GOA - INTRODUCTION Curving down the west coast of India like an Arabian scimitar across miles of su n-drenched beach

and dazzling waters of azure, lies a heaven called Goa. If word s were to describe Goa, they would be hopelessly inadequate. However, itll suffic e to say that somewhere out there, playing hide and seek with itinerant traveler s is a cosmopolitan tourist-oriented place. Goa in many ways is the perfect intr oduction to a country that, elsewhere, can be very challenging. A holiday makers p aradise Goa is dotted with its sunlit beaches, green hills, silvery waterways, w aterfalls, and lakes that are now being re-discovered continuously. The gift of nature has endowed Goa with enchanting loveliness and idyllic serenity. Its cult ure a unique blend of the Indian and Portuguese, laced with Algerian, and the Goan spirit of laughter, good fellowship and song. Besides a long and checkered histo ry, Goa reflects in its monuments, churches, temples, forts, its colorful festiv als throughout the year, music, cuisine, and even a distinct style of livinga har monious blending of the East and West. A solitary Portuguese outpost in India fo r almost 500 years, the influence of colonial rule can still be seen everywhere: in the exquisite, crumbling architecture; in the East-meets-West cuisine which combines coconut milk, palm vinegar and chillies with the refined flavors of Lisb on; Arriving in 1498, the Portuguese christened it as the "Pearl of the Orient" and stayed for almost 500 years (forced to leave, finally, in 1961 -- the last E uropeans to withdraw from the subcontinent), leaving an indelible impression on the local population and landscape. For the Portuguese, she was Golden Goa, the epicenter of the Portuguese empire a nd Goa is considered to be no less than Paradise. Where else will you find the p erfect blend of exotic beaches, lip smacking cuisine, easy going people, rocking parties and ancient religious places that guarantees you to relax and rejuvenat e and at the same time set your adrenalin rushing with the amazing varieties it has to offer. Here in Goa, the day isnt lost with sundown actually it begins to g et better and better. Swearing by the motto "Work for today, plan for tomorrow, party tonight Day 01: Carnival: One of the most colorful and popular festival of Goa is the Goa Carnival. This t hree day extravaganza, of fun, frolic, amusement and merry-making, takes place i n the month of February. The Goa Carnival festival is one of the most eagerly aw aited events of the year. Though essentially a Christian festival, all people of Goa, irrespective of their faith and religion take part in this festival. Day 02: Goa scuba diving: One of the most popular water sports in Goa scuba divers are mostly found in the Dona Paula and the Aqua marine in Panjim. From these two beaches you can take a dip into the deep abyss of the mysterious seas. While diving into the sea one c an explore the attractive coral heads, lobsters, bright colored fish and shells Day 03: Goa parasailing: Meant for the absolute adventurist this water sport in Goa is sure to set your p ulse racing. Most preferred by people who love to soar high, parasailing provide s a bird eye-view of the coastline of the island. The requirements for a parasai l are a speed boat and a parasail. The parasail is attached to the boat and as t he boat gains momentum the person attached to the parasail is heaved up. This is one of the most sought after sports in the country. Day 04: Jet Skiing: If you are an adventurous person then Jet skiing is what you should take to. Ava ilable at the Colva , Candolim and Calangute beaches this water sport is among t he most popular in the state. Capable of reaching very high speeds in the middle of the ocean this water sport is sure to give you goose bumps. Day 05: Wind Surfing:

A rare combination of surfing and sailing this water sport in Goa is sure to get your adrenal rushing. A thrilling water sport wind surfing is mostly advised to people who are well aware of the nuances of the water. The prerequisites of win d surfing are a clear sense of synchronization and balance that is meant to main tained on the sea. Day 06: Food: Food in Goa is a very serious matter and capitalizes on the range of food produc ts available here. Goa boasts many different cuisines - the Konkan, the Portugue se and the Bahamani Nawabi traditions. The fruits of the sea are used lavishly i n Goan food like different types of fish, prawns, mussels, oysters, crabs and ma ny more. Day 07: Nightlife: Nightlife in Goa is exciting and there are many ways to liven up the evening. Go ans enjoy going out and it is not unusual to find families out for a night of me rriment. In certain areas, almost every third house has a bar-cum-restaurant. Day 08: Goa dinghy sailing: Due to the kind and gentle flowing winds in Goa Dinghy sailing is meant for the people who prefer to glide softly over the dancing waves in Goa.