So, when my buddies asked, "Where to next?" for our year-end escapade, my immediate response was just one word: Goa. Yep, I'm diving into what I like to call "Goa 2.0" – round two of soaking up the sun, sand, and all the good vibes this place has to offer. Well in short, it was my second time to Goa but an entirely different experience.
Off we went, checking in late at night on day one. Our home away from home? The charming 'Green Door Villa' in Varca. Let me tell you, that villa was the cherry on top of our entire trip.
Day 2 kicked off with a trip to Butterfly Beach, nestled in the southernmost part of Goa. We deliberately opted for the tranquility of South Goa over the bustling scenes of the north. After all, sometimes the lively atmosphere up north can overshadow the true essence of Goa. If you're aiming to unwind and bask in luxury, South Goa is definitely the place to be.
We grabbed a couple of scooters and hit the road for about two hours until we reached Butterfly Beach, nestled within a private estate. After parking up, we went on a little trek for around 2 kilometers to get to the beach. And boy, was it worth it! The place was teeming with butterflies, and the shoreline? It was pint-sized but picture-perfect, with the water rocking that legit aqua teal vibe. Safe to say, it was prime sunbathing territory and the ultimate spot to chill out.
Being the beach bum that I am, Goa was an absolute dream. After soaking up the butterfly bliss, we hopped back on our scooters and made our way to Palolem Beach for another dose of sun, sand, and sea. We took a leisurely stroll along the coastline, capturing a couple of epic photoshoot moments along the way. But let me tell you, the real highlight of Palolem Beach? The local restaurants, hands down. We found ourselves cooling off from the scorching sun at Casanova restaurant, right by the beach. And guess who decided to join us? A bunch of friendly feline companions, who were more than happy to share our fish fingers and show us some love.
The morning zipped by way too fast, mostly 'cause we couldn't stop gawking at the stunning views as we cruised from the deep south of Goa back to Varca. Come nighttime, we made a spontaneous pitstop at Betalbatim Beach, hoping to catch a glimpse of some bioluminescent magic. No luck on that front, but hey, the beach had this spooky-cool vibe going on. Picture it: the coastline stretching out wide, whispering for you to come closer. The darkness had this surreal feel, with waves crashing every which way, like some you are in a studio Ghibli movie but the theme is gothic. And get this – we had some tiny, adorable crabs tagging along for the adventure too! After dinner, because let's be real, we're never really "not hungry," we couldn't resist grabbing some Baskin-Robbins on the way.
The next day was the one I'd been eagerly anticipating - our trip to North Goa. We hopped on our bikes and cruised all the way to Fountainhas, a charming neighborhood steeped in French and Portuguese colonial history. Let me tell you, the vibe there was beyond picturesque - every corner was a potential Instagram post waiting to happen! We decided to take a quick break and grabbed some hot chocolate and paneer puffs at 'Bombay Coffee Roasters'. And can we talk about the ambiance for a sec? It was straight out of a magical world - I mean, there were even flying books! (I'm a total Potterhead, so you can imagine my excitement).
Lunchtime called for a pitstop at KiKi by the Sea in Vagator Beach. Let me tell you, the ambiance was off-the-charts amazing. I mean, just look at it yourself! From the mouthwatering pastries and desserts to the refreshing drinks, everything was top-notch. But what really stole the show was the soul-soothing bass music in the background. It was the perfect soundtrack to our beachside feast!
Next up, we strolled down Anjuna Beach, where the vibe was electric with crowds and booming music. We got into the whole beachy vibe – braided our hair with colorful woolen strings and decked ourselves out in beachwear from the local shops.
Then, we decided to kick things up a notch with some water adventures. We hopped on a water boat and then soared through the sky with paragliding. And get this – they dipped us in the water during the ride for an extra thrill. I was all in for the experience until I ended up with jellyfish stings! Yeah, turns out there were quite a few jellyfish around, which was a bit concerning. Lesson learned: gotta be careful with those sea creatures. But hey, at least the stings weren't too bad – lucky me!
Alright, so we hit up Baga Beach for the ultimate party vibes – dancing, dinner, the whole shebang. And man, was it a blast!
After all that excitement, we cruise back to South Goa around midnight. And let me tell you, that drive was something else! Cool breeze, empty roads – it was like a scene from a movie. Plus, the weather? Chilly as heck, but in the best way possible.
Alright, let me paint you a picture: Varca Beach, my ultimate chill spot where I feel totally at peace. It's like the beach is whispering sweet nothings to my soul every time I set foot on its sands. The vibe there is just... indescribable. Crystal-clear waters, powdery soft sand, and the gentle sway of palm trees – it's like something straight out of a dream.
And get this – one day, while soaking up the sun, we spot dolphins frolicking in the distance. Can you believe it? Talk about a magical moment! And yeah, you guessed it – luck was totally on my side that day.
We decided to grab some lunch at this gem called the Waterfall Cafe. Let me tell you, the vibes there were unreal. Picture this: lush greenery, the soothing sound of cascading water, and the most Instagram-worthy spots at every turn. Naturally, we couldn't resist having an impromptu photoshoot – I mean, when the backdrop's that stunning, you just gotta capture the moment, right?
Oh man, I can't believe I almost forgot about that epic sunset! Seriously, it was like something out of a movie – the sky painted in shades of orange and pink, casting this dreamy glow over everything. And you know what they say about sunsets, right? They have this magical way of making everything more romantic. I mean, if you happened to be with someone special, it's practically impossible not to fall for them even harder. So, did I? Well, let's just say that sunset definitely made me appreciate the special people in my life a whole lot more.
Oh, and let me share this heartwarming moment with you: while I was settling into my seat, I found the tiny foot of an innocent toddler resting nearby. It was such a simple yet precious moment that just filled my heart with even more love.
Man, leaving Goa was tough, I'm not gonna lie. I mean, who wouldn't want to stick around forever with all that beachy goodness? And let me tell you, even the Manohar International Airport up in North Goa was a vibe – super pleasing to the eye. We grabbed a good dinner there before hopping on our flight back to Chennai. But hey, don't count me out for more beach trips just yet. Who knows what surprises are in store? Can't wait to see where the next adventure takes us!
Comments