'My journey to myself',quite an unusual name for a travel story,isn't it?Well,l can't think of a better title for my story.I would like to start by telling a bit about myself.People describe me as an emotionally unavailable person whose heart is as hard as rock.To be honest,l have no idea why l send out such vibes to people who try to approach me.Even though there could be some truth in their observations,l am not a cold person.l believe that l am quite a nice person who haven't yet figured out how to live in this world.I know quite a bit about myself now,thanks to my solo trip to Goa,India.Some people like mountains,some like forests,but l like,wait,LOVE beaches and sunsets.It was an overnight decision for me to take a solo trip to Goa..From a shy,timid girl who could barely talk to strangers to deciding to go solo was a huge leap.I confronted my fears and packed my bags for the trip of my lifetime.The trip was nothing short of a great learning experience for me.I spent ten days there,just gazing at the ocean and feeling the tides wash away my insecurities l had about myself.There was a moment ,when l was sunbathing at the Baga beach,when l suddenly had a realisation about how uncertain our lives are.lt was a jolt out of blue and it sent me thinking about the places l had to see before it is my time to go.To calm my nerves,l went to the beautiful churches of Goa,and cried my heart out ,thinking about the years l had lost,loathing myself.Suddenly l was not afraid anymore and l felt charged up to face any challenges that came my way.I also made time to visit the Aguada Fort which was breathtakingly beautiful.I know that you might be thinking that this is barely a travel write up..but for me,the details of my travel is less significant than my whole purpose of travelling. Well,since you insist on getting the details,here we go...l booked my tickets from Pune to Goa,which is an overnight journey by bus.I reached Panaji,Goa in the morning and decided to stay at a homestay,'Pacha Mama' owned by a Malayalee couple.Although l had butterflies in my tummy since the time l boarded the bus,l felt instantly at home the moment l reached Goa.I booked a two wheeler for ten days and a guide to show me around.It costed around 500 Rs per day,which l think was quite cheap.Everyday l went for rides on my scooty and discovered new places along the way.Calangute is the biggest beach in north Goa,stretching from Condolim to Baga.It is a must visit place for everyone who visits Goa.The Basilica of Bom Jesus is one of the most beautiful place that l've been to.Built in 1594,it marks the beginning of Christianity and is a UNESCO world heritage site.Baga beach is one of the popular beaches in Goa, about 30km north of Panaji.The water sports of Baga beach are quite famous.It is the perfect destination for you if you wish to witness the excellent nightlife of Goa as signature places such as Britto's, Tito's and Mambos have made their mark in their hearts of party goers. The shacks come to life in the late evening with some pumping music and mouthwatering food. Rocky shores, rocking music, and a free and happy vibe - That is Anjuna Beach for you. Located near Panjim at a distance of 21 km, it is a hippie paradise of sorts it is characterized by its rocky outcrops. The Aguada Fort,built in 1612,to watch and guard against the Dutch and the Marathas is also a beautiful place to visit.Your trip is not complete if you haven't eaten Goan fishcurry ,rice and cocunut water.I also remember going for a cruise,enjoying the beautiful sunset sipping a cup of hot tea. Well,l think you get an idea about the places l've visited in Goa.l absolutely loved the whole trip and wish l could live there forever.I learnt a lot about myself and this initiated my path to self discovery.Goa helped me fall in love with myself again and believe in myself more.It made the little girl in me believe in ' happily ever after'.So thank you Goa ,for everything.Everday when l see the sunset and sip hot tea,l imagine the ocean tides washing my fears away.l imagine the ocean breeze playing with my hair and the sand slowly seeping away from under my toes.l imagine feeling alive again.