Lone traveller

Well, I guess you really have to do some work to be actually travelling alone. There are lots of people going solo on a trip and usually you run into them in guesthouses and restaurants. So far I've gotten to know a new person every night being here and solitude shouldn't be something a traveller should fear because there is always company around you if you are in an area of where there has been a Lonely Planet published.

Arrived in Palolem and the beach is astonishingly beautiful but the downside is that other people have heard about it too. Lots of western tourists whereas in Colva there was just a handful of westerners and mostly natives out on a holiday, celebrating Diwali. Still a charming place and the atmosphere isn't as touristic even though the first thing to do was to get rid of seven "hello my friend, looking for room?" -possessors before I had even put my backpack on after climbing out of the bus. Bad first impression but it all settled down after getting rid of my stuff by dumping them in a nearby hostel room. Restaurants seem very tempting as so far the ones I've eaten in haven't lived up to the (high) expectations I've had. But for a main course under 2e I really shouldn't be complaining. Just haven't had any mind-boggling meals yet.

Staying now in a double room (it really is hard to find single ones) but the price is quite reasonable - 300 rupees or a bit under 5 euros per night haggled down from 500. So a months rent would be around 150e... :)

And seriously the best way to haggle was apparently the fact that I really was going to go and see other hostels as well. Still started out in a very strict and Finnish style stating the price I was willing to pay and never adjusting it. Because that's how we roll in the north. After walking out for the third time he agreed to the price. Hot water and all.

Oh well, time to go and check out the nutritional possibilities. Temperature steadily around 30 degrees centigrade, so all is well.