Journal

Snakes & Scooter Rides

Tarynne Mingione, February 19 2014

January 25-January 31, 2014

We had the lovely addition of two new volunteers at Mandala this week; Jackson and Lyndsey from the U.K. They are traveling around the world for a year and it’s so refreshing to meet a couple the same age with the same plan.

Other things that happened this week:

James danced in cow poop.

I created a walk-in closet out of our tent and realized once again my backpack seams don’t stand a chance in India.

We applied for jobs in Goa for next season (don’t worry all of you pretty engaged and pregnant people – we will be home in the states this summer!)

We spent our Friday off casually cruising around Arambol.

We then went for a visit to the Sweet Water Lake in Arambol and walked up to the Banyan Tree to see the old greyed man (some high hippies call him a guru) smoking something.

We saw a king cobra and a snake within an hour. I can go shark diving, have a 200+ pound mountain gorilla brush my kneecaps, an elephant foot several meters from my pillow, swim in water that is about to fall 108 meters over a cliff in Victoria Falls, or be chased by rabies ridden monkeys, but dealing with snakes is something I simply cannot do.

Back on the beach I was winding down from the snake experience while we walked toward a large rock for some shade coverage. Inside of a rice steamer box was a king cobra, having a bit of a nap until the guy uncapped his box and played a little flute for the snake.

Good thing I was warmed up from the last sprint because I was not sticking around to watch this crap. James tried to convince me that “these guys know what they are doing.” Thanks, but last time I was in Morocco the idiot fluteman let his snake out of the little box and the snake went leaping into the audience and bit right into an innocent arm that belonged to someone on my tour group. Not having that.

Predictably, we then spent the night playing in Arambol and this particular night was one of my favorites.