Because we are both over 60 yrs we are able to receive concession with the railway which means that we get a 30% discount. The have the right to verify your age by asking for your passport. Barbara was mildly annoyed (she denies this) because the conductor did not ask her for proof of her age. Anyway, we arrived in Benaulim and found that some of the hotels were full. Our hotel could not accommodate us for the first two days of our stay. We did find a decent place near the beach and have since moved in to our "Resort" and are well settled. We got into our routine rather quickly. We breakfast in the village, eat lunch at a beach shack that we spend the day at, shower around 5 PM and then practice our dancing for about 30 minutes (we brought a cd player - thank you Robert and Shari, and our dance CDs. Then have supper at a beach front restaurant overlooking the Arabian Sea watching the lights of the fishing boats bobbing on the horizon.
When we arrived at our hotel and the beach shacks we were greeted with hugs and handshakes. Very nice to be so welcomed but I did, almost immediately catch a cold.
We quickly made friends with Durba, the head of the housekeeping staff and for a few rupees he provided us with extra towels for the beach, a table for our "patio" so we could play cards in the evening and pretty much anything else we wanted. After tipping him a few times he showed up one day unexpectedly and standing at rigid attention, hands folded in front with fingers interlaced and looking askance so our eyes did not meet, he explained that his mother told him to do his job well and live within his means and that he will later (next life?) be rewarded. So we should not give him money for the things he does for us. Also, being paid to do things that are part of his job breaks the friendship. All this recited in what sounded somewhat rehearsed, still at attention and eyes averted. Durba is twenty-seven and away from his family for the first time.
Next installment "The Snake and the Frog - not a parable."
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