Reflect on Goa

Well, the Indian army might have just waltzed in here in 1961, but present day Goa is still an architectual legacy of the Portuguese colonialisation. Sitting having chai at first light in a cafe dipping the local bread roll, pao, into the hot cinnamon tea, the old man wishes us "Bom dia" or 'good day'.

It is the refreshing change in culture and attitude that makes Goa so welcoming. For the last 10 years, it's provincial beaches have been the main stages of trance and techno parties but that has made little impression on the old town. It is still a hollowed bastion of Roman Catholicism linked with the Hindu culture, a weird mix but one that truly gives this place a distinct feel.

The brightly colored pastel buildings with their large ceilings and windows and inner courtyards all add to this melting pot of East meeting West. The cultural mix is also reflected in its people who have a quiet charm and saintlike patience with everything from poor motorcyclists to the intense humidity.