Goa
The former Portuguese enclave of Goa, is a heady blend of serenity and excitement down a 10 km coastline studded with endless sun drenched crescents of palm-fringed sand. Calangute, Colva, Baga, Vagator, Anjuna, Candolim, Dona Paula, Bogmalo, Miramar - Goa has some of the world's most beautiful beaches and is well established on the travel map of the world's sun-seekers.
However, sun, sea and sand are not all that Goa has to offer. Almost 500 years of Portuguese rule have given it a unique culture, quite distinct from the rest of India. Roman Catholicism remains a major religion, skirts far outnumber saris, and the people display an easy-going tropical indulgence, humour and civility. Markets are lively, colourful affairs, and siesta is widely observed during the hot afternoons. Carnival explodes onto the streets over four riotous days and nights prior to Lent.
Farming, fishing, tourism and iron-ore mining form the basis of the economy.
Cuisine
Goan cuisine has been influenced by its' long coastline and its' Portugese heritage, as well its' main communities: Hindus and Christians. Rice, fish, and coconut are the basic components of the typical Goan food platter. A typical Goan would prefer seafood to all other meats and would use a lot of coconut for cooking. Do try the prawn balchao, chicken xacuti, pork vindaloo, and bibinca, the traditional 40-egg-Goan cake.
Cities
Panaji, the capital, is a small and charming city on the bank of the Mandovi river. It has many beautiful, red-roofed houses built in the Latin style, as well as many modern houses with well-laid gardens.
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