Random Pictures in Goa

These photos were taken of the Nerul bridge, a temple in Verem,  flower garlands hanging in Betim, a young boy in front of a temple on our way to Betim, seafood platter at Zeebop's at Utorda beach and lastly rice fields on the way to the airport.

Mapusa Market

Every week we head up north on highway NH17 from Nerul to Mapusa to go to the market. It takes us about 25 minutes as we wind our way through the city of Povorim.  We like to go during the week and avoid the famous Mapusa Friday market day as it is very hectic and busy for us.  However, if you have never been it is a must as unusual stalls appear that sell antiques and curios.

Mapusa market sells fruits, vegetables, nuts, dried fruit, spices, clothes, 'lamba jaroo's' (brooms), fabric, stainless steel utensils, tawa's (iron made flat pan like a griddle to make roti (flat bread), flowers, lentils and rice  as well as furniture, kitchenware and just about anything really.

Prices in the market may vary by a few paise due to the difference in the quality of the product or just because the vendor hopes to make some extra cash from a tourist. In India, I find that there are more and more shops that have fixed prices and so shopping has become easier.  Lot's of people still bargain with shopkeepers and find that this is part of the shopping experience.

Dried Prawn

Chicks

The market also has some cafes to sit down and get some tea and snacks or cold drinks.  There is also a fresh juice vendor that sells fresh juices and his stall is always busy. The market also has some coolies who will help carry your basket and bags. Many stalls close down at 1:00PM for lunch but then open up around 2:00PM or 3:00PM.

Glossary of  common market items to help you shop and cook in India

Glossary Of Pulses:
English Name	Indian / Hindi Name
Beaten Rice	Poha
Bengal Gram	Chana
Black Gram Sabut	Urad Dal / Kaali Dal
Black Eyed Beans	Chawli / Lobhia
Broken Wheat	Dalia
Chickpeas (brown)	Chana
Chickpeas (green)	Cholia / Hara Chana
Chickpeas (white)	Kabuli Chana
Gram Flour	Besan / Chane Ka Atta
Green Gram	Moong
Horse Gram	Kulthi
Maize Flour	Makai Ka Atta
Puffed Rice	Kurmura
Red Kidney Beans	Rajma
Red Lentil	Masoor
Refined Flour	Maida
Rice	Chawal
Semolina	Rava / Suji
Split Bengal Gram	Chana Dal
Split Black Gram	Urad Dal / Kaali Dal
Split Green Gram	Moong Dal
Split Red Gram	Tuvar Dal / Arhar Dal
Split Red Lentil	Masoor Dal
Wheat	Gehun
Wheat Flour	Gehun Ka Atta

Indian Names For Spices, Fruits, Dairy Products and Their Categories:
Common Indian Names	English Names	Category
Adrak / Sonth	Ginger	Spices
Ajwain	Carom Seeds / Thyme	Spices
Amchoor	Dried Mango Powder	Masala
Anaar Dana (Powder)	Pomegranate Seeds (Dried)	Masala
Angoor	Grapes	Fruit
Atta	Wheat Flour	Flour
Badam	Almond	Dry Fruit
Besan	Gram Flour	Flour
Bhutta	Corn Cobs	Vegetable
Chana	Bengal Gram	Pulses
Chana Dal	Gram Dal	Pulses
Chikoo	Sapota	Fruit
Chhuara	Dates (Dried)	Dry Fruit
Dahi	Curd	Dairy Product
Dalchini	Cinnamon	Spices
Dhania Patta	Coriander Leaves	Vegetable
Dhania Powder	Coriander Powder	Masala
Elaichi (Chhoti)	Green Cardamom	Spices
Elaichi (Moti)	Brown Cardamom	Spices
Ghee	Clarified Butter	Dairy Product
Hari Mirch	Green Chilly	Vegetable
Hing	Asafetida	Spices
Imli	Tamarind	General
Jaiphal	Nutmeg	Seeds
Javitri	Mace	Spices
Jeera	Cumin Seed	Seeds
Kaju	Cashew Nut	Dry Fruit
Kala Jeera / Black Cumin Seeds	Caraway Seeds	Seeds
Kala Namak	Rock Salt	Masala
Kali Mirch	Black Pepper	Spices
Kari Patta	Curry Leaves	Herb
Kheera	Cucumber	Vegetable
Khoya, Mawa	Dried Whole Milk/Thickened Milk	Dairy Product
Kishmish	Currants	Dry Fruit
Lasan / Lahsun	Garlic	Spices
Laung	Clove	Spices
Maida	Fine Wheat Flour	Cereal
Malai	Cream	Milk Fat
Mattha (Chhaach)	Butter Milk	Dairy Product
Methi	Fenugreek Seeds	Seeds
Mirch	Chilly	Vegetable
Moong Fali	Groundnut	Dry Fruits
Nimboo ka Sat	Citric Acid	Acid
Paneer	Cottage Cheese	Dairy Product
Patta Gobi	Cabbage	Vegetable
Paav / Pav / Pao	Bun	Cereal
Phitkari	Alum	General
Phool Gobi	Cauliflower	Vegetable
Poha, Chiwda	Flaked, Beaten rice	Cereal
Pudina Leaves	Mint Leaves	Vegetables
Raai / Raee	Mustard Seeds (Small)	Spices
Saboodana / Sabudana	Sago	General
Sarson	Mustard Seeds (Moti)	Spices
Saunf	Aniseed	Seeds
Shimla Mirch	Capsicum	Vegetable
Tadka	Seasoning	Cooking Process
Tej Patta	Bay Leaf	Herb
Urad Dal	Horse Bean	Pulses

Boats and Fishing

In Goa, fishing is part of many people's lives.  Besides supplying fish to Goa, fish trolly's provide fish for all of India.  We have some of the best coconut, fish and prawn curries that is part of most menu's and available in just about any restaurant.

The fishing boats can carry about 20 people at a time and so it seems to be like a lot of fun for most who get out on the water.  The boats go out first thing in the morning, at dusk and during the day-it depends on what is being caught....

Boats anchored in  Vasco Harbour

Goa Shack Sunsets

Most everyone who visits Goa will end up at a beach shack to have a Kingfisher beer for about $ 1.00 and eat a local Goan meal while watching the sun set. 

The shack we decided to go to was at Candolim beach close to Fort Aquada and was not as crowded as some shacks in Baga and Calangute. 

Sunset dinner at a beach shack should cost around $ 10.00 with a couple of large beers, fish curry, rice and some chapatti (whole wheat flat bread). Head towards Candolim beach in North Goa and take a side street (gulley) towards the Calamari Shack which is close to the Taj Hotel.

Sunaparanta- Center for the Arts in Panjim, Goa

The city of Panjim  has a non-profit called Sunaparanta located in the Altinho neighbourhood in the hills of Panjim.  The arts center is in a Portuguese home and hosts art classes and films.

The center has a nice cafe that serves sandwiches both vegetarian and non- vegetarian along with coffee, tea and dessert.  The cafe is located around a inner courtyard where a mosaic class was taking place.
 

Local artist displays:

The Home

If in Panjim, visit Sunaparanta http://www.sgcfa.org/ and see what art is on display, talk to some local Goans and have a coffee with dessert for about $ 1.50.

Temples and gods... in South India

Temple in Chennai

Nandi Cow or Holy Cow

India has 30 percent of the world's cattle.  The cow is holy and is the symbol of the earth as it gives so much and asks nothing in return. When we were kids, the Nandi cow would come by with it's owner and you could pay and ask the cow a question and it would nod it's head as a yes or no. The nandi cow is considered to be a type of fortune teller in this respect.  The funny thing is that both the yes and no nod is the same really...

Pongal-Celebration of the harvest-A small alter at a friend's home

"Pongal is a popular harvest festival in South India.   Named after a sweet rice dish,  Pongal starts on January 14 of each year.  The celebration lasts for three days.   On the first day, Pongal is offered to Bhogi or Indran (the rain gods) for providing rain for the harvest. On the second day, pongal is offered to the sun (Surya).  On the third day,  the family's cattle (mattu) is cleaned and dressed up with flowers, bells, and color powder. This is the day to honor the cattle's hard work for plowing the fields.

Festivities vary in different regions. Some families clean their houses and throw away  old clothes.  But the main activity involves people from the entire village. Neighbors get together for a community feast to share their crops and give thanks to all who have contributed to a successful harvest. " (Wikipedia)

Pongal Street Celebration

 We saw hundreds of cows painted and in a field with quite a few of musical bands playing music to celebrate the cows.  It looked like there was also some trading and buying of cows at the field during this festival.

Painted cows all dressed up for Pongal

Ganesh has an elephant's head and is known as protecting entrances

Stone temple on the way from Ooty to the tea plantation in Tamilnadu

The Arabian Sea

Having grown up next to the Arabian Sea, I love spending time by the ocean. When we were little we would go to Marve and Madh Island near Mumbai.  Both places were far away (about 2 or more hours by car, then by a small boat. We also used a bullock-cart when we went to Madh and that was a treat!).We were right on the ocean and spent many a holiday playing on the beach and swimming all day long in clean waters and sand.


Now in Goa, I look at the Arabian Sea a bit differently.  Some of the beaches are clean and the water looks okay but a lot of the coastline is suffering from pollutants.  There is a lack of infrastructure in terms of proper plumbing and disposal of garbage.  The local paper called the O Herald has many articles that bring attention to this issue.  Many hotels dump their sewage into the ocean and the local casino boats do the same. http://heraldgoa.in 

South Goa

The beach we are closest to has a ship marooned by it.  It has taken 10 plus years to get it removed.  The "River Princess" is now being dismantled and date of completion is November 2012.

River Princess Marooned on Candolim Beach by Fort Aquada

Chowpatty Beach in Mumbai

Small Fishing Village down the street from us..5 minute walk down the hill

 Dolphin Bay Resort

We are about five minutes down the hill by the Dolphin Bay Resort  (http://www.dolphinbayresort.in) where we often go for a long Sunday lunch curry.  Sitting on the verandah eating 'pakoras' (small fried vegetables served with a hot, green chutney), fish curry, dhal (lentils) and steaming rice can take several hours.  The meal is served with ice cold Kingfisher  beer or a really cold 'limbo pani' or 'limbo soda' (like lemonade but with limes).  Sometimes we would get lucky and see the dolphins jumping around.  After lunch we would get back home to take an afternoon nap to then get up to some chai (tea served with milk and sugar).

Street Life

Pan Wallah

The streets are always busy with people selling something or just hanging out.  My favorite shop-wallah's are the panwalla's ( selling of pan which is bettle nut  wrapped in a leaf and usually eaten after dinner like an after dinner mint), chai wallah (tea seller) and the mochi (shoe maker and shoe repair).  Lot's of the shop owners will sleep next to their stall and so life for them is all about living on a sidewalk with hundreds of people passing by there shop and home.  The term "wallah" is used as a person  of a specific work or service.

Mochi

Christmas Stars in Goa

In December, Goa has shops that will sell Christmas Star's (Star of David) and some houses will have a star outside that is lit with a bulb.  Driving around at night it can be pitch black as there are not many street lamps or homes that have electricity and even if they do, they turn the lights of pretty early at night.   However, at Christmas time there are these beautiful stars that you can see when you are driving around.  They are simple, made by hand and a tradition for many Catholic Goans.

Getting around

Carrying laundry  "Dhobi Wallah"

Yellow and Black Cab

Tuk-Tuk

I have always enjoyed and been fascinated by how goods and people get transported in India. When on the road you will see scooters, bullock-carts, bicycles, over crowded buses, and lots of people...

Back of a BEST bus

Lot's of bullock carts along the roadside in Goa.  This one looked like it was carrying the laundry from a nearby hotel to get washed and then returned . There were homes that had big yards with clothes lines with lot's of white sheets hanging all over and white towels.  I thought that this was hotel linens...

We are in a car being transported across the Mondavi river from Nerul to Panjim.  The barge was full of scooters, walk-on's and then there were two cars of which I was driving one of them.  When I had to back out of the barge I had basically most of the passengers help me back out by standing on the side and waving me on.  This also happened when I was in a very narrow street and the bus and  our small car could not pass.  Several passengers got out of the bus and helped me maneuver the bus and I passed it by about 2 inches!

Dashbord Art

Carrying tea leaves, near  Conoor in the Nilgiri Hills