Goa is famous for its beaches. Once past the estuaries of the Mandovi and Zuari Rivers, the beaches stretch abt 25 km north to the border with Maharashtra and abt 50 km south to the border with Karnataka - and continue well beyond that in both directions. The beaches just north of Panjim are very touristy, lots of tour groups, backpackers, trinket shops, stalls etc etc. The southern beaches are less populated but every so often have 5 star resorts - Hyatt, Leela, Taj and others. Palolem to the far south is a popular backpacker beach. The beach above is Morjim Beach - more later.

The south end of Palolem Beach.

Apparently creating nativity scenes is very typical. This was at the beach resort we stayed at on Palolem Beach.

Our beach shack on Palolem Beach. Basic but with self contained bathroom and toilet, very acceptable.

Palolem beach Christmas day. Christmas eve is a big event and this staff member obviously got into the swing of the event. Shortly thereafter, both carolyn and I were kissed, yes kissed, by a heavy mustached and very beer smelling other staff guy. It must have been a great party.

"River Princess"

Fort Argua beach unfortunately has the sight of the grounded "River Princess" just off its nice beach. After 3 years, the Govenrment is still unable to have it removed.

Far North beach

This beach is on the border with Maharashta

Beach Shack Eating

A popular Sunday pastime is driving south or north to a beautiful beaches. The Mandovi and Zuari Rivers form a huge delta so you need to drive about 40 minutes to get to the beaches which then stretch forever. No real surf but walk-straight-into warm water. After a swim, then partake of a fresh fish, crab, mussel, calamari or prawn lunch washed down with the odd Kingfisher beer. Another swim then back to the real world for another week.

Morjim Beach

45 mins from Panjim, across the Chapora River is Morjim Beach. Until a bridge across the river was completed late 2002, this was an isolated beach with local fisherman, leftover hippies from the '60's and a few backpackers. It has a few beach restaurants, the Olive Ridley (named after the turtles that nest on the beach) is shown at the top.

It has a large fishing fleet, 2 of the boats shown here.

Deans at Lunch

Lunch at the Olive Ridley - oven grilled rock fish, calamari, greek salad and Kingfisher beer - total R740 or abt A$25, an expensive lunch.

A very large percentage of the fisherman are Catholics and shrines on beaches are common.

The local was using extremely light gear - bamboo with a fixed line - and was catching fish about 40 to 50 mm long.

Palolem Beach

Palolem beach is about 45 mins south of Panjim. Carolyn and Fran Turland shown. Rick Turland is Project Manger for the construction of a massive naval base at Kawa, just across the state border in Karnataka. Amanda and Felicity Turland were at school together in Hong Kong. It's a small world.