Goa

Dearest Rachel –

I’m not sure where to begin with this location.

I could start by mentioning that I’d heard about this region from Mohinder, way back in the day. It was a resort area, and unique insofar as it was primarily Christian in population, having been allegedly part of St. Thomas’ (y’know, “doubting Thomas”?) missionary ventures. I think some relative of his was getting married there, as a destination wedding – hey, it’s not just Americans that do these sort of things, after all – and it was supposed to be a real fancy deal. He also described the place as an island, which the state (I can’t seem to find anything about a specific city named Goa – even the excursion ticket refers to “Mormugao”) most decidedly is not.

I might go into some more detail about it’s distinction as a Portuguese (and therefore, nominally Christian) enclave within India – again, it apparently prides itself on being one of those places that can trace its roots all the way back to the apostles themselves. Because let’s face it, while India is the birthplace of two of the world’s major religions (Hinduism and Buddhism) and one of the cradles in which Christianity spent its infancy, it hasn’t covered itself in glory in terms of religious tolerance. One need only look at the partitioning of British India, and the chaos that ensued (including the assassination of the nation’s liberator, Mahatma Gandhi himself, by a fellow Hindu, no less), its relationship with people’s freedom of conscience hasn’t always been stellar. Indeed, for all its reputation as such, Christians only make up a quarter of the state’s population, down from about 80% a century ago.

Then again, Goa was never actually a part of British India, and was only annexed in 1961, with an actual military invasion that incorporated the former Portuguese territory, as well as the islands of Daman and Diu further north, into the Indian union. The islands are still a union territory to this day (and thus administered through the capital of Delhi), while Goa held a referendum in 1967, in which its population elected to become India’s twenty-fifth state.

But as far as the cruisers are concerned, this particular port is of interest as a jumping-off point to the third world wonder on this leg of the overall world cruise; that of the Taj Mahal – at least, I thought so, since it would seem that some (many? Six busloads seems like a lot, really) cruisers have already headed there from our previous port stop in Kochi. However, the great mausoleum isn’t anywhere near Goa, but rather in Agra, some hundred miles south and east of Delhi. Those wishing to travel there would presumably be flying there and staying overnight for a day or two, before catching a second flight to meet up with the ship in Mumbai. At least, I would hope so, given the overland distance and the price being asked; traveling in a coach would be an interminable trip, considering how long it took to cover just over thirty miles yesterday; how much more time would it take to cover the fifteen hundred miles from Kochi to the Taj, or the thousand miles from Goa?

So with that option no longer available to me, I decided to simply stay in the area (as if I had a choice). My trip takes me up to Panjim,  one of India’s smallest cities and considered the most pleasant state capital (wait… by whom? This is what happens when I copy the ad copy, honey; sorry about this). Supposedly, we’ll be going through the market with our personal chef; I’ve no idea if we’ll be helping him pick out ingredients for lunch or some such, but we will be able to try some authentic local delicacies then, and I’ll do my best to find my reactions – because if a picture is worth a thousand words, how many are a series of moving pictures worth?

Regardless, honey, do keep an eye on me, and wish me luck. I’m sure I’m still going to need it.