Towards Goa

Probably the least said about the train trip from Lucknow to Delhi the better.

We were on a mid-afternoon train that delivered us the 700 kilometres to Delhi in seven hours. There were earlier trains but they travelled at a much slower speed and would have had us arrive at about the same time. The train had about 2,000 passengers and just like a plane, they had trolley dolly’s (blokes though) working the length of the train. Everyone first received a tea bag and a small thermos of hot water and a litre bottle of drinking water. Then out came a tray with a carrot sandwich, a samosa, Himalayan popcorn and some other strange nibbles. This all sustained us for the daylight section of the trip.

Travelling at about 110 kilometres/hour, we got a good look at the countryside and at times along the route we would stop at junctions for a minute or so. Most of the stations we just whizzed straight through and we just got quick glimpses of the bewildered dogs and people lying and standing on the platforms.

Everyone was treated to an evening meal of (you guessed it) a curry dish and naan bread. A small tub of ice-cream was the highlight of the tucker!

For those poor buggers who needed to visit the toilet, they will have a memory indelibly engraved in their brain. For the lucky ones like us who avoided it, we feel permanently scarred by the look on the faces of those who did exit it.

We were lucky to have a midday flight to Goa on Wednesday so that gave us plenty of time to enjoy breakfast before heading to the airport. Some of the group needed to be up at 5:00 am to start their travels home.

We had an hour drive from Goa airport to our beach side accommodation at Varca on the mid-west coast of Goa state. That gave us a couple of hours of sunlight to check out the local area and enjoy a cold one in Cosmo’s beach shack that was in its first day of trading of the tourist season. It was still receiving final touches having been reconstructed once again following the monsoon season.

Fresh sugar cane drink anyone? No added sugar!

Goa is a strange place. You drive through narrow village roads for miles without seeing water through the thick scrub. It has a population of about 1.8 million and relies heavily on tourism. Russians and Brits are attracted here and most signs and menus are in Russian as well as English.

Thursday morning we were picked up for a tour of Old Goa, about an hour north of Varca. Portuguese India is certainly different to the northern states of India. There is a real Christian influence here and while we did visit two wonderful Hindu temples, it seemed strange to also be visiting 400 year old Basilicas and Cathedrals built by Franciscans and Jesuits. Our guide for the morning was Stanley Fernandez (named because his father thought so highly of the Stanley tool brand). His knowledge of the local history was extensive to say the least.

Our guide Stanley showing us around Old Goa.

What would a pulpit like this bring in the trading Post? Or am I dreaming?

Our free afternoon had us walking along the beach before taking the plunge into the Arabian Sea. The water was every bit as warm as the Pacific in Hawaii and the sunbeams were severe, even at only 34 degrees.

Guess which way the monsoon winds come from?

What would a beach be without cows?

Friday was golf day! After breakfast we ventured about an hour south of Varca by taxi where we hired clubs and played at the Lalit golf & spa resort. What a resort it is. The golf course is in great condition and the scenery, especially on the beach side of the course was spectacular. Like everywhere in India, whether it be on the beach, in a market or on a golf course, cows have right of way. We enjoyed frothies and late lunch at the resort before venturing back to Varca to watch another sunset on the beach.

We’re in safe hands on the beach

Ruling please. Can you get relief from pups on course?

What about cows?

So today is Saturday and we fully intend to vegie out on the beach. We have a 1:00pm pickup tomorrow for a flight back to Delhi and a night at a hotel. Monday we head home and will be back in time for the running of the Cup.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this bog.

Cheers.