Wow already a month into 2025, where does the time go? I hope everyone is keeping well and still sticking to their new years resolutions. For my blog this week I thought I’d share with you my recent holiday to India. It is a place in the world that has always appealed to me, especially when cricket, food and wildlife are a big part of India’s DNA. As the 7th largest country in the world, India stands apart from the rest of Asia and in hindsight, I would have loved to have visited more of the country but with limited time, less was more especially when you have to factor in that India is about 13 times bigger than the UK. The main areas that I visited were Mumbai, Goa and Ranthambore National Park. I found each place to be very different in culture and scenery, I took so many photos of my trip and way too many to show during this blog but I will include some of them to give you a feel of what I experienced while out there.
Mumbai
Mumbai is India’s most populous city aswell as being one of the largest and most densely populated urban areas in the world. Formerly known as Bombay during the British colonial period, but the name Mumbai was restored officially in 1995, although Bombay remains in common usage. I was very fortunate enough to stay with my friend who lives in Mumbai, during my time with him and his family I experienced proper homemade Indian food. Curries, pickles, dal and rice for breakfast can be quite a shock to many palates as it was to mine at first, but with a gentle introduction to an Indian style breakfast you soon come accustomed to it. After a few days in the chaos and sticky heat of Mumbai my next destination was Goa, for more of a laid back lifestyle.
Goa
After a short internal flight of around an hour, we arrived in Goa. The state is made up of two halves; North and South. The North has golden beaches which are brimming with fishermen, sunshades and vendors. By contrast, the South comprises of secluded coves and swinging palm trees. It stands out from other Indian states with its heavy Portuguese influence, Catholic churches are found throughout. Asides from the beaches, Goa is full of flea markets. I visited a couple while I was there, Anjuna is well known for its Wednesday market, set just behind the beach. Traders flock from across India to display all their goods. While in Goa, I sampled some excellent seafood and also came across food that I’ve never even heard of before. Bebinca is a traditional Goan dessert made from coconut milk, sugar, eggs, and ghee. It’s a layered pudding with a sweet and rich flavour. Vindaloo is another beloved Goan curry, but it’s different to the one we get over here in the UK. Typically made with pork although I had it with king prawns, characterised by its spicy and tangy flavours, thanks to a blend of vinegar, garlic, and spices. Another amazing experience while in Goa was the opportunity of taking a boat out into the Arabian Sea to see Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins.
Ranthambore National Park
Ranthambore boasts a large number of mammal, reptile, and bird species. 40 species of mammals, 35 species of reptiles, 315 species of birds and 402 species of plants. The National Park in Rajasthan is primarily known as the home to Royal Bengal Tigers, although sadly while I was there my luck was out and saw no tigers. In hindsight, as much of a disappointment that is, it is sometimes how it goes with wildlife – you get lucky or you don’t. It just gives me a good excuse to go back and search again for them. Here are some of my photos while I was in the Ranthambore National Park.
