gokarna through spray cans and monsoon haze
gokarna’s streets bleed into monsoon chaos, humidity clinging like wet paint. i checked the forecast-20.8°C, feels like a sauna wrapped in concrete. my spray cans hiss faster in this mugginess, or maybe it’s just the ghosts of last night’s kebabs. today, i chased murals from the train tracks to that crumbling church by the shore. locals swear the sea breeze bleaches colors here, but i’m here for the weathered walls. they’re my canvases, even if the church guy kicked me out after i tagged his ‘holy water fountain’ with a phoenix. dumb move? maybe. but hey, the phoenix looks fierce.
*avoid painting corporate resorts at all costs. they have drones. last week, a twat from berlin spray-painted their infinity pool, got arrested for ‘disrespecting sacred geometry.’ he said something about ‘sacred geometry’-like that matters here. meanwhile, the farmers by the mango grove just stare. their cows have better technique.
heard from a barista that the old bridge has new art. ‘some kid from bangalore made this neon rainbow snake,’ she said, sipping her lukewarm coffee. i didn’t believe her until i saw it. the snake slithers over cracked concrete, gnashing at a faded bollywood poster. monsoon rain murals into them, and suddenly it’s like the whole town’s breathing. if you wanna find it, follow the pigeons-they always hang out near fresh spray.
pro-tip (if you’re dumb enough to do this):* don’t bring your passport. get a local sim card, or they’ll think you’re a spy. or a tourist. same diff. wander the back alleys after sunset-lights flicker here, and the stars come early. saw a fishtail flick near the fish market yesterday. not sure if it was a cat or my imagination.
tripadvisor says the beaches are ‘serene.’ lmao. serene’s where i throw up after eating street food. anyway, check the weather: 88% humidity, feels like 21.26°C. perfect for blisters on flip-flops. neighbors include a guy who yells opera at his driveway and an actual sea turtle that just moseys past the ferry terminal.
blackout crew at the lighthouse hostel swear the ‘hidden’ street art zone is near the old railway station. haven’t cracked it yet, but I’ll get there. probably get arrested. or find a stray cat stealing my spray can. either way, worth it.
