The Scruffman Chronicles: The Scruffman in India and Nepal
Feb 23rd, 2010, 05:52 PM
#61
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Oh dear.
At this moment, I am aware of no PayPal account. I have received one unsolicited check. I sincerely hope nothing I've said can be construed as asking for money, or even suggesting that it is needed. Traveling on a shoestring was the Scruffman's choice, long before he left home - part of his vision for his journey.
I also want to be clear that while my own financial circumstances are of course shaky at the moment, the Scruffman was never relying on me for financial support. He is paying for his trip with his own savings (well, the college fund provided by his grandparents) - not with my monetary assistance. My work situation, for better or worse, has nothing to do with his trip.
This really isn't necessary.
Yikes....
At this moment, I am aware of no PayPal account. I have received one unsolicited check. I sincerely hope nothing I've said can be construed as asking for money, or even suggesting that it is needed. Traveling on a shoestring was the Scruffman's choice, long before he left home - part of his vision for his journey.
I also want to be clear that while my own financial circumstances are of course shaky at the moment, the Scruffman was never relying on me for financial support. He is paying for his trip with his own savings (well, the college fund provided by his grandparents) - not with my monetary assistance. My work situation, for better or worse, has nothing to do with his trip.
This really isn't necessary.
Yikes....
Feb 24th, 2010, 01:44 PM
#63
"It’s been some Peter Pan sht around here.” I love that line. It is so evocative.
I've been a silent admirer of this trip report for quite a while now. It is a wonderful adventure, and I thank you for sharing it. As for the other business that was just broached, sometimes you just have to let other people show a kindness if they are so inclined. I don't think it is any reflection on you, arts, except maybe that you have represented Greg and yourself in such a way that people feel safe making such an offer.
I've been a silent admirer of this trip report for quite a while now. It is a wonderful adventure, and I thank you for sharing it. As for the other business that was just broached, sometimes you just have to let other people show a kindness if they are so inclined. I don't think it is any reflection on you, arts, except maybe that you have represented Greg and yourself in such a way that people feel safe making such an offer.
Feb 26th, 2010, 07:16 AM
#65
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I live in NE Pennsylvania and have a snow day today (YEAH!!), which has given me the time to finally get caught up on the Continuing Adventures of Scruffman.
Thank you for getting me to visit the Asian board, and to look a little bit farther outside my world. I'll have to do a Google-Earth of some of the locations that Gregg has visited, to give me a better understanding of his journey. (I'm surprised somebody hasn't mapped it yet).
My continued good thoughts and postive energy to both of you.
Robyn
Thank you for getting me to visit the Asian board, and to look a little bit farther outside my world. I'll have to do a Google-Earth of some of the locations that Gregg has visited, to give me a better understanding of his journey. (I'm surprised somebody hasn't mapped it yet).
My continued good thoughts and postive energy to both of you.
Robyn
Mar 6th, 2010, 06:40 PM
#67
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Artsnletters,
I am one of those that have secretly been reading (and envying) the adventures of Scruffman.
I just want to say what a great job you have done.
Thank you for sharing all of this with all of us.
I am one of those that have secretly been reading (and envying) the adventures of Scruffman.
I just want to say what a great job you have done.
Thank you for sharing all of this with all of us.
Mar 12th, 2010, 05:14 PM
#73
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Sorry everyone. I do have updates, but it's been a very difficult couple weeks - end of job, and very very sick dog (Scruffman's favorite). Everyone is OK, including Scruffman and Scruffman's dog. I will try to write up some more for you soon!
Mar 20th, 2010, 01:49 PM
#77
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Sorry to be slow getting back on. I've just had a lot going on lately. Here's a short installment, but more coming very soon.
<b>Scooting Around North Goa</b>
Seeking adventure and music, the Scruffman left the bulk of his stuff at the Magic Cinema and headed to northern Goa in the company of an English traveler, Abby. It took them five buses to reach Anjuna, which the Scruffman describes as an armpit. They then rented a scooter to reach Morjim. The pilgrimage to Morjim was the result of the Scruffman’s desire to see Cheb I Sabbah, his favorite DJ. He reported that the show was fantastic, lasting all night, with fireworks all along the beach.
As it turned out, Greg reported that the only person more scatter-brained than he is Abby. She lost the key to the scooter, stranding them at Morjim for a day to get a mechanic to deal with the problem, and by the time it was fixed, someone had stolen Abby’s bag out of the compartment. At least he’s not the only one instigating mishaps along the way!
From there they headed up to Arambol Beach, which impressed Greg even more than Anjuna – he described Arambol as an a$$hole. However, it seemed to be something of a crossroads; they ran into their Danish friend Tom from the Magic Cinema before they even got off the scooter and within ten minutes had also run into two other Magic Cinema alumni, Zara and Lelu. Tom had come to Arambol to play bass at an open mic. As previously mentioned, the police had closed down all the live music in south Goa for reasons he didn’t bother to mention - I asked, but of course he didn't answer. So they stayed a couple days more so they could watch Tom play. And finally, Tom forced the Scruffman onto the stage to play a couple songs himself in front of the audience of 50.
At long last, they all made it back to the Magic Cinema, where Greg slept for a single night before collecting his goods and heading to Gokarna with Hamed, an Iranian he met at the Cinema – which must also be a bit of a crossroads!
<b>Scooting Around North Goa</b>
Seeking adventure and music, the Scruffman left the bulk of his stuff at the Magic Cinema and headed to northern Goa in the company of an English traveler, Abby. It took them five buses to reach Anjuna, which the Scruffman describes as an armpit. They then rented a scooter to reach Morjim. The pilgrimage to Morjim was the result of the Scruffman’s desire to see Cheb I Sabbah, his favorite DJ. He reported that the show was fantastic, lasting all night, with fireworks all along the beach.
As it turned out, Greg reported that the only person more scatter-brained than he is Abby. She lost the key to the scooter, stranding them at Morjim for a day to get a mechanic to deal with the problem, and by the time it was fixed, someone had stolen Abby’s bag out of the compartment. At least he’s not the only one instigating mishaps along the way!
From there they headed up to Arambol Beach, which impressed Greg even more than Anjuna – he described Arambol as an a$$hole. However, it seemed to be something of a crossroads; they ran into their Danish friend Tom from the Magic Cinema before they even got off the scooter and within ten minutes had also run into two other Magic Cinema alumni, Zara and Lelu. Tom had come to Arambol to play bass at an open mic. As previously mentioned, the police had closed down all the live music in south Goa for reasons he didn’t bother to mention - I asked, but of course he didn't answer. So they stayed a couple days more so they could watch Tom play. And finally, Tom forced the Scruffman onto the stage to play a couple songs himself in front of the audience of 50.
At long last, they all made it back to the Magic Cinema, where Greg slept for a single night before collecting his goods and heading to Gokarna with Hamed, an Iranian he met at the Cinema – which must also be a bit of a crossroads!
Mar 21st, 2010, 07:08 PM
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<b>Gokarna Goings-On</b>
So the Scruffman and his companion Hamed took a train and landed on the outskirts of Gokarna. From there, they took a bus into Gokarna and then walked about 20 minutes to Kudli Beach. The next day they hiked to Om Beach, which resembled its namesake, and eventually they landed on beautiful and secluded Half Moon Beach, which the Scruffman described as magical. At this point, Hamed headed back to Patnam, and the Scruffman stayed on. There followed a significant period of intercontinental silence: there is no electricity at Half Moon Beach, and the nearest computer was a 45-minute hike over big jungle hills.
On Half Moon Beach, Greg met Keran from Mumbai, who had studied in California for a couple of years. Keran had heard of a place called Yana which they both agreed sounded too good to pass up, and another excursion began. They hiked the two miles or so from Half Moon Beach into Gokarna and with great difficulty located and rented a motorcycle. They then took it down one of the worst roads the Scruffman had ever seen, deep into the jungle, in the dark, after the delay due to finding the motorcycle and being “sidetracked by a waterfall.” (I don’t know if that means they had to go around it, or they had to stop and enjoy it!)
Yana consisted of one chai shop, one temple, one huge jungle, and sixty massive towering psychedelic rock formations exploding out of said jungle. One had eight giant beehives halfway up the side, described as being as big as my backyard cottage (a 14’x14’x14’ cube) – just huge yellow and orange bubbles on the cliff face, which the Scruffman found pretty surreal. By the time Greg and Keran arrived at the temple at the base of the rock formation with the beehives, it was about 10:00 in the evening. They were lucky to run into the last two people leaving for the night, the temple’s holy men, who took our intrepid hero and his companion down about 3-1/2 kilometers of stairs to the chai house, where they were permitted to camp.
The next day the two hiked all the way back up the stairs in the heat, got back on the motorcycle, and attempted to ride it back up the path. It soon became quite apparent that the motorcycle was not up to the task with two people on it, so the Scruffman managed to hitchhike until the path became a reasonable road again. Finally the boys made a triumphant return to Gokarna, returned the motorcycle, and hiked back to Half Moon. The next morning, the Scruffman hiked back to Gokarna with all his gear and took a bus to Ankola, where he hopped on an overnight bus to Hampi.
I’m hoping for a little more material on the next stop and other related events to add to what I have already – perhaps in the next day or so? - and will post some more then.
So the Scruffman and his companion Hamed took a train and landed on the outskirts of Gokarna. From there, they took a bus into Gokarna and then walked about 20 minutes to Kudli Beach. The next day they hiked to Om Beach, which resembled its namesake, and eventually they landed on beautiful and secluded Half Moon Beach, which the Scruffman described as magical. At this point, Hamed headed back to Patnam, and the Scruffman stayed on. There followed a significant period of intercontinental silence: there is no electricity at Half Moon Beach, and the nearest computer was a 45-minute hike over big jungle hills.
On Half Moon Beach, Greg met Keran from Mumbai, who had studied in California for a couple of years. Keran had heard of a place called Yana which they both agreed sounded too good to pass up, and another excursion began. They hiked the two miles or so from Half Moon Beach into Gokarna and with great difficulty located and rented a motorcycle. They then took it down one of the worst roads the Scruffman had ever seen, deep into the jungle, in the dark, after the delay due to finding the motorcycle and being “sidetracked by a waterfall.” (I don’t know if that means they had to go around it, or they had to stop and enjoy it!)
Yana consisted of one chai shop, one temple, one huge jungle, and sixty massive towering psychedelic rock formations exploding out of said jungle. One had eight giant beehives halfway up the side, described as being as big as my backyard cottage (a 14’x14’x14’ cube) – just huge yellow and orange bubbles on the cliff face, which the Scruffman found pretty surreal. By the time Greg and Keran arrived at the temple at the base of the rock formation with the beehives, it was about 10:00 in the evening. They were lucky to run into the last two people leaving for the night, the temple’s holy men, who took our intrepid hero and his companion down about 3-1/2 kilometers of stairs to the chai house, where they were permitted to camp.
The next day the two hiked all the way back up the stairs in the heat, got back on the motorcycle, and attempted to ride it back up the path. It soon became quite apparent that the motorcycle was not up to the task with two people on it, so the Scruffman managed to hitchhike until the path became a reasonable road again. Finally the boys made a triumphant return to Gokarna, returned the motorcycle, and hiked back to Half Moon. The next morning, the Scruffman hiked back to Gokarna with all his gear and took a bus to Ankola, where he hopped on an overnight bus to Hampi.
I’m hoping for a little more material on the next stop and other related events to add to what I have already – perhaps in the next day or so? - and will post some more then.
