The Yes Zone

In which I try to answer the questions what kind of toilets do we use in Goa?, do cows really walk the streets?, can vegetables be flowers? and where I try to see if anyone can identify a flower/plant that I’m very fond of.
Let me start with this flower. When I was growing up in Goa, I loved the rains, for when they came, this flower bloomed.

I fell in love with it and was sad to see it go nearly extinct. Fortunately, a local nursery started selling live plants and now I see it almost everywhere in Goa. Unfortunately, I don’t know what it’s called. This is what the plant looks like. If you recognize the plant and know of a US source, please let me know.

Next, the toilets: I forgot who had asked me this, and the question was whether we had the Indian style squatters or the western style sit-downers.
Well, Indians are smart. What we have are the combos. In light blue (or pink).

If you want to squat, you leave the seat up. If you want to sit, you put the seat down. The fuzzy cover is optional extra.

And now for some cow-porn. Yes, they do hang out in the middle of the street and neck in public. There was even some tongue action, which may not be completely clear from my vantage point.

This bouquet was on the buffet table at my nieces party.

I was impressed at the realism and detail in it.

Onions, radishes, egg-plant and beet root never looked so pretty before.

Other misc shots: I snapped a squirrel who had come over to sample some of the chikoos: