GOA is a beach altogether... so many beaches and so less time.
Our experience here was the best last year in September 2005. Monsoon was just getting over and we flew to Goa by Kingfisher. That was me and my wife. We’re married for 3 years and love to travel by road, though after a heavy monsoon in Mumbai Road and Rail were badly affected.
So we flew and were treated to a Maharaja style flight in Kingfisher. The best Airbus A320, and a very hospitable crew we landed in Panjim after a 38 mins flight. We had booked in advance so a chaffeur driven car was waiting for us. We had asked for a non AC Esteem and there he was to pick us up. From there to Calangute is a long 48 kms drive and the view around was spectacular.
On reaching Calangute we landed at the hotel TICLO Resort and the overall atmosphere made us very comfortable that we were going to enjoy out stay. We were recommended this place by another couple who were here for their honeymoon.
The room fare was 650 bucks thats room only and off-season rates. Otherwise the rate is around 1200-1500 bucks and our room faced the swimming pool.
Every room is equipped with a mini kitchen and a fridge stocked with Beer and Aerated waters and Mineral Water. It lacks heating equipment though.
The rooms were very clean and so were the bathrooms. We rested for about an hour and I raided the Beer Bar in the room. The Beer cost was damn cheap. The pints were Rs.50/- per bottle, and I consumed about 3 of them before setting out to find a bike for the entire trip.
This place TICLO resort is very close to the Calangute chowk and at the chowk is this vendor who rents bikes for a reasonable rate.
I was surprised that they speak Marathi and I struck a deal for a Honda Activa when the man there tapped on my back and said that at the same cost ie., 150 bucks a day he can give me a Yamaha Enticer but I would have to pay him a four day advance. He got the bike and it was a pleasure to ride the bike ala... HARLEY DAVIDSON Junior.
I promised to pay him the same evening as I was not carrying cash and had only my credit cards. He agreed.
We took off with 3 litres of petrol and went to the Baagha beach where the sand is virgin and the all the foreigners were preparing for the night.
The beaches here are Anjuna, Baghaa and Calangute.
There is a disco called TITO’s but be careful as its very very expensive.
Exactly opposite to the TICLO resort is a very famous Cafe cum Bakery called INFANATARIA.
They serve booze and authentic Malvani food and the rates are good too..
In the evening I wanted to have my favourite poison OLD MONK and walked over to a wine shop and picked up half a bottle of it and paid him the usual Rs.110/- but I was surprised when he handed a Rs.50/- change to me and I thought that the shop keeper was drunk. We I enquired further I was told that a quarter too cost Rs.25/- and booze is very very very cheap in Goa.
I was in heaven and the RUM was old dark rum... The best I ever had.
1 whole half a bottle down with coke and wife rode the bike and it was drizzling slightly we went to the cafe on the opposite side and ordered for the Surmai fry and the uncle there was very helpful and advised us to take the BABY KINGFISHER instead. So agreed.
The cafe serves alcohol too and I saw the menu and was astonished that a peg of Old Monk costs Rs.10/- (yes ten bucks)
And our eyes popped out of their sockets when he got the baby kingfisher. We thought he would serve us 4 pieces but he got us the entire fish. It was a Tandoori, baked and neatly cooked with species and lemon juice and was about 2 feet long 6 inches wide.
We had to cancel all the other orders as that fish didn’t even get fully into our stomach.
Next day we rode to Agauda Fort and the Aguada Jail, which is fully operational and the rains were lovely.
We enjoyed Anjuna and the sea was very rough so we could go in there was the coast guard was keeping eveyone at bay.
We took the Enticer to all over GOA and covered the entire state except BARDEZ.
We are going to Goa again this September though we’ll be flying Deccan Air as its cheaper. We now have 4 couples and plan to blast GOA. Last time we stayed for 3 nights and 4 days however this time its gonna be 7 days and 6 nights.
Recommendations: Stay at TICLO hotel and drink and dine at INFANATARIA.
Total paisa wasool. Hire a Gypsy if you have a larger group of about 5 or more else if the couples are the adventurous types hire GEARED bikes and wear helmets for safety of your loved ones.
If you plan to visit TITO’s the cover charge is 500 bucks (not worth it) and the booze per drink in 200 bucks and they DO NOT serve authentic liquour.
If going during JUNE - OCTOBER carry mosquito repellents and always carry some extra clothes while riding through GOA.