A Sojourn To Goa!!!!!!!

Everyone likes to travel to different places around the world, different spots in their own country. Nature has gifted us with such lovely places that no one would not want to visit them. I am certainly a travel buff, who loves visiting different places, studying their culture, architecture, people and history. It is a pity that I have been able to go only to Himachal Pradesh,Tamil Nadu and Kerala. There is so much more of Bharat that I want to experience (incudes Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, ArunachalPradesh, Lakshadweep Islands, A and N Islands, Sikkim,................. and of course, Jammu and Kashmir). Too much to ask for.......well,what the heck? Nothing wrong in having desires.

In January 2006, I visited a province of Bharat that I always secretly desired to visit-Goa. I had been to Goa as a part of my college picnic-cum-industrial trip (there was nothing concretely industrial in it, to be honest!). I being a history buff, knew of how the Portuguese oppressed the Goan people and destroyed the social fabric of Goa. So, I was all the more excited. There were about 150 students from my college who were in the trip,45 from my class. We left for Goa on Jan 9, 2006 at about 11.00 pm by Matsyagandha Express, half hour late. In the train, it was fun with friends in company. We were chatting,playing till 2-2.30 am and then dozed off to sleep. On Jan 10,2006, we reached Madgaon which is in Goa at about 12.30 pm, two hours late (No surprise,considering the Bharat railway system!) To be honest, I was very tired , so instead of being energetic , I was 'relieved' that I had finally reached Goa. We boarded a bus to reach our hotel which we did in about 40 minutes time. On the way,my first distinct impression of Goa was observing symbols of 'Christianity' almost everywhere on the streets (The colonial Portuguese certainly did their 'job' well while ruling Goa). There would be small to medium sized churches almost everywhere in open lands which were plentiful (unlike Mumbai). There was a St.Sebastian, St.Franco, St.Francis,...chapel in very many areas. I also observed colonial-style mansions, settlement blocks, cottage houses, which to be honest , were beautiful and a visual pleasure. On reaching our hotel named 'OLD ANCHOR', what I first saw was a sizable statue of Vasco Da Gama. The hotel was a big one, surrounded by trees, a splendid beach. The settlement blocks (like PORTO FRANCO,ESTADA DA INDIANA PORTUGUESA) in the hotel where we were logded were just awesome. I along with 8 other friends was lodged at the 'BEIRAMAR' settlement block. The rooms were spacious, with good bathrooms and beds in it. Then, we left for Majorda beach which was a place worth visiting, had fun there. In the next two days, we visited CAVELOSSIM, CALANGUTE, BENAULIM beaches and had a blast there. Talk of Goa, and how can you forget white foreigners!They were there all over the places we visited and made their presence felt. It seems some of those white people were Indian citizens of Portuguese origin, holding dual nationality. The beaches were just so clean, putting to utter shame Mumbai's beaches. The sand was so soft, your feet were smooooothly sucked inside, to put it in simple terms. I went deep into the waters of the beaches and must say, it was some'experience' to see the waves rising above you,coming towards you, and then engulfing you. In the MAJORDA beach, I participated in the BANANABOAT RIDE, JET SKIING and NORMAL BOAT RIDE with friends. The JET SKIING was exhilarating and the BANANA BOAT RIDE was 'painful' fun. We also visited a Coca-Cola producing plant and saw how the drink we love so much is made right from scratch. We then made a visit to the 'BASILICA OF BOM JESUS' cathedral. The church was magnificient to say the least,statues were of pure gold (God alone knows where the Portuguese looted it from), clicked photos there, went to the art gallery where there were sermons preaching Christianity. In the art gallery,there were paintings on the various Christian Saints and their 'contributions'. We were taken on a cruise as well ,which was rather boring,for an hour, through the MANDAVI river. There was plenty to shop around, cheap clothes, cashews, antique pieces, although some of them were a wee bit expensive. Special mention must be made of the food which was served to us in the hotel. It was delicious. Why wouldn't it be delicious when you are served various types of paneers, tasty north Hindustani delicacies, soups, a single non-veg dish for all 'animal lovers' and top-quality desserts like BREAD PUDDING, MOONG DAL HALWA, SUJI HALWA, VERMICILLI KHEER, TRIFLE CUSTARD, JELLY CUSTARD, various ICE CREAMS, BANANA RUM PUDDING, etc. I am not exaggerating, mind you. I had to make mention of this (my mouth is watering while writing this). We left Goa on Jan 13, 2006 at around 10.00 pm and reached Mumbai at 8-8.30 am the following morning.

What a trip it was!!!! Loved almost all bits of it. There is so much evidence of 'Portuguese'ness in Goan culture that you have got to live with it,like it or not. It is not like other parts of India,atleast the places where I went. For all their ills, the Portuguese did a few good things for Goa as well. The happy-go-lucky, free-wheeling, liberal culture of the Goans is what makes it such a hotspot for tourists. That is the Goan identity and it must remain that way. It shows how liberal, diverse and accomodating India is!