I didn’t have much difficulty in persuading Gerard to repeat a hike we took through the jungle last year.

This time it went more smoothly, as we set out early to reach a lonely beach, ahead of the full sun. The bus back to town arrived before we had a chance to take a quick dip.

Our guide, Irish Tina a birdwatcher, became ecstatic seeing a pair pied hornbill. Shafts of light turned the jungle into  emerald green. 

In clearings, egrets and ibis flocked looking for insects.  

A few days later we walked to nearby Kudle Beach.  Only a short hike across the headlands to the small crescent-shaped cove. 

After a leisurely breakfast overlooking the still empty beach,

I took a solitary swim in my private lagoon, unaware of two dolphins doing somersaults behind me. 

A hazy view of Gokarna beach

Yesterday we said goodbye to five friends: Marion and Juergen had to return suddenly to Germany after a  death in the family; Assuntina returned to England after a brief holiday from work, and Peter went back to Auroville. Both of us were sad to say goodbye hoping our paths will cross agin before too long. Coincidently, on the same day, our Polish/Czech friends Krystyna and Karel arrived for ten days. The last time we were with them was four years ago in Prague on our way back from India.

The New York Times is finally catching up with what we’ve known for decades.  An article The Case for Chilling referenced research on the value to our health of meeting with friends and simply do nothing which can actually improve relationships. Children naturally do this but adults create scheduled meetings, no longer comfortable with just hanging out. They may think just sitting around with someone is a waste of time unless it’s productive. In India, we enjoy plenty of unstructured time and I’ve finally learned to relax and give up being productive in society’s terms. I enjoy the spontaneity of sitting around in cafes, and chatting with a new friend.  For us there is value in sharing experiences with people from different countries and cultures. 

Russians remain the largest group of foreign tourists here in Gokarna.  And with the war with Ukraine , it’s hard to keep objective toward Russia.  We have made friends with two Russians: Olga in Nagar and Tatiyana in Agonda, but we generally find Russians aloof and dour-faced. Two recent incidents have made us less critical.  First, while waiting with Gerard at the ATM machine, a Russian woman approached me, pointing to a message on her mobile: ‘Please help me make an ATM transaction’ in large bold letters. Of course, I motioned.  A second message read, ‘My English is very bad’.  “As is my Russian,” I replied.  I walked her through the transaction and with gestures, she expressed her gratitude. That evening, we went to a tiny restaurant usually frequented by Russians. Waiting for one of the two tables, we had to sit down quickly before two large Russian women grabbed it.  Annoyed, they stood by looking very put out.  First, Gerard suggested, “There is space at the table out back,” motioning where a group of Russians sat drinking. “I don’t understand” He went back and pointed to two empty chairs and asked, “Free?”  “Da.”(yes)  Then Gerard took one of the women by the hand and led her to the table with their countrymen. “ Ahh!” she said. Fetching her friend, she gave Gerard a namaste with a huge smile. Maybe part of their attitude is because they don’t speak English.  But they’re still Russians!