I now know how Paris Hilton feels....!

Well I know can empathize with Paris Hilton, who after being released from jail, was shortly put back in to serve her sentence (well at least the celebrity sized portion of it). Coming back to Mumbai after a few relaxing days in Goa was horrible... sort of like tasting freedom and peace... and having it yanked back away. Talk about a crashing halt to a lovely time away. The moment I walked off the plane a wall of stench hit my poor nose, and then I was shoved into a crowded, un-air conditioned bus to be shipped over to the terminal to wait in another pushy crowd for my luggage to finally come around the carousel. Welcome back.

But in all fairness, my last few days in Goa were quite lovely. Saturday morning I slept in, then headed down to breakfast. Once the weekend hit there was a noticeable increase in occupancy at the hotel so I actually had to wait for my table for one, and I felt almost guilty taking up a four-seater for just lil' ol' me, so I ate quick and headed back out. I spent quite a bit of time in the gym on Saturday (I had really been missing my pilates ball) and also finally finished the BusinessWeek I had been attempting to eat at my meals all week. I snuggled into the bed at one point and watched "First Daughter" and "The Santa Claus," so that was thoroughly entertaining and relaxing. Then Rachel came over and we both enjoyed a spa treatment called the GMR Royal Treat. It was a facial, but began with a hot oil back massage, and was topped off with a lovely foot massage. That was the first facial I ever got, and my skin felt great afterward... although it's still really dry, but I blame India for that one. After our hour-long appointments at the Spa we got a call that the group had decided to dine at the Marriott... lucky me!! So I got to spend my last night at the dinner buffet at a table for 10 instead of just 1. I felt like this completely validated to the wait staff that I was, in fact, the celebrity they had presumed me to be.

The only catch was, the restaurant was very busy so service was slow (except for those of us who got the buffet). They are pretty comment-card happy here, and always insist you fill one out, and unlike in the States, these cards are read thoroughly and a lot of weight is placed on them. I noted down on the card that our service was slow and that our food took too long, and then it took too long to get our check. Well the manager came over to me, on the verge of tears to apologize for the service tonight, and that he wasn't trying to make excuses, it's just that it was a peak time. He also felt bad because Rachel sent her sandwich back because she didn't like mayo (she didn't know club sandwiches always come with mayo), and he said "I'm so sorry, I didn't know she didn't like mayonnaise, but that's just how we always make it." I assured him I had been more than satisfied with the service the other nights I had been there, but I just felt so bad for him. But hey, I was being honest!

After everyone finished up eating, there was a huge debate about what to do next, a lot of division and no consensus (as only natural in a group that size). Finally a few of us checked out the casino at the hotel, I allowed the boys to play my free chips (they didn't win me any money) and we played the slots briefly. We then went to a nightclub, also at my hotel (the only reason I went). I got everyone in for free because I was a guest, but they had to be "couples" so we all coupled up so the boys could get their hand stamped, but in the end, only three of us wound up going in. It was really smoky, and the music ridiculously long, but I stayed long enough to dance and get a good ab workout. I then headed down to the room at about 1:30 or so, only to be called a few moments later. The boys had decided to leave the club as well (well, obviously.. I mean, I had left!) and wanted to know if they could hang out in my room until their ride came. Sure, I said. So they showed up... and wound up their ride wasn't coming until 3 AM!!! Ouch. So my last night in my comfy bed... was spent sitting at my desk talking to my parents, while the boys laid in my bed and watched TV. I was kind of disappointed to be missing out on sleep, but oh well. I finally got to sleep at about 3:15 and slept in until 11. I woke up, took my last amazing shower for a while, and grabbed a quick bite to eat before checking out and catching a ride back to the airport.

Domestic air travel is surprisingly easy here. I wouldn't call it efficient (or computerized)... but the flights usually leave early, and arrive at their destination early. I still find the Goa airport with its one gate that the planes practically parallel park into, kind of amusing. It's almost like a free for all at the gate, because our flight was called at the same time as another flight... so they check your ticket and you just sort of walk onto the tarmac and locate your plane. But I can't complain, because as soon as everyone was on board, off we went.

But arriving back in Mumbai was rather crushing. Luckily Mom comes in less than two weeks now... so I can make it. It's after she leaves that I'm worried about. The halfway mark of my journey is 10 days away, so I'll be sure to commemorate it with the lessons I've learned in India so far. For now, I am exhausted... and not looking forward to my rock-hard hostel bed. I guess all good things must come to an end... it's just that usually when you're great vacation ends, at least you get to go home... not back to the exact opposite.