We left our hotel this morning for the long drive to the airport. We drove through the gleaming city of new Mumbai and the gracious city of colonial Bombay. We passed by dark makeshift slums and bustling construction sites. Parks, people, traffic. Amazing architecture, both old and new. At one point, we drove on a glorious new bridge jutting out over the sea, bypassing the frenzy of city traffic.
The airport was confusing and security was very thorough: let's just say that Indian airport security puts the TSA to shame. Thank goodness for Uttam, our wonderful escort, who got us through all the way to Goa.
Goa is definitely tropical India, our first experience with this climate. It is hot and humid! While we have seen a few palm trees here and there in other areas, Goa is primarily carpeted in palms, growing densely into a kind of jungle forest. The ground is sandy and scrubby, and tropical flowers are blooming everywhere. Riotously bright hibiscus, some in colors and shapes I've never seen before. Birds of paradise in orange and red. Jasmine, second only in gorgeous scent to the massive blooms of plumeria on the trees--the thick dense perfume of plumeria is all around us.
Goa looks different from the rest of what we've seen of India not only because of the nature, but because of the buildings as well. This area of India was originally colonized by the Portuguese, and they have left their legacy on the architecture. Houses here have long balconies and porches with white pillars. They are plastered, with inlaid patterns, and have terra cotta tile roofs. And they are painted in bright tropical colors: yellows and oranges and blues and shocking lime green. It looks quite like Brazil, which isn't surprising. Amidst the colorful houses, some of which are a little run down, are a lot of open sided palm thatched huts, which house many of the local fishermen and their families. The little towns look slightly more European than elsewhere on India, although they are unmistakably Indian.
Our hotel is right by the beach. The sand is golden-red, the beach is wide and long and filled with nature. The waves crash large here, and we can hear the roar constantly. The water is warmer than the air, and is shallow to the waist for a long way out. It is a beautiful beach--and in case we ever forget that we are in India, every now and then a massive water buffalo walks by.
We've had some free time this afternoon and students have been swimming and playing in the waves. All is peaceful and beautiful in this lovely tropical place. In fact, I'm writing this from the beach, watching the golden sun set over the shimmering sea.
Why am I still blogging??
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