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GOA - an element of India to cope with the West. Today, I write about one such exotic beach in Goa, which is located towards the Northern part of the state, almost touching the Maharashtrian border - Arambol Beach. Once popular amongst the hippies, this beach has everything you might look for. Talk about golden sands, clear blue waters, shorelined palm trees, as well as the sweet water lake and the red hills that provide the best views for paragliding and parasailing. Arambol beach is located some 35-40 kilometres from the Panjim, the capital city and is about 60 kilometres from the nearest airport. There are no star hotels or major resorts on this beach, as the locals have extensively campaigned to preserve the character and tranquil atmosphere of Arambol. So Arambol still retains its old Goa culture and fishing village ways of life. if you are up for a relaxed laid-back lifestyle for a few days this is the place you ought to head to. There are almost equal numbers of locals and hippies living here, and they all are equally polite. Whilst on the beach, you can laze your day out, or go for a swim, or even go for a trek in the nearby hills to meet the famous BABA who sits near the Banyan tree. I would personally suggest to definitely make the effort to meet him - its an altogether different experience. When I was in Arambol, we had even stayed the night there, letting ourselves loose in the trance and tranquil atmosphere under the glimmering stars. Arambol still retains a major portion of its hippie culture, though most of them have resorted to Anjuna beach. But, this adds a silver lining to the place. It is less crowded than all the other beaches all year long, and thus is still in its natural outlook. You wont find trash or empty beer cans on the beach here, like some other Goan beaches. This helps in setting up ayurvedic and relaxation centres right up on the beach. The serene atmosphere, the pretty sunsets and the hippies playing drum circles and bongos will make you feel that you aren't in India. Be sure to try out the local cuisines and seafood and don't forget to gulp down local 'fenny'. Arambol is popular with the tourists during the winter months - November to February, when the weather is pleasant. However, if you want an even more secluded and personal experience, you can also visit during the other times of the year. Fooding, Lodging and renting vehicles is very cheap in the off-months. The major portion of Arambol's economy comes from the vast numbers of Russian and other European tourists who visit here regularly and some might even stay in Arambol for months at a time. They love this place more than the Indians willingly and consider this place as their home away from home. Do not be surprised if you can't find a single Indian soul here, even me and my friends were the only ones when we stayed in Arambol for a week, hence the title to my travel-story.