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Holy Cows on the Beaches of Goa

Jun 28, 2012 by Daniel McBane 4 Comments

Without a doubt, the happiest cows on earth live in Goa, India. They live a charmed life, spending their days sunning themselves on some of the most beautiful beaches around and, as holy animals, they face little danger of becoming a steak or a burger.

Cows Anjuna Beach

Cows enjoying the sunset on Anjuna Beach in Goa

While other Indian cows wake up and begin foraging through India’s filthy and congested streets for their morning meal, the cows in Goa make a quick breakfast stop at a trash pile, then head down to the water. They gather in groups of five to ten and lie down on the warm sand while staring out over the Indian Ocean.

Cows Eating Garbage Goa

Stopping for a quick meal on the way to the beach

For a few hours, they enjoy the relative solitude. Then the humans arrive and it’s time for the cows to earn their keep. They spend the afternoon posing for photos with a steady stream of tourists, although “posing” makes it sound like they actually do something. They don’t. Their expression never changes, they barely move and only acknowledge the most obnoxious of tourists with a quick, harmless jab of their horns that seems to warn, “Careful human…you’re pushing your luck.” Other than that, they pose with that completely unbothered expression that only cows can pull off.

Occasionally, someone will manage to provoke a more aggressive reaction, usually someone with the brilliant idea of taking a picture while sitting on a cow. They don’t stand for this and quickly shoo the human away. Then they move further down the beach as a group in search of a little more privacy. They also refuse to collaborate on any more pictures for a while.

The cows will stay on the beach to enjoy the sunset, then get up and move inland, as Goa’s beachfront restaurants begin to set up tables and chairs on the sand. They forage the piles of garbage for their evening meal before finding their favorite spots beneath the trees and turning in for the night.

Unfortunately, the humans like to drink around this time and in a few hours drunken tourists will discover the resting cows and attempt to get a few more photos. This is not a good idea. Picture time is in the afternoon. At night, the cows sleep and anyone who disturbs their sleep will be dealt with. Unlike during the daytime, at night they will aggressively charge at anyone who comes near them.

Decorated Cow Patnem

Not all cows in Goa live the good life. How hot must that be?

In most countries, cows are given food and shelter and have little to do but eat, sleep, produce milk and become food. In India, cows are left to fend for themselves. They live a hard life, but they get to die of natural causes. The cows in Goa live a life Jimmy Buffet would envy. And they don’t saddle the world with annoying music and parrot hats.

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Filed Under: India Tagged With: funny image, India, Goa, animals, beach, holy cows

Comments

  1. Adam Allegro says

    Jun 29, 2012 at 03:39

    Nice work buddy. Love the cows and the trash. Looks like Naples and the Gypsies 🙂

    Reply
    • Daniel says

      Jun 30, 2012 at 11:42

      Thanks. I haven’t been to Naples, but now I’m picturing herds of gypsies on all fours tearing at cardboard boxes with their teeth…

      Reply
  2. thetravelchica says

    Jul 1, 2012 at 07:09

    A little strange to see cows lounging on a beach.

    Reply
  3. Spencer Samaroo says

    Jul 3, 2012 at 21:22

    Cows on the beach? Well I guess we all need a sea change…

    Reply

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Welcome!

As the more astute among you may have guessed, my name is Daniel McBane. I've been traveling and working overseas for almost ten years now and have finally decided to document some of the strange, crazy or just plain funny encounters and observations from my travels. I've also added a travel guide section, figuring I should reward my four readers by providing at least something of use. Read more on my about page.

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