GOA

Goa, while some tourists call it the Vegas of India, what with legal boat casinos and the best night clubs, it may be fitting. Then, there are the postcard perfect beaches to hang out at, cocktail or beer in hand. The small islands, backwaters and waterfalls in the state have slowly gained popularity as well.

This post isn’t about the top things to do in Goa, the best places to stay or eat or any such recommendations, that I am usually asked about. The smallest state in the country, receives tourists from all over India & le monde for all different reasons and in all different seasons. There are few, who choose to visit Goa, away from the chaotic peak touristy season and simply unwind. These are simply my favorite kind, because they don’t add to the already crowded beaches and traffic jams, which means lesser pollution of every kind.

The Goa that I remember growing up in, was not this commercialized and didn’t have tourism written all over it. As a kid, I could still hear the sound of the waves on a quiet night, about 2 miles away from the beach, at my home. Then came the holiday resorts and shopping complexes and slowly the soothing lullaby of the waves was gone.

Sure, some may call it development, but where does it stop? It helps the state economy alright, but does it mean that every inch of the land has to scream “for the tourists” , “come drink here”, “best cashew nuts”, “100 rooms hotel”. This is a vicious circle where we all are responsible for the deterioration of the lands we once saw all green with trees now converted to concrete jungles, the once free to walk on clean beaches, now filled with shacks , umbrellas and deck chairs. It’s on all of us, the locals , developers, businessmen and visitors for the huge influx of migrants, for straining our resources, for adding to the waste and pollution, for the hike in real estate prices ; the list goes on.

Now that the north side of the state is so crowded, lets go explore south Goa, (now promoted by the tourism department as well) and many visitors are happier finding the quiet, untouched beaches on the south side. But how long until these unspoiled sands are fringed with dried palm-roof beach shacks and deck chairs? Take Palolem & Colva beaches as examples, with tourists en masse. How long more till the garbage reaches this side of the ocean too?

The sea is not our trashcan and no one likes a filthy beach.

So, let’s have a good time in Goa, a bit more consciously. Most beaches now have bins to put your trash in. In case you’re going to have a beach picnic or any touristic spot and don’t find the bins, I suggest bringing an empty trash bag to dump it all in and take it back with you for proper disposal from your hotel or home. Also don’t be the ones to leave plastic water bottles, beer bottles and broken flip flops on the shores. Say no to plastic straws in your tender coconuts and other drinks (something many of us forget about). You could go a step further and stop anyone you see littering the beach. The government and locals are doing what they can to keep the state clean. Let’s do our part.

If you’ve read this far, hang on, I do have a lighter , happier side coming up in this post.

If everyone does a little something, we can accomplish a lot of anything.

We were at the beach side, standing around the tender coconut stall and I overheard a honeymoon couple. The wife said to her newly wed, “Let’s walk further and drink our coconut water on the go. We can throw the coconut ahead.” To which her hubby replied, ” Let’s not litter elsewhere, this vendor has a bin right here.”

I hope by now, you’ve got a little perspective from this local’s eyes.

Let the pictures do the talking

Here’s a peek of Goa, through my lens, this summer. Oh and when you see me in the photos, the credit goes to my darling husband. Click on each, to see the bigger picture.

Some days we spent going for sunrise walks on the beach and other days watching sunsets. The kids loved bringing back home, a part of the beach on their sandy little bodies. They enjoyed our little visits to the local market and even made friends with the local fruit seller. We did a short unplanned visit to the oldest and famous churches at Goa Velha ; proved to be fascinating. Have you ever taken a ferry ride across any of the rivers in Goa? If not, it’s an experience you’ll surely cherish adding to your list and it will give you a feel of local travel.

Concluding this post here, with colorful pictures from the capital city. Our drive to Panjim, was exciting this time around, as we drove on the new Mandovi bridge, which is 98 ft in height and a 5 km stretch ; the third longest cable stayed bridge in India.

We took a stroll in the vibrant lanes of Fontainhas , Goa’s Latin Quarter. This bright side of town has a lot of Portuguese style houses, an influence of colonization, that can be seen throughout the state across our many villages. The tiled roof houses, with mica windows and beautifully shaped iron railings of the long verandas, make a pretty sight. Many of these houses in Fontainhas, have been converted to boutique hotels and restaurants, others as art centers and it’s a good place to buy azulejos tiles.

If you explore this side of Panjim, a perfect way to end the visit would be a walk along the riverside promenade and later watching the sunset at Miramar beach.