Living in Goa: 2009

Trip to Chapora Fort

Finally, the jinx associated with my blog is broken. If I had enough time, I would have probably blogged more often. But I am not complaining. This is any day better than posting one blog per year.

Okay! So, today's posting is about our trip to the Chapora Fort. I am a little late in posting this. The trip was actually made on the 13^th of September '09 (Sunday).

The Chapora Fort became popular after the movie "Dil Chahta Hai". Since that movie the fort has had many visitors - Tourists & Goans alike. I've been to this fort before, however, this time I saw that there were quite a number of couples who had come to watch the sunset. And what a beautiful sunset it was!

We left in the afternoon after lunch. We stopped in Verem to grab a couple of cans of Kingfisher draught. We went by the Reis-Magos Fort. The view of Panjim from the other side of the Mandovi River is quite beautiful. We made a lot of stops on the way and reached Chapora in the evening. We had arrived just in time for the sunset. The effect was magical. The sky was a palette of pastel colours.

We left from Chapora at around 1930hrs. Below are some photos that were taken en-route to Chapora and from inside the fort.

A far view of the Mandovi bridge.
Photo taken from near the Reis-Magos lighthouse.

A close-up of the Mandovi bridge with the two off-shore Casinos.

That's Deepak & Me.

Hmm....

I think that's the Goa Marriott's on the other side.

A. I. R. Tower

Deepak & Me, again!

Riding along the Mandovi coast.

Our first look of the Tata Nano.... outside a showroom!

This bridge is on the road that leads to Candolim, Sinquerim beaches.

Finish it off Deepak!

This Temple was on one side of the bridge and there was a Church on the other.

Close-up!

"Ain't that the truth, now?"
Found this painting in one of the bars near the Chapora jetty.

The Chapora Fort.

View from the Fort.

No Comments!

So in love with the can...

The entrance to the fort. From inside.

Looking south towards Vagator...

Looking north towards Morjim...

THE ROUTE
Airport - Cortalim - Agacaim - Goa-Velha - Bambolim - Mandovi Bridge - Reis-Magos lighthouse - Candolim - Calangute - Baga - Chapora

Please click on the image for a full view.

Aldona, Divar Island & St. Jacinto Island

In the past 2 months, we (Deepak & I) have roamed around some more places in Goa. We’ve been to Aldona, Divar Island & St. Jacinto Island. Away from the cities, the trip to Aldona & Divar Island was a treat. St. Jacinto is also a good place. It’s just that St. Jacinto is a small island and there isn’t much of roaming to do. But the view all around is great. We just went to the lighthouse on the top of the island.

The photos below were taken from the lighthouse on top of the St. Jacinto Island. We were sitting in the lighthouse and listening to the breeze whistling through the palm trees, accompanied by the sound of waves crashing on the rocks far below. It looked like it would start pouring any time, but it didn't. We stayed there till 7pm.

Saturday, 15^th August, 2009

Seeing between the rails. You can barely make out the plane going in for a landing.

The path leading up to the lighthouse. After the rains it's even more difficult to go through.

The view to the south-west.

Looking West - When the tide is low, people from around this place go to the small island to collect/pick shell-fish.

North-east - There's a Church hidden between the trees.

Looking west, towards the port, from between the rails.

Framed! From inside the lighthouse.

Demonhole! :-)
Our way out.

Another view! Though it is all rusty and broken in places, it is still strong enough!

Looking up!
Deepak, posing for the camera.

Sunday, 09^th August, 2009
As usual, with no particular plan in mind, we just set out...
We went to Divar Island & returned in the evening.

This Church is behind the Archeological Museum. Had never been here before.

Through the trees...

A close-up! With Deepak at the entrance.

Deepak Again!

There was nothing inside the Church!

Hmm... Nothing!

I like this photo...

The Ferry Point!

The Divar Ferry!

Listening to music and waiting for the ferry to come back...

Caught in the Act!
Just as the ferry was leaving with us onboard, I saw these three tourists. The scene was funny: The lady taking a photo of the board (which is not funny!), the guy squatting to take a photo of the ferry leaving and the dog stretching itself at that very moment :-)
Okay, fine! Maybe it's not that funny after all.

Tough Luck! - Young Anglers.

Old Goa. As seen from Divar.

Close-ups!

I think that is the St. Augustin's tower, but I am not so sure.

The Church on Divar Island.

Religious Harmony.

Close-up!

The Cross opposite the Church.

What's with cemetery entrances? The wording on the entrance is so ominous.
Roughly translated: I am waiting for you.

Roman Columns.
Ha... Ha... Ha...

I think this is the only place in the whole of Goa where the old Portuguese-Goan heritage and culture still lives on.

Paddy fields on Divar Island.

St. Mathias Church.

Talk to the stone!

The Cross facing the Church

Hmm... This one is okay!

Twilight!

Sunday, 12^th July, 2009

We set out with 20 packets of candles and stopped at most Crosses/Chapels/Churches. This trip was planned only to go to these particular places where we intended to light candles. But we ended up going to Aldona. Rode all the way in the rains.