The trip to Goa was a 41 hour train journey beginning in Agra.
Here, the train arrives at Agra station - the typical platform scene shows food and other
vendors providing passengers with all they might need at the beginning of a journey, or
during it. It is common to get off the train and eat or drink tea (chai) on the platform
at most stops.
Goa was originally a Portuguese colony - it joined the rest of
newly independent India in 1961, some 14 years after the rest of the country shook off the
yoke of colonial rule in 1947. The state is small, and has a very different feel to the rest of India.
The population is primarily Roman Catholic, and this is reflected in dress and food as well as
in the Portuguese church architecture. This is the church at Colva Beach.
Bus is the favoured mode of transport around Goa. This bus is
waiting to take passengers from Colva Beach to the nearby town of Margao (Madgaon), the largest
in South Goa. It is a good example of how Christianity is very evident in everyday life - the name
of the bus company is Amchi Jesus Bus Travels Goa. Inside the bus are crucifixes in the
same way that Hindu shrines are found in buses and trucks elsewhere in India.
Most of the best places to eat in Colva Beach are exactly there,
on the beach. My favourite place was Domnick's, an excellent fish restaurant which also served
a good breakfast and had very friendly staff who were as happy to sit and play chess as they were
to serve another pot of coffee.
Domnick himself, showing off some of the fresh catch available
to diners each evening. He is holding up a baby hammerhead shark which was delicious cooked
in the Tandoori oven.
Goa enjoys a stunning location on the Arabian sea.
