Goa

The Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, Panjim.

Cool Ryan the Tiger at Panjim Beach.

The Beach Crabs.

Sunset at Panjim Beach.

St Catherine's Cathedral, Old Goa.

Ryan the Tiger contemplating the bigger picture - St Catherine's Cathedral.

Slightly more modern art work than I expected to find in the Archbishop's Palace Gallery!!

Ok how good is your latin??? Ade's this one is especially for you (you did ask for a harder challenge!!) - what does it say - I'll give you a starter - this was on the wall at the Chapel of St Catherine in Old Goa.

The dead body of St Francis Xavier (well a photo of a photo) - this dude was sent over by the Portugese King in 1520's to sort out the corruption and immorality in Goa and other areas. After his death his body was moved several times (and bits were stolen!!) and now every ten years it is taken out the tomb and taken accross to St Catherine's Cathedral for a 3 hour ceremony where worshippers file past and touch it (thinking I'm glad I missed that service!!)

The Director's seat on the Bollywood film set (story below).

And the stars acting out a scene.

Kids in Panjim

My Beach Hut at Palolem Beach.

Collecting coconuts.

Shopping for dinner - the early catch.....

A dog taking shelter from the sun under my sun bed.

Dinner (yummmm!!) (sorry Alice/Jo & all my other veggie friends!!)

Sunset at Palolem Beach.

Ryanthe Tiger enjoying the view.

The locals houses at Palelom Beach.

A family washing at the side of the train track.

As you can see the trains are fairly long - this photo was taken half way along and doesn't even catch the engine at the front of the train!!

Me on the overnight train to Goa.

Arrived in Panjim,the capital of Goa, which is pretty nice city with a small beach and lots of colonial style buildings from the Portugese era. Went to the cinema here as thought it may good place to cool down - before the film starts they play the national anthem and everyone stands up - don't think 'God Save The Queen' would have the same impact at home??

Spent a day visiting Old Goa (the ex capital of this state) which is now a World Heritage site because of all the Cathedral's and churches - which is pretty much all that was there. It surprised me when I first arrived in India how many people are practising christians, although they still follow traditional Indian customs - like the ladies praying in church wearing saris.

I love the contrasts in India, the modern next to the new i.e. the cattle walking along next to the Mercedes car, the traditionally dressed standing next to the guy/girl in designer gear - everything seems quite acceptable - though it might not be so if it was members of a traditional family coming home in modern clothes. The Caste system still has a strong hold in certain areas of India with those that are born into certain 'groups' finding it near impossible to improve their lot in life. Though there are areas this is not so much the case with better access to schools etc (though public schools still poorly funded and families choose to send their kids to private schools where possible - the more money you spend the better the education).

Well whilst at Old Goa I decided I would make the 2km walk to the church on the Mound to see the views and I the church which was reportedly pretty impressive. But when I got there all hot and sweaty I found the church closed as they were filming a Bollywood Movie. The film crew were pretty cool and were happy for me to sit and watch, take photo's & video - they even offered me lunch!! I was assured the two main stars are very famous in Bollywood - the guy was such a poser right enough - don't think he was impressed when I got a photo of him getting his make up done - unfortunately it still wasn't George Clooney or co so I am unlikely to get enough money from Hello magazine to fund an extra couple of months travelling!! Was quite interesting watching the goings on though - and I met a traveller on the beach who said that he did actually go along and take part as an extra on a Bollywood film and it was a hoot!!

Other than that not too much to report as I have just spent the last four days chilling out (or should I say being toasted) on Palolem beach in Goa reading lots of books. This used to be one of the quieter beaches left in Goa but it is now completely covered in Beach resteraunts/huts....but as it is the end of the season here they are actually starting to dismantle them for the Monsoons coming in so it has been fairly quiet (especially mid week. I'm staying in a beach hut (costs 2.50 per night) - with own toilet/shower - and I am about 50m from the sea so can hear the waves all night!! Talking of which did some body surfing today as the waves were pretty cool - though I did manage to lose my sunglasses when I got caught off gaurd by a big one!! Only my second pair I've had to replace so far on this trip (sat on the first ones!!) - that's why I don't buy designer sunglasses (that and the fact I don't buy designer anything!!). Certainly tell the difference between the Indian ladies - who go swimming in their sari's (even saw one in her jeans) and the tourists who are in skimpy bikini's (other than me of course who has very sensible swimming suit!).

If you want a taste of India and like a good book(is a little chick flicky) pick up a copy of Holy Cow by Sarah MacDonald - she describes in hysterical detail lots of things that are everyday life here which had me sitting with tears of laughter on the beach - I can certainly relate to a lot of her anectodes - the rows of bare bums as your early morning train goes past towns/cities, the kids asking 'Ma'am what is your good name?', the constant peeping of car horns which is not a sign of road rage but rather considered polite driving (in fact many trucks/cars have signs saying Blow Your Horn!) and of course the staring and letching of local men to western woman (particularly in northern India).

Anyway, enough from me I am off to enjoy the other good thing about Goa - Sea Food - after 6 weeks of self imposed vegetarianism (for health reasons) it is nice to be somewhere it is safe to eat some fish & it's delicous......tomorrow I am moving further South so will let you know where I end up.

Hope your all keeping well and thanks for all the e-mails/messages on the blog.

Jack xx