Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Everybody loves Goa - Grandeur of the Altars

lourdes

The altars and consoles in each one of the church are a delight.
Above is the statue of the lady of dolores (pain) at Se cathedral. It had a mysterious element to the whole setup










light

This is the wing entrance of Se Cathedral, A solitary candle glowing in the foreground of two majestic altars.















heavensgold

An angled shot filled with grandeur of one of the altar at St. Catherine Chapel, the walls are adored with intricately made and painted ceramic tiles and colourful canvas decipting the cross with abuntant gold thrown in.














confessions

A collage of the Picture of Jesus christ and The lady of dolores adorned in the Se Cathedral.










varses

Taken in the Bom Jesus Basilica this blue tile was embedded in one of the pillars of the Basilica. The contrasting colors of Blue, metal and beige was an instant pull












throneover

The altar at the famous Bom Jesus Basilica, The teak chair on the red carpet



























almighty

The most grandest of the altars, this three level altar is at the Bom Jesus basilica,
A very similar photograph was recently featured in the Incredible India ad campaign.












thesecondchurch

Above is the main altar of the Se Cathedral.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Everybody loves Goa - Chapels, Churches, Cathedrals




the corridor window redone

Old Goa - declared the world heriage site, it has numerous chapels ,churches and cathedrals. Every one of it is unique and leaves you spell bound. You can spend an entire day marvelling the architecture and the history it holds. Would be ideal to visit it in the monsoons.

(above)the archways along the corridors on either side of the Se Cathedral.








stairway

(above) Holy Spirit Church, Panaji. Located in the heart of the city this is the local's church where i found a schedule for a Portugese service too. Traffic flows right in front of it and you have benches placed on the divider overlooking the church where you can spend some time looking at it. It looks better when its lit in the nights.















worldheritage

(above) The complex which houses the Se cathedral and St.Catherine chapel under the archeological survey of India.











gnsand

front of the Catherine chapel, a startling contrast of cannon barrels and the cross.
















bascilcaofbom

the steeple of the most famous church


















chapelacross



Friday, November 03, 2006

Everybody loves Goa - commercial tourism

GOA, the hippy haven of india. it beckons you.
a big beautiful village with numerous beautiful beaches and bunglows.
time in months is what you need to experience the magic of the entire stretch of Goa.It keeps calling you back


fleaonthesea

the flea market at anjuna beach opens every wednesday. the varied colored displays








fleawitme

the shop keepers wooing the tourists with the abuntant junk jewellery and accessories.
i was asked to luk at one of the display, i liked a bead chain, asked how much, 75 she said, no way i said, she insists, ask for 10, accepts! so " bargain is the mantra."
wit this experience i head to a diff shop and get two bead chains for 15 rs. good timepass!










watchalukinat

looking at the sea?
numerous beach chairs dot the beach at Baga. and you need to pay to sit in there.

















shoparoundthecorner















saltsealime













stilstanding


you sense a very casual feeling all around you. No one is in a hurry and everyone seems to be having a vacation, be it the tourists or the goans themselves. No matter to what extent it mite be exploited or commercialized, but still in there lingers, the aura of Goa that still needs to be discovered. You are what you want to be, to stand alone or get lost in the crowd. to drive the narrow lanes or walk along the shore. to read a book or to swim in the warm sea, to eat or meditate. to sleep or see the sun set. you live a life here.

Goa is split into north goa, south and old goa.
North goa has for ages been the most sought out destination which includes beaches
candolim, baga, calangute, anjuna and vagator.

old goa houses the churches which are declared to be a world heritage mounument.

South goa is more calmer and the beaches start from colva all the way to Palolem.