There’s No Place Like Goa

By Author: Deepa G
Total Articles: 29
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Our vacation to Goa was an amalgamation of everything it has to offer. The places to visit are numerous covering destinations for the historian, art aficionado, churchgoer, beach surfer, pub-hopper, trance dancer and wine-soaked moonlight romancer, all alike. Starting our trip in South Goa, we had a short stint at the Benaulim beach, where we soaked in the quiet seaside atmosphere and sunsets, ate some wholesome calamari and shrimp at the shacks there and lazed in the pool when it was too hot to sunbathe at the beach. The stay at Benaulim, and most of South Goa can be a bit more pricey that the rest of the state, especially if you chose to stay at an upmarket Goa hotel or resort. However, it is an undeniably luxurious experience. Further, we travelled to Mapusa, where the Friday market is always abuzz with activity. The town has a rural feel to it, and the people are warm and friendly. The next stop being Panaji, we spent a short day driving, shopping and exploring the Dona Paula Jetty. Calm and beautiful waters received us. Some of the best Goan cuisine is served at these restaurants and we made sure we got our share of Vindaloo, ...
... Xacutiand Sorpotel, always served along with the fine local liquor and lively music.

Having heard that Old Goa is something one cannot afford to miss, we dedicated a whole day to visiting the churches and experiencing the rich Portuguese heritage of the region. Se Cathedral, Church of St. Francis of Assissi, Church of St. Caetanowere all stunning. The Bom Jesus Basilica was the one that stood out. With its towering Portuguese architecture and beautiful interiors, to the fascinating stories you can find out about the church itself.

Moving away from the charm and austerity of Old Goa, North Goa is a totally different experience. The beaches are far more populated, the crowd of tourists much younger, and the bombardment of cultures simply exciting. The first stop was Baga beach, which we found filled with people of all ages. The water sports were irresistible. Parasailing over Baga at sunset is something few can forget. The restaurants here serve the best local cuisine especially seafood, but have wide menus with plenty of variety to offer.

Sightseeing in this side of Goa is easy due to widely available cheap rental bikes which enable travel. The drive from Baga to Calangute is one filled with shops selling clothes, bags, knick knacks and everything you need to accessorize yourself for the Anjuna side. The hippie capital of Goa for decades now, there is little that can be as relaxing as sipping a beer while watching the glorious west coast sunsest at one of the seaside cafes. They serve cuisine from Indian, Chinese and Continental to Israeli and sometimes even Russian! The perfect end to our Goa trip took place at one of the most quiet Goa beaches, called Aswem. Here we bid farewell to Goa and its abundance of goodness.

You can find a great Goa Tour Packages easily at Polama.com. You will also find details of many other tour packages here. You can know more at www.polama.com.

About Author :

During a chance holiday to Kumta, Deepa realised that nothing excited her more than a career in research of unexplored destinations. Her special interest is in leveraging the power of the internet to give greater value to holiday goers, such as the ability to easily compare Goa Tour Packages. You can know more about tour packages at her site www.polama.com.