Goa is the perfect place to get some relaxation away for a while from busy, busy, busy India ! Four hundred and fifty years of Portuguese domination left its mark - but not as much as one would imagine for four hundred and fifty years. The result is an exciting mix of Indian and Occidental and a unique interdependence of the two ways. It is quite common to see hindu women in bright saris accompany their catholic neighbours to church on a Sunday.
Goa is also a place with beautiful old houses, made in the Portugese colonial style, but heavily influenced by Indian features. These whitewashed buildings dot the countryside - some are lived in, some not, some solidly alive, others barely still standing. This is the one aspect that we was particularly involved with over the past two years since we began to renovate Siolim House. Goan houses are practical homes made for large families that began in a purer colonial style but then slowly adapted to India and proving a setting for typically Goan Susegad, which is a Goan term that tries to describe relaxation in a uniquely Goan way, and that, unfortunately, few others have in their vocabulary. |
