Wednesday 24 March 2010

Goa and Varanasi

This is our last Indian stop on this trip.
We arrived in Goa 3 days ago after spending a couple of days in Varanasi (aka Benares). I had been very keen to see the ancient city, as I have recently read a couple of books that described it, and I must admit that the boat trip on the Ganges at sunrise was a pretty amazing experience, even though the sight of cremating bodies on the shore was a bit much for me. The boat guy stopped next to those for the longest time; a massive tourist attraction apparently.  But apart from that the boat ride was pretty spectacular.
We were also shown some silk workshops, for which Benares is known. A touristy stop?  Perhaps, but well worth our back-packing pride- the works were some of the most beautiful and ornate that I had ever seen.

Goa is probably one of my favourite places in India, to be honest. It's green. It's lush. It's clean. The Portugese influence makes this a truly unique place. After we reached Goa we went on a couple of trips a little ride off Panaji to see a museum of Goan houses and a spice plantation, where we were shown how they grow cinnamon, cardamom, vanilla and a bunch of other things. The place was something between a jungle and marshes, and worth visiting just for the view.

Tomorrow we're going to Mumbai and the morning after that we're heading on that outbound plane to Singapore.

Anyway- India was fun- now onwards to South East Asia!!!

1 comment:

  1. Goa sounds lovely, and I hope Singapore is equally good. I forgot to say last time how much I enjoyed your 'levitation' photo :D

    xxx

    ReplyDelete

more from the Trek

more from the Trek

Waterfall in the Jungle

Waterfall in the Jungle

Sweating on the Trek

Sweating on the Trek

Ayuthaya

Ayuthaya

the Tiger Temple.

the Tiger Temple.

As the tanks roll by...

As the tanks roll by...

The bridge over the river Kwai

The bridge over the river Kwai

Floating Market

Floating Market

Squid Stick. Yum.

Squid Stick. Yum.

Fish Spa- little fishes eating the dead skin. Ticklish

Fish Spa- little fishes eating the dead skin. Ticklish

Fruit Market

Fruit Market

outside a Wat in Bangkok

outside a Wat in Bangkok

Ko Tao beach

Ko Tao beach

The snorkelling trip in Ko Tao

The snorkelling trip in Ko Tao

The Princess Lagoon

The Princess Lagoon

Rock climbing to see the lagoon

Rock climbing to see the lagoon

Thailand- Ao Nang beach in the South

Thailand- Ao Nang beach in the South

me with the world's biggest flower

me with the world's biggest flower

the famous white tiger in the Singapore Zoo

the famous white tiger in the Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo

On the spice plantation in Goa with the stinky fruit. It's not allowed on public transport

On the spice plantation in Goa with the stinky fruit. It's not allowed on public transport

The Main Mosque in Delhi

The Main Mosque in Delhi

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb

Agra Fort

Agra Fort

No prizes for guessing where that is!

No prizes for guessing where that is!

Taj Mahal again

Taj Mahal again

in front of the Jain temple

in front of the Jain temple

Jain Temple

Jain Temple

Jain Temple

Jain Temple

Our room in Jodhpur

Our room in Jodhpur

Jaislemere

Jaislemere

Jailsemere

Jailsemere

Cameron of Arabia

Cameron of Arabia

me on the camel called 'Lucky'

me on the camel called 'Lucky'

the rat temple - the most pampered rats in India

the rat temple - the most pampered rats in India

Cameron having his nail painted by the world-class master of miniature

Cameron having his nail painted by the world-class master of miniature

Cameron and Karam next to an underground corridor leading to the local fort, near Karam's village

Cameron and Karam next to an underground corridor leading to the local fort, near Karam's village