Off-peak travel on a budget..
by jethanand
Palolem Beach ...
Often, if you are on a budget, it pays to find out the peak season dates and plan to leave before the peak season hits. Both airlines and hotels vary their rates and are at their lowest duirng off-season. The difference in prices can be quite significant, plus I enjoy off-peak travel because the place is not so crowded.
In addition, if you are so inclined , you can negotiate a lower rate for your hotel room AFTER you have arrived. The way to do this would be to commit to only one day upon booking. On day one, your mission would be to find cheaper / better accomodations in the same area. You might even find very enjoyable and /or knowledgeable company this way.
Here are some reasons the hotel operators will lower the rate - they know that you are more familiar with competing hotels in the area, they have vacancies , they do not have to pay commissions to the booking agents for those additional days, they can also put you on their frequent visitor guest list for future visits. Friendly people, beaches, food, ...
COCONUT TREE
by pravdr
coconut tree(palms) is one of the most outstanding features of goan landscape.
you can see them swaying in different shapes and sizes.
cocus nucifera belongs to aracacea family and there are various subtypes. the two most common arethe indian variety which is tall and the southeast-asian variety which is short.
it is known as "KALPVRUKSHA" meaning the tree of life.
no part of the coconut tree goes waste.
coconut water is most refreshing eco drink in the tropics. the water can be fermented to produce liquor. the inner flesh of tender coconut is very delicious nutritious and may be u will skip a meal if you have one.
the other parts of coconut tree are used for making coir from which beds mattresses mats and ropes are made.the leaves are trimmed and can be made into brooms.
the trees are 50-80 feet tall and leaves are 15-18 feet in length.the leaves especially are useful for thatches roofs you see in many goan beachside shacks they help to absorb suns heat and keep the interiors cool.
dried cocnuts give a good yield of cocnut oil which is widely used as a cooking oil in indian kitchens. the sight of swaying palms and the gentle hiss on the beach is what makes me remember goa the most.
the cocnut trees presence in goa is omnipresent whether you are having a cool drink in a beach shack or having delicious konkani goan cuisine.
its gods own fruit and a boon for mankind
Soft drinks and Munchies
by ak47uk
There is an abundance of soft drinks all the favourites like Coke and Fanta and can be bought almost any-where. Mineral water is cheap and I recommend you also brush your teeth with it as tap water although clorinated in big hotels can still give you stomach problems, be careful when buying bottled water on the street make sure that the bottle top is secure because some vendors have a tendancy to refill bottles with tap water. The food in Goa ranges from curries to burgers in fact you can find a lot of food catering for the westener. Where curries are concerned be careful when you order because their version of hot is different to the western palate and hot means very hot so start with a mild curry and work your way up if needed although the Goans are getting used to the western diets. Rule of thumb is on the coast eat fish and in the countryside eat meat. Most of the places that you eat will have cutlery but if they don't put the food in your mouth using your right hand, because the left hand is used for other purposes!
Visit Goa-this absolutely...
by shalin
Visit Goa-this absolutely beautiful,blissful place which is like paradise!Everyone has this amazing zest for life and people are very friendly and talk English quite fluently!
Promise to post some pics soon:)This one's been taken from rediff.com
Local costume
by illumina
Women's dress in this part of India is a little different, as lots of particularly older women don't wear the sari. Their clothes are similar to costumes seen in Kerala and Hampi areas - they wear a long skirt and a blouse, with lots of bangles, necklaces and hair ornaments, with a shawl over their shoulders and head.
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the stranded boat at candolim
Dona Paula Beach
Cozy and Warm
Red flag in June
