Goa — In between dream and reality
10 Days
North Goa
Arriving from the paradise beaches and bays in South Thailand I had no huge expectations towards Goa. Everything I had heard was pointing out to parties, tourists, beautiful long beaches and drugs.
When I took the seat in the plane from Mumbai to Goa in the afternoon after a day full of activity in Phuket and a trip of over 16 hours (2 flights and one 9 hours stop over in hectic Mumbai where I had to go to Rishabs house to pick up my big backpacker) the only thing I wanted to do was sleeping.
The lady next to me breathed deeply
but I didn´t react on that. After a while she started a talk and I enjoyed it but I told her as well that I was very tired and that I need to close my eyes. When we had landed we went to the exit together, Munira (her name) invited me generously on a coffee and after the little drama with the ATM and her credit card we took a taxi together to Arambol. We booked our accomodations almost next to each other in advance and so it seemed to be even smarter to share a taxi. I noticed quite fastly that Munira is similar to me and I was already looking forward to see her the next day. She moved the next day to my homestay and after another move to a bigger bungalow right next to the beach we felt like sisters (she also called me her Goa wife :D). During the 6 days that I spent in Arambol many things happened: I met my friends I got to know in Himachal Pradesh (Lukas, Hector and Alex), I attended the Ecstatic Dance for the first time (I´ll definitely do again!), I met very interesting people and enjoyed amazing talks which I won´t forget too fast and last but not least I danced one day at the Sunsplash festival, the biggest Raegge festival in India, for free!
After a lovely Good Bye from my Goa wife Munira I continued my trip to the more quiet South of Goa.
South Goa
I shared the taxi with 2 guys who I met before in the first accomodation. At my new accomodation I moved happily into the big room for only 8 euros a night. Unfortunately I discovered in the evening that THE bar is located next to my room. They played life music untill 11:30 pm. Despite the nice music my sleep wasn´t as good as it was used to be…
The next day I checked some cafés online and decided for the Avocado Café where I spent fully 4 hours. That was actually all I did the first day. The following days I rented a scooter and cruised along the coast in the North and South of Agonda.
Before I arrived at Cola Beach
which is in the North of Agonda I had driven such a bumpy road that the motor runned out so many times. But, when I arrived at the beach, I forgot about that: A delightful bay surrounded by coconut trees wrapped around the ocean. Despite a couple of people I enjoyed the atmosphere, especially after managing the horrible sandy and rocky way to the beach on my own. After a cool down in the ocean and a walk at the coast and a little break I continued my journey to Fort Rama. The unconspicuous entrance didn´t presume on something spectacular, but the walk around the fort is more then worthy!
After a short time I met a local
who accompanied me and showed me around the surely most beautiful spots! Even though he hardly spoke English (and I don´t speak Hindi) I enjoyed this little togetherness and the sweet stillness. At the end he showed me proudly his fisherboat and I said goodbye to leave for sunrise to a hidden beach. In the late morning I got a tip from an Argentinian lady for this beach. I really needed to hurry because it was already very late and I still needed to find the entrance to the beach. Finally I arrived, speeded along the small path that changed into steps down to the beach. When I started to listen to the ocean I also perceived another sound of water:
I approached a water fall in the middle of the jungle.
Literally with the right ear I listened to the water fall and with the left ear I listened to the ocean. Clearly this is a qualitiy sign for paradise!! I walked down fastly and could see the beach through the coconut trees, which confirmed my impression of a paradise! A short, maybe 200 m long beach that was surrounded by coconut trees and decorated by smooth big rocks on which the water was bounced back. Only some bamboo huts on a higher plateau of the beach seemed to see me. A sat down on a stone and watched the sun going down into the ocean as a big orange-red fireball.
…After the sunset I had to hurry to hike up still in dawn.
The way up was quite steep and would take 15–20 min.
When I arrived at my accomodation I met the Argentinien lady from the day before and her friend for having Momos. Mjammi – as soon as the „Himalaya people“ cook Momos I can´t close my mouth anymore. After a nice talk they both joined me to Rickys shop, a Kashmiri guy who owns the oldest tailor and precious stone shop in Agonda. We talked around 3,4 hours and when I arrived around midnight I felt asleep immediatly.
On the next day I cruised on my scooter to the southern Goa beaches that were most recommended:
Galgaliba, Patnem and Palolem beach.
I enjoyed Galigaba beach for its solitude (I counted maybe 2,3 other people as far as I could see AND some turtle nests). The other 2 beaches I didn´t like so much because they were very crowdy. For being early for surfing I woke uo early on the next day. I was very lucky because my surfteacher and I were the only persons in the water and the waves were pretty good compared to the previous days. I enjoyed finally being back on the board and keeping my balance as long as possible above the ocean. After a short time the teacher stopped helping by pushing me and I paddled and surfed as long as my knees were aching. After around 2 h I left the ocean, ordered a delicious breakfast and relaxed the rest of the day. Before leaving to Hampi by nightbus I passed the guys I met during my „Agondexperience“, ordered a Baghsu cake „take away“ and said „Good Bye, Agonda! We´ll surley meet again!“.
“When I started to listen to the ocean I also perceived another sound of water: I approached a water fall in the middle of the jungle. Literally with the right ear I listened to the water fall and with the left ear I listened to the ocean. Clearly this is a qualitiy sign for paradise!!”