Attracting sun-worshippers from all over the world, Goa's coastline is fringed with miles of beaches. For 450 years, this splendid land of scenic beauty lay under Portuguese rule, imbibing the very best from Portuguese culture, even whilst retaining its own traditions. Goa is the meeting place of the orient and the occident, neither one nor the other, a truly rich and unique blend of both. The Portuguese character of Goa is obvious - old tile roofed bungalows with deep verandahs and a profusion of whitewashed churches nestling amid coconut palms and fields of paddy. Known for its warm hearted people, laissez-faire and the afternoon siesta is a way of life for the locals.