Last dispatch before takeoff

Was rather happy to leave Goa's monsoon embrace where the weather-feeling increasingly resembled the UK: everything damp, nothing dries; the dogs of the hostel (giant "puppies") gnawed through everything not locked away, including some of my clothing from the washing line; where neither digs, flies or Indian men leave you alone/take no for an answer; and the selfie culture, the spitting and staring makes me feel like an alien.

• I've forgotten how it feels to be really dirty. The goddamn cow shit everywhere, the rudeness and lousy service, something: " yes?! What do you want!"

• The feeling of driving on a scooter fast at night, dodging cows sleeping on the road - I swear they know they are holy and do not give a f.. -

• I like the girls who always smile sweetly back, and never has it felt so good to see young women in pants, in make-up and Western clothing.

• The strange white South Africans who say they've "never seen such poverty" and complain about the lack of meat variety - only veg and chicken does not fulfill nutritional needs, they say...

• Harassed by tuk-tuks who slow down when they see me so it's even more difficult to cross the street, and regularly almost run over by crazy driving.. Several times a day I see cars and these little bee-colored tuk-tuk-taxis on the wrong side of the street, they don't speak English and take you god-knows where...

• Shopkeepers follow you around, standing in your way. Aurora's theory (lovely French girl who works at the alliance française and invited me to stay at  hers in Mumbai) on this us that they want to confuse you so you buy more than you want. In my case, it results in me buying nothing,unfortunately 

• Why all the hairdressers in Goa? I swear people must be cutting their hair at unreasonable rates...

• People are incredibly rude in public, pushy bordering on harassment,inconsiderate, yet privately incredibly willing to be helpful,polite, generous, interested. So many sweet and funny and warm people.

• I feel you can judge the existence and wellbeing of a given civil society by the way it treats its pedestrians. Just look at sidewalks. Are there any,or are the carless ranks not judged worthy of treading safely, comfortably.
•  I really want to get home now, though, too stressful.. Goa was lovely and gorgeous until the monsoon came back, now I'm in Mumbai feeling hackled and struggling with this neo-colonial/do-gooder dichotomy that seems to be the only option.. Dislike the supremacist expats and the yogi-bubbles alike.
• Trying out Mumbai street food: puri, pav bhaji, Ragda pattie, and finally one I found delicious, dosa with coconut chutney... Mjammm!