. So when I felt a little worn-out, I would pamper myself with a massage.
One of the days I decided to go shopping after breakfast. Of course, every item displayed in the shops around would captivate your mind and heart with its unique colors and motifs. In addition to Mandrem, one day I also visited Arambol market street, where there was more variety and even better prices. I bought many things for myself and for my loved ones in Albania. You had to negotiate endlessly, as the initial price could be 3-4 times more than the actual value of the products. This was the most tiring part for me, not only during the shopping in Goa, but during the Golden Triangle trip as well.
In the afternoon, we practiced yoga again. None of the practices were similar to the other. Both teachers had created very interesting and challenging sequences for the morning and relaxing ones for the afternoon. Around 7 o’clock, all the participants, with whom I became friends very quickly, had dinner together. Both breakfast and dinner were served as a buffet, with delicious Indian food. The cuisine was only vegetarian, so I had to consume extra protein during my stay there. It was a new experience for me since I prefer meat or fish for at least a meal a day.
During the evenings, even though the holiday season was coming to an end, Goa offered a varied program of activities. One of them was the Ecstatic Dance, a phenomenon that I heard of for the first time, but which was quite popular there. Something that I did not understand very well, since I always dance the way I feel like dancing. I had my plan that included an evening dedicated to “Psy-Trance”. Shiva Valley, in Anjuna, was my long-awaited activity and was about 40 minutes away from Mandrem by taxi. Even though I went very early, the music was fantastic and the environment too. The stage is multi-colored, surrounded by a great sound system and most importantly, the sea as a backdrop. When the dance floor was full, the atmosphere became even more electrifying.
One of the final days I made new friends while reading by the pool. They were from Mumbai and instantly won my heart. They invited me to spend the evening with them and I was lucky enough to visit places that I would not have been able to visit on my own like Boilermaker and Arambolians. Both places I recommend 100%. The first for the good music, cocktails and finger food, the second for the atmosphere and contact with the local culture.
Suddenly, my 10 days in GOA came to an end. I could have continued my whole life with that routine and calmness. However, I took many things with me from that land and experience. Apart from the inner peace, further exploration of Yoga and many answers, I got a handful of good friends who I now hold dear.
