Palm trees swaying in the breeze, sunny skies, vast coastlines, the glittering arabian sea and crumbling portuguese colonial structures – this is Goa, and it doesn’t feel like India at all! After many days hopping around Northern India, we decided to relax and chill at Goa’s beaches, the last leg of our great Indian adventure! The first two nights were spent at Anjuna where hippies, old and young, ravers and backpackers have settled at. The massive Wednesday flea market is a famous attraction and definitely worth seeing. For our last two nights, we wanted to get away from the mayhem and craze of Anjuna and sought refuge up north to the idyllic beaches of Mandrem and Arambol. with white sands and wider coastlines, This yoga-centric part of Goa offers a more peaceful and laid back vibe. It was the perfect place to just laze and relax.
The drive around goa is quite scenic, you will see portuguese colonial-style houses and buildings and lots of lush greenery and vegetation. One thing we regret not doing is the spice plantation tour, which sure would be pretty interesting.
The shady and breezy terrace of Hotel Bougainvilla in Arambol. Lazy mornings and breakfasts were spent here.
Wednesday flea market!
We met this Filipino jeweler and his sister who has been living in Goa for 20 years!
Spices at the flea market.
Beach time!
A cow in the beach – only in India!
Mandrem, northern Goa.
The bridge leading to the beach from our resort.
Tai Chi in Mandrem
Sunset hits in our balcony.
Mandrem’s gorgeous sunset!
Downtown Arambol.
Favorite juice bar!
Goa Picks:
Wednesday Flea Market. Back in the 60s, this was a famous spot for hippies who sold their stuff before leaving goa. nowadays, it’s a massive market with hundreds of vendors selling trinkets, clothes, bags, cds, spices. sarongs and handicrafts from tibet and kashmir. If you love to shop, you can spend a whole afternoon in this market. Most items we bought from our travels around northern india were also sold here a lower prices! Bargain hard!
Hotel Bougainvilla. This charming portuguese-style house in a quiet part of anjuna, was turned into a lovely hotel with a shady veranda where you can hang out and have your meals amidst tropical greenery.
Riva Beach Resort. The newest (and poshest) hotel in mandrem. We stayed at a cottage with a balcony overlooking the arabian sea. The resort wasn’t quite finished yet and there are still some things that needed to be fixed (food quality and electricity went on and off), but we got a pretty good deal for comfort and luxury.
Sai Upasana Juice Bar. A quaint fruit and veggie juice bar located in the inner alleys of arambol. Fresh tropical fruit and vegetable juices are served as well as tropical cocktails. The owner is a jolly middle-aged man who concocts the juices himself.
Shanti Ayurvedic Massage. Get your massage and treatments in a cottage by the beach to the therapeutic sounds of the waves and ocean breeze.
Dunes Restaurant. Located within the premises of dunes holiday village is a restaurant shack where you can have your favorite indian dishes and healthy juices.
Getting There:
Check out IndiGo Airlines for flight details to Goa.
