Dughsagar water falls

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  Calangute, Goa, India
Wednesday, April 28, 2010

What a wonderful Weekend!

Had a great weekend this weekend, a real girls weekend. Tosin, Livvy, Jaimie and I all went to the Waterfalls.

The waterfalls are about 2 hours from us on the Goa, Kanataka boarder and supposed to be the 2nd biggest waterfalls in India. Our adventure began on Sunday morning when we left by taxi for the journey ahead. Shri our taxi driver was very sweet and pointed out all the sights on the way, an Iron ore mining town, jack fruit (who knew it looked like that) churches. It was quite exciting as where we are in Calangute it is like India for beginners, but the further we drove the more things changed, We saw people on the side of the street selling their wears; mangos, watermelon, coconut, there was always something to look at, no time to get board.

When we arrived at the forest/jungle we had to change to a jeep to take us the last 45 minutes of the way. Wow! It was so much fun, proper offroading, we had to drive through rivers, on dirt tracks, up and down hills, bumping around all the way. Livvy and I got the comfy seat, Tosin and Jaimie the bumpy seats in the back, they were falling all over the place. I must have laughed a bit too much as I ended up in the back seat on the way back!

Driving through the river was fun as they were full of local people, bathing, washing their clothes and dishes not even noticing us as we drove past.

Once we got to the end of the track we had to get out and trek the last 15 minutes. That was when I saw my first monkey. They were everywhere and really brave. We gave them fruit which they gladly dumped for a handful of peanuts. Amazing to see them up close in their natural environment. We saw several mothers with their babies, one was even breast feeding whilst she was fiercely protected by the father. The monkeys follewed us all the way to the waterfalls and kept us company while we were there.

The waterfalls were beautiful, although I am sure they would be more impressive after the monsoon. The best bit was swimming in them, so refreshing, the coolest I have been this month, I could have swum in there all day! We had a guide with us (who fell in love with Livvy, treating her like a princess, offering to carry her bag and towel, holding her hand to help her with every step) and he took some great photo's for us, which I will post when I can find an internet cafe that I can download in.

Late afternoon we drove to the spice plantation, main attraction ELEPHANTS! It was great! We paid to have an elephant wash, which we understood was us washing the elephant, but it turned out that the elephant was washing us! Each in turned we climbed up on the elphant and sat behind the elephants big flapping ears while he repeatedly sucked up water through his trunk and squirted over his head all over us. It was really good fun, did feel a bit guilty though, wasn't sure if it was cruel or not. The elephant was very sweet though, felt all leathery and hairy, not how I imagined it at all. Jaimie had a little elephant trek too, but I am saving that for Thailand (if i ever get there).

It was the last day of my project today, I have had a great time in India, have enjoyed the kids, had lots of fun, but if I am honest I am still a bit diappointed about not doing the mobile school, I loved the first set of kids I looked after, still think about them now, but didn't get to bond with the kids as well at the next project, there wasn't enough time. Still onwards and upwards, I've done what I could and hope that I have made a difference somehow.

On Thursday we are all going to Mumbai on a sleeper bus to spend a couple of days and then on Monday I am off to Kerala.

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The girls

Elephant Bath

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