So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Friday, February 20, 2009

Goa - Land of Plenty

By Ava Mason

Goa is known as the land of beaches but this small sun-kissed, west Indian state has much more to offer visitors.

Most roads in Goa are little more than a tarmac indication of the direction you can travel. They snake along the countryside with nothing more than an arbitrary nod towards modern engineering and road construction. Around blind corners, cows - exploiting their sacred status - wander across the road regardless of traffic, earning them the nickname from locals of "Goan Traffic Police". In its own way the road system works - allowing day-to-day work and travel with minimum fuss and maximum noise.

There is nowhere on earth quite as intriguing as India and few places on the sub-continent offer such an eclectic mix of colour and atmosphere as Goa. Perched on the west coast of India, with long sandy beaches down to the Arabian Sea, Goa has become India's land of plenty. Migrant workers seeking employment, Nepalese and Kashmiris selling ethnic goods to tourists and wealthier Indians buying second homes boost its population to nearly one and a half million.

A Colonial Past... A Portuguese colony until 1961, Goa has shaken off most of its European past, but a few colonial gems still remain. For the last few years in particular, Goa has been known as the land of wealthy with tourism firmly established. Visit a Goan beach resort and youll find a fascinating array of stalls and traders selling everything from ethnic jewellery to tacky souvenirs.

For most visitors to Goa, the main attractions are the bars and beaches - and they are superb " as well as the hunt for that elusive bargain souvenir. The Goan or Nepalese traders have years of experience of what "special price" really means. They have another quality - patience. Their stalls are set up with meticulous precision as part of an ordered daily ritual.

Spirited nightlife and tranquil hideaways... Goa offers everything from hedonistic moonlit beach parties to tranquil restaurants by the beach. Baga in the north is Goa's largest resort and the liveliest. Palolem is a tranquil haven with a picture postcard beach. Old Goa, the state's original capital, is an atmospheric town where you can take a day exploring the colonial villas and grand churches of its colonial heritage.

Life's a beach... Goa's fabulous beaches are its lifeblood. In early evening they come alive with activity as the local traders set up their stalls. Take a moment to enjoy the legendary Goan sunset and relax as the sun slips into the sparkling Arabian sea.

A glorious mix of Indian culture and European influences makes Goa a unique holiday destination. Set foot on its shores and you wont be disappointed.

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