Couple of months during the start of the monsoon seasonI had been to Goa for a annual break from work. This trip to Goa was a special one as it was after 5 years that i would be on the beaches of Goa.
The flight was extremely boring with no lunch (Jetblue Airways) the only good thing from it scratch coupon i got option for some wierd brand Watch, my wife pearl shaped necklace. The airlines revenues have been badly affected due to the high Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) price hike. They were and are still going through cost cutting /control to see that they don't have a bigggg dip in the revenues. As it is the merger of some of the airlines has made a big diffrence to the common people who were till then enjoying cheap fares.
GOA - AIRPORT
Anyway once at the airport the taxi cabs / auto have a strict union rates to be followed so there was no bargain that could happen. Our destination was to Alexandria beach hotel on the Candolim beach where we had a family getogether. It was hot and sultry for monsoon season time.
CANDOLIM BEACH - NORTH GOA
After the afternoon nap, went to one of the cleanest beachs of Goa Candolim beach it was a 25 steps from the hotel, and here i was ovewhelemed by the huge sand mounds blocking view of the sea, as i walked over the sands then as from a distance i could see the massive waves of sea water rushing into the sands.
Candolim beach is one of the best beaches in north Goa. Its clean, white and fine shiny sands, the waves are bigger compared to other beach. The next 2 days went sitting on the sands and see the massive waves of sea water gushing in, swimming is a strict no no but you see the odd locals and some daring one enjoying. Sunset from here was one most beautiful sight i have seen in ages. Most of the Europenas and Americans love this palce as it is less of the locals and Indian tourist and love the serenity of the place with small shacks for beer good food. Our host at Alexandria was exceptionally good she was a fantastic cook and her sons had good bar and kitchen serving freshly cooked fish. Great value for money.
BIG EYESORE ON CANDOLIM BEACH
A huge rusting stranded ship, locals when asked say that the ship has been here for the last 8 years and nothing has been done to remove it, just behind it is the famous Fort Aguada. Well as i finish writing this part, my better half says that this beach is one of most dangerous due to the currents and huge waves and its steep right near the shore.
BAGA BEACH -NORTH GOA
Compared to this the next 7 days at the Baga Beach famed for fun and Feni and all night roll on parties was a big disappointment. But as it was off season it was really deserted.
The road from Candolim Panchayat building to Baga is narrow and often you see on the side people riding thier bikes. One has to be really take care as the point to point buses pass by at high speed without much care. You come to the main Calangute Market circle and then turn right to Baga beach or go straight to Calangute Beach. Candolim - Calangute - Baga is all one strech.
The distance a mere 4 kms and charge for taxi off season 150 rupees (3 US$), and the same during peak season which is September to March 1000/1200 rupees (24 US$).
An evening walk to the Baga beach was good seeing some good english type inns, Beer shacks and live music. The road to the main beach is behind the famed BRITTOS shack, it was a shock to the eyesight. Smelly dogs and full of poop as they roamed about. The entire strech of beach is filled with dog poop and dogs chasing as you are strolling fearing when they would pounce.
A local mentionted that these were dogs owned by the shack owners mostly to ward off and scare the ever present Indian Romeos wide eyed staring shamelessly at the scantily dressed (what else would the Europeans and Americans do on a sunny beach). So then poops, dogs, smelly sands, and the ever present Romeos eyeing each and every slip of the wet bikins from the waist or wet bosoms.
All in all the beach is very infamous for all the wrongs reasons so being at the beach on a schecluded beach is a strict no no for all tourists.
Short trips to Mapusa market (good place for all your shopping for local produce), went to Vasco to meet some more relatives, Vasco is the harbour/port very city like.
Welll here i must say that the easiset way to travel in Goa is to hire a bike or right at the Baga beach end near Brittos is the start point for buses to Calangute market with stops at certain point or you can wave hand to stop to hop in or out.
From the market you get buses to Mapusa, Panjim. And from Panjim you can take buses to the south part. Offcourse the buses are the normal one, no push back , and long distance to south you dont have much standing unless you can sustain the rough ride.
As my vacation came to an end I wondered where was the old Goa which i had seen as a child of 7 year young boy full of green paddy fields, mango tree, chaples, old tiled roof house, and the Sussegad Goan men and women enjoying the evening cool breeze sitting on the porch.
Tourisim money was a boon to the fisherfolk of Baga villages or for that all the beaches but they now find themselves left out from their land, as most of them have sold their ancestoral houses and live in small houses doing nothing but riding the bikes and hiring bikes and taxis.
Well Goa if you must see do so in the monsoon , not crowded, cheap but without the fun and parties as it is mostly closed and all wrapped up.
Well lot of people as how are the beaches lined up so these to maps of the North South can give you a good idea. (Click on the images for bigger size).
The flight was extremely boring with no lunch (Jetblue Airways) the only good thing from it scratch coupon i got option for some wierd brand Watch, my wife pearl shaped necklace. The airlines revenues have been badly affected due to the high Air Turbine Fuel (ATF) price hike. They were and are still going through cost cutting /control to see that they don't have a bigggg dip in the revenues. As it is the merger of some of the airlines has made a big diffrence to the common people who were till then enjoying cheap fares.
GOA - AIRPORT
Anyway once at the airport the taxi cabs / auto have a strict union rates to be followed so there was no bargain that could happen. Our destination was to Alexandria beach hotel on the Candolim beach where we had a family getogether. It was hot and sultry for monsoon season time.
CANDOLIM BEACH - NORTH GOA
After the afternoon nap, went to one of the cleanest beachs of Goa Candolim beach it was a 25 steps from the hotel, and here i was ovewhelemed by the huge sand mounds blocking view of the sea, as i walked over the sands then as from a distance i could see the massive waves of sea water rushing into the sands.
Candolim beach is one of the best beaches in north Goa. Its clean, white and fine shiny sands, the waves are bigger compared to other beach. The next 2 days went sitting on the sands and see the massive waves of sea water gushing in, swimming is a strict no no but you see the odd locals and some daring one enjoying. Sunset from here was one most beautiful sight i have seen in ages. Most of the Europenas and Americans love this palce as it is less of the locals and Indian tourist and love the serenity of the place with small shacks for beer good food. Our host at Alexandria was exceptionally good she was a fantastic cook and her sons had good bar and kitchen serving freshly cooked fish. Great value for money.
BIG EYESORE ON CANDOLIM BEACH
A huge rusting stranded ship, locals when asked say that the ship has been here for the last 8 years and nothing has been done to remove it, just behind it is the famous Fort Aguada. Well as i finish writing this part, my better half says that this beach is one of most dangerous due to the currents and huge waves and its steep right near the shore.
BAGA BEACH -NORTH GOA
Compared to this the next 7 days at the Baga Beach famed for fun and Feni and all night roll on parties was a big disappointment. But as it was off season it was really deserted.
The road from Candolim Panchayat building to Baga is narrow and often you see on the side people riding thier bikes. One has to be really take care as the point to point buses pass by at high speed without much care. You come to the main Calangute Market circle and then turn right to Baga beach or go straight to Calangute Beach. Candolim - Calangute - Baga is all one strech.
The distance a mere 4 kms and charge for taxi off season 150 rupees (3 US$), and the same during peak season which is September to March 1000/1200 rupees (24 US$).
An evening walk to the Baga beach was good seeing some good english type inns, Beer shacks and live music. The road to the main beach is behind the famed BRITTOS shack, it was a shock to the eyesight. Smelly dogs and full of poop as they roamed about. The entire strech of beach is filled with dog poop and dogs chasing as you are strolling fearing when they would pounce.
A local mentionted that these were dogs owned by the shack owners mostly to ward off and scare the ever present Indian Romeos wide eyed staring shamelessly at the scantily dressed (what else would the Europeans and Americans do on a sunny beach). So then poops, dogs, smelly sands, and the ever present Romeos eyeing each and every slip of the wet bikins from the waist or wet bosoms.
All in all the beach is very infamous for all the wrongs reasons so being at the beach on a schecluded beach is a strict no no for all tourists.
Short trips to Mapusa market (good place for all your shopping for local produce), went to Vasco to meet some more relatives, Vasco is the harbour/port very city like.
Welll here i must say that the easiset way to travel in Goa is to hire a bike or right at the Baga beach end near Brittos is the start point for buses to Calangute market with stops at certain point or you can wave hand to stop to hop in or out.
From the market you get buses to Mapusa, Panjim. And from Panjim you can take buses to the south part. Offcourse the buses are the normal one, no push back , and long distance to south you dont have much standing unless you can sustain the rough ride.
As my vacation came to an end I wondered where was the old Goa which i had seen as a child of 7 year young boy full of green paddy fields, mango tree, chaples, old tiled roof house, and the Sussegad Goan men and women enjoying the evening cool breeze sitting on the porch.
Tourisim money was a boon to the fisherfolk of Baga villages or for that all the beaches but they now find themselves left out from their land, as most of them have sold their ancestoral houses and live in small houses doing nothing but riding the bikes and hiring bikes and taxis.
Well Goa if you must see do so in the monsoon , not crowded, cheap but without the fun and parties as it is mostly closed and all wrapped up.
Well lot of people as how are the beaches lined up so these to maps of the North South can give you a good idea. (Click on the images for bigger size).
Mikey, What use is Goa to you? You should have stayed behind in Vasai:)But keep up the writing.
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