Steel Notes Magazine www . steelnotesmagazine . com
www . steelnotesmagazine . com
Steel Notes Magazine
many , South Africa , Australia , New Zealand , Holland , France , Belgium , Brazil , and more . When we weren ’ t partying , or lying in the sun , everyone in our community on Calangute Beach would gather at the Bella Vista restaurant . The Bella Vista was right on the beach . There were a few tables inside , but most of us could always be found surrounding the tables out on the large verandah in front , eating drinking , smoking dope , listening to music and just hanging out .
I spent long periods of time largely cut off from world events , but word went around that the Russians had invaded Afghanistan on December 25 , 1979 , and we had celebrated a New Years Eve / End of the World party to usher in 1980 .
The world didn ’ t end , and on January 1 , there were candles dancing against the sunrise as we passed chillums around our circle of friends .
It ’ s strange to think how this disparate group of people from every corner of the world , some professionals , such as doctors and accountants , taking a few weeks to a month to escape the ordinary , others hippie travelers , who had been making there way throughout parts of Asia for years , dope dealers , thieves , musicians , movie stars and vagabond wanderers , all shared for a brief moment a glimpse of the Age of Aquarius .
I had been in Goa for a couple of months , but as February approached I had to begin my journey out of India . My last visa extension was going to soon expire , and I had to leave the country for six months before I could reenter . My vague plan was to catch the steamer that sailed up the Arabian Sea to Bombay , and get a room in a hotel recommended to me by a fellow traveler , appropriately or ironically called The Rex . I ’ d then take a train across the breadth of India to Calcutta , from where I would make my way over to Thailand
After smoking a lot of hash and chasing the dragon with Steve and Glenda , I spent my last night in Goa at Wendy ’ s . All I remember of that night is her removing my lungi , stepping back and looking me up and down , and saying , “ I ’ m going to make you scream .”
The next morning I floated my way back to my room , gathered my belongings up into my pack , and took off for the docks to catch the steamer to Bombay .
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