Rohan Vora, Grade 11
UWCSEA (East)
I was so excited on the plane en route Goa that I could not sleep. I waited for feelings of tranquility and bliss, as I thought of the hypnotic sound of waves falling gracefully onto the creamy sand, rays of sunlight sprinkling itself onto my face, and the cool air whirring across my hair. From the plane, I noticed the vastness of Goa’s sea. It was incredible. To a city kid, a ‘Mumbaikar,’ Goa’s serenity is much needed.
Goa was beyond my imagination. Long hours at the beach during the day was not only relaxing but wildly exciting - I would go surfing, snorkeling, and jet skiing. Surfing was the most bewildering. There’s something about taking a board in the middle ocean amidst the gleaming sun and riding on powerful waves. It’s the combination of danger and zest that I love, not knowing the magnitude of the waves that approach you, the enthralling feeling of the water running past your face, is truly mesmerising. Snorkeling isn’t that bad either. Plunging into the shimmering blue waters of Goa is a euphoric experience - small species of fish that swivel around coral, bijou sea horses prancing and sand mystically moving underwater, tingles all the sensations… allowing us to feel the Elysianism of the sea.
Cycling on the roads in Goa is another experience altogether. When you travel around Goa on a bike, you realize how much more there is to Goa than just beaches. The pristine blue water, the white sandy beaches, swaying coconut palms lining the coastline, majestic waterfalls, and cliffs add to the natural scenic beauty of Goa. But other than that, there are kilometers of long lanes through the jungles or fields that run on both sides of the road, little bridges that rest on planks of wood and iron beneath which there is a train track. On the corner of a long road is a local bar. You are driving under the sun with rice fields on both sides, and suddenly you realize there are trees towering over the road and no sun. Cool breeze swaying your hair. Goa is a mesh of the natural beauty of the Amazon and the celestial beaches in the Maldives.
Unknown to some, Goa has a rich history. It has had a tryst with colonialism for hundreds of years. In the late 1800s, Goa was called a Portuguese State, and several thousand Portuguese citizens settled down in the region. The Basilica Of Bom Jesus, founded by the Portuguese, is one of the oldest churches in India. The church was consecrated in May 1605 by the archbishop, Dom Fr. Aleixo de Menezes, and was a landmark in Christian history. Another historical monument that’s well known in Goa is the Aguada Fort, constructed in 1612, to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas. Other than sunny beaches and warm days, Goa is also home to this vast, rich history that makes it extremely riveting not only for teenage historians but also for individuals that love to explore new cultures.
There’s a common phrase we use in India ‘Goa is a place to escape’ - it’s the only place where one can truly be. Exploring the ocean helps one explore himself or herself. It’s home away from home.
Goa was beyond my imagination. Long hours at the beach during the day was not only relaxing but wildly exciting - I would go surfing, snorkeling, and jet skiing. Surfing was the most bewildering. There’s something about taking a board in the middle ocean amidst the gleaming sun and riding on powerful waves. It’s the combination of danger and zest that I love, not knowing the magnitude of the waves that approach you, the enthralling feeling of the water running past your face, is truly mesmerising. Snorkeling isn’t that bad either. Plunging into the shimmering blue waters of Goa is a euphoric experience - small species of fish that swivel around coral, bijou sea horses prancing and sand mystically moving underwater, tingles all the sensations… allowing us to feel the Elysianism of the sea.
Cycling on the roads in Goa is another experience altogether. When you travel around Goa on a bike, you realize how much more there is to Goa than just beaches. The pristine blue water, the white sandy beaches, swaying coconut palms lining the coastline, majestic waterfalls, and cliffs add to the natural scenic beauty of Goa. But other than that, there are kilometers of long lanes through the jungles or fields that run on both sides of the road, little bridges that rest on planks of wood and iron beneath which there is a train track. On the corner of a long road is a local bar. You are driving under the sun with rice fields on both sides, and suddenly you realize there are trees towering over the road and no sun. Cool breeze swaying your hair. Goa is a mesh of the natural beauty of the Amazon and the celestial beaches in the Maldives.
Unknown to some, Goa has a rich history. It has had a tryst with colonialism for hundreds of years. In the late 1800s, Goa was called a Portuguese State, and several thousand Portuguese citizens settled down in the region. The Basilica Of Bom Jesus, founded by the Portuguese, is one of the oldest churches in India. The church was consecrated in May 1605 by the archbishop, Dom Fr. Aleixo de Menezes, and was a landmark in Christian history. Another historical monument that’s well known in Goa is the Aguada Fort, constructed in 1612, to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas. Other than sunny beaches and warm days, Goa is also home to this vast, rich history that makes it extremely riveting not only for teenage historians but also for individuals that love to explore new cultures.
There’s a common phrase we use in India ‘Goa is a place to escape’ - it’s the only place where one can truly be. Exploring the ocean helps one explore himself or herself. It’s home away from home.
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