Goa has been a welcome change of pace from the busy weeks we've had. It's still been really busy, but in a far more relaxed, low-pressure way. Goa is a popular tourist destination in India, but since it's the monsoon season, most of the major tourist attractions aren't very busy this time of year. I'll reserve a later post describing the state of Goa, but for now, suffice it to say that Goa has a very distinctive flavor from the rest of India. Goa feels like Central America (or so I'm told by Kevin and Donna, as I've never been to Central America), and perhaps the best way to describe its culture in relation to the rest of India is to compare it to the continental United States and Hawaii.
In any case, yesterday was primarily spent in Goa's capital Panjim (pictured above right). With a population of only about 100,000, it seems like a tiny village when compared to some of India's megacities like Mumbai or Kolkata. Even Pune, with a population of nearly 5 million, dwarfs the city of Panjim. As a result, the suffocating smog and overwhelming traffic that is omnipresent in India's major cities is largely absent from any of Goa's cities. Instead, Goa is a place where the alcohol flows freely and the pace of life is just much different. While not actually on the Indian Ocean, Panjim sits on a large bay that dumps into the Indian Ocean, so it has a beach that we walked to yesterday.
During the afternoon we explored the different things our hotel had to offer and walked around Panjim. The city is very green--thanks to significant amounts of monsoon rain--and fun to walk around. The Desais are also in Goa right now, and they took us to visit a couple temples here in Goa. That allowed us to see a bit of the Goan countryside as well as a closer look at some of the distinctive Hindu architecture. The temple pictured here was actually moved from its original location when the Portuguese colonized Goa. Had it remained at its previous location, the Portuguese would have destroyed it as part of the Inquisition.
Today was a full day of touring. Goa is known for its churches, which is a bit surprising, considering India as a whole is only about 2% Christian. However, the Portuguese and Spanish influence is quite strong in Goa, and St. Francis Xavier, one of the founders of the Jesuits is actually buried in the Basilica of Bom Jesus (pictured left). This Spanish basilica sits adjacent to a Portuguese cathedral, and together, the two cathedrals are the most prominent fixtures of the ruins of Old Goa, the former capital of the Portuguese Colony.
After visiting Old Goa, we took a trip to a spice plantation. Along with touring the plantation itself, we were finally able to take our long-awaited elephant ride! Despite being here during the monsoon season (which has manifested itself by relatively brief, though very sudden and very intense rain showers), the sun broke through long enough to give us a chance to head to the beach for a brief dive into the Indian Ocean.
Our final tourist stop of the day was to a promontory south of Panjim. It gave a wonderful view of the bay and the Goan coastline right before sunset. While we were there, an Indian came up to me and asked if I could take a picture. I said yes--and wished I hadn't when I realized that their intention was for me to be
in the picture! Of course, I suppose I should be thankful, since at least this group of Indians asked. I suppose after that trip I know a little bit more of how celebrities feel with the paparazzi following them!
Goa has been a welcome change of pace from the busy weeks we've had. It's still been really busy, but in a far more relaxed, low-pressure way. Goa is a popular tourist destination in India, but since it's the monsoon season, most of the major tourist attractions aren't very busy this time of year. I'll reserve a later post describing the state of Goa, but for now, suffice it to say that Goa has a very distinctive flavor from the rest of India. Goa feels like Central America (or so I'm told by Kevin and Donna, as I've never been to Central America), and perhaps the best way to describe its culture in relation to the rest of India is to compare it to the continental United States and Hawaii.
After visiting Old Goa, we took a trip to a spice plantation. Along with touring the plantation itself, we were finally able to take our long-awaited elephant ride! Despite being here during the monsoon season (which has manifested itself by relatively brief, though very sudden and very intense rain showers), the sun broke through long enough to give us a chance to head to the beach for a brief dive into the Indian Ocean.
Our final tourist stop of the day was to a promontory south of Panjim. It gave a wonderful view of the bay and the Goan coastline right before sunset. While we were there, an Indian came up to me and asked if I could take a picture. I said yes--and wished I hadn't when I realized that their intention was for me to be in the picture! Of course, I suppose I should be thankful, since at least this group of Indians asked. I suppose after that trip I know a little bit more of how celebrities feel with the paparazzi following them!
That last paragraph...wow...I know exactly what you mean. When I walk around College Station, people here are like "whoa! A Rice graduate! Can we take a picture with you?" It was really cool the first few times, but now, it's gotten old. And of course, when I was in England, all of the internationals just wanted me to say "howdy!" and "y'all." I guess it would have been nice to have one of these Aggies along then.
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