[Dominican Republic]: Part 1

I'm sitting in an ac bus. Caribe tours. the driver crosses speed limit every now and then and it goes keee keee sound. I'm typing on the phone.

Can't believe that I came to DR only day before. Let me back up. I had no idea I'd be here. At all.

Before the bus, I was with Lelu and Hans from Germany and Andreas on a boat to two playas - Fronton and Madama. Lelu is born and brought up in Las Galeras where I was. Lelu has got lots of curly hair and athletic and has two ninos. Lelu taught me swimming. We went snorkeling. What beautiful white sand. It's always a wonder to go under water. White transparent fish. Colorful fish. They seem to have a smile like a drawing on their face. It was funny. Like someone actually drew a smiling fish with a color pencil. I just saw they are on the northeastern tip of the country  Crazy is that where I was? Grigeri who rented me a room was surprised. She was sitting in a bra (it's very hot and humid) and sipping something with another friend. Grigeri is very dark and must be in her 70s. She made nice coffee in the morning.

It was Daniel (beard no mustache) who called out to me... I had done kriya on the beach and was playing the fool before. Taking pics. Climbing coconut tree. I slept very very well after so many days. More than 8-9hrs. Sound restful sleep after a long time. Thanks g. 

Yday night I walked around Las Galeras Pueblo. Nice. I walked into a church gathering. It was nice to see the locals do their thing. Religion unifies. When you you feel nothing is in your control it's a relief to believe that there is a God who is in control. And you can pray and someone will take care of your things for you. Contrary it'll feel very heavy to think that you yourself are responsible for everything. There was a small little girl walking all over. Her mother kept running after her. The mother seemed in her teens. A dark man with mustache and tie was speaking or preaching. There was music. A speaker that was croaking. One lady said hi to me acknowledging my visit. I swayed with them while they were dancing.

I'm in the town.. Lots of young people. They work as taxi on motorcycle. They race. Do wheelies. Even carry Presidente beer while driving. It's generally a nice quiet town. I ate the most amazing vegetarian paella last night. The chef was European (unkempt beard). Morning I ate at a French place. Very nice smiling lady. Salt was little more in the omelette. They all are amused with my face or rather find it different...many have never seen an Indian...they circle their finger around their face, smile, say Indio and indicate something that means nice. I could pass off as Mexican (that's what the man on the beach thought - another guy circled his finger near his head saying the man was mad). Until I open my mouth. My softer hair is also an amusement. Theirs is very textured and course which is also very nice. That gives the natural curls. Unlike the Spanish, here I am their color but different hair.

I met one Italian lady - again friendly - in the shared taxi. She works as a nanny to Europeans who moved here. I met two kids who tried hard to make me understand about some coconuts and farm and if I drank it etc. I like the shared taxis. People get in. Get off. The Italian said she loves it here because people smile. They sip Presidente. They are happy.

Hans told me of a mechanic who made 4,000 euros in Switzerland but returned home because life is better here. 

At Grigeri's place I met a French lady and her Dominican boyfriend (who wore cool glasses) while having coffee. She said TB was high and HIV was very high. She conducts health education programs. 

Haan..how did I go to Las Galeras? One taxi guy in Samana offered to take me here for 45 dollars but I declined. But I thought of going to the place. Then I asked a motorcycle taxi guy to take me. I couldn't understand a word of what he said. But he showed me a shared taxi that was going in that direction. "Las Galeras" "Las Galeras" Nodding. Nodding. I went. What a wonderful ride. Breeze. I was sitting on top at the back of the vehicle. It was beautiful to first see the Caribe sea from that side. I actually didn't know where exactly we were going. Then I thought how does it matter? Whether it's Las Galeras (I didn't even know the town existed a half hour ago) or whatever village or town. I'll get off where it stops finally. 

How did I go to Samana? The yellow t-shirt ticket lady (who looks a bit like chaitnya) at the caribe tours suggested. So I went. The Uber driver had said Constanta mountains. But that bus was leaving only at 5p and four hour ride. So I chose this. 2.30p and 2.5hour ride. "Beautiful place Samana," she said. I met a retired military General while waiting for the bus (behind his hat it said gral. cuevas). He was also visiting and seeing Samana. He said Samana beautiful like how the locals do by bringing all their fingers together and pursing their lips and almost offering a kiss with the fingers. Beautiful. It was. It reminded me of the day with pd in Thailand koi Yao noi. So many years ago now. Time keeps on cruising. 

And why did I go to Dominican Republic? I've always found them friendly and attractive. Like a vibe and energy. Happy. The other day last week... two days before I traveled I went to kayak and put Newark to Anywhere and put duration and price restrictions. Dominican seemed doable. I deliberated for a bit. I called the embassy and they said I didn't need visa if I had US visa (I liked the interaction). And the Uber driver who dropped me from that fellows meeting Lilunette was from Dominican. So I thot it was like a sign. I booked before I could change my mind. It's right next to Haiti and there are several island countries. 

Why did I go anywhere at all? I wasn't even supposed to be here in the US. Sm couldn't travel to ny. I decided on a saturday morning that I'll travel that night. And I was there the next monday for the mtg. had a busy week. and one particular meeting on thursday I think had a wtf moment. It snowed that day. My cell ph went out of charge. My hands froze. I finally reached a dunkin donuts and the lady helped me charge. then I called uber and went home. At some point that day I knew I had to get out.

So...so many things are inter-linked, interlinked. whom do I thank for DR?

I would've liked to swim properly (Lelu kept saying tranquilo, relax, tranquilo, relax). Saw one guy who was deep in the water. Lelu said don't go so far. He said America, America. Don't know what he meant. We meet so many people we never meet again. And yet we are all so connected. 

I'll write later now about Santa Domingo.