Lost in Goa beaches
 What is rough and smooth at the same time, has ancient charm but is ultra-modern and is a green and grey world?
That is Goa for you: rough hillocks that tower over smooth beaches, old Portuguese churches exist along with modern casinos, green fronds of the coconut trees vie for space with buildings…
The Goan beaches unfold themselves in pristine form, unsullied by the vicissitudes of time. My ‘Goan Sojourn’ lasted five days.
As the aircraft cruised over the emerald green Arabian Sea, we got to see the natural scenario. The palm-fringed coastline added to its natural splendour. The verdant hillocks were embraced by the sea on the one side and the city, on the other. The frothy and foamy waves resembled white lace when they dashed against the mountains and the curved, rugged coastline.
The coconut trees stood as sentinels along the beaches as if to guard
Goa.
 The azure blue sky, the great horizon and the sun-bathed sea and mountains are a treat to watch.
Goa is famous for its cruises on the Mandovi River and live casinos. The ‘Goan Band’ onboard the ship ‘Royal Cruise’ was enjoyable. They invited audience participation as well as they danced to the songs zealously.
The illuminated ship resembled a lighthouse moving on the waters. ‘Cavalera’ is a famous ship known for its live casinos - the only one of its kind in India. It looks like a miniature ‘Las Vegas’, I was told.
 The Portuguese invasion is a milestone in the history of Goa. The Basillica of St Francis Xavier of Assisi contains his mummified body in a casket atop the rostrum. There are several churches with tall spires of Gothic architecture.
Vasco da Gama was the one who spearheaded the Portuguese invasion of Goa. Christians and Hindus seem to co-exist peacefully. The famous Mangesh Temple, which houses the idol of Lord Siva, is huge. Fearing the invasion of the Portuguese, the ‘Vengada’ Brahmins of Goa had moved the idol from place to place, finally bringing it back to its original abode.
 The Aguada Fort is like any of our forts with its moats and big walls. Aguada means ‘watery place’ in Portuguese. Most of the roads have Portuguese names which are unfamiliar to us.
There is a museum which chronicles the ancient Goanese life in a unique form, called the ‘Big Foot’ legend. The museum depicts the story of two neighbours and one man’s implicit faith in God and his attaining
moksha.
 Coming to Goanese cuisine, ‘bibinca’ resembles a cake. It consists of coconut, milk and cashews. Fenni is a special liquor made out of cashew milk and toddy. The liquor is poured on the concoction and it is lighted before it is drunk. Nowhere in India can we find this type of a drink.
Even in the hotels there were Goan bands playing fantastic old and new Hindi and English songs. There are a lot of foreigners visiting Goa, attracted by its beaches, and they must have found the Limbo dance, which is staged in the hotels, mind-boggling. The dancer juggles with fire and asks the audience to join him!
The sunset in Goa cannot be described in words. The red ball of fire gradually, reluctantly, goes down the horizon.
Goa is a fine retreat for holiday-makers. So, with great difficulty, I bid farewell to Goa and its bewitching beaches.
Usha Raja
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Lost in Goa beaches
