Friday, July 7, 2017

Goa- all ingredients for a happy wholesome holiday


Just like a wholesome meal, Goa because of its beaches, hills, forests, quaint clean county roads, ancient Portuguese houses offers everything to make up a happy wholesome holiday experience. 
Really, Incredible Goa.  

In Goa we spent 6 days on our own and roamed around with a rented self drive car. 

Day1 -  On the very first day of our Goa trip  we were staying at Fontainhas , Panaji , which is the oldest Portuguese quarter in Asia. These Portuguese quarters have a special feeling about themselves .
The amalgamation of pure whitewashed Portuguese quarters and bright colored Hindu temples representing their Gods and Goddesses was really a feast for the eyes.



Day 2 – We visited Calangute beach, the most famous beach of Goa . In Calangute  we tasted some seafood  along the beach the beach front . Calangute seafood was good but that at Baga was even better . In Baga we stayed in a quiet resort called LINOS . There the best thing I liked was the serene environment and the company of a fat , lazy and a loving dog called champ . In the meanwhile we also saw Ashwem and Morjim beach.
Seafood feast at Baga beach    

Baga beach- LINOS . Champ time
Morjim beach is a turtle nesting site

Day3 –We went to Aguada fort , an ancient Portuguese fort which is situated on a hill overlooking the sea. In the evening we had some special chicken burger made by Pepper Aunty a portuguese lady .
 
Aguada Fort, North Goa


Day4 – We were out out exploring the extreme North and saw Keri ( temple )beach , Arambol  beach and  Tiracol Fort , which is near the border of Goa and Maharashtra . We also had our car on the barge  to cross the tiracol river by just paying 10 rupees . Tiracol fort is in Goa, after which the state of Maharashtra starts.  . As our rented car was a Goa permit we were asked by the car company while we were at Tiracol if we were entering into Maharashtra . We then became cautious  to be in goa only . We then went back to Anjuna and were out on the road to the extreme south towards  Palolem beach .  In the evening we went agonda beach , which is a very quiet  and a serene beach . I made a sand castle  there itself .



Inside fort Tiracol,
Making sandcastles at Agonda beach
 
At Palolem beach
 


Day5   We saw Galgibagh beach another turtle nesting site. We then went Palolem , had a good sea bath and were out on the road to Bogmalo in Mormogao. But before that we saw the Cabo de rama fort and also tasted the  local brand of ice - cream . Then ,On our way to Bogmalo we did some window –sightseeing of the beaches coming on our way .  Then we finally reached bogmalo and saw the Dabolim airport , Japanese garden , Mormugao port, Baina beach and Vasco da  gama.


 



Day6 – Next day we left Bogmalo and visited  the Holland beach  and the naval aviation museum and then went to Dona Paula beach which is also a good beach . We then Visited the Kala academy ., which is a beautiful place and has a good riverfront . We also went to old Goa and  saw the largest church complex in Asia and high church walls also called the flying buttresses . We then went to Panaji by the old road by the side of the Mandovi river .
We went to Miramar beach , relaxed  a bit and went to mall de Goa for dinner after which re returned the car . Our trip ended when we reached Madgaon station and boarded  the train to  Dehradun to return to our Home , Sweet , Home !




At our cottage overlooking Bogmalo beach


Anywhere in Goa, the sea is never far away. Can you see it behind me?

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