Rounding off 3 trips to Goa
Bachelorette/bachelor parties, blowing off steam post exams, much needed break from hectic work schedules or any situation when we want to go little (or a lot) crazy - Goa is the place that comes to mind.
In the last four years, I went to Goa three times and each time it was completely different experience.
First visit is just to relax and we went during off-season. We stayed at a resort in vagator beach located on a cliff overlooking the Sea. We couldn't do any typical to-do things in Goa - no water sports, no shacks, no markets. Even though it wasn't raining, it was start of monsoon and every place is closed completely (with covers to protect from heavy rains). We rented scooters first day and Jeep next two days and almost every place we went is closed, however, we came across some good places - mostly eateries. We managed to do some kayaking in one of the resorts and jet ski in Vasco. Ironically, it didn't rain even once during our stay. The main activity of the trip became food and we managed to find a good place for almost every meal.
My favorite is a gelato place near Anjuna beach, next to our Lady of health chapel run by an Italian couple. I wanted to try an ice cream place suggested in a guide book - it is written that the main ingredient in the ice cream is bought directly from the place of origin (like vanilla pods are bought from Madagascar). To my utter disappointment, that place was closed and my friend took me here as a consolation. I tried going there in our recent visit, but it wasn't open 😭.
Another happy accident was when we went to visit a fort towards the end of Goa. The guide book suggested it is turned into a restaurant and we planned to have lunch there. However, the restaurant was shut down and we were super hungry. We went to a small eat-out close by, near some ferry crossing and the food was so amazing and very inexpensive (a plate of prawns costed about 350 and that was the most expensive dish in the menu). We wondered how it is not mentioned in guide book or any other sites and later understood why - we went so close to the border and it is almost considered as Maharashtra 😌.
Purpose of second visit is very specific - scuba diving. We contacted one of the instructors and booked the home stay he suggested, right opposite to the beach from where we went for diving - nothing fancy, but quite homely. It was peak season and we got to visit the shacks, markets etc., Having dinner at the beach, so close to the Sea under the stars, in moonlight and candle light is an amazing experience, though the food is not so great (maybe we chose the wrong place). It was my best trip to Goa so far. Scuba diving for the first time is another great experience - though the visibility is not so good, I quite liked the instructor (unfortunately, I don't remember the name 😫). I want to go to Lakshadweep or Andaman for another diving trip and hopefully for longer duration (I have been trying to swim in deeper waters, but max depth I could come across is 6.5 feet 😞).
Third visit and latest one is with bigger group - it was the first time we faced trouble with accommodation, maybe because we planned to stay in one of the most popular areas. The apartment we booked is not at all suitable for us and we searched for new place from early morning till noon with no luck. Eventually, we went to a restaurant, freshened up, had a long breakfast and were able to think more clearly. With a bit of online search, we found out a resort and headed to check the place. It costed almost twice than we planned to spend, but the place was so inviting, we couldn't resist. Honestly, after the places we tried before, the price felt very justified.
We were completely exhausted even to go till the restaurant, so we ordered room service and crashed till evening.
Later in the evening, we went club hopping💃. Surprisingly, every place was open even though it was raining every day ( coincidentally, my first visit was around the same time of the year and everything was closed then, even though it wasn't raining🤔). Next morning, we spent some time in the swimming pool in the resort, hired scooters and went to a nearby beach & few street shops.
On the last day of the trip, we checked out and went to visit Chapora fort. It was a bit of a hike from the parking lot and after noon isn't best time to visit. We spent few hours admiring the views and taking pictures.
From there we went to a famous eatery called Curries located right on the beach and the best time to visit would be in the evening (I learned a lot during my third visit🕵).
We went back to the resort to collect our luggage and freshen up a bit before heading to the railway station in Vasco. We didn't use many of the facilities offered in the resort - we swam only once, we didn't go for boating or fishing and didn't visit the museum.
Anyway, I finally got to do things Goa is famous for.
Few tips:
1. Most common suggestion: cabs are super expensive in Goa. Rented scooters are the best option and the fuel is also cheaper. However, follow the usual rules - carry DL, wear helmet and do not drink and drive. Few years ago, people consider Goa as place with liberal traffic rules. However, the situation is not the same and the traffic checks are in place.
2. Food is delicious in smaller restaurants than in fancy restaurants. I felt like the ambiance and taste are mutually exclusive. I had the best food in pan shop sort of places and the worse food in Spanish style/Sea facing terrace garden style restaurants.
3. Many aren't picky about the accommodation and it makes sense when they are going to spend most of the time outdoors. However, if it isn't the case, better to book in advance and go for slightly higher end.
This post don't have so much information as I would like, but one day I hope to write a guide to Goa, at least a mini one, with more elaborate details.
In the last four years, I went to Goa three times and each time it was completely different experience.
First visit is just to relax and we went during off-season. We stayed at a resort in vagator beach located on a cliff overlooking the Sea. We couldn't do any typical to-do things in Goa - no water sports, no shacks, no markets. Even though it wasn't raining, it was start of monsoon and every place is closed completely (with covers to protect from heavy rains). We rented scooters first day and Jeep next two days and almost every place we went is closed, however, we came across some good places - mostly eateries. We managed to do some kayaking in one of the resorts and jet ski in Vasco. Ironically, it didn't rain even once during our stay. The main activity of the trip became food and we managed to find a good place for almost every meal.
My favorite is a gelato place near Anjuna beach, next to our Lady of health chapel run by an Italian couple. I wanted to try an ice cream place suggested in a guide book - it is written that the main ingredient in the ice cream is bought directly from the place of origin (like vanilla pods are bought from Madagascar). To my utter disappointment, that place was closed and my friend took me here as a consolation. I tried going there in our recent visit, but it wasn't open 😭.
Another happy accident was when we went to visit a fort towards the end of Goa. The guide book suggested it is turned into a restaurant and we planned to have lunch there. However, the restaurant was shut down and we were super hungry. We went to a small eat-out close by, near some ferry crossing and the food was so amazing and very inexpensive (a plate of prawns costed about 350 and that was the most expensive dish in the menu). We wondered how it is not mentioned in guide book or any other sites and later understood why - we went so close to the border and it is almost considered as Maharashtra 😌.
Purpose of second visit is very specific - scuba diving. We contacted one of the instructors and booked the home stay he suggested, right opposite to the beach from where we went for diving - nothing fancy, but quite homely. It was peak season and we got to visit the shacks, markets etc., Having dinner at the beach, so close to the Sea under the stars, in moonlight and candle light is an amazing experience, though the food is not so great (maybe we chose the wrong place). It was my best trip to Goa so far. Scuba diving for the first time is another great experience - though the visibility is not so good, I quite liked the instructor (unfortunately, I don't remember the name 😫). I want to go to Lakshadweep or Andaman for another diving trip and hopefully for longer duration (I have been trying to swim in deeper waters, but max depth I could come across is 6.5 feet 😞).
Third visit and latest one is with bigger group - it was the first time we faced trouble with accommodation, maybe because we planned to stay in one of the most popular areas. The apartment we booked is not at all suitable for us and we searched for new place from early morning till noon with no luck. Eventually, we went to a restaurant, freshened up, had a long breakfast and were able to think more clearly. With a bit of online search, we found out a resort and headed to check the place. It costed almost twice than we planned to spend, but the place was so inviting, we couldn't resist. Honestly, after the places we tried before, the price felt very justified.
We were completely exhausted even to go till the restaurant, so we ordered room service and crashed till evening.
Later in the evening, we went club hopping💃. Surprisingly, every place was open even though it was raining every day ( coincidentally, my first visit was around the same time of the year and everything was closed then, even though it wasn't raining🤔). Next morning, we spent some time in the swimming pool in the resort, hired scooters and went to a nearby beach & few street shops.
On the last day of the trip, we checked out and went to visit Chapora fort. It was a bit of a hike from the parking lot and after noon isn't best time to visit. We spent few hours admiring the views and taking pictures.
From there we went to a famous eatery called Curries located right on the beach and the best time to visit would be in the evening (I learned a lot during my third visit🕵).
We went back to the resort to collect our luggage and freshen up a bit before heading to the railway station in Vasco. We didn't use many of the facilities offered in the resort - we swam only once, we didn't go for boating or fishing and didn't visit the museum.
Anyway, I finally got to do things Goa is famous for.
Few tips:
1. Most common suggestion: cabs are super expensive in Goa. Rented scooters are the best option and the fuel is also cheaper. However, follow the usual rules - carry DL, wear helmet and do not drink and drive. Few years ago, people consider Goa as place with liberal traffic rules. However, the situation is not the same and the traffic checks are in place.
2. Food is delicious in smaller restaurants than in fancy restaurants. I felt like the ambiance and taste are mutually exclusive. I had the best food in pan shop sort of places and the worse food in Spanish style/Sea facing terrace garden style restaurants.
3. Many aren't picky about the accommodation and it makes sense when they are going to spend most of the time outdoors. However, if it isn't the case, better to book in advance and go for slightly higher end.
This post don't have so much information as I would like, but one day I hope to write a guide to Goa, at least a mini one, with more elaborate details.
Now i know who to take along when i plan to visit Goa next time😉
ReplyDeleteAnytime dear🤝
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