During the last week, I visited Goa, India’s smallest state,
located on the Western shore, known and loved by tourists all around for its
beaches and weather. This trip was planned by my friend Mary from the US, last
September, and we have been looking forward to the week for some time. I will
write several blogs about the experience…the beautiful beaches, the food, the
people, the insight we gained, the Wild Wednesday market, and a bit of Goan
history. It was a great experience to have a friend you have known for 10+
years visit you in India, and be able to experience the things we did: The high
temps (90F), while the upper eastern US got 3 feet of snow, me constantly
comparing “the differences between the culture here in Goa to the culture in Bangalore”,
us determining which beaches to visit, our discussions over food, books, and
the differences in cab drivers, both within Goa itself, and between Goa and
Karnataka. Discussions over the type of tourists here in Goa now, the
reasons behind why it may be a slow season for foreigners compared to years past, and finally, simply, the confusion over why the electrical plugs I use in Bangalore are falling out
of the wall here, and require props. (I am on vacation and need a good
challenge. Think: Travel size shampoo bottles.) Me having a chat with the front desk guy over internet connectivity,
telling him that “I will be right here with you until I am logged onto this device”.
Haha (I was then logged on within the minute!)
I am posting some quickie pictures here that will have some
background attached in future blogs. The last picture you will see posted, shows plants
in the shape of elephants. I took that shot directly as we were waiting for our
cab, and and as it pulled up, I told Mary that I would get in the side of the car which was sitting in the road, in traffic. She told me to “Be careful!”. I wondered, and asked
her, “ Do you mean…be careful of the traffic, our irritated cab driver, or of
that angry wild pig that just ran across the street?”
(It was huge, and running
at full speed.)
As I have been in Bangalore for 6+ months, the locals tell
me that everything changes as you move 80 kms in each direction (the food, the
language, the people), and I am certainly not one to doubt, now that I have
lived in Bangalore and visited Trivandrum, Agra, Delhi, Mysore (twice) and now
Goa!
I highly recommend a vacation to one of the many beaches of
Goa...just an excellent week, on which I cannot wait to elaborate! Much more to come...
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