27Mar Goa, India

Old Goa is UNESCO Heritage listed city for its Portuguese influenced historic Cathedrals and Churches.

Due to tidal changes, we had to leave the port at 3pm.

Greg, Renee and I hired a taxi and tried to make the most out of relatively shorter day.

We were soon on the road after short discussion and negotiation with a taxi driver at the pier.

Suraj the taxi driver took us to Old Goa first to see the most famous Cathedral Bom Jesus.

We were there 2 years ago but Renee has not been here.

Suraj locked his car with car key inside when we returned from the Cathedral.

He was embarrassed and apologetic.

Half an hour later, key arrived like a magic and we were on the road again.

He took us to Tropical Spice Plantation located in a small valley with lush tropical rainforest and swampy lakeside.

Cows, buffalos, elephants and white herons are scattered on the edge of the lake.

First we were welcomed with red dot on our forehead and flower lace.

Hot tea made of fresh ginger with other herbs was quite nice.

We were grouped with a couple from Britain and another couple from Sweden.

Plantation guide took us into lush plantation and showed us all different herbs and spice trees.

Those are pepper corns, vanilla pods, beetle nut tree, cashew nut tree, cinnamon tree, nutmeg tree, clove tree, turmeric tree and root, love apple tree, Indian basil, piri piri the hot chili, lemon grass, curry leaves, bay leaves and many more exotic Indian herbs and trees.

We were baptized (?) with very cold holy water on our back neck when we finished spice tour.

We later realized that the small entrance fee we had paid included a lunch buffet.

Few different curry dishes, dal, kurma, masala, poppadum, pickles were good enough to go for seconds.

We found it interesting that the disposable plates we used are made of dried palm tree flower cover.

Complimentary cashew nut wine tasted like vodka and served in a bottle made of coconut shell.

Indian King Fisher beer was cool and nice.

There was couple of elephants for tourists who want to ride around the plantation farm but we did not have time for it.

Suraj was driving back to the ship almost like lunatic but in his best skill to avoid any accident as we were running out of time.

We all were just amazed and laughing, the way of driving in this incredible country.

We were very happy to be on board on time although we were not worried that we would miss the ship. ^^

A Hindu temple in Vasco da Gama where the ship docked on the way to Old Goa

Bom Jesus Cathedral in Old Goa

Inside the Cathedral

One of many churches and museum in Old Goa

Tropical Spice Plantation Entrance

Ginger tea was quite nice.

Family of buffalo

Very fresh Pepper Corns

Indian legal drug, Beetle Nut tree

Process of cashew nut seems very complicated and highly elaborate

Recipe for Beetle Nut snack with herbs rolled in sweet tree leaf. Chewing it can give people a high like a drug

Top end right are couple of cashew nut fruits. One nut from one fruit. That is the reason why cashew nuts are expensive.

Below right are cigarette rolled in dried banana leaves for sale

Never heard of this fruits called Love Apples

Cinnamon tree

Clove tree

Vanilla vine climbing on a big tree trunk. Vanilla is the second most expensive spice followed by Saffron as it needs to be germinated by human hand one by one. It is usually a job of humming bird.

Turmeric tree

Lunch buffet

Cashew nut wine

Yum ^^

Playing with elephant