Sadly, the end of our holiday came around too quickly, as they do! The last week was spent simply enjoying life as a tourist – beach time, eating and drinking out, haggling with the beach market traders, taking a dip in the sea and enjoying reading a book in the shade.
Here’s a few images from our Last Farewell week……
The Last Supper with our new friend and Graham’s “adopted Indian Son” Joel….can you see the likeness????? 😄
The moment the Son was Adopted……
The last sighting of a local thong clad fisherman, apparently it stops chafing…..😁😁😁
Final night of watching bulls being washed and exercised on the beach
A regular daily view, cows crossing the roads
Our last sunset at Domnick’s beach bar……
Fishing families resting beside their boats…
Fish straight from the sea……you couldn’t get any fresher!
Beach dogs playing tag with the fishermen’s ropes, and around our dinner table. These 5 puppies were maybe 3 months old, and simply adorable 😍
We’ve met a lovely young man called Joel during our stay here, Graham has adopted him as his Indian son (because of their facial similarities) and David is his dancing partner!
We’ve met an aunt and uncle, brother and other family members and whilst talking to Joel we enquired as to his job, he’s in construction. Joel mentioned his cousin is the Director/owner of a drinks bottling plant and asked if we would like to have a factory tour. Graham plus David plus Alcohol = Definite Yes!!!
A few days later, we met Joel at midday and were introduced to Jay, a supervisor. Jay then took us to see the bottling, labelling and packing lines. Some 200 people were quietly working away (yes, it was surprisingly quiet) rhythmically checking each bottle after it has been filled, putting corks in and caps on, checking the label placement and finally being boxed up and packed ready for delivery.
Gin bottles being filledGin production on the left, rum on the rightLabelling machineQuality controlCorks inserted manually then pressure machines complete the job
The production lines that day were filling flavoured Breezer type drinks, gin and fullsized and minature of rum. David is a fan of the Old Monk rum so was particularly interested to watch the bottles being filled, checked, sealed, labelled and packaged.
Quality control is by eyeRum packaging areaRum bottles being filled automatically Minature bottles of rum go through the exact same processBefore being packed into boxes
We went into the storage area where massive stainless steel containers hold the raw products before it is pumped across to the bottling area.
The demineralisation plantRaw whiskey from Scotland
We saw barrels of imported scotch whiskey, waiting to be put into the bottling system. And we watched workers adding the alcopop syrup flavourings before being blended with the fizzy water which is made with demineralised water and gin to make Seltzer drinks.
A happy man mixing the flavoured syrup for SeltzersLooks like the Manager’s testing station! Quarter glass bottles of Old Munk Rum are collected and recycled as its cheaper than buying new. David and Graham were being shown the bottles, worked out the cost at about 2 p per bottle, 5p to buy new.
Afterwards we went up to the Boardroom for coffee and met Mrinal, the current owner and Director. His father started the business some 20 years ago and has expanded into Bosnia and southern India in Bangalore. Dad’s now happily retired.
He confirmed that all staff lodge nearby, work 8 to 5 with regular breaks, work for 2 to 3 years without a holiday (their choice) then go home for a few months with their money, so staff turnover is very low.
In the Boardroom, on display was an impressive selection of their products, lots of flavoured gins and vodkas, whiskies, brandies, port wines as well as rums, liqueurs and pre-mixed cocktails.
Such an interesting few hours, it was lovely to see happy workers, clean premises and the Awards that the company have won for their efforts. It almost felt like we were back at work but without the suits and ties, and the responsibility of course! Thank you to Joel and his cousin Mrinal.
We have just witnessed a weekend of chaotic Carnival festivities, but what good fun!!
On Saturday our local village Benaulim held it’s colourful carnival with about 15 floats passing by, completely decked out with their own 5000 megawatt noise systems! The main carnival started from Paniji the capital, then they amalgamated and over the next 3 days, toured other cities.
As the floats and their dancers passed by, it was hard to distinguish between the float hangers-on and general public, who were still trying to pass the procession in the narrow streets.
Earlier in the afternoon, a dozen traffic police (the blue markers show a traffic officer) were stood at a road junction where the parade was passing and initially we thought they would stop all traffic as it approached….but no! This is typical Indian madness. The traffic police blew whistles and held up their hands to stop scooters passing by…..and the riders totally ignored the police and carried on, whizzing round the officers and revving engines until the smell of two-stroke almost made us cough!!
As the first float went past, the road was filled with colourful youngsters on 100s of scooters, all smiling and waiting patiently to move on. The next float followed, as did another batch of youngsters and so it continued….until all floats ended up at the beach where they were judged before heading home.
On Sunday afternoon, we got a taxi into Margao, our nearest city, to watch an even bigger, noisier and more colourful parade! Most of the floats from Benaulim were in this parade but the rest were bigger, more spectacular, louder and more colourful….the noise from the speakers is indescribable, as each one passed, the next blended in, it was fantastic!!!
The floats were representative of local families or clubs and organisations, families that make wood products (furniture etc.), youth groups that look after the marine life, organisations that support collecting plastics from the beaches and the sea etc. Some were religious groups (church trailer and wedding dancers) and others were clubs like a modified car group, Lambretta scooter group or a dance school.
Another aspect that we found amazing was the involvement and support by youngsters, they were not afraid of dressing up, getting involved and participating in dances, unlike kids in the UK!
A great, but long, afternoon and evening was had, followed by a wonderful traditional Italian pizza meal, suggested by a lovely Goan man we have met several times in local bars!!
A mile long, crescent shaped, gently sloping beach with waterside shacks on stilts and low key restaurants, even a Silent Disco! Sounds and looks like Heaven…..
After lunch, we walked along the shores to one corner of the bay, gently stepping amongst the tiniest crabs ever, dipping our feet into water so warm you could bath in it and admiring the stillness and calming surroundings for a while.
Graham found some Indian notes in the water, real treasure!
An afternoon trip out to visit a temple proved that men, after all, can look good in skirts. How? You may ask…..
The Shanta Durga Mandir (above) is dedicated to Shantadurga Goddess and was built in 1738. The Shantadurga Goddess is a mediator between Gods Shiva (the Supreme Being in Hinduism) and Vishnu (The Preserver).
Diane and I entered the Temple after covering our knees with a wrap we had previously brought with us. We had to purchase another to cover Di’s shoulders, £1 later, fully covered, we entered. Met a lovely couple from London who were there for a blessing to help them find their perfect holiday home in Goa! Saw the gold and crystal chandeliers and the gifts left to the God’s whilst David and Graham sat outside.
After exiting, we met up with David and Graham who were sitting outside chatting to a local. Graham decided he wanted to take a look inside so donned the wrap, and off he went. Very fetching indeed!!
Buddha Graham!
Another day, we drove down the coast to an old hilltop Fort, Cabo de Rama, in use until the 1950s as a military Fort and subsequently a prison. Within the grounds is a small Chapel, the only remaining useable structure, but the walls and entrance gate are complete so it’s possible to walk all the way round. However, on this particular day, 35c sunshine meant we visited the main viewpoints only!
Graham and Di in the shade of a banyan treeOn one of the lookout towers Some of the old cannonsFort Gate and walls
Further on down the road we stopped at a viewpoint and WOW, what a stop! A fully sustaining eco resort perched on the side of the hill, with individual thatched bedrooms leading down to a stunning beach, and a restaurant with amazing views! We checked out the prices and availability and not surprising, it was pricey and well booked up!
View from the restaurant. Different! Rock face toilets! Bedrooms with Jacuzzis on the decksFresh coffee and Twinings Teas!
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