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February 2023

February 2023 - June 2025
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Sailing to Africa, rounding the cape, & crossing the Atlantic! Read more
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Around the world, Couple, Cruise ship, Culture, Nature, Self discovery, Sightseeing, Vacation, Wildlife
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  • 67footprints
  • 869days
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  • TravelerFebruary 2023

    Male Alphabet

    February 5, 2023 on the Maldives ⋅ ☁️ 82 °F

    I’m always curious about street signs and graffiti around the world. In the Maldives, I noticed a “new to me” script.

    I don’t even know what this alphabet is called or what language it represents!

    The sign you see with all the “things you can’t do” was posted outside the big mosque in Male. The Maldives have been a Muslim country since the 12th century.

    I’m sure that foreign script is quite ancient, too, but I’ll have to research it later.    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2023
    1

    Snorkeling in Male

    February 4, 2023 on the Maldives ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    We went snorkeling with in Male. So beautiful!

    Hulhumale Watersports Club led the expedition and they did a great job. Not only did they provide all the equipment, but they explained everything very clearly, including which hand signals to use.

    We snorkeled in two different places, and there were at least 3 tour guides in the water with us at all times.

    I mention this, because we have been on snorkel trips before where they did not keep an eye on the group. It’s easy to lose track of which boat is yours, or accidentally float way off track, but these guys were great.

    We saw colorful fish both places we swam. At the first stop, there were clouds of brine shrimp, which I mistook for debris in the water at first.

    At the second stop, we saw sea turtles as well as some black tipped sharks. The sharks made me a bit nervous, but they stayed well away from us.

    Even though it takes energy to swim, I felt so relaxed afterwards, as if I’d had a massage. I did not want the day to end!    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2023

    Goa Taxi Tour

    February 1, 2023 in India ⋅ 🌙 81 °F

    After making it through the gauntlet of bureaucracy required to step foot in Goa, Larry negotiated a taxi tour for us, along with two German couples we met along the way.

    Our cabbie’s name was Nelson, and Old Goa was our first stop of the day.

    In the 1960s, many American hippies found their bliss on the beaches of Goa. These days, sadly, this lush tropical paradise is strewn with trash.

    As we left the port, we passed high walls covered with dingy murals and concertina wire behind which India Oil operates a refinery.

    On our way to Old Goa, we passed many roadside vendors, such as this gal selling fish.

    And check out that guy on the bike: According to Nelson, he is a garbage collector.

    We didn’t get a change to check out the McDonald’s on Goa. It can be fun to see how different countries interpret the menu around the world. (I was curious if they had any items featuring curry, for instance.)

    Nelson took us by a beach during our tour, and as much as I love swimming, after all the trash I’d seen in the bay and throughout the day, I just didn’t quite feel like it.    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2023

    Signs in Goa

    February 1, 2023 in India ⋅ 🌙 84 °F

    Here are a few signs I found interesting in Goa:

    It’s actually illegal to smoke in public! (I’m not sure if this is true for all of India, but it was illegal in Mumbai, as well.)

    As for the stray dog sign, I’ve read travel warnings (along with some horror stories) about rabid cats and dogs in India, so it’s good to see that they are working on the issue.

    As for that Ayurvedic medicine clinic poster, it seems like they treat some rather unusual conditions!    Read more

  • TravelerFebruary 2023

    Hindu & Catholic Influence

    February 1, 2023 in India ⋅ ⛅ 90 °F

    Like so many seaports on this planet, Portugal brought Catholicism to Goa. But this is India, so the influence of Hinduism is prevalent, too.

    In the first photo, the trident and crescent moon means this statue is somehow related to the Hindu god, Shiva. Beyond that, I don’t know.

    The swastika you see in the next photo has absolutely nothing to do with Nazism. For millennia, this has been a spiritual symbol in this Hindu religion. It represents the sun and is believed to bring good luck. (Here, it is being used as a decorative element on someone’s patio.)

    We passed several roadside altars that reflect the Catholic influence in Goa. I’ve shared a couple here.

    And lastly, even though photography was forbidden in the Cathedral of Bom Jesus, I really had to show you the bloodiest crucifix I’ve ever seen!

    I also thought the saint wearing a typical marigold garland, an item used by Hindis and Catholics alike, was a good way to sum up the mix of beliefs here.    Read more

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