Goa, India
I cannot describe the delight Fierce and I felt when we pulled up to our Resort in Goa. Stone steps lead up to a semi open-aired reception with the hint of a pool just beyond. Someone brought a berry drink to welcome us which just added that light touch that says you can relax here.
After checking in, we walked through the pool area and little cottage-like rooms set up in a sort of u-turn shape until we found ours. All of the paths are lush with flowers and greenery. It's like a little oasis. Our room has everything we need and is just right, but we couldn't wait to "Do Not Pass Go" and get in the pool! Warm water welcomed my traveled self. Fierce made friends with a shy Russian boy and soon they were having epic water fights. Then an Indian boy saw the fun from afar and he was adorable to watch. At first he came down from his balcony overlooking the pool with his sister and played cricket in the yard with her. A bit later, he returned with his suit and was inching over to the boys. Finally, Fierce noticed and said, "Hi" and the rest was plain old fun for all three. The Russian boy had to go, but another Indian boy arrived and Fierce was in that pool for more than four hours. We sat down in the café next to the pool for dinner and half way through his chicken burger he fell asleep at the table! I think it was a good day. Thank you, Lord.
Day 2
We woke up with the sun today, enjoyed a delicious buffet breakfast and made our way to the private beach just across from the Sea Queen Resort. Bags, sandals and sun hat were placed on our blue and white striped towels. The first thing I noticed when the water rippled over my feet was that it was warm! Shocked, we went our further to meet some crashing waves. We jumped wave after wave. Then we surfed a few to the shore. It was a blast. Later, we rested on our towels for a bit and I watched the waves thunder in from left to right. Then we explored the shoreline for a while pointing out tiny sand crabs and other burrowing crestations. Fierce even found a fist sized crab shuffling to the right as his beady eyes winked goodbye to us. We headed for the pool next and hung out there for most of the sun drenched afternoon. It was an absolutely lovely day.
Day 3
I had the great idea to buy post cards. I don't want to say, I have never done this, but it's pretty rare. A taxi took me five minutes down the road to Colva and some little street shops. I couldn't find a single one until a lady said she would call the guy from the shop next door. He came, opened his shop and let me look through his stacks of post cards all from the 70's. I kinda loved the whole crazy thing. I suppose most people don't really buy them anymore. Regardless, someone was willing to open their shop just for me and my request of antiquity. I filled them out back at the resort. There is a covered area with little lunch tables and I only had two more to write when a woman said "Hi" and in a few minutes Carmen and I were enjoying an Indian appetizer. She is from Switzerland so of course I let her know Fierce and I had just been there recently and it was one of our favorite countries we visited on that trip. She also gave me some gut health pills for Fierce since he hasn't felt well today. She was absolutely the sweetest.
Day 4
Fierce came down for breakfast, but didn't stay long and took a plate of bananas, toast and steamed rice back to the room. The Sea Queen staff made that especially for him. Every single staff member we have met has been incredibly kind and goes out of their way to be helpful. After Fierce left, his Russian friend came in with his family and sat at the table behind me. I talked to his friend's mom, Kate, for a while and she recommended and then gave me a stomach bug medicine as well. We have met the nicest people here. While Fierce took a nap later that afternoon, I ran to the post office to send my post cards. Honestly, when I got out of the taxi, I asked where it was, because it really wasn't apparent. Inside the semi-open aired nook, I was able to make my purchase. When I saw the stamps, my smile lit up my face. They were the old perforated paper type with the portrait of Mother Theresa! What a sweet little bit of goodness to light up the day.
Back at the resort Fierce watched Mark Rober Crunch Labs-the very anticipated new season. I left him to it and then painted some flowers near the pool area. Carmen stopped by again and we enjoyed a conversation like we were old friends. Fierce seems to be doing better, and we are both enjoying life being dialed down. It feels like God has sent people from all over the globe to hug us these past few days. What a blessing.
Day 5
Fierce woke up chattier than ever and said he was feeling good. I didn't have a plan past breakfast and asked the Lord for a really fun day. We saw our Russian friends at the buffet and they invited us to join them at the beach. A half an hour later they were showing us where to find boards to surf the waves. The boys were in their glory. Even the adults took a couple of turns and it was so much fun. Fierce smiled the whole wave into shore and kept running back for more. We sat under umbrellas later and ordered appetizers. I got the boys virgin pina coladas which seemed to add just a little sparkle to the already wonderful day. Afterwards, the boys built sand castles and then our friends suggested we go back to the resort to play an Indian game. It was called Carrom and although it's on a square card table, the rules are a lot like pool. You flick a round chip against others and try to get your color in the corners of the table where they fall through a hole into a net. Their family even got everyone some Indian flavored ice cream, which included cashew, pistachio, fruit punch, muskmelon and pineapple-Yum! We kept the fun going and jumped in the pool for a bit which felt amazing after being in the salt water earlier.
Then they invited us to go fishing. We walked just a few feet down the road, back towards the beach and to a very small river. There was a tiny bridge where a shrine to Mary and baby Jesus stood decorated in a necklace of marigolds. A few locals were fishing with bamboo sticks and just dropping down their lines with hooks on the ends. They caught several small fish while we were walking up. Unfortunately, Fierce's sunburn was starting to bug him, so he and I left our friends to enjoy their fishing adventure. I would never have thought of doing that or even known it was there to do, so I am super glad to have experienced fishing with the locals even just for a short time.
Back at the resort, Fierce saw his Indian friend in the pool and wanted to jump in as well, so I relaxed on a bench and got a cappachino. We basically closed the pool down and then fell asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillows. Thanks for such a beautiful gift of a day, Lord.
Day 6
Today we totally relaxed. We had a delicious breakfast complete with Indian Chai Tea. It's made from cardimun seeds. This spice is balanced with warm milk and sugar. I could be persuaded to replace my coffee adiction with it...that is saying something. Fierce and I sat under the canopy by the pool afterwards. I painted and then Carmen came to visit for a while. She loves animals and when a grasshopper hopped on her arm, I grabbed a quick photo. At some point, Fierce went back to the room and I decided to see if the local greenhouse had any marigold seeds. The taxi driver thought I was crazy..."Why don't you buy them online?" I laughed, "Because then, the seeds wouldn't be from India!" He made sure that I understood that he didn't think we would find any and I reassured him that was ok. The first stall was a flower stand and no luck. The second stop was a greenhouse. They didn't have any seeds, but they did have some adorable little plant pots so I said that is a great souvenir substitute. The taxi driver took my picture and I think I won 'craziest tourist award' for the week and maybe month.
Later in the afternoon, Fierce and I decided to say goodbye to the ocean by walking to beach and searching for seashells and crabs. They wash ashore and it's cute to watch the crabs run sideways back into the ocean while the muscles tip themselves onto their edges and then burrow into the sand right. There are hundreds of these shells for every step you take. There is so much life even in the sand under your feet, you kind of root for them as they run for cover. Fierce and I have enjoyed our time in Goa. It's been a darling of a place. If you ever find yourself throwing a dart on the map and hit Goa, check out the Sea Queen Resort. 5 Stars.
