India 2005 - Mumbai and Goa

We visited India in September 2005 and arrived in Mumbai which was partly inundated with water due to the effects of the monsoon season which was just ending. That was interesting. Life just goes on around it all.

At the end of the runway of the International Airport, there is a slum shanty, which is clearly recognisable from all of the blue tarpaulins draped over bits of tin and wood. Apparently about 30,000 people live amongst this on a permanent basis.

We did not have long in Mumbai, we stayed at Juhu Beach just 10 mins from the airport and did a whirlwind tour of Mumbai on the way to the airport the next morning.



Goa Airport, Dabolim.

We flew up to Goa which has a past ruled by the Portuguese making it a totally different environment to other parts of India.

The Aguada Fortress in Candolim, Goa was built in 1612 to give safe berth to Portuguese ships entering the harbour.










The tourist season in Goa was just beginning there after the monsoon and the people were very busy building the temporary beach shacks and party bars Goa is famous for. English and other European tourists flock there during the high season for the huge beach parties and the fact that it is very cheap to stay in Goa, especially for backpackers.




Building the new season's beach shack for Mike's Place restaurant and beach parties.



Auto Rickshaws, Margao, Goa.







Rice paddies and buffalo along the roadside.

The grounds of the hotel Royal Goan Beach Club Haathi Mahaal were impeccable.
The exterior and interior had masses of marble and timber and lots of statues. There were always fresh flowers on display in the foyer.



A dried leaf painted for a greeting card.

Our timeshare exchange was a fully self-contained 2 bedroom apartment and was very comfortable. There are two swimming pools, an English Pub, two restaurants and a swim up bar with waterslide for the kids all on site. We were not far from the River Sal where you can take boat trips and go fishing. There is an island in the middle which houses a large colony of fruit bats and many other birds and eagles.





The Club had nightly entertainment and one of the most interesting features was a young man named Rahul Alvares, who left school at 16 and wrote a book about his travels, following his instincts and love of reptiles. He is a little like Goa's Steve Irwin. He collects snakes, spiders amongst other animals and carries them around in a pouch on the back of his motorbike to the hotels to teach tourists a little bit about Goa's native animals, most importantly, snakes and spiders. He has since written other books and wants to curb people's hysteria and fear of snakes and is revered amongst his peers.





"Casa Lisboa" restaurant

The restaurant had an interesting light fitting. Fish frozen into a bucket of water to make a feature and then adding a light globe! But, they served yummy Indian and Goan style cuisine with wonderful service.

A building site across from our hotel in Goa.
No Workplace Health & Safety here ... no shoes .. no hardhats .. no scaffolding ... no worries!

Market at Cavelossim.

There are markets all over Goa and particularly near the beaches. They sell clothing, jewellery, Indian cotton craft and habadashery as well as the usual touristy rubbish. You could although get some wonderful carvings and photographs of the locals came at only a small price!

A Lomani woman hawking jewellery on Anjuna Beach and another at Cavelossim Beach, Goa.




Bananas and tropical fruits, Papaya, custard apples, limes and lemons on a streetside stall in Benaulim, Goa.

Indian elephant at Bondla Widlife Sanctuary.

Goa's position and beaches on the Indian Ocean make fishing a major livelihood. The colourful boats and nets are very eyecatching but very important to the village.




Village Life ...


A beautiful display of culture and dancing at one of the restaurants. I particularly love the jewellery and vibrant colours and movement of the saris.

Goa was very safe, fun and interesting. If we had the chance we would visit again.