Another kind of tourists

Goa's tourism had not given me a very good impression. They were mainly rude and unsociable, with few interesting things to say, and, generally, with a bit of sense of superiority. I was once in Arambol and went to find Matt. With him was a friend of his, can't say if from the states or from the beach. I stated how hot it was. His response alluded to how a draught causes famine in so many countries, but here a breeze can spoil paradise. Well, if Arambol was his conception of "Paradise" he definitely had to review his priorities. He considered himself an artist. Artists, I say. He is involved in "The Burning Man", an event everyone considers to be the best party in the world. No, no, not a party, the best communal congregation. Thousands of people living of art, trading, without worries of money, however being very expensive. The only thing you can buy is ice or coffee, the rest is up to you or the kindness of the other congregants. He is also involved in many other similar artistic congregations. Maybe because of this he was suddenly raised upon a higher level of knowledge than me and noted out my sinful mistake. Bullocks, it was hot, Arambol is not Paradise and the fact of considering yourself an artist doesn't imply you are closer to the world surrounding us, and so you can understand it better than the rest. Fuck off, I would have said.

Mumbai tourist were even more arrogant. They didn't care about the slums, about the poor people wandering and sleeping in the sidewalks. They wanted to be treated as tourists, but got quickly tired of the hassle the status of tourist provides you in India. They were also rude, to Indians and to other tourists. They wanted to be considered the only tourists of Mumbai, all the attention for them, but please don't bother. As in Goa, it was all about partying and hunting girls. A loner like me wasn't well seen in groups of girls and desperate guys, and any try of conversation was quickly shut. I couldn't say that this attitude surprised me, after all, most of these tourists were heading to Goa or came from there ready to go back home after their 2 week vacation package.

None of the tourists I met was heading north. Everyone was looking forward to head south, to the sun and the beaches I was fed up with, or feeling sad about going back home. None seeked establishing new relationships, they would do that in Goa. Mumbai was a transit point, nothing else.

I must stop generalizing though. I met some nice people, like Tommy. Magnus was a student in Delhi and had gone to Mumbai for a film festival. We would probably see each other in Varanasi. Ruth had just arrived, and though she was heading to Goa as many others, she was really sweet, always smiling and happy. It was contagious. Through her, I met a very nice couple residing in Hawaii. She is from the States and he is English. I have their contact email. A contact in Hawaii. What for? You never know.

However, I wasn't used to this Hi and Goodbye of tourists. It was kind of depressing not getting new contacts heading in your same direction. But one fact among all was the one that depressed me the most. I had said my last goodbye to everyone I had met. They all were either going to be moving around in a different part of India or simply heading to some other country, probably their own. Maybe, I would still see Matt. But chances were I had to start again. It was a new trip all together that had started already and I hadn't realized.