Goa, India

Saturday, April 5

Goa was different to what we expected in that it was very dry and dusty, but apparently when the wet season starts in June it greens up. However it was our first time in India so we were expecting contrasts, and we certainly experienced lots on the tour we did.

Our first stop was at a local market, which had different buildings for the fresh fruit and veggies, meat and poultry, and fish. The fruit and veggies looked lovely as you can see, but we weren't as keen on the fish market where there's no refrigeration and it's 30C degrees and 99% humidity! BUT there were no flies.

On our way to our refreshment stop we passed lots of contrasting housing, from slums, to very poor looking hovels with pigs, chickens and dogs roaming around (and occasional cow) and children playing in the dirt, to the contrast of brightly coloured old colonial Portugese "mansions" (everything's relative), as well as everything in between.

The 5 star Taj Resort was where we stopped for morning tea, and what a contrast! Before we could enter the lobby we had to get our bags x-rayed and go through a metal detector. Since the terrorist attack in Mumbai in 2008 security is very tight all over India, which is pleasing in that you feel safe but makes you appreciate the freedom with which we travel about in Australia. Goa has some lovely beaches and this resort had its own private beach as well as magnificent manicured gardens.

Apologies for the gap in postings but we had a number of days at sea, and various wi-fi problems in the last few ports. We'll aim to be more regular as we continue on to Mumbai and then the Middle East.

 

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