[SteveM]

For all you veterans of travel extensively throughout India. Do you frown upon those continual new threads on Goa from the newcomers who have just discovered Goa and not the real India?

[seventies'hippy]

Originally Posted by SteveM

For all you veterans of travel extensively throughout India. Do you frown upon those continual new threads on Goa from the newcomers who have just discovered Goa and not the real India?

No not at all, Goa is forever changing, Just like we are, what is happening in your time is great for you. It's not good nor bad,,,,,,,,,
It's evolution you got to go with it. It'good to read the threads & learn whats happening there now,,,,,,,
My time in Goa was non stop on the beach Rock n' Roll parties, with everything that you ever heard about happen there happening.
If you go to Goa now you'll discover a trance/rave scene, and for you it'll be the best thing ever,,,,,,,,,,

Just like which was the best James Bond?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
For most people it's the one you grew up with,,,,,,,

[SteveM]

Hi Seventies Hippy

Thanks for that!
Do you think that Goa is the gateway to India for many UK Citizens in so far as its their first experience in India and given time they start to explore the real India?

There is more to India than just Goa. But Goa is unique and will remain unique. Probably the other places aren't as 'touristy' (own word) as Goa. Viva Goa!!!!!!!!

[seventies'hippy]

Originally Posted by SteveM

Hi Seventies Hippy

Thanks for that!
Do you think that Goa is the gateway to India for many UK Citizens in so far as its their first experience in India and given time they start to explore the real India?

In my opinion the people who are flying into goa from the uk 'in the most' the package tourists, don't really give a toss about India, and thats very sad,,,,,,,
To them it's someplace cheap & warm to go to in the winter, they're the same people who used to go to majorca & tenerife every year, just as long as it's got cheap food & drink with plenty of sunshine & the chance to watch some football on sky then they are happy. It's incidental that goa is tagged onto india, they don't want to know,,,,,,,,,
Ask them a few basics about Krishna, Vishnu Laxsmi or Shiva & they'll think you're off your trolley,,,,,,,,,,

[crvlvr]

I agree completely with seventies hippee. The typical tourists you meet in other parts of india compared to goa are quite different indeed. People who visit Goa on Charters are IMHO not interested in what else India has to offer. As a matter of fact, they have had no communication with anyone in India before the trip. They get on the plane, are bused to their hotel, walk to the beach, relax at the shacks, bused back to the airport and then back home. For them to say, "I have seen India", though literally accurate, would be a disservice to those to have take the time and trouble to visit the other parts of India.

[Kingfisher]

Pardon a contrary view, but my beef with 'continual new threads on Goa' is more from the standpoint of redundancy and forum clutter rather than any concerns with whether or not Goa is or isn't 'the real India'.

For someone travelling in India, access to Indiamike is not as easy as for someone sitting at home or office with a high-speed connection and lots of time on their hands. Keeping up becomes a problem with so many new threads every day and it gets irritating when so many of them are rather pointless. Goa seems to generate a lot of threads of little value, and unlike some, I do think there can be too many. Why not tag a question or comment on to the end of a similar thread rather than start a new one.

just my opinion, of course.

Originally Posted by SteveM

For all you veterans of travel extensively throughout India. Do you frown upon those continual new threads on Goa from the newcomers who have just discovered Goa and not the real India?

[kokopelli]

Yup!

i got addicted to goa as part of my addiction to india itself, just the way it is.

[seventies'hippy]

Originally Posted by Kingfisher

Pardon a contrary view, but my beef with 'continual new threads on Goa' is more from the standpoint of redundancy and forum clutter rather than any concerns with whether or not Goa is or isn't 'the real India'.

Goa seems to generate a lot of threads of little value,
just my opinion, of course.

To the perhaps 'newbie' poster their thread is I'm sure of great value.

It's everyones individual choice on seeing the header of whether to click n'read or not,,,,,,

[SteveM]

Hi 70's

I agree with most of the responses, I half expected those answers.
I've been going to Goa for the last 10 years. I do love the place but the changes that are taking place are quite rapid. I have been to Kerala once. However, I have never yet ventured into the real India. The conditions hav'nt been right but I do have a craving to explore the real India so don't write us all off yet.

[Jorge Reverter]

Hi SteveM,

Of course! Goa is real India, like Kerala. One of the best things India give all of us, is the huge difference between the places all over the state, but we always have the same feeling as you can see here in IM. Every year I have the sensation that last region visited was the best etc, etc,

Personally, I enjoy Goa a lot and even have the intention to retire soon in Palolem, but still prefer to travel to other places.....

[seventies'hippy]

Originally Posted by SteveM

Hi 70's

The conditions hav'nt been right but I do have a craving to explore the real India so don't write us all off yet.

Far from it steve, I'm not writing you off, Just saying that at the time you find it then that is the time for you & it can't be bettered until the next generation comes along and discovers it for themselves.
It's all India,,,,,
Wasn't it someone on here who recently said, "One Hand, But Five Fingers",,,,,
Pleased you've discovered IM & looking to travel further,
It's the real India in a different world,,,,,,,,

[lobo]

Its hard to define what "real" india is. How would you define "real" Engalnd. Like if someone visits england and only goes to london what do they know of the rest of england?
Goa is hot and cheap and for two weeks in the sun it will attract the package tourist. Its money coming into the country at the end of teh day.

[Watson]

Hey I`m bumbing the Goa thread back up to the top :-)
I agree with just about all the views listed here though seventie`s hippy is more on my wavelength. Slogging through India can be a stain and arriving on the beaches of goa after a long haul can be quite an experience because it IS actually a bit different.
Anyhow I have no understanding for package tourist in the 5 star resorts that won`t at least take a small excursion to Anjuna or Old Goa. In a way that`s pretty sad.

Each to their own though. Goa Rocks!

[Ikuru]

Goa is verry much India and Im sick of people moaning on the subject, goa not beeing India and all that... Whats next? Rajastan is not India either? Where is the "real" India anyways?
Is it the dusty corners that has yet to be "discovered" by the LP?

Sure I do not Like the fat and shallow charter tourist that are now dwelling under umbrellas in Goa either.... But they would not be there (yet...) if the "real" backpackers and hippes had not shown them the way...

India is what it is and it is changing verry rapidly... Subways are beeing built 7elevens are being openened and McDonalds are gaining teratory...
To some "The real India" Might have died when the Internet cafe´s started to bloom some years ago or when Thumbs up started loosing ground to Coca Cola, But that is developement or change and There is still some more real to it for now, but for how long?....