Goa
I have been wanting to see the Carnaval forever and I finally did! I have done everything a visitor can do while they are in Goa. From cruises to churches, from fish to Feni, from babinka to beaches. I have been camping in Goa on a class trip, spent my sweet sixteen with my two besties, had the college trips and much more. My impressions and memories from Goa are great in number, but I have tried to stick to the interesting ones.
The Panjim Church is iconic, but Dona Paula is more serene and I prefer going there rather than visiting the busy market near the church. Seeing the interior of the Panjim church first time ever was an experience. It was ornate. But the sunsets at Dona Paula were romantic and somehow better.
We have strolled in the Portuguese colony. It is quite quaint and beautiful. Got told off by a mad lady. Got some pretty good clicks. Invented the traffic mirror selfie.
Sitting near the Municipal Building of Goa. Shade of the trees and couples hanging out under them.
Carnaval was a big street party. Merriment and music and mauj! The energy of the crowd was insane.
We have been to the Kala Academy, saw some great paintings and went to the pier. Had my first kiss by the seaside on the pier. Crazy photos by against the streetlight and we went for some dinner by the riverside.
Tried Feni.. alcohol from cashews and palm trees.
Went to the samba square and danced around.
The beaches never disappoint. Calangute with its water sports. The bumper ride. The parasailing with an amazing extra zingy dip. I was flapping on the water like a dolphin and then in the air with sun. Life looks different from up there. We went deep sea diving. Jumping into the middle of the ocean gives you an insane kick. A deep sea kiss helped my boyfriend with his fear of the water and then back to the shack.
Colva with the cleaner sand, Sikkeri with its exclusivity, Wagator with its foreign tourists.
Settled to have a drink on Miramar. Getting drunk under the black sky, the stars twinkling twice as bright. Champagne to celebrate. Went to the hotel and passed out.
On one very epic visit, we had started the party in Tito's on a Saturday at midnight. The dance floor was dead, but once we took it over then it was chock full of dancers within the half hour. My girls and I party hard, especially in Goa.
Been to the Aguada fort for a photoshoot and funnily enough we waved at some prisoners in the yard of the central jail and they waved back.
We have rented bikes of course. Drove all the way to Mangeshi temple from Panjim. Stopped along the way for pictures... the ride was picturesque!
Saw Xavier's Basilica and St. Francis Assissi Chapel, my favorite.
While crossing the Maharashtra border, we gave a random guy some beer because we did not want to throw it. Made my man do the dirty work.
The last time I went to Goa before I came to the United States was unique. I have done the college touristy stuff plenty of times. But this time I was with family, and we went on a temple hop!
I had been to Mapusa to shop for trinkets before, but my dad took me to the fish market and we had the best fish ever!
I am lucky to have friends in Goa. And not only did K invite my family over to have some hot tea at his house in Ponda, but he also took me out to Chorla Ghat and to see the Goa Engineering College. We even saw a peacock in the wild! We were chased by the clouds and out of the Ghats.
