2019 - You May Travel

Details: Written by Nanqi You; Category: India; Published: March 04, 2019; Hits: 3367

VIVA carnival 2019 Margao GOA Nanqi You

Before reading on, don't forget to check out the instagram posting on the right of the screen.

The Goa Carnival has over 500 years of history and dates back to the times when Goa was a Portugese colony. This event is the biggest of the year and is unique to Goa. Amazing parades full of colorful costumes, lots of music, beautiful floats, and of course huge crowds.

This year's VIVA Carnival is from March 2 to 5. The parades are planned for different days in different cities. Steve and I went to a nearby city Margao yesterday to experience this annual sensation. We got there around 3pm and the parade didn't start until 5:30. Steve and I walked the whole route and I got a beer from a local bar (see photo below).

Tuesday our little town Benaulim will have our own parade and the resort will have a big party as well.

Evenings and nights are for non-stop parties. All these festivities are usually held in February or March, before Lent. This is one of the most anticipated events for local people.

We took tuctuc over for 300 Rupee which is about $4 Nanqi You

We took the bus back from the carnival for 30 Rupee or 40 cents for 2 of us. Plus, it was a great ride and the passengers are super friendly and helpful. Nanqi You

Lead Float Steve

Nanqi with a flower wreath - getting into costume Steve

Several of these floats really remind me of Art Cars at Burning Man Steve

Some really impressive floats Steve

Batman!!!! Steve

This is a float from the Goa Police Department - they are obviously very anti-alcohol Steve

Steve

Beautiful Steve

It was 90 degrees with high humidity, but people still go all out with costumes.

Details: Written by Nanqi You; Category: India; Published: March 01, 2019; Hits: 4431

South GOA Beach - Modor beach Nanqi You

South GOA is known for it relaxed life style and its beaches. It might be surprising to some that Steve and I are not really beach people though we keep going to beach towns. GOA fits us extremely well because it really doesn't offer a whole lot to do other than its prestine waters and soft white sand beaches. Even though we don't go to the beach, staying in the resort by the pool without feeling quilty about not "touring" is what I learned to love.

This is Friday, the last day we are at Karma Haathi Mahal. We took a morning walk on the beach and circled back from a road 500 meters from the beach: 6 miles total. Great route. We witnessed once again the extreme luxury such as the Leela resort neighbored by extreme poverty - houses without running water.

Burners on the South GOA Beach Nanqi You

Leela Resort South GOA - luxury resort Nanqi You

Steve and Nanqi on Modor Beach South GOA Nanqi You

Entrance from sea to a river on the left Nanqi You

Shells on the south GOA Modor beach Nanqi You

2' tall shore bird. It was catching small fish in the shallow water, but I was never quite quick enough to catch it in action. Steve

Although I couldn't catch the bird catching fish, I did manage to capture the human casting his net. Steve

The fisherman netted a few Steve

Details: Written by Nanqi You; Category: India; Published: February 28, 2019; Hits: 3707

GOA fish market Nanqi You

We never know Indian food well enough to even comment. This trip is even more challenging with GOA in the mix. GOA was a Portuguese colony until 1959, 14 years after India gained its independence from British rule in 1945. The cuisine in GOA is unique in the sense it is heavily influenced by Portugese cooking and he cuisine its Hindu roots.

Staples are rice and fish. Kingfish, seabass, modso (lady fish), tamso/tamsoshi (red snapper), shark, sardines, crab, lobster, shrimp, squid, you name it, they are here in GOA. They do have distinct Goan dishes. The general impression is GOAN dishes are a little milder and sweeter than the other Indian cuisines. Fresh coconut meats and juice are used in Goan dishes but you really don't taste them. They blend the other flavors together and make the dishes less sharp and milder.

The way they prepare vegitables - if they ever offer vegitable in a dish - is very stingy or soaked in sauces unlike the way Chinese or other Asian countries prepare it.