Goa,
what a blissfully quiet place in comparison to Mumbai. Flying into the Airport and looking out the window of our cab (Cristina is still with me in Goa) was like breathing in a breath of fresh air. Literally, going from the insane maze of overcrowded poverty filled streets of Mumbai to the green lush palm filled streets of Goa was an amazing change of pace.
When landing in Goa we headed straight north to Anjuna beach which would have been nice if it was not dumping down buckets and buckets of rain. The roads get windy and narrow and unless you have a knowledgeable taxi driver getting spun around is not a hard thing to do. We didn’t stay in Anjuna beach though since accommodation was pretty minimal and we were forced to pay a bit more than planned in an average location. During Peak season (october 15th to March), Anjuna is the place to be with bars, out door parties, beach to relax on, in off season it can be a wet, desolate place.
Candolim was the next town we stayed in which had a bit more going on that Anjuna, bigger town, cute streets, tons of Portuguese influence (the whole state of Goa was colonized by the Portuguese). I can picture the beach filled with people, bon fires, music, dancing, and festivals all winter long. Palm lined beaches, good surf and a rather lively town, all things that make a good beach vacation. Unfortunately I was blessed with rain and boarded up shops. Not the worse thing in the world, a little R n’ R after a rather interesting stay in Mumbai was good.
Panjim is where I spent the rest of my stay in Goa, a small city of about 90,000 people that has all the stuff one needs. Bars, restaurants, friendly people, and centrally located in the state, making travel a lot easier. Renting a car (with a driver of course, is actually the only way I have gotten around so far in India) here was a great idea. From Panjim we went to an organic Spice Plantation called Sahakari Spice Farm. One of the more enjoyable things I have done, lunch and a tour for 300rs which is about $9usd, the car ride to and from the spice plantation was 1000rs. The Farm was great though, vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, coffee, banana, nutmeg, coco, were all grown here. Great experience. I also got a chance to go to a wildlife preserve actually was a zoo, saw a king cobra (in a pen) which is absolutely terrifying even in an enclosure, for me just the drive around Goa on the way to the perserve was worth the trip, palm trees, rural life, cows all over the road, a relaxed life. people here may be poorer financially but wealthy in life style and happiness. Goa was a great place to visit, i can only imagine how crazy it would be in busy season.
Also I have gotten the chance to cook in another woman’s home, Renee who I read about online. 4 two hours cooking sessions which is probably one of the most expensive mistakes I have made so far. The woman is lovely but the course is worth a fraction of what she charges, and paying all upfront was not a great Idea, those are the mistakes we make as travelers… oh well.
RECOMMENDATIONS: when landing in Goa have a place to stay or at very little an address, name or phone number of a place you are planning on visiting. Some of the beach towns only have one or two hotels and prices can go sky high when they know it’s night time and you are in a pinch to get into your room and go to bed. Also the MOST IMPORTANT THING, do come when the weather is nice, tourist season is probably a bit crazy but when you come in off season most everything is boarded up, closed, or in preparation of the busy times (October – April). If you find your self there in off season head to the Capital of Goa, Panjim which is what I did, a small city smack in the middle of the state with easy access to most touristy things.
what a blissfully quiet place in comparison to Mumbai. Flying into the Airport and looking out the window of our cab (Cristina is still with me in Goa) was like breathing in a breath of fresh air. Literally, going from the insane maze of overcrowded poverty filled streets of Mumbai to the green lush palm filled streets of Goa was an amazing change of pace.
When landing in Goa we headed straight north to Anjuna beach which would have been nice if it was not dumping down buckets and buckets of rain. The roads get windy and narrow and unless you have a knowledgeable taxi driver getting spun around is not a hard thing to do. We didn’t stay in Anjuna beach though since accommodation was pretty minimal and we were forced to pay a bit more than planned in an average location. During Peak season (october 15th to March), Anjuna is the place to be with bars, out door parties, beach to relax on, in off season it can be a wet, desolate place.
Candolim was the next town we stayed in which had a bit more going on that Anjuna, bigger town, cute streets, tons of Portuguese influence (the whole state of Goa was colonized by the Portuguese). I can picture the beach filled with people, bon fires, music, dancing, and festivals all winter long. Palm lined beaches, good surf and a rather lively town, all things that make a good beach vacation. Unfortunately I was blessed with rain and boarded up shops. Not the worse thing in the world, a little R n’ R after a rather interesting stay in Mumbai was good.
Panjim is where I spent the rest of my stay in Goa, a small city of about 90,000 people that has all the stuff one needs. Bars, restaurants, friendly people, and centrally located in the state, making travel a lot easier. Renting a car (with a driver of course, is actually the only way I have gotten around so far in India) here was a great idea. From Panjim we went to an organic Spice Plantation called Sahakari Spice Farm. One of the more enjoyable things I have done, lunch and a tour for 300rs which is about $9usd, the car ride to and from the spice plantation was 1000rs. The Farm was great though, vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, coffee, banana, nutmeg, coco, were all grown here. Great experience. I also got a chance to go to a wildlife preserve actually was a zoo, saw a king cobra (in a pen) which is absolutely terrifying even in an enclosure, for me just the drive around Goa on the way to the perserve was worth the trip, palm trees, rural life, cows all over the road, a relaxed life. people here may be poorer financially but wealthy in life style and happiness. Goa was a great place to visit, i can only imagine how crazy it would be in busy season.
Also I have gotten the chance to cook in another woman’s home, Renee who I read about online. 4 two hours cooking sessions which is probably one of the most expensive mistakes I have made so far. The woman is lovely but the course is worth a fraction of what she charges, and paying all upfront was not a great Idea, those are the mistakes we make as travelers… oh well.
RECOMMENDATIONS: when landing in Goa have a place to stay or at very little an address, name or phone number of a place you are planning on visiting. Some of the beach towns only have one or two hotels and prices can go sky high when they know it’s night time and you are in a pinch to get into your room and go to bed. Also the MOST IMPORTANT THING, do come when the weather is nice, tourist season is probably a bit crazy but when you come in off season most everything is boarded up, closed, or in preparation of the busy times (October – April). If you find your self there in off season head to the Capital of Goa, Panjim which is what I did, a small city smack in the middle of the state with easy access to most touristy things.
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