Traveling to Goa by road is an adventure in itself, and I prefer it to traveling by air. The first time I set my eyes on Goa I knew undoubtedly, that it was heaven on earth. I was unaccustomed to the sight of cleanliness and smooth roads, which were rare and stood in stark contrast to my city, Mumbai.
Goa, along with its beauty and gentleness also has its fun and wild side. It’s rich with its diversity of birds. I specially enjoyed my bird watching trek, which helped me connect with nature and soon, I was one with it . I visited Dr Salim Ali bird sanctuary where I saw four species of eagles and four types of kingfishers, my favorite birds. Many other species of birds are seen along the roads and at beaches. Aside from Bird Watching there are a number of activities that range from Crocodile watching to the primary attraction, a cruise ride. I myself went for the dolphin cruise where I saw a family of dolphins in a playful mood jumping in and out of water. The water sports that Goa offers are an exhilarating experience. These include windsurfing, scuba-diving, waterskiing, water scooters and parasailing. Of all these, I managed to do parasailing, scuba-diving and even enjoyed a ride on the water scooter after which the desire to return was even more but due to time constraints, I had to depart. This was Goa’s wild side.
After enjoying these activities, I also paid a short visit to an NGO - Goa Animal Welfare Trust (GAWT) based in Goa, a non profitable organization that vaccinates street dogs along with providing shelter to them. Since I am an animal lover at heart, I felt that I needed to help, and I did so by vaccinating a few dogs.
Goa’s main attractions are its beaches. There are many pristine beaches that suit everyone’s needs. I usually stay in a beach resort, Club Mahindra. This is situated in south Goa and as North Goa is more popular, it is usually empty but offers excellent facilities and water sports. In fact all the water sports like parasailing and dolphin cruises are available in this hotel itself. Goa is also well known for its cuisine especially its traditional Sea Food. Though I am a vegetarian, I was tempted by the aromas and delicious aura that surrounded me. The vegetarian food, however, made up for the fact that I couldn’t relish the sea food. The flavor of the food is outstanding as it has the fresh herbs and spices grown here.
A trip to Goa is incomplete without shopping. The local handicrafts of Goa are the most popular souvenir items and include brassware, terracotta, shell work, carved furniture, bamboo work, etc. The charm of shopping in Goa lies in bargaining to your heart’s content until the highly set purchase price drops down. As for me, my favorite purchase was an exceptionally realistic mask of an ancient African tribesman, made of mahogany wood and palm leaves.
Another very interesting aspect of Goa is its architectural splendor found in churches and other monuments. The best architecture was that in the Bom Jesus Basilica, one of the oldest churches, which also has a saint’s body preserved in it.
A time of the year where one can truly enjoy and celebrate the spirit of Goa is during the ‘Carnival’ or on 25th December, Christmas. During Christmas the entire atmosphere screams “celebration” as Goa is lit up with stars and lights. On Christmas Eve, all the family members gather for a traditional dinner that offers an opportunity to strengthen family bonds. Another very famous festival in Goa is the Carnival. Huge parades through the cities are organized with bands, floats and dances and balls in the evenings. The Carnival is typically Goan and is not celebrated anywhere else in India. Folk songs are sung from door to door in villages inviting, one and all to be a part of the celebration.
A perfect blend of gentle nature with extreme adventures along with a tinge of warmth and affection from the locals has made Goa a tourist magnet, attracting several tourists regularly, with me being the most faithful.
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