Reminiscing About Leisurely Goa

When traveling in India for long periods of time, you need to find escape from the hustle and bustle of cities and larger towns. Fortunately India has Goa. 100kms, (officially 105kms) along the West Coast of India on the Arabian Sea, lies Goa. The former hippie hangout is now a sunny destination for many international holiday makers. There are 50 beaches on the Goa coastline, most have beautiful palm trees, sandy beaches and resorts to suit all budgets.

My travel buddy and I made my our way towards Panaji, the capital of Goa. First things first, scooters were organised for our duration in Goa. The relaxed atmosphere in the villages and along the coastline makes scootering a pleasure.

So many remnants of Portuguese influence are to be found in Goa. Architecture, wooden finishes in buildings, elaborate carved furniture…..

Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church on a hill side overlooking Panaji and the Church of Mae de Deus are striking reminders of Portuguese influence.

With all of the Portuguese culture we experienced, we were never too far away from the India as we know it - elephants on the rural roads, plenty of farming activities, temple visits, handmade paan sellers on the streets.…

Our resort near to Anjuna was the perfect place to take in the relaxing sights and sounds of Goa beach life by day. For five days of our stay, in the early evening, we would head out on our scooter to the local Ayurvedic doctor’s rooms for an intensive cleansing treatment which of course encourages very healthy eating and abstinence from any beverages. But, being the adventure folk who we are, this did not deter us from enjoying Goa’s abundantly fun nightlife.

The special attraction of Anjuna is the Wednesday flea market. It’s abuzz with activity, craft, clothing and food stalls.

Outdoor restaurants dotted all along the beach afforded us a lovely setting to take a break from a busy morning at the flea market. A leisurely afternoon was spent planning our return trip and chatting with fellow travellers.