Monsoon's Favourite Child, Goa !
“Do you like rains?” she asked. I kept looking at her, all flummoxed. “Of course, who doesn’t like rains”, I quipped.
That was an old memory of my conversation during my college days with one my friends and I am still in denial that she hates monsoon!
Are you a person who loves waking up to the sound of raindrops and loves sleeping listening to the lullaby of nature? If yes, then we belong to the same tribe of monsoon lovers.
True, anything in excess can be harmful, be it smoking, drinking, sun or rain. Monsoon brings woes of its own kind; floods, landslides and lot of hardships for people. But still I find monsoon completely magical!
What according to you is the best travel destination during monsoon? If you ask people in my close circle they will tell you not to take my opinion because it will be biased. There are people like me who run to a certain place when ecstatic, and run to the same place when sulking. I call such a place “life’s magic potion”. For me monsoon’s favourite child is my favourite GOA!
Welcome to my world of wanderlust. I am happy that I have finally begun my journey with travelogues, after contemplating for the last two years. A lot to learn but let there be a beginning and a relentless discovery of one’s own strengths and weaknesses. Let there be an incessant and endless learning, unlearning and re-learning.
This is the first story that I wrote after creating my website, absolutely a year back. It has been a wonderful journey since then. And the journey continues!
It's interesting to note how we evolve with time. Well, I am editing my first story and giving it a better shape for you to enjoy. See, how there is always a scope of improvement!
So, a rainy weekend in Goa? Let me take you around and show you the best things to do to make it your most memorable weekend.
I look at the horizon and the distance till my eyes could reach I see green; beautiful, lush green. Goa feels like a dream during monsoon; in full bloom, in its best glory. There’s green below and grey above. The sea which is a beautiful blue during other times gets dramatic during monsoon. It's blue, then grey, then black and blue again. As the clouds let themselves loose on the sea and big raindrops start pouring down, I look at the Arabian sea spellbound!
If you want to enjoy magical monsoon in Goa don’t compromise on your stay. You got to stay in a place with a beach of its own, or very close to the beach. This is because you will not have much to do other than playing in rain and dancing to the tune of the crashing waves. If you do not stay in a beach resort, you cannot soak in the magic at all. It rains heavily, and it rains a lot there during monsoon.
One such place which is my favourite is Cidade de Goa, close to Dona Paula. It has a beautiful private beach, just a couple of steps away from the cottages. A 5 star property with the best of amenities and super amiable staff, this place is my path to the heavenly experience of watching the changing colours of the Arabian sea and experiencing magical Goa in its full splendour during monsoon.
The first thing that I saw from the window of my room was the grey sky and an equally grey sea, sometimes turning a darker shade of grey; I got used to the sudden outpour now and then. I got a little portico with the roaring sea so close by that I could almost touch it with my eyes. During light rainfal, the best thing to do was to chill at the portico and sip on my cup of hot tea, watching Nature’s drama all through. The swaying palm trees, the roaring waves, the pouring raindrops; they were all sheer melody to ears!
If at all you want to see the place around, be prepared to get bursts of rain now and then. If you are a rain lover you will enjoy it to the core. But yes, I must say that it rains less and pours more during monsoon there. Nevertheless the fun is no less.
Inspite of the incessant rain, I hired a car (no scope of two wheelers during monsoon) and drove around Goa, as far as my heart wanted to wander. when I stay in central Goa, my favourite drive ought to be old Goa. The magnificence of the Portuguese structures gets enhanced when the sky turns dark and unleashes its power on Earth.
Even better is to just keep driving on the narrow paths, aimlessly and end up reaching a place completely unknown and mesmerising! Sometimes you may end up at a river bank and sometimes a virgin beach. Unravelling the mystery of the next destination itself is an adventure, provided you love the unknown and the unseen, like me.
One such quaint place to stop by in old Goa is Mount Mary Chapel. It’s secretly hidden in the midst of Goa’s green, not many people know about it. Located on a small hill top, once you reach there it absolutely feels divine. You feel victorious, for having discovered this treasure. From the hill top you get a panoramic view of old Goa and further, till the horizon. Another such hidden gem is the ruins of St. Augustine tower. Spread across a vast space, you can hop around from one pillar to another. Part of it is still intact but major part of it is in ruins. If you are a person who loves such intriguing places then go for it.
I have intentionally skipped Bom Jesus Basilica, which is famous for its exemplary baroque architecture. It is a sacred place where St. Francis Xavier’s remains are still preserved. It is a must visit for first timers though. But it will be found over crowded during anytime of the year.
While returning, driving down the colourful alleys of Fontainhas in Panjim can't be missed. Word of advice, carry your umbrella if taking a walk all drenched is not a matter of excitement for you. The way to enjoy Fontainhas is to take it slow, stroll around and soak in the flavour of Fontainhas. The splash of colours amazes me every time I go there, I have been there innumerable times. Panjim also has an array of amazing places to relish on some delectable Goan dishes. You may choose a restaurant at Fontainhas itself or if your hunger can be patient for a while then drive down to Fisherman’s Wharf. It is again a must visit place for foodies like me.
Time to go back to the resort and have some fun with sea and sand.
How about a rain dance on the beach? Try it if you haven’t yet, there’s no fun in man-made rain dance. Go natural, go Goa! Cidade de Goa has a cute little private beach, so close to the resort that you can run to your room as it starts raining within minutes, or play and dance in rain till your heart feels satiated. Take a break and retire to your room for a quick change and shift to the bar for some relaxing 'me' or 'we' time.
Goa is lot of fun for a solo trip too. Don’t bother about a travel partner, just pack your bags and set off for Goa during monsoon. Have some solo fun time there; the sea, the sky and the pouring raindrops being your partners in crime. Relish some relaxing moments with refreshing drinks and delicious Goan food. At Cidade de Goa, weekends have added attraction of some soulful music. While you lay back on the couch with snacks and drinks and there is melody to soothe your heart and mind; let go of your worries and get transported to the world of dreams! Goa forever!
There is so much more to Goa than beach parties and pubs. I laugh it out when people recognise Goa by these two words. I have been there innumerable times and yet haven’t experienced Goa in its entirety. It is such a multifaceted place, engulfing the beauty of the whole Universe in itself. Goa is one of the most beautiful and friendly places, globally. If you visit Goa once, you will fall in love with it forever. If you have never been to Goa during monsoon then please do it once in your lifetime. I assure you, you would want to go back every year to live the dream that I lovingly call Goa!
