Travelling to Goa, India; seeking advice

[johnsemlak]

So, anyway, I'm travelling to Goa, India for a 10-day vacation just after New Year. It's my first time to India, so I'd love some advice.

When travelling I prefer to relax in the cultural atmosphere, take in the sights, particularly historical architechture. I'm not much of a beach type, though obviously we chose Goa so we could spend a little time swimming.

Any advice? What's are some good things to try to see outside of Goa if time permits? I'd like to visit one of the larger cities like Mumbai or Bangalore if we can fit it in.

We'll be flying to Goa direct on a charter flight, not through any other city.

 

[HellHound]

I'v enever personally been to Goa, but I have a lot of friends who have, so I'm going from my memories of what they came back talking about.

Goa itself is a tourist trap, but underneath it you can find an amazing mutation of the old hippie culture combined with some of the newer rave culture. None of them really mentioned the beach except as a gathering place and a huge tourist market.

Its one of the few places in India where the poverty isn't overwhelming to a Western visitor.

Beyond that, I don't know what to add.

 

[mythusmage]

Two things to note.

1. Goa was one of Portugal's first colonial holdings.

2. Goa was one of Portugal's last colonial holdings.

It also took some doing for Portugal to get India to take Goa Back.

"Would you stop fussing over how we turn it over and just let us turn it over?"

(It is said that China refused to take Macao back because it was too corrupt. India refused to take Goa back because it wasn't corrupt enough.)

 

[johnsemlak]

bump

 

[talinthas]

Goa has some really beautiful churches and architecture, and a lot of great music. It's also really really touristy. I've never actually been, since it's far south of my own cultural homeland of Gujarat, but a lot of folks i know from Europe have gone there. This is definately the best time of year to go to india. Temperatures are pleasant and the monsoon has passed.

Going to Bombay (mumbai) from Goa is easy enough by air. I don't really recommend rail travel unless you're fluent in indian languages. Be warned, though. Mumbai is not nearly as clean or pleasant as goa. Bangalore is cleaner, but also duller. It's just another big tech city.

Honestly, if you can, go to Delhi instead. That way, you can at least see the Taj Mahal and other cool architecture.

I still love Bombay, though. It's incredibly imposing as a city, and really kind of awe-inspiring, as a giant edifice of humanity as opposed to something aesthetically pleasing. It's just incredibly dirty, and full of poverty and pollution. Great place to base a city campaign off of.

but who am i kidding? This is india, and everywhere you look is something you've never seen before.

 

[johnsemlak]

THanks talinthas, I was hoping you would drop by

I certainly understand that Delhi would be a more interesting place to visit than Mumbai or Bangalore, but we just don't have the time to give that region justice. I'm looking for a decent 2-day trip from Goa. I'll have to visit that area some other time I'm afraid.

I'm sure that India will be a culture shock for me and my wife, but I have plenty of experience travelling to countries with varying economies and I have seen plenty of poverty in my life.

You're not the only person to recommend agaisnt taking a train to Mumbai. I have experience travelling by rail in terra incognito, but it may be sound advice to fly instead. I've heard traffic to the airport there is incredibly bad.

I still love Bombay, though. It's incredibly imposing as a city, and really kind of awe-inspiring, as a giant edifice of humanity as opposed to something aesthetically pleasing. It's just incredibly dirty, and full of poverty and pollution. Great place to base a city campaign off of.

Makes me want to see it, that's for sure. Sounds like Moscow. It woudl make a good, appropriate contrast to Goa, from what it sounds like.