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Joanna

@goawithjo

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Goa, by a goenkar @thatdoggonelady
Aiming to de-influence you.
No hidden gems here.

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Dear Zindagi made it famous, Indian tourists have made it a nightmare.

What is the best way to deal with people at Parra Road? taken in Parra, Goa by @goawithjo

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8 months ago

Thali-Ho!

Everyone has their favourite thali spots in Goa. This series will document mine.

Nuste Curry is a new (or fairly new by Goan standards) spot.
Nestled in the fields in Canca.
Music is nostalgia.
Fish is fresh.
Queue is long.
But....
There's parking.
And fish beyond modso, chonak, and prawns.
Rava fried, and masala fried (better).
And fairly decent rates.
Read the notice board.
Go early.

7.5/10 🌟

(Cabbage in a thali automatically earns it negative points)

#Goa #GoanFood #GoaWithJo #GoanThali by @goawithjo

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8 months ago

Vada pav could never....

Are you a ros omlette fan? Tell me your favourite places to eat it :)

#GoanFood #GoanStreetFood #GWJReccommends #GoaWithJo by @goawithjo

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a year ago

DM for a location. Not.

Let's face it, there's nothing left to 'discover' in Goa.

Those secret spots? Thousand others have found them.

If it's on Instagram, its not a secret anymore.

Follow me @goawithjo if you want stories about Goa that touch upon it's culture, it's food history, its communities, and the many Goans doing wonderful work. This is the Goa I love and want to showcase to the world.

[GoaWithJo, Goa, BeingGoan] by @goawithjo

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a year ago

It's phallic for a reason! 🥒👶

Today, the stunning Portuguese baroque St Anne's Church in Talaulim celebrated its feast day. Called Touxechem Fest or the Cucumber Festival....it's a feast that gets its name from the main offering.

St Anne is the patron saint of childless couples (the Bible says she was childless for many years before giving birth to Mary). They come here in droves, offering cucumbers (for those wanting boys) and bangles (for those seeking girls). Those whose wishes are granted return the following year to give Thanksgiving and tell their story to the people (this happens at the end of Mass).

The offerings are interesting: typically, it is two cucumbers. Both are placed at her feet, one is left behind and the other is taken home. Newlyweds offer chuddo (the bride's bangles) to pray for a happy married life.

Interestingly, I learned that the reason for choosing cucumbers (and other offerings) wasn't just for its phallic symbolism or because the vegetable is available in abundance at this time. There is a prayer in Portuguese: 'Senhora tomai pepino dai me menino' (loosely Our Lady, take this cucumber and give me a child). Similarly, spinsters offer urido for a marido (lentils for a husband) and bachelors, colher for a mulher (spoons for a wife).

The feast Mass is like any other. A temporary pandal is set up outside with people selling cucumbers (of course), and khaje, toys and the usual fair paraphernalia.

PS: the church itself is worthy of a visit on its own, and has some wonderful architectural elements and really old paintings, including that of a frog praying to the Blessed Sacrament!

#GoaWithJo #GoanFestivals #CucumberFestival #CucumberFestivalGoa #MonsoonFestivalsGoa #BeingGoan #Goa taken in Church of St. Anne, Talaulim by @goawithjo

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a year ago

These shrooms aren't psychotropic, but are delicious!

Goa's olmi/almi are a beloved monsoon treat, foraged from the termite mounds hidden deep in forests.

You'll will find them in local markets or by the roadside, dainty but caked in mud, placed reverently on teak leaves.

Once upon a time, they were a treat, providing us with delicious seasonal produce and offering tribal folk in the villages and forests a chance to earn some income. We ate them as a xacuti or a tondak (both coconut rich curries) or plain fried.

Today, their popularity and commercialisation has become a cause for concern.

These olmi are integral to the forest eco-system, being important decomposing agents. The termite mounds or roin are not just worshipped by people, but traditionally, the mushrooms were foraged without affecting the ecology. The need of the hour is responsible consumption.

Welcome to my De-Influencing series, where I tell you things you should NOT do and places you should NOT go to in Goa. My home is struggling with over tourism and rampant destruction of resources in the name of development. We need more responsibility from everyone involved.

#Goa #GoanLife #MonsoonInGoa #Monsoon #MonsoonDiaries #GoanFood #FoodInGoa #Almi #Mushrooms #Foraged taken in Goa by @goawithjo

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a year ago

I'm a guidebook author now!

In MUCH delayed *Breaking News*, I contributed to @lonelyplanet India guidebook...I wrote the Goa chapter (of course).

Featured in it are some of my favourite experiences and people in Goa. Working on this was such a joy and I'm grateful to @akankshamsingh for her support and guidance. This is the Goa I wish to show to the world - which I'm trying to do over at @goawithjo - not what has become a staple on reels.

PSA: if you wish to read it, it's available for sale or meet me! I carry a copy with me everywhere, like a talisman! taken in Goa by @goawithjo

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a year ago

It's time for a monkey's wedding.

I'm curious as to why Goans consider sunshowers to be a time for money's to wed! Why do you think that is?

#Goa #Monsoon #Rains #MonsoonInGoa #MonsoonVibes #OnlyInGoa taken in Goa by @goawithjo

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a year ago

Tambdi bhaji rules!

This leafy green (or red?) from the amaranth family is an easy vegetable to love: nutritious, easy to digest, versatile and tasty.

In Goa, we cook it as a simple stir fry with coconut, or a slightly thicker dish with hog plum. It is one vegetable that's eaten through the year, and for festivals.

In fact, today, this has become that token 'local ingredient' in dishes and even drinks!

Research for a story led me down the amaranth rabbit hole where I learned that this saag/ xaak/ chulai/ lal math/chengruk/arakeerai/ cheera is beloved across India. In fact, some places even cook it with prawns, or mutton!

How do you cook with this vegetable? taken in Goa by @goawithjo

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a year ago

The oldest site in Goa?

In a small hamlet on the banks of the river Kushavati is home to some stunning rock carvings dating back to the Stone Age.

On a hot winter morning, we made our way to find these treasures, relying on Google Maps and hoping my car can survive the dirt path. A dusty Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) board on the main road told us we were on the right (if, dirt) path.

The rock carvings make for a great first impression, the laterite rock bed by a tranquil river and beyond, the tall trees of a spice farm. There are over 100 petroglyphs here, some extremely well-defined. We found a hunting scene, a dancing figure, a bull, a woman giving birth (what?!), an animal trap, a peacock, and an intricate labyrinth.

There is a guard on-site. On asking for more information, he proceeded to use a water bottle to outline the figures!

It boggles the mind to think of someone, centuries back, creating these pieces of art for us to consume. The first Instagram pictures, if you may!

Note: Entry is free. The carvings are submerged during the monsoons. You can club this with a visit to the Kushavati Spice Farm.

#usgalimal #petroglyphs #Goa #OffbeatGoa #WhereToGoinGoa #GoaWithJo #GoaHistory by @goawithjo

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2 years ago

It's waterfall season in Goa!

One of the perks of this unceasing rain are the many waterfalls dotting the state. And no, I'm not talking about the ones created by Smart City works!

Harvalem or Arvalem Falls are located in North Goa, in Sanquelim.

The falls are near a temple. You enter the temple area and turn left - entry is free. The first thing you hear is the sound. It's a roar and that should prepare you for the sight of the water hurtling downwards spraying everything and everyone around. Once you get used to it and don't mind the spray, it's actually quite magical....despite the muddy water.

There are steps that take you closer to the top. The falls continue for a fair bit and there's a pathway alongside with a railing (thankfully). There's a bhutta and chai stall at the entrance.

Caution: it is slippery and you will get wet, so carry a raincoat and wear proper shoes. And please don't take babies there! You cannot swim here.

PS: Don't forget to check out the Pandava caves on the last stretch leading to the falls.

[Waterfalls, Goa waterfalls, Harvalem, Arvalem, Monsoon in Goa] by @goawithjo

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2 years ago

Thali stories: Vinayak Family Restaurant.

I first visited Vinayak because of my brother, Jonathan. He knew the best spots for a good meal in Goa. Vinayak was close to our home in Mapusa, served good fish, and was affordable. If we went at lunchtime, our meal would always be a fish thali, with chonak fry, kismur, tisreo sukhe, prawn curry and sides. For dinner, an assortment of fried or butter garlic fish and perhaps rice and curry as mains. A few years ago, I had a glorious pre-birthday celebration at Vinayak where nine of us gorged on fresh chonak, modso, squid, prawns and lepo, rava fried, masala fried or slathered in butter and garlic.

Then Vinayak got popular with tourists and we didn't go back.

Recently, I went there as part of research for a story. We had to wait for 20 minutes, we were probably the only Goans there besides the staff, but our food was delicious...especially the crab curry, tisreo and prawn curry with bhindi.

I profiled the place for @cntravellerindia #LinkInBio

Have you eaten at Vinayak yet? Your thoughts?

#GoaWithJo #Thali #Goa #FoodinGoa #WhereToEatInGoa #Vinayak taken in Vinayak Family Restaurant by @goawithjo

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2 years ago