'jungle hostel', at vagator, goa

as a friend recommended, i decided to check out, a place in goa, near vagator beach.  this place is for tourists, like a motel, but its designed to feel like hostel.  which means, you live like a small community, and generally everyone interacts informally, and plan to do things together, in small or big groups.  that's the general idea, and jungle hostel i feel exceeds it all.  there is just one receptionist, and about 20 people can stay here.  there are bunk beds in the dorm area, and the charge for dorm bed is rs.350/- per day, including breakfast. there are couple of part time workers, who clean up and go every morning.

there is a small library, a big lounge to relax and chat up with everyone, wi-fi, hammocks, and mostly a self service system, which is perfect for a great stay with many like minded souls, who are backpacking through india.  of course, you can buy juice, snacks etc. here as well, but its again self service, as you take what you want, and write it down on the notebook nearby, and pay for it later.  everyone is honest and manage the place as if they own it, and no controls & supervision is required.  its amazing to live in that kind of liberated self regulation.  develops "psychological ownership', if you need jargon.

its about few minutes walk away from the vagator beach, but in a very silent area and with excellent surroundings, as its an independent bunglow type structure. you can get your clothes washed in a washing machine at a cost, and most things are very reasonbly prized.  but you will have to book through internet beforehand, search for goa jungle hostel, vagator.

well, so i got in here yesterday afternoon, and by evening and later at night met lots of people and had long discussions. i tried consciously to limit my talk time, and listen more to others...  there were people from germany, switzerland, japan, poland, england... and they all talked about things they've seen and future plans etc.  lively discussion groups seem to happen so organically as the place is designed in that way, and people pick up a cushion to sit on and place it near the group they want to join in..

the next day, relaxed in the morning and picked up a book from library at random, called 'how i braved anu aunty and found a million dollar company', by varun agarwal.  an unputdownable book for me, because its so much about middle class india, and 20 somethings living in cities. published in 2009, it still is pertinent to 2013's...  and later, travelling out to nearby beaches, and so it goes on...