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This month's Goanet operations sponsored by an Anonymous Donor ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tropical Explorer After three years of chilling out in Goa, Alexander Sukhochyov turned his experiences into a book and a movie deal. By Anna Malpas Published: April 6, 2007 Seryoga has a job selling toilet bowls in the Moscow satellite town of Korolyov. That is, until his friend persuades him to buy a ticket to Goa. Not surprisingly, it turns out that watching sunsets, taking recreational drugs and eating syrniki at the GlavFish restaurant is a lot more fun, so he decides to join the Indian state's growing Russian community of full-time loungers. In his first novel, "The Goa Syndrome," Alexander Sukhochyov writes about a world he knows well. Originally from Kursk, he worked as a DJ, freelance journalist and club promoter in Moscow and St. Petersburg before having a "change of values" three years ago and heading to Goa to work as a tour guide. Since then, Sukhochyov has only returned to Russia twice -- and once was to promote his novel, which was published by Ad Marginem last month with a print run of 100,000 copies. Last week, he spoke by telephone from his rented home in Goa, a two-story house surrounded by fruit trees. "I don't feel any homesickness," he said. "Here in India, I feel more comfortable. Here everything works out. Whatever I turn my hand to, it works out well." In his book, Sukhochyov describes how Russians have descended on Goa over the last few years, particularly colonizing the village of Morjim. "First there were just a few people; they settled in houses where before people used to film child pornography on mattresses," he writes. Full story at http://context.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2007/04/06/101.html. == Also read Goa with a Touch of Lemon Tough Tackler to Canny Coach and other Goan stories at http://khobro.blogspot.com.