When Feni and Fish Beckoned
Travel lets you meet new faces, taste different food, meet and experience new cultures. In the process, perspectives get broadened and we return refreshed, happy and learned! That's what Goa did to me.
Waiting at the Margaon railway station for the taxi, all I could think of was a plate of steaming hot rice and fish curry. The Goa in my mind was synonymous with coconut gravied fish curry. I decided ( without the slightest guilt or regret) to break the vegetarian diet I had been following for over a year to dig into the fish that Goa is famous for; and thus proclaimed my wish to my mother and sister, both staunch vegetarians. As I imagined myself tucking into a tasty fish curry rice dish, a colourfully dressed Goan family with backpacks and trolley bags, heading for probably a weekend vacation passed my sight.
After getting glimpses into the Goan way of life, I bet no fun loving person would ever let go of a chance to embrace it. The celebratory tone is evident from the way they dress, cook, eat and keep their houses. We were lucky to have Beulah aunty ( Amma's Goan friend) to accompany us through the whole day. Every nook and corner of her flat smacks of her creativity and talent. She introduced me and Irene to the much talked about drink of Goa-feni. Brewed from the cashew fruit, feni is the brainchild of a Portugese man who tinkered with the cashews that were cultivated in plenty in Goa.
The Portugese who made Goa their home for more than 400 years had left their imprints on art, architecture, religion and food. Built in the Portugese style, many of these houses that dot Fountainhans exuded a lost charm. With the blue, yellow painted villa with white frames, the potted plants, the creeping bougainvilla , the money plants in the Chinese pots and the white net curtains, the whole place breathed calmness and left me with a passion to build a home in Panjim near the beaches, just like Beaulah aunty who, as a young girl fell in love with the place and eventually settled in Goa.
Watching the sparkling sea in the night was overwhelming. The one hour boat cruse, though a little expensive was great fun. It took us to a world that we all dream to be a part of- A world that allows you to just sit back, relax and enjoy a drink, oblivious of all the worries of the world.
Colva beach which has the finest grain I have ever seen and famous for its water rides left me and Irene with a longing to explore paragliding and parasailing. We got tickets for a deep sea ride. As a person whose love affair with the beaches goes quite far ( I've spent hours staring at the sea and more hours enjoying the waves that splash on me).
Having romanced the sea only from its shore, I had no clue what it was to move farther into the sea. The experience of letting yourself sink in the sea waves was breathtaking. I was exhilarated and screamed out in full joy as we rode deeper, braving the turbulent waves.
Surrounded by the sea , I could sense the insignificance that my whole being holds to the marvelous waters around me.
We visited a couple of Churches, built by the Portuguese years back. I was awestruck by the sheer number of Churches that adorn the city of Goa with much pride. The more than 400 years old walls, the pillars, and the ceiling had different stories to tell- of faith and miracle.
Little did I know that there was much more to Goa than the beaches, colourful clothes, sea food, music and fun before exploring the place, even though the colour and the splash of fun is as integral a part as any other.
My love for exploring cultures never end and when it comes to Goa, it’s all the more special.
Waiting at the Margaon railway station for the taxi, all I could think of was a plate of steaming hot rice and fish curry. The Goa in my mind was synonymous with coconut gravied fish curry. I decided ( without the slightest guilt or regret) to break the vegetarian diet I had been following for over a year to dig into the fish that Goa is famous for; and thus proclaimed my wish to my mother and sister, both staunch vegetarians. As I imagined myself tucking into a tasty fish curry rice dish, a colourfully dressed Goan family with backpacks and trolley bags, heading for probably a weekend vacation passed my sight.
The whole atmosphere was welcoming and the coconut trees and the green fields made me wonder whether I was in Kerala.
Sitting in the moving black taxi, I let my eyes take in as much as it could. As we reached our hotel, the Goan culture that is rich and overwhelming had already gripped me. Stepping out of the car, the aroma wafting out from the nearby hotels stirred in nostalgia- of an old kitchen and memories of a grandmother who cooked delectable fish dishes. In the tiny restaurant we got into, I saw men and women indulging in different varieties of fish. Fish occupied a large portion of their lives. I particularly enjoyed the rava fried fish, though the fish curry appeared less spicy to my palate. The kokum juice, which should be had in the beginning of the meal was refreshing.
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| Goan Thali |
The Portugese who made Goa their home for more than 400 years had left their imprints on art, architecture, religion and food. Built in the Portugese style, many of these houses that dot Fountainhans exuded a lost charm. With the blue, yellow painted villa with white frames, the potted plants, the creeping bougainvilla , the money plants in the Chinese pots and the white net curtains, the whole place breathed calmness and left me with a passion to build a home in Panjim near the beaches, just like Beaulah aunty who, as a young girl fell in love with the place and eventually settled in Goa.
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| Fountainhans |
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| The Romance of Light and Colour |
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| Where the Dona Paula legend unfolded- Dona Paula Beach |
Colva beach which has the finest grain I have ever seen and famous for its water rides left me and Irene with a longing to explore paragliding and parasailing. We got tickets for a deep sea ride. As a person whose love affair with the beaches goes quite far ( I've spent hours staring at the sea and more hours enjoying the waves that splash on me).
Having romanced the sea only from its shore, I had no clue what it was to move farther into the sea. The experience of letting yourself sink in the sea waves was breathtaking. I was exhilarated and screamed out in full joy as we rode deeper, braving the turbulent waves.
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| Us and our shadows merged, as did the water and the sky |
A speck on its mighty shore.
A plaything that the sea could toss and turn.
The whim of the mighty molecules.
A plaything that the sea could toss and turn.
The whim of the mighty molecules.
We visited a couple of Churches, built by the Portuguese years back. I was awestruck by the sheer number of Churches that adorn the city of Goa with much pride. The more than 400 years old walls, the pillars, and the ceiling had different stories to tell- of faith and miracle.
My love for exploring cultures never end and when it comes to Goa, it’s all the more special.
Thanks to The
International Conference on the Culture of Food for bringing me to
the land of Feni and Fish.
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