The aircraft banked as it began to align for landing at Dabolim and I saw the breathtaking blue-green ocean, the palm fringed beaches and the endless coastline of golden sand. I was fortunate to encounter a Goan Taxi driver who offered me a "self-driven" car. When I found out that he spoke my dialect, I switched to rapid fire konkani. A deal was soon struck (the guy was so taken in by my ability in local lingo, that he forgot to take any form of security!) and I was driving a Baleno with Monsoon and Bryan, cruising thru' Goa' excellent roads.We checked in at "Santiago Resorts" and went out that evening to savor Goan cuisine at "Souza Lobo". I was more then content with the "Maad" (Coconut Fenny) and I guess my eyes showed it:-) The next day we toured Panjim, Miramar, Dona Paula, Vagator and of course Calangute. Bryan got a thrill out of parasailing and cresting the waves on a high speed water scooter. Our evenings were spent at a local bar and restaurant that had a one-man "live Band" playing goan folk songs that I had to translate for Monsoon and Bryan:-)
Our routine of sleeping long hours and sumptious meals coupled with my day & night "taka-tak fenny" made us all accumulate some "blubber" around the middle:-) When we reached the airport for our departure, I realized how much I loved my beloved Goa. I fondly reminisced about the long summer vacations I spent here with my brothers and sisters when we were all at school. The football matches, bathing at the local spring, drawing well-water, eating rice soup with mango pickle, Goan wedding banquets, village feast revelry and most of all, sitting on the floor with earthen cook-ware and eating dinner together under the light of a "Petromax" (Goa did not have electricity then). I did not know of any place in the world for a vacation other than Goa. Viva Goa!
