Karma Kosher Conscripts in New-Age Diaspora Seek Refuge in Goa

Somewhat past the 3-week limit, posted with permission from the mods.

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Draped in garlands strung with jasmine blossoms, the pulsating Israelis are freshly decommissioned from the military and seeking a cheap retreat to unwind from their obligatory two- to-three years of safeguarding the Jewish state. The conscripts find sanctuary in the thousands of dilapidated wicker seaside shacks and dozens of isolated jungle ghettos that weave along a 78-mile coast and snake up treacherous dirt tracks into the impoverished mountain villages of Goa.

According to Israeli and Indian officials, between 40,000 and 60,000 young Israelis have either permanently moved or established long-term residence in India. They have created new lives for themselves alongside the country's 900 million Hindus and 150 million Muslims and caused tension among the local population because of the widespread use of recreational drugs.

``Our souls need a permanent break from Israel,'' says army veteran Tomel Basel, 24, pocketing one of Gupta's 10 cent charms, the ancient cross with bent arms that is venerated by Hindus as a lucky adornment.

``We're all runaways,'' Basel says before filling his lungs with potent smoke and exhaling his separate reality on the squalor of Anjuna Beach. ``There's nothing for us back in Israel.''

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=a12JnKt1Pwlc&refer=uk

It think it's been several years now since the last.

scourge of asia and south america.

They really are awful.

. . adventures in Mexico back in the sixties. It was pretty nice at first when there not many American kids going there. By the early seventies it became lots of druggies and dealers and bikers and Mexican undercover cops - and much chaos. I stopped visiting.

I escaped any serious unpleasantness - but I wasn't a Jew in a foreign country with 120 million Muslims either. Let's hope nothing really bad happens there.

When I was traveling in India I remember several occasions when young Indian touts (street salesmen who try and drag you into their shop/guesthouse/restaurant/etc.) started speaking to me in Hebrew instead of English. I look sorta Israeli and they just assumed. My point is that there are so many Israelis in India all the time that the Indians not only assumed I was one, but went to the trouble of learning Hebrew to better sell them stuff.

Besides, the Muslims in India could care less about the whole Arab/Jew thing. They hate the Hindus.

Being one of the most multi-cultural countries in the world where people come in all shapes, sizes and colours, I very much doubt there's a 'sorta Israeli' look anymore than people look 'sorta Australian', 'sorta British' or anything else...

It's not like you can always tell the difference between an Israeli and anyone else. But there are some physical traits commonly seen amongst Israelis which makes it relatively easy to pick them out of a crowd.

I very much doubt there's a 'sorta Israeli' look anymore than people look 'sorta Australian', 'sorta British' or anything else...

How about if they look "extremely British" instead of just sorta? Seriously, if you saw Benny Hill walking down the street, you don't think you'd be able to identify him as a Brit? Regardless, you happen to be incorrect here. If I don't look somewhat Israeli then how would you explain why so many Indians and Israeli travelers themselves addressed me in Hebrew as I walked past them in the street? This happened all over India, yet at no point in any of my travels has anyone walked up and addressed me in German, or French or even Spanish. I either get english or Hebrew.

There are a few "looks" that could be considered Israeli archetypes. I basically just look like an incredibly good looking Jew, which is to say, I look Israeli. To be fair, there aren't many New Yorkers backpacking in India, so when you spot someone who is obviously Jewish walking around Agra chances are he's an Israeli.

:P

That's a lot of people in terms of the "Demographic Problem". And young people too, not like American old farts living down in Mexico. It reminded me of Vietnam and the 60s, "turn on, tune in, drop out", and it ain't a good sign politically speaking.

for any chance of peace, if young Israeli presumably "leftists" are leaving it leaves a growing concentration of young "right" wingers

This is a rite of passage that most Israelis do. Some stay longer than others, you see long-term expats of all stripes bumming around India, but most just go for a year or two. If you're Israeli and haven't spent some extended time traveling you are regarded as a little strange. I've yet to meet an Israeli who hasn't spent at least a few months backpacking in South/southeast Asia or South America.

From the article: 'According to Israeli and Indian officials, between 40,000 and 60,000 young Israelis have either permanently moved or established long-term residence in India.'

that is sort of a travelogue about one young woman's escapades attempting to lose her virginity after her IDF service while backpacking through southeast Asia called Dork Whore.

It's amusing, pathetic, charming, and disgusting all at the same time.

http://www.amazon.com/Goa-Freaks-Hippie-Years-India/dp/156201059X

A darker view of Goa back in the 70s, which I read a couple decades back now, but Ms Odzer could (d. 2002) write.

You are left with the "radicals" on both sides. Did you know that the two groups with the highest reproductive rate are the settlers and the palestinians? Although I saw a story recently that said rates have dropped modestly of late.