Goa, India

So this past week for work we have a management offsite in Mumbai. So before the offsite 4 of us went to Goa to visit a factory. Goa is a 50 minute flight from Mumbai. However, we asked how long to drive and they told us 12 hours because the roads are not built for long haul between the cities.

Goa is a state located in the South western region of India; it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. It is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Goa is one of India's richest states with a GDP per capita two and a half times that of the country as a whole.

Goa is highlighted in red below.

This is the interior of our hotel.

History lesson:
In 1510, the Portuguese defeated the ruling Bijapur sultan Yousuf Adil Shah with the help of a local ally, Timayya. They set up a permanent settlement in Velha Goa (or Old Goa). This was the beginning of Portuguese rule in Goa that would last for four and a half centuries, until 1961.

Goa used to be a Portuguese colony for many years so the architecture has a Spanish flair. 

 Goa has a high Catholic population which I did not know and the Pope recently visited there.

Before our factory tour we had lunch in the hotel with the vendor rep.

The vendor we visited is named Funskool!

 

It is tradition for some India vendors to give guests flowers. Here are mine!

The surrounding area around the factory. 

That night, the vendor took us to the beach in Goa to have dinner seaside. It was dark and hard to see and take pictures.  The beach area is supposed to be very popular with honeymooners. It did not seem as nice as some Thailand beach resort areas but hard to judge at night and from one quick visit.

Back in town, it was the last night of the International Film Festival in Goa. This was the place all lit up!

  
After dinner picture.

The next morning us 4 Hasbro group had a few hours in the morning before our flight back to Mumbai so we walked around Goa town. Below you see casino boats on the water which is the only place in India where gambling is legal.

These boys were marching and playing the drums.

Street in Goa. Crossing the major streets in Goa were challenging. We waited a while to cross or once a local helped us out by shepherding us across the busy street.

Edmond, me and Kenny hanging out. Nelson is taking the picture.

Then it was off to the airport to head back to Mumbai!