Walking into Paradise: Goa

by Aishwarya Ray (India)

A leap into the unknown India

Goa, the smallest, yet one of the most beautiful states of India, has never failed to mesmerize me. Previously, a Portuguese colony, now a part of India and attained statehood in the year 1987. As a kid, I had been to Goa once, but I barely remember anything. Once again on the eve of Dec,2019 we boarded the flight and reached Dabolim, Goa’s international airport. Unlike all other times we decided to put up in a home-stay ignoring the five-star comfort of Hyatt International. The best part of home-stays is that we can have full privacy of a home to ourselves. Goa, as we know is divided into North Goa and South Goa. North Goa is more of a hyped-up area, with tourists from all over the world, some relaxing and some partying like it’s their last day on the Earth. There are numerous beaches such as Candolim, Baga, Vagator, Anjuna, Calangute, being the famous one. This part of Goa has plentiful bars, pubs, casinos, clubs and restaurants. Most of the settlement are in the north along with the famous Aguada fort, with its lighthouse overlooking the Arabian sea. If one is looking to take a bath in the ocean, Baga beach tops the list with its flat land, minimal curvature and silver sands. For the relaxed kind, eager to watch the setting sun touch the surface of the ocean, Candolim offers a variety of shacks to simply get a glass of your favourite drink, listen to some Spanish guitar and enjoy a spectacular view. The rush of modern life, combined with nil salty sea air is an ideal place for all those people who prefers living life on the edge. In north goa, it’s beneficial and pocket-friendly for one to rent a bike or car to travel around the city in their own comfort, according to their time. If one is adventurous, they can take their bikes to go explore the connected secret streets that lead directly to the beaches instead of taking the main road. There is something magnificent in the pompousness of the city, the little streets, the road-side markets and tiny fancy houses. South Goa, on the other hand, is calm, peace loving, oceans are surrounded by landforms and mountains. There is greenery everywhere we look. We had planned to visit South Goa in a day and come back but its charm hypnotized us into staying there for a couple more days. Silver sand beaches now turned into white soft sands, soother oceans, the clubs and pubs were replaced by churches and bookstores in every corner of the street. Not many Indians come in South Goa, given the price constraints and the distance from the airport. Agonda beach, is one of the most quiet and empty beaches of Goa, 9kms from Palolem, the largest beach of Goa. When one is traveling to Agonda, they could realise the scenery outside changing from paved paths to broken soiled unconstructed roads leading to the heart of the beach. There are small air-conditioned cottages built for the travellers to put up. The high point being they are all sea-side facing. One can swim in the clear waters of the beach feeling the breeze on their face. Coming to our main attraction, Palolem, less crowded than the Colva beach has sand with a slight touch of a golden hue, the ocean glistening bright, umbrellas and sunbeds set up on the beach, along with several restaurants serving ‘Goan’ delicacies and other continental food platters. Also, one must not miss out on the coconut water and the pulp. There are huts and cottages from where one can easily view the sunrise or sunset. If one gets lost, they can feel free to ask the locals as they are indeed very friendly and helpful. One needs to hire a car, or drive one of their own, because Uber service is not available in Goa. In my opinion, Goa is a perfect place for a vacation, to take a break from the hectic life in a crowded city. Goa should be number one on anybody’s travel list. It feels like walking into ‘Paradise’, leaving all your pressure and strains outside.