Hi again!

I am going to Goa next October and have a few questions if anybody could help answering I woul apreciate it.

1- Is it possible to hire a guide for the day to take us around like we can do in other places such as Bali, Thailand, etc? If so , can you recommend someone or should I ask for a guide at the hotel ( I am staying at the Taj Holiday Village).

2 - I would love to go to the Anjuna Market but it's on wendesdays I am am arriving and leaving Goa on wendesdays. I can't go on the day I leave because my flight will be early in the morning.
My arrival flight in Goa will be at 1.30 pm.
My question is: until what time is the Anjuna Market open? Is it possible to arrive at the hotel and take a taxi to the market after the transfer and check in? Do I have the time to make it to the market still or is this too much to do? I don't know how long it takes from the Taj Holiday Village to Anjuna also or if the Market will still be open by that time.

3 - Besides Panjim and Old Goa where should I also go? I don't plan to stick at the resort , I want to get to know Goa. And , being Portuguese, though I want to see the Portuguese and catholic churches, I am far more interested in seing the Indian side of Goa. What do you recommend me to do or go to? Would also like to see hindu temples.

Thank you so much in advace.

Teresa

some help here?

Hi, we were just in Goa in March...Yes, you can hire a driver for the day to take you around, but they aren't that cheap...for example, we had a driver to take us to Old Goa, Panjim, Mapasa and we paid around Rs, 500 for i believe it was 3 or 4 hours total.

Drivers are everywhere, so there is no panic..I know of a good driver, but at the moment do not have his card available, but if i find it, will let u know.

I can't remember what time Anjuna Market is open til..but i think we went around noon and stayed til about 4...It was very hot that day..Do a search on google and u should be able to find out how late it is open til..It is not the end of the world if u can't make it..Although if u can make it work, i am sure u will enjoy it..

Other options for markets is Ingos Saturday evening market and the Market at Mapasa, which i believe is all day Friday..

Although we were in Goa for 2 weeks..we were visiting friends, so we did not do alot of touring..therefore i am not sure about Hindu things..This part of India is not Hindu, but i am sure u pick up a guide book, or search on google, you will be able to find out.

Another fun things is to take a boat trip for the day and go dolphin watching..

Also take in a Bollywood Film at the Inox in Panjim..a great way to spend the evening..there is a great Portugese Restuarant that we went to..but again, would have to look through my notes to tell u the name, and would be happy to if u are interested.

Alot of people take an over night trip to the ruins of Hampi...we did not do that, as it was our third trip to India. and we went to Goa for visiting and relaxation..but next time we visit goa will, try and get there.

If u need more expertise advice, why don't u try out www.indiamike.com or http://www.theindiatree.com/forum2/

I currently keep in contact with a friend in Goa and if u have anymore questions, i can always email him, as he has lived in Goa his whole life.

Have fun and we are probably going back to goa this year,

Tracy

1) Yes, it is possible to hire a guide. But I suggest that you get a recommendation for a guide from the Taj Holiday Village itself.

2) Assuming your flight arrives into Goa on time at 1:30 pm, and you have a car pick-up arranged, you should be at the Taj Holiday Village by 2:30-3:00 pm. Anjuna is a short drive from there (about 15-20 mins). I think you will easily make it. I personally think this flea market is overhyped. You will probably enjoy the Friday Mapusa market more (it is authentically Goan).

3) Besides Panjim and Old Goa there is a whole array of things to see in Goa! Go to the hinterland of the Ponda taluka (district) and see the Hindu temples (the idols were reinstalled in these remote hilly areas after the Portuguese sacked and powderised all the coastal temples). In particular go to Tambdi Surla and see the magnificent 12th C temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. It escaped detection (and hence survived) only due to its remote jungle location. Travel south and into the interior talukas of Sanguem and Canacona - there are widlife sanctuaries in both. You can also pay a visit to one of the spice plantations (they serve excellent Goan food there, but you have to call a day in advance and let them know you're coming). From Old Goa go to the island of Divar, and then proceed inland along the Mandovi river - it is quite magical and outside the main tourist circuit.

The problem these days is - most tourists, Indian and foreign, coming to Goa think it is only churches and beaches. The real Goa can be an entire different kettle of fish (speaking of which, don't forget to sample Goa's world-class fish cuisine - try the Riorico restaurant at Hotel Mandovi in Panjim; you'll also find some Portuguese items there, eg. Calde Verde soup).

I am ready for more questions

Tracy,

Goa is 72% Hindu, and has ALWAYS been a Hindu majority state. As I said earlier, much misinformation persists about Goa.

hmmm Agtoau..that is interesting, i did not know that.Guess i shouldn't have said anything...Goa just doesn't have that Hindu feel to it i guess like the rest of India i have been to, so thanks for clarifying that for me..

And i do agree with you that the Friday Mapusa market is much better than Anjuna..but am also glad that we went to Anjuna, cause i have always read so much about it....We are going back to Goa this year and hope to see some of the off the beaten track things..But there is only so much you can do in 2 weeks..

Do u live in Goa btw???

Tracy,

I'm Goan, born and raised there, but I currently live in California.

If you didn't get a "Hindu feel" in Goa, all I can say is, you must have moved in very limited circles, perhaps mostly in the coastal area around Calangute/Anjuna which has a predominantly Catholic population.

Not only is Goa majority Hindu, the Goan Hindu tradition is very ancient (Goa used to be known at one time as the "coastal Varanasi&quot and has a very colourful past, the savagery and religious intolerance of the early Portuguese notwithstanding (think Goa Inquisition). Virtually all of the Christians in Goa are Hindu converts, and they retain many elements of their Hindu cultural past.

Appearances can be deceptive, more so when one is a tourist (note: I do not mean this as a negative remark against you).

Thank you both so much for your helpful information

Tracy, I saw your pictures of Goa, I think you posted them here some time ago. Lovely! Actually I read all your India reports as I plan this trip to Goa to be the first of my India trips. I also want to do the Rajasthan and Kerala. I am also thinking of using Imaginatice Traveller, I have their brochure and they seem to have pretty nice tours! How did you like your hotels with them, both in Northern India and Kerala?

Agtoau: I just bought a Rough Guide to Goa and began reading it. I had no idea most of Goa's population was Hindu until I read it on the guide before I saw you posted it. The pictures we see from Goa include mostly the catholic churches, it's hard to get a picture of hindu temples.
The Ponda area is the best one to see them isn't it? That's exactly what they say in the guide.

I guess you're right, most people who go to Goa, go mainly for the beaches. That's not what I plan to do. The hindu culture atracts me a lot and though I don't disregard to spend some hours at a beach one of the days of my stay ,I am looking for much more than that in Goa.
The visit to a spice plantation and having lunch there is also a must for me. I've seen it on Travel Chanel and I knew I had to do it !

Just one more thing that's intriguing me. Is it necessary to take malaria pills to go to Goa? The guide advises it but I never though of it, do you think it's necessary? Did you take any malaria pills when you went to Goa, Tracy?

As for the markets, I think I am skipping the Anjuna market then, and will go to Mapusa on friday? Besides food, do they sell crafts there? And the Ingo night market, is it still worth going, after visiting the Mapusa market?

Sorry for the so many questions and thank you so much for your help

Teresa

Tere..Imaginative Trav'ller Hotels are really decent..No complaints at all..Some of them are heritage hotels and are incredible..

Yes we took Malerone when going to Goa, and i do believe it is required..I would not travel anywhere in India without malaria pills..But it is up to u..Some do and some don't..

Mapusa market has a bit of everything and is much more local than Anjuna..Ingos market is kind of a tourist trap, but i found it somewhat enjoyable..as it is in the evening..so there is loud music playing everywhere..good food, interesting people and just ton's to buy and look at..I did not buy a thing, but did have a good time looking around..

We are planning on visiting Goa again late this year and hope to venture out of the commercial area...Because we went to visit friends whom lived near Candolim..we did most of our things in that area...

Never feel bad about asking so many questions..how else u gonna find out!!!

Teresa,

Re. malaria pills - I think you would be wise to take them. Consult your doctor.

You could visit the Savoi Plantation (http://www.savoiplantation.com) in the beautiful hamlet of Savoi-Verem. One caveat: when you hire a taxi, know your destination in advance. Do NOT let your taxi driver give you recommendations or steer you to any particular shops or restaurants or sites, because he will invariably take you to those places where he gets a commission. This includes the plantations.

Yes, the Ponda district is the religious epicentre for the Goan Hindus- the temples of Shantadura, Mangesh and Ramnath are particularly well-known. This area has also given India some of its most extraordinary musicians (for instance, Kesarbai Kerkar. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surashri_Kesarbai_Kerkar). You must also go to Tambdi Surla, which is around 30-40 mins further out from Ponda (for some pictures, see http://www.parrikar.org/images/Goa/index.html).

Well, such good tips for my trip to Goa! thanks Tracy and Agtoau for all your help. I am going to ask my doctor what she thinks about me taking the malaria pills.Ouch1 I hate medicines.
Anyway ,hopefully nothing will spoil my trip. I am very excited and really looking forward to it!

Teresa

Tere...as someone else said..never be ashamed to ask. I don't know where you are coming from ...but in my opinion drivers and guides are "cheap as chips." We found some of the beach areas spiled by British tourists...so stay there by all means...it is beautiful..but get off the beaten track now and then. You will have a lovely time and the food is wonderful! I would o again in a heartbeat.

Hi agtoau
Visited Goa - Jan 2006.
So much to absorb but had a very short stay.
We certainly enjoyed the seafood esp. the prawns.
Anjuna market was wonderful - vibey atmosphere.
Our driver went off the beaten track and we passed small villages and visited a few temples as well.
Being Hindu we appreciated the temples for the beauty and serenity.

YOu could also consider visiting the Dudhsagar Falls. I did it on a day trip organized by http://www.goa-tourism.com/ but you could do it with a car and driver - although the last part I think we needed a jeep.