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Monday, July 20, 2020

Scintillating Goa


Visiting beaches is one thing and living on the beach is just another ! Especially for those who have lived all their life in a big city amidst hustle- bustle, never-ending traffic and population bursting at seams. I got an opportunity to live at a place where just twelve houses were overlooking the beach in Goa!
It is now more than three decades but the memories are as fresh as the raindrops in the first showers of the monsoon rain. I was posted at Goa and got a house right on the airport, overlooking the sea. The house faced the sea on the three sides and every morning I would wake up to the humming of fishermen heading to the sea with the golden sun rising up in the east. During the day there would be almost zero traffic on the narrow road with an occasional appearance of scooter a car or two and military truck. The sunset was a treat to witness from the huge terrace with strong winds blowing. Soon the darkness would fall and the glow of stars in the clear skies was like living a dream. Across the road was a rocky terrain on which a rickety path leads to a private beach about 100m long and palm trees hiding it from the outside world.

The Bogmolo beach was about 2 km from my house and every morning, before the sunrise I would jog on the path leading to the beach. The only company I had at that hour was an occasional dog barking, some seagulls on the lookout for an early catch and occasionally a snake crossing the road. One morning I still remember a silver streak zipped and crossed the road just a metre or two away from me and I realized it was a snake! But for these minor adventures, it was always a treat to sit on the rocks, exercise a little and get the fresh air devoid of dust, smog or pollution. Every weekend I would drive with my family on the scooter to have a little picnic on the beach.

Goa has almost a magnetic attraction worldwide for the beaches, natural beauty, food and so much more. In every season Goa is well worth a visit. Majorda beach towards the south is a terrific place to enjoy unhindered views during the monsoon time. Colva beach a little further with miles of white sandy expanse leaves one breathless. In fact, every little beach Benaulim, Varca, Cavelossim as one head towards Betul redefines beauty.

The Dona Paula and Miramar are at the heart of Panjim and are more commercial but do provide some nice views of the river Mandovi where it meets the Arabian Sea.

Most of the touristy beaches that brought fame to Goa are in the north. Anjuna beach was once a place where hippies outnumbered any other kind of tourists. Calangute, Baga and Vagator lie almost in a straight line and are located within a distance of 20 km from the two extremities. A walk on the moist grains of sandy beach is akin to touching the paradise as the feet sink into the sand. I have seen these places getting transformed from tiny places with a few shacks and small hotels to the present day with most modern luxury hotels to tiny huts selling the Goanese cuisine.

The memories of Goa become more vivid as I see the clouds roll in the skies and bring rain. I recollect the days when the lightning would strike throughout the night and keep lighting our bedroom and the roar of the sea at distance like a dragon let loose. The clap of thunder was a natural carnival for which one did not have to wait till January. So Goa is one destination for all seasons.

PS: Image kind courtesy Google

15 comments:

  1. We were in Goa for the third time last year this month. I just LOVE the place.

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    1. The place is such that it is difficult not to love it:)

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  2. Have been to Goa as a kid with family ...the movie Josh filmed in Goa always used to make me feel envious of every soul who got to live next to the beach .... In Chennai my place is close to the Marina beach but city beaches are different ....

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    1. Ha aha, since you have lived next to the Marina beach in Chennai, you know how it feels yo live next to one! Goa is of course heavenly:)

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  3. This post of yours made me remember our Goa trip.. The last trip before we moved out of India. Goa indeed has a soul of it's own. I think I had even posted about our trip on my blog. Will find the link and share with you :)

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    1. Thanks for your kind comment Ira! Look forward to your link to the post on your trip to Goa:)

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    2. http://livelife2dfullest.blogspot.com/2019/01/so-finally-after-8-10-years-of-stay-in.html?m=0

      Here is the link :)

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    3. Thanks a lot Ira! Loved your post. See my comments on the blogpost

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  4. Replies
    1. Many thanks Ashok for you kind comment! Good to see you here after a while:)

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  5. Lovely memories. The rains can really make one nostalgic. :)

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    1. Thanks for reading my posts! Yes, the rains are just beautiful

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