rachel m hardwick: Savoy Spice Plantation

Sunday, 28 July

We hopped on the bus to Panjim and the central bus station, then transferred to another bus and made our way toward the district of Ponda. Indian music blaring through the speakers. Lots of people watching and entertainment value. Seriously, this bus thing is pretty easy and cheap and a part of the whole Indian experience... We've been hopping on and off local busses since I arrived three plus weeks ago- only during the day mind you, and I'm going to be sad to stop after Goa.. but there's no way in Hell i'm doing this in Mumbai.. I'm adventurous, not stupid =) Sorry, tangent.

ANYWAY- Today we went to the Savoy Spice Plantation, and it was amazing.

It's an organic, 100 acre farm in a valley that caters to tourists by providing tours and lunches while still being a working farm. If you're ever in Goa and want to check out a spice plantation, do yourself a favor and explore this one- it's beautiful, it's organic, it's family owned, our guide was knowledgeable and patient, and while they don't have elephants like some of the others do, this is a very good thing as the elephants at the other plantations are pets, not wild animals, and I think that would be a bit heartbreaking to see.

OK, again, back to the spice plantation. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Because it's Monsoon season not many things were in peak season or blooming, but it was still stunning...so many vibrant colors. We saw vanilla pods, cinnamon trees, cardamom, neem, pepper and clove plants. We saw lemon grass, limes, the biggest GD grapefruit you've ever seen, mangos, pineapple, bananas, jalepeno peppers, fracking crocodiles, a spice that has no English name but was in every one of the Southern Indian dish I had the first two weeks, and a few others that I can't remember right now.... We were able to taste leaves, sometimes the actual fruit of the plant, and learned how everything was processed for consumption. Educational, and fun :)

and one of me to prove that yes, I really was here... although I hadn't really slept the night before and I look like a sweaty tired mess.. I am seriously looking forward to London and being able to actually do something with my hair other than pull it back and keep it off my neck! :)