Solo debut to Goa

I traveled to the airport to undertake my first ever Solo trip, to Goa. I have never been more nervous to take a flight. I boarded my flight from Delhi Airport and landed at Dabolim airport at goa just at lunchtime. I had booked a hostel for my first two nights from Hostelworld. It was located at Anjuna beach (The retreat hostel)

I took a bus from Dabolim Airport to Panji bus stop, and changed to hop on another bus to Anjuna beach. My hostel was a 10 min walk from the bus stop. Total cost of bus ride was 170 bucks.

Upon reaching the hostel, i was greeted by the manager. I checked into my shared dorm with bunkbeds, got fresh and took a walk down the Anjuna beach market.

I got up early and started my day with a crisp cup of tea

I planned to travel to old goa road to visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus and and Se Cathedral. I boarded a bus from Anjuna beach to Mapusa bus stop. From Mapusa, i changed to a bus heading towards old Goa. The total cost to reach old goa was 45 rupees. I had light lunch at a local restaurant there and spend time looking around the architecture of the magnificent cathedrals.

This happens to be a favorite spot for family trips and school kids so it can get a bit crowded. To avoid rush, try to reach as early as possible.

I took the same route back to my hostel and after a refreshing evening nap, i walked to Vagator beach for a date with myself 😍

I sat at a table on the beach close to the sea waves and enjoyed my dinner and beer. While going back, i was fortunate enough to get a lift back to my hostel.

I checked out of The Retreat hostel and headed to my next hostel which was in Arambol - towards north Goa. I traveled to Mapusa again and changed a bus to reach Arambol. It took me around 50 mins in total to reach there. I checked in happy panda hostel which had great online reviews.

I shared a mixed dorm with folks from the UK, Germany and the US. After checking in, i went to the common area of the hostel and ordered food for myself. I started talking to other folks staying here and exchanged travel stories with them. Most of the folks were solo travelers from Europe who came to goa in search of warm beaches and party scenes. In the evening, a group of us from the hostel went to Arambol beach for a dip in the sea and towards a sweet water lake nearby.

We stayed there and watched the sunset, and walked back to the hostel post dawn

We played games at the hostel and drank up the beers into early morning. This was the best part of the trip as I made many friends and learned so much about their travels and culture.

Today, i had to checkout and take a flight back to delhi. I said goodbye to the hostel managers and all the lovely folks I met there.

I boarded a bus from outside the hostel to Candolim and went to Cafe Chocolati to have lunch. They serve some of the best Pannini, Crepes and Eclair cakes in goa

After eating to my heart's content, i went to calangute and boarded an AC coach to Airport. Total cost to reach the airport from Arambol - 200 bucks.

Traveling alone will be the scariest, most liberating, life changing experience of your life.