Southern Goa February 2008 - Introduction

Lying in a hammock slung between palm trees on a secluded golden beach, sipping juice from a green coconut, I was living out a fantasy indulged in ever since my parents gave me Coral Island for my 8^th birthday. Since the fantasy involved being completely alone while lying in that hammock I had no one near me. The only photo I have of me sipping coconut juice is this.

The fortnight wasn't all lazing about living the lotus life, though.

This is a summary page only

for details see separate pages via links above
The red link leads away from Goa.

A brief outline of my holiday

It took 13 hours flying on a charter plane from Manchester airport to Goa with a brief refuelling stop at Bahrein. (there is no regular direct service). We left at 1500 hours GMT on Friday 31st January and arrived soon after dawn on Saturday February 1st.

I spent the entire first day at the friendly Goan run guest house. Doma sa Maria, which was to be my base, lying on a lounger in the shade of bougainvillea.

Unusually for a place without pretentions in other respects, Doma sa Maria had a beautiful swimming pool of which the owner was very proud.

On Sunday, the day after my arrival,I started the holiday proper, walking through pasture land and a small village to spend the morning on Zalor beach. In the afternoon I went off in an insanely overcrowded people carrier with a friendly group of tourists to Margao, the chief town of the local region town, (population 90, 000) to watch a carnival procession.

I lost out the next day and a half to a fever I have suffered from periodically since childhood, but was sufficiently recovered to enjoy the overnight trip to Cola Beach.

On the first Friday I ventured on a day long boat trip, magical and the best value for money trip ever. In my second week came the high light of the holiday, another overnight fantasy fulfillment trip staying overnight in the jungle, this time inspired by Kipling's 'The Jungle Book'.

Unlike the restful stay at Cola Beach this two day trip was hectic but interesting - no detouring to every pottery and jewellery shop in the area that had ruined an earlier visit to India. I was impressed by the guide and grateful to the "Jewel in the Crown" rep for organising a trip geared to the needs of the toutist.

From Doma Sa Maria we travelled by coach north and east to Ponda. a town at the centre of Goa. There we visited a cloth covered market, reminiscent of Leicester's fifty year's ago although about three times the size.

Next we went to a large spice garden . There we had a tour of the gardens and had lunch.

We then moved on to our campsite in a national park at the foot of the western ghats to wash and leave our luggage before setting out to see a factory processing cashew nuts .

On the way back to our camp we stopped at what the guide described as a typical Indian village for refreshments.

In the evening we joined in Indian dancing round the bonfire. The next morning we had elephant rides before setting off to a waterfall in the Western Ghats. We returned to camp to wash and be washed by the elephant.

In between the active parts of the holiday, I lounged on Zalor beach and visited the nearby resort of Cavelossim built on the estuary of the river Sal.

10.
Cashew Nut Factory

11.
Waterfall

12.
Margaret's
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