By Ausmita
I am non an adventurous mortal but from fourth dimension to fourth dimension I similar to challenge myself, stride exterior my comfort zone in addition to create something I lead maintain never done before. Like lead maintain a solo trip to a identify I lead maintain never been to before. All through my adult life, I lead maintain oftentimes consciously avoided going to Goa for vacations exactly because I idea it to live a tourist infested, over-exposed destination. Whenever my friends planned that Goa trip, I would stride inward in addition to manoeuvre it elsewhere. At other times, fate intervened in addition to spared me the ennui of visiting tried-and-tested-Goa. The exclusively affair that could tempt me to see Goa was mayhap the chance to go yesteryear the famous Konkan Railway, touted to live 1 of the most scenic educate routes inward Republic of Republic of India in addition to an applied scientific discipline marvel inward itself.
Hence, before this calendar month amongst my regular go partner travelling for operate in addition to me amongst some spare fourth dimension on my hands, I decided to go to Goa solo in addition to honor out for myself, what the whole brouhaha was all about.
I booked the go in addition to the stay. Read upward on what to view inward Goa, where to swallow in addition to made a mental map of all that I wanted to check into my iv days inward Goa. But equally the trip drew closer, I started having serious misgivings virtually this whole solo go thingy. I was actually skeptical if I would live able to bask on my ain on a solo trip to Goa. I mean, having luncheon or going on a drive on your ain in 1 trial inward a patch is ever a welcome relief but imagine doing that for iv days at a stretch! But I had made the bookings in addition to told friends in addition to identify unit of measurement in addition to it was besides piece of cake to dorsum out now. So begrudgingly, off I went to Goa non actually expecting to lead maintain much fun.
Day 1: Two’s company, 1 is glum
For the showtime 2 days I had booked myself inward a backpacker’s hostel inward Calangute, North Goa exactly because I hoped to come across other solo travellers in addition to squad amongst them in addition to become around. The hostel was tucked into a rundown neighbourhood off Calangute Beach amongst rattling very basic rooms in addition to amenities. I took that equally a sign to pass to a greater extent than fourth dimension exterior the room. I decided to walk to Calangute Beach. The Sun was virtually to ready in addition to although I had been warned virtually Calangute, null could create me for the enormous ocean of human population that hitting me on Calangute Beach. It was similar all my worst nightmares virtually Goa had come upward true. Add to that pesky shack owners, tattoo artists, H2O sports people in addition to shady masseurs who seem rattling interested inward knowing who I was travelling with. At showtime I was amused yesteryear their persistent questions but shortly I got irritated in addition to decided to walk to the neighboring Baga where the crowd is supposed to live slightly better.
Thankfully at Baga, no 1 bothered me amongst pesky questions. I happily lounged inward 1 of the many beach shacks, soaking inward the music in addition to neon lights all around in addition to sipping away to glory. But it started to larn irksome soon. I was trying difficult to pretend that I was enjoying inward my ain happy niggling oasis but the peals of laughter in addition to chatter emanating from the groups around made me miss my friends in addition to my regular go partner. It was soundless early on eventide but after a while, I decided to telephone phone it a twenty-four hr menstruum in addition to caput dorsum to the hostel glumly.
On entering the room, I realized that 2 novel girls had arrived after I left for the beach in addition to had occupied the upper bunks inward my room. They were cousins, component subdivision of a huge articulation identify unit of measurement living inward Delhi, on their showtime trip to the sunshine Earth equally well. Seemed similar they had teamed upward amongst some other boarder at the hostel, a software engineer from Hyderabad travelling solo in addition to they were all heading out for the evening. One of the girls asked me if I would similar to bring together them in addition to I jumped upward in addition to said yes. I was elated at the prospect of beingness able to pass the eventide amongst some swain travellers than remain inward the drab hostel room in addition to sulk. That nighttime I had a overnice fourth dimension chatting in addition to dancing amongst my novel institute friends.
Day 2: Comfort inward Numbers
Next twenty-four hr menstruum the iv of us hired a automobile in addition to went around the churches inward Old Goa, Dona Paola in addition to chased the Sun equally it dipped into the Arabian Sea. It was expert to live out amongst friends, to laugh, pose for groupies in addition to beak over virtually each other’s previous trips, jobs in addition to families dorsum home. Since I had booked the hostel for exclusively 2 days, I would lead maintain to depository fiscal establishment check out the side yesteryear side day. Given the rundown status of the property, at the fourth dimension of checking in, I had exactly wanted to speedily larn done amongst the showtime 2 days in addition to motion on to a meliorate identify for the terminal two. But I was inward 2 minds now. Leaving the hostel would hateful proverb goodbye to my novel friends in addition to I did non desire to become dorsum to beingness lonely in addition to pitiable again. That eventide nosotros headed to a pop shack. The identify was hosting a trance political party in addition to was packed amongst revellers eating, drinking, smoking in addition to dancing the nighttime away. Looking around I realized that at that spot was non an inch of Goa hither or inward most of what I had seen inward the yesteryear 2 days. Goa had left a long fourth dimension agone in addition to had instead been replaced yesteryear noisy tourists looking to larn high in addition to shack owners from the Northern component subdivision of Republic of Republic of India or Russian Federation serving pizza, chicken fried rice in addition to blasphemous Goan nutrient along amongst imported spirits. My friends seemed to lead maintain a expert fourth dimension but I was getting restless. Surely, at that spot is to a greater extent than to Goa than smoking up, drinking in addition to endless partying.
Day 3: Unsure but Solo
Next day, I decided that it was fourth dimension to bid goodbye to my novel friends in addition to caput out on my ain to honor some existent Goa fifty-fifty though it meant risking beingness lonely in addition to miserable.
I left the hostel, took a motorcoach to Panjim in addition to checked into a habitation remain inward Fontainhas, an old Latin quarter inward the city. Painted inward vivid yellowish in addition to overlooking the white St. Sebastian Chapel amongst a modest colina inward the backdrop, the homestay amongst oyster shell windows was beingness run yesteryear a Goanese woman raise - boy duo. I felt correct at home. After some expert residue in addition to a quick chat amongst the lady of the house, I ready out to view Fort Reis Magos inward Verem, across the Mandovi.
Originally a bastion of the Adil Shahi dynasty in addition to after of the Portuguese, it had fallen into disuse in addition to disrepair before beingness restored a few years ago. It is at in 1 trial opened upward to world both equally a historical in addition to cultural centre. I was particularly interested when I heard that some of Mario Miranda’s operate (famous for his caricatures on everyday life in addition to the mural inward Café Mondegar, Bombay ) is displayed inward Reis Magos. Even though it was almost piece of cake afternoon in addition to the fort closes around sunset, I decided to give it a shot. From Panjim Jetty I boarded 1 of those enormous bluish ferries along amongst the horde of utilization goers, their bikes, cars et all returning habitation after work. The setting Sun had turned the waters of the Mandovi to gilded but all around us the floating casinos of Goa were soundless looked lethargic. On the other side, I boarded a crowded mini motorcoach to lead maintain me to Verem Market in addition to from at that spot I followed the route along the river. It was getting black all around in addition to I realized that I had in all likelihood missed the jeopardy to view Mario Miranda’s illustrations. Nevertheless, it was expert to view a non-touristy side of Goa in addition to go similar a local. I spent some fourth dimension along the river, watched the lights inward the casinos come upward live equally a river cruise boat decked upward amongst fairy lights sailed yesteryear blasting some pop Goan songs. On the agency back, I stopped over at Ritz Classic, a pop ocean nutrient eating theatre inward Panjim in addition to feasted on some delicious Goan prawn curry in addition to rice. Since Christmas was around the corner, street corners in addition to churchyards had come upward live amongst lights, fireworks, trip the lite fantastic performances yesteryear local kids in addition to pop upward bands playing Christmas carols on saxophone in addition to violin. The cheer inward the air was contagious.
Day 4: Solo in addition to loving it!
The side yesteryear side day, after spending sometime exploring the winding streets, colourful houses in addition to fine art shops selling porcelain figurines in addition to mitt painted tiles inward Fontainhas, I ready out for Chandor a sleepy hamlet inward the ticker of Goa known for the opulent houses of Goa’s one-time landowners.
An hr in addition to a half, a cycle taxi in addition to 2 motorcoach rides after I arrived inward Chandor. Since I was the exclusively touristy looking mortal inward the whole motorcoach (courtesy the straw chapeau in addition to the big photographic telly camera bag), equally shortly equally I asked for the ticket to Chandor, the conductor had looked at me in addition to exclaimed, “Bada ghar dekhne ja rahi ho? Braganca House nigh the Church?” Before dropping me off at Chandor, he pointed to a longish 2 storey theatre across the route surrounded yesteryear an overgrown garden. The iv hundred twelvemonth old theatre amongst 2 wings housing 2 offshoots of the same family: the Menezes-Braganza in addition to the Menezes Pereira is a museum inward itself. Words volition non create jurist to its grandeur; so I volition embrace it separately inward a photograph blog.
It was Mrs. Aurea Menezes Periera who told me in addition to gave me directions to the other theatre inward Chandor that is opened upward to public, the Fernandes House. So after thanking her, I ready out towards the Fernandes theatre on foot. It was mid afternoon. I crossed the route in addition to walked yesteryear the church. In the schoolhouse Earth behind the church, kids were practising march-past. I walked farther yesteryear Chandor social lodge to border of the hamlet but soundless no sight of Fernandes House. H5N1 niggling ahead, I saw a adult woman who appeared to live waiting for a bus/ pickup in addition to decided to reconfirm the directions amongst her. She was indeed waiting for a motorcoach to Madgao. She confirmed that I was on the correct path but volition lead maintain to walk some other xv minutes. Famished inward the hot sun, I enquired if I could hire an auto rickshaw to larn there. She laughed in addition to said at that spot are no autos available hither for hire but offered to halt 1 of the passing bikes in addition to asking them to drib me at the Fernandes House. I was besides exhausted to decline. As she tried to moving ridge downward a cycle for me, she kept asking me diverse questions. Where are y'all from? So y'all are a tourist huh? You came hither lonely all the agency from Mumbai? Have y'all had lunch? She also kept repeating almost apologetically that inward instance her motorcoach comes inward the meantime, she volition lead maintain to exit fifty-fifty if she is unable to flag downward a cycle for me yesteryear then. Unlike the pesky shack owners inward Calangute, her questions had a tinge of occupation concern that actually touched me. At long last, she was able to flag downward a bike. H5N1 immature man child who evidently was her milkman. Grudgingly, he agreed to drib me at the Fernandes House. The Fernandes House looked to a greater extent than fourth dimension worn than the Braganca house. All the windows on the lower flooring were closed. I was virtually to plow around after several bells in addition to knocks on the door went unanswered, when of a precipitous a homo popped his caput out of 1 of the upper flooring windows in addition to asked me to wait. He was the matriarch Mrs. Sara Fernandes’ son. The Fernandes theatre is almost 500 years old in addition to although crumbling had rattling intriguing stories attached to it.
The side yesteryear side day, I took the Konkan Railway dorsum to Mumbai. The route was scenic indeed. We passed through several tunnels, chugged over hills , ravines and. Alas, I could non click whatever expert pictures through the dusty windows of air-conditioning three tier. Next time, I volition brand it a signal to go yesteryear 2nd class. Yes at that spot volition live a side yesteryear side fourth dimension equally at that spot is so much that Goa has to offering that 1 trip is indeed non enough. Cheers!
Author Bio: Ausmita in addition to her husband, Praneet are avid travelers. But amongst operate in addition to life oftentimes playing spoilsport amongst their go plans, they devised a cunningly elementary operate around - Weekend Trips. WanderfulWeekendz is a living chronicle of their weekend sojourns. For to a greater extent than weekend sojourns off the beaten track, read in addition to follow their Blog and Facebook Page.
*****
Have y'all ever ventured out Solo amongst doubts in addition to enjoyed the trip nevertheless? Please create portion your sense inward the comments!
Author Bio: Ausmita in addition to her husband, Praneet are avid travelers. But amongst operate in addition to life oftentimes playing spoilsport amongst their go plans, they devised a cunningly elementary operate around - Weekend Trips. WanderfulWeekendz is a living chronicle of their weekend sojourns. For to a greater extent than weekend sojourns off the beaten track, read in addition to follow their Blog and Facebook Page.
*****
Have y'all ever ventured out Solo amongst doubts in addition to enjoyed the trip nevertheless? Please create portion your sense inward the comments!