My love for Goa…
Well, it’s been very long since I penned down something about my love for Goa. I have always been drawn to writing about this place and have not been able to so from a long time as other things kept me sooo busy. Finally, I have got the time to share my childhood memories related to this beautiful place…
Goa….Incredible palms…spotless sands…Cool atmosphere… and sparkling waters….what else can you dream for an ideal holiday…there is something unusual about this place that attracts you again and again …is it Goa’s balmy shores which are plentiful in this tiny, glorious slice of India or is it the food and the night beach parties??
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| Calangute Beach |
I was in the 7th standard when I visited Goa for the first time with my parents and elder brother. We travelled all the way from Shimla by train. As a Kid, I always loved travelling by train and found it very exciting and enjoyable. In the entire journey we ate, slept, made friends and played cards. I still remember when my mom told us “Get up everyone we are about to reach Goa”. It was early in the morning and sun was about to rise. After waiting for what seemed like eternity, i saw the first rays of the sun. Finally we entered Goa & got the feel of it, saw the fishermen throwing their nets in the sea just like I used to see in the movies, it appeared so peaceful far away from the busy life. Trust me- It felt like heaven. The narrow clean roads lined with coconut palms, jackfruits, and so many other trees felt like eye candies. Finally, we arrived at our hotel in Panjim. Somehow, from the very first moment we entered Goa, I fell in love with the place. I was so excited to go on the beach but as a teenager you have so many restrictions.
Next day Mom and Dad took us to the beach and I was wearing my pants and a tee. Suddenly I realized that we were looking out of the place as everyone was staring at us. Just imagine wearing pants on the beach…. iikkkssssssssss. Somehow I managed to fold my pants till my knees and went to feel the water. I was really getting scared to enter the water, the waves were just getting bigger and bigger, however, I HAD to get into the water. The waves were hitting my bones and the water was so salty. I couldn't stop screaming and laughing, the waves were just throwing me to the shore. That was my first experience of the beach and is something that I can never forget… EVER
During those days Goa beaches used to be packed with hippies. It was a cultural shock for all of us to watch females in bikinis…lol… especially for Mom. For me it was just wow. I used to love watching people lying on the beach, relaxing, eating, drinking, reading, enjoying sun and sand, playing music, water sports, roaming on the bikes. I told dad that even I want to go for water sports which he was not very keen to allow…finally we settled for an evening on the ferry on the Mandovi river. It was nice entertainment for two hours. We had lots of fun while enjoying the Music, dance and goan cuisine.
We explored almost all beaches of Goa, went to all tourist places and churches. It was a very nice experience and I loved it. But we were like typical Indian tourists.
I loved the restaurants people have made inside their homes and during the day you can hardly see a soul but the moment the sun sets the bungalows appear so colorful with music playing everywhere. This is the magic about Goa. Goa is full of life. I wanted to explore so many things but dad simply told me” Come here once you are married and then you can do whatever you want”.
From Goa we were going back to Bombay. We went by a small cruise and it was a very different experience altogether. For the first few hours I was having nausea and vomited many times. The ship was full of hippies and they were having dope and cigarettes. They were sitting on the bow and I was so surprised to see them. They were different. Most of the males had long untidy brown hair, funky clothes with vests, they were wearing colorful slippers, carrying a long bag and most of them were wearing accessories like head bands, scarf’s, funky jewelry. Almost all females were also dressed up in funky clothes. They were lost in their own world. We were again feeling out of place as there were very few Indians on the ship. At night it was damn cold and we couldn’t sleep at all. Reached Mumbai in the morning and decided not to experience the sea again. After that I went to Goa a couple of times again with mom and dad and my love for the place became stronger…
Goa-2009-2012
Now after so many years, I am married and I still love to go to Goa. I try to go there every year. Since 2009 I am again a regular visitor to Goa. But now Goa is a different experience...
My vacation in Goa spells relaxation, Gurmehar splashing in the sea, building sand castles on the beach. We always try our hand at water sports while enjoying a nice sunbath. Bunty loves to read a book and quaff down some beers and maybe take in a snooze. Love the delicious goan food, good shopping at local markets, loads of music and dancing, long rides on the bikes. I have the most chilled out time in Goa.
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| Joy Rides |
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| Yummy Sea Food |
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| My Sunshine |
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| Fort Aguada |
Goa….the sun, the surf and the sea. Goa the most romantic city and its true…it really is. Away from the tourist sites you will find plenty of empty shacks where you can have a wonderful candle light dinner, right on the beach. The sounds of the waves hitting the sandy shores, music, stars, sand and cool breeze will make your evening special. You can just walk barefoot hand in hand without being bothered about anything else in the world… carefree as a wandering bird. The best is the openness in the local culture of the Goans no one is concerned about your actions. Romance is in the air everywhere in Goa. You can just hang around in any restaurant and the music will make you feel young and romantic. It’s full of life.
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| Romantic Dinners |
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| Love you guys |
Whenever I plan my vacation in Goa I book myself at Calanguate or Candolim beach from where I can just walk down to the beach. We make a practice of going to Goa to enjoy the shade and the groves of trees and to savour the sweet betel.
The beaches of Calangute and Candolim are the best among all. Down the corridors of time Goa has been different things to different people. You can enjoy the choicest rarities of India, for it is the most famous and celebrated city, on account of its commercial intermingling of people from various cultures, nationalities and backgrounds. Goa is like a balm on the busy mind, to enjoy days of freedom on Goa’s magnificent beaches, to parasail or swim with the tide of fellow visitors from all around the globe, to savour its unique cuisine and imbibe its spirits, to take a long and invigorating trek in its unexplored interiors, to marvel at its majestic churches, in short, to be at one with the most friendly people in the country. It is a frame of mind and body, spirit and soul.
Bunty is not a water boy but Gurmehar is a water baby. Gurmehar and I spend long hours in the sea and now I love it when the waves hits my bones. Infact, I have now made friends with the waves and can now play with them. I don’t know how to swim but now I know how to play with waves J I love to be on beach all the time without bothering that I will get sunburns. Now I have got the opportunity to experience all the water sports and enjoy them every time...
| Sea Bathing |
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| Swimming Time |
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| Banana Ride |
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Para Gliding
When you compare Goa with seventies, there is a huge difference. The Hippies of yore have given way to a more sophisticated foreign and Indian tourist, though they are still there but not in such huge numbers as before.
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As I always say Holiday gets you closer to your family and helps you make a profound bonding. Here I suggest to everyone that Holidays means special days of rest and relaxation, as opposed to normal days away from work or school. Do whatever you want to do on your holidays. Never restrict yourself and never restrict your children. In fact learn about their inner thoughts which they explore during holidays. We live like machines and somehow thoughts from our subconscious minds never come out. Holidays give you a chance to think out of the box and relax.
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Goa is a wonderful state situated on the western sea shore of India bordered by Maharashtra in the North and Karnataka in south.
Goa is divided in two parts- North Goa and South Goa. South Goa is more relaxed and sleepy whereas North Goa is full of Life and nocturnal. If you want to spend real relaxing time you can book yourself in any good 5 star property of South Goa and if you are a party animal and love water sports North Goa is the ideal place to stay.
Goa has the most amazing golden beaches beautifully dotted by swaying coconut trees and golden sands with added charm by the golden slumber of the sun. Some of the beaches that are really magnificent and are mostly visited are Kolva beach, Candolim beach, Calangute beach, Baga beach, Anjuna beach and Agonda beach.
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| Sun Set |
In additional to Goa attractions the inspiring temples and the dynamic churches of the Portuguese reign. These churches are the living testimony of the presence of Portuguese in India and still they have been well preserved facing the harsh conditions of the temperatures. Apart from these scintillating attractions some more fascinating attractions like the carnival of Goa, the cascading waterfalls, many wildlife and bird sanctuaries, Goa Heritage houses, Mayem Lake and many more exciting temptations which will help you to relish every moment that greatly wins the heart of every single visitor here.
Goa is the place where I really wanted to own a house for my vacations and One day, I am sure I WILL...
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| Family Time |
Holidays are the perfect way to create boundless memories...It’s holiday time...time to take off with your family to have fun and spend quality time and bonding...
Go Goa.....
Go Goa.....
