Goa and the portuguese influence

We arrived in Arambol on February 27 and left on March 7....nine days of "vacation" on our journey...
Arambol is the northern most beach in the state of Goa. You can imagine it like this: no big tourist resorts, mostly just simple bamboo-huts on the beach or small, familiar guesthouses in town. Not too many charter tourists, but food and snacks from all over the world.
First night we shared our room with cockroaches and spiders. So first thing on the second day was moving to another place, where we found our little paradise. Chandra, who is taking care of the beautiful garden and the guests, prepares the best masala chai (tea) we have ever had.
The days passed with going for long walkes along the beach, swimming in the sweetwaterlake just off the shore, shopping, eating self chosen tigerprawns and lots of other delicious seafood, listening to livemusic and of course sunbathing. Even though our skin is used to the sun by now we got pretty red one day due to a non-working shitty indian sunscreen. So we got back to the reliable NIVEA.
Also, we have a new favourite drink...is is called Feni, which is brewed from local cashews or coconuts and is strong and tasty and comes lika a hammer. Unfortunately we can not bring it back to Switzerland (sorry Janiel) as it is only sold in Goa.


Most visitors of Goa just go to the beaches, which is a big mistake. As this state is a former portuguese enclave, the influence of this period still can be seen. Especially in the capital city of Panjim.
Just a few meters off the busterminal you can feel a very differend vibe and admire the numerous churches and the architecture of buildings. And it is very clean. And a many of the remaining portuguese women wear pants and have their hair cur short...but on the other hand it is very strange to see indian nuns put in dark robes instead of the colourful saris.
It is wonderful to see how people of three major religions can live together door-by-door! It is possible to see hindu temples, christian churches and muslim mosques whitin a couple of hundred meters. FANTASTIC!