|| Solo Trip to Goa ||

Okay, the flight took off and landed safely in Mumbai Airport. In between this take off and landing session, I've taken few photographs from the flight.

When the flight was crossing the Western Ghats, it was looking amazing. I was feeling like seeing the atlas map Book in my real life.

After landing in the Mumbai Airport, I found myself as someone else, who was going to be with herself at least for next five days.

As soon as I took my luggage from the belt, I called my friend Abhishikta. She was the person who allowed me to stay with her in Mumbai.

From Mumbai airport, i took an Auto and headed toward Abhishikta's place which was in Andheri West, just beside the Gate No.6 of Versova Metro Station.

Keeping all my luggages at her place, I was resting for some time. Before i left her place, she made a super yummy lunch for me : cheese sandwich and Omlette with Italian herbs.

After finishing the food, I left her place and headed towards Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport, terminal-2.

My flight was from Terminal-2. And trust me, it was one of the biggest airports I've visited so far.

The moment I received my Boarding pass, I became super happy. But, at the same time i had to hold my excitement cause I had search for Gate No.49A.

The airport was so big that it took around 35minutes to reach from security check point to Gate No.49A.

While I was going to gate No.49A, I saw an outlet of Starbucks and I could not resist myself from not having it. I went there and ordered for my favourite one.

Okay, the flight took off by now and I didn't miss a single chance to capture the moments. This was the first time I was flying over the sea in daylight. So, I made a video. I had very enthusiastic and super excited kids as co-passengers.

It took just 1 hour and few minutes to touch down Goa Airport.

In airport, while I was taking my cart, I saw my luggage bag going through the belt. And I started running with my cart, took the bag and called the driver.

Driver came and I got into the cab. The moment i got into the cab, at first I made the friendship with the man who was going to be my chauffeur for those five days.

His name was Ajay. I asked him if he could allow me to have a fag as I came to know from him that it was going to take more than 1.5 hours to reach to the destination. And he just didn't say YES to me for the fag, he gave me a match sticks box too, as i didn't have any due to airport authority's rule.

Okay, after the fag I plugged in my earplugs, switched ON the Google playlist and was just enjoying the roads that was sometimes crossing some backwaters and sometimes going through the bushy paths.

Suddenly, I requested him if he could stop the cab in any tea stall. It was for a long time I had tea. He followed my words and stopped the cab in a tea stall which was just beside St. Joseph Church, Mapsa.

Then the driver said that it was going to take 45minutes more to reach to my destination.

I booked OYO townhouse in Ashweem beach which was in Mandrem.

I know people usually stay either in Calangute or Baga or Vagator, the happening beaches. But I chose this virgin beach. Actually I was trying to avoid crowded place, so that I could easily spend some Me-Time without any disturbance.

By the time my Chauffeur dropped me to the destination, it was almost 9pm by the watch.

In the reception, I found that the manager was a Bengali and he was from Garia, Kolkata. So I felt like home there in Goa.

After I checked in, i took a shower and went to the beach directly. Walked through the beach with cigarette. And after half an hour or 45minutes, I decided to have some drink. So, I went to the nearest shack and ordered a drink for me along with side dish made with Tuna Fish.

Sadly, I couldn't take any picture as the light was too low and the battery of my phone got drained out. Somehow, I could take only one picture of the green lampshade only.

Oh, by the way, here the person who was running the shack was again a Bengali. I felt like I'm in home again.

By then 5th May (Saturday) was almost done and I went back to the hotel as I needed some sleep.

While I was having the last fag of the day, standing in the balcony, I found that it was drizzling and there was a mango tree. I tried to take a picture.

Picture of night view of hotel

The first thing that is necessary for me in every morning is entering to the bathroom with a cigarette. So, I followed this good turned bad habit. And after finishing all the necessary works of morning, I stepped out from the room to the balcony. And trust me, it was like a dream came true. Clear sky, lovely location, lovely view and the sound of waves - I was enjoying this with two-three fags.

Then suddenly I realised that I should go for a morning walk in the beach.

So, I took my storybook that I was reading then (That's the Way We Met by Ravinder Singh), cigarettes, mach sticks box and Rs. 200 in cash.

I can't start my day without having a cup of tea. So, I ordered for that and was enjoying the tea and the storybook, sitting on the beach couch.

A beach lover like me is sitting on the beach couch and not going to the sea, was one of the eight wonders. Actually I was having my period and that was the first day. I was initially upset for the reason but then I cheered myself up by saying that it might be a test where I had to show the control power of not going to the water and without going to the water I actually could enjoy it. And let me tell you, I enjoyed thoroughly (without going to the mid way of the sea).

Anyway, after finishing the tea, I saw a dog came to me and I couldn't stop myself from loving it. So, I made my second friend there in goa, who was a Dog, the best friend of a person in any situation.

I was reading the storybook. Suddenly, I heard someone was saying, "oh God! I'm so scared.." That was a Russian Guy who got scared after the dog barked suddenly without any reason.

Then I was laughing out loud and told him not to be scared with this creature.

I love making friends. So, I did the same with that Russian Guy. But I just forgot his name. It was hard to pronounce and remember.

He was having Beer. So, I ordered the same for me and enjoyed my drink over the beach and my storybook.

After an hour, I felt that I needed to go to washroom. So, after paying the bill in the shack I went back to the hotel. Got freshen up and slept for a while.

Then I woke up at around 2 o' clock in the afternoon. After waking up, again I ran away to the beach. Putting loads of sunscreen and wearing my beach shots and tee I went and sat on the beach couch only. I've already mentioned that I was on my period. So, I was avoiding going to the sea.

So, with a cigarette I just walked by the beach, from one point to another, a bit far away from where I started. Waves were touching my feet and that was enough for me.

Suddenly I felt super hungry. So, I ordered for Sea Food Hakka Noodles with a bottle of Beer.

The quantity was for more than one person. I was having it very slowly. But the temperature was so hot that i felt to have some healthy food than noodles and beer. So, I ordered for a bowl of fresh Fruit.

But I was so disappointed, seeing the fruits' bowl as they served papaya along with Banana and Watermelon. And I hate Papaya like anything.

Anyway, i was enjoying, by the time I saw the setting sun, I went back to the hotel and called my chauffer. He was supposed to take me to the India's First Super Nigth Club - LPK (Love Passion Karma).

He told me that he would be coming at around 9pm to pick me up for LPK and it would take almost 45minutes to reach there.

I took a shower and got ready by 9pm and was waiting for my chauffer.

By the way, he was very punctual.

I got into the cab and we headed towards the destination. I was listening to music and enjoying those roads.

I reached there at around 10pm. The chauffer told me that he would be waiting outside. So, whenever I would feel to go, he was just a call away.

I got the staged entry and was enjoying my drink and the food that I ordered. I can remember that I was so high that after finishing 5th peg, I called my ex boyfriend and told him that I miss him as my best friend. And conversation ended with NO MORE COMMUNICATION would be entertained in future.

Actually they were serving 80ml instead of 60ml. LPK is just by the lake and that day there was no wind, so gradually I became so high and called the driver.

After returning home, thankfully I could open the room and went for sleep.

In the next morning I woke up at around 11am. It was my second day of period and I was having a heavy flow. It was one of those Mondays when I was not experiencing the Monday Blues.

I was enjoying the starting of the day with the first fag of the day. I got a call from the hotel reception. They were asking about what time I would be checking out from that place. I informed them that I would check out after having my breakfast.

After 2-3 days I guess, I had a proper and healthy breakfast with two slice of breads, jam, butter, omelette and a cup of tea.

As soon as i finished my breakfast, I booked a city taxi and headed towards my next destination which was in Morjim.

I booked in Arabian Sea sand Resort.

The moment I entered there, the green grass gave me a soothing feeling and the cottage was looking so beautiful from the outside.

After entering to the cottage, I decided to take a nap for a while. So I did and woke up at around 3.30pm. Then i walked towards the beach which was 80mts away from the resort. There i found a shack and ordered for some beer again. I was enjoying that moment with waves coming forward and going backward.

By the time I was down with three pints of Bira, the setting sun along with the changing color of the sea and sky distracted me.

The view was exactly like what I've seen in the movie dear Zindagi.

After sunset, I went back to my resort and called my chauffer again and asked him to pick me up at around 9.30pm, so that I can have my dinner at Curlies which is in Anjuna Beach.

I made some video calls to three of my S friends - Saheli, satty and Sayani. Then had some evening tea and went to washroom to make myself ready for going to Curlies.

My chauffer was so punctual. I was late even. Cummon, what can you expect? A girl can not be ON TIME that too when she's going for a night club or pub.

Where the chauffer dropped me, from that place it was a bit far through the bushy path and lanes. There was no light. So I had to switch one the torch of my mobile and somehow I reached there.

Pramita (my favourite fellow Piscean) suggested this place to me. So, the moment I reached there, I just thanked her. She was a bit worried though, as I was alone.

I placed my order : a Goan Jumbo Prawn dish and obviously Beer.

Each and every table had a candle, so that you can enjoy a candle light dinner. I know, it was a super romantic ambiance : sea, waves, sound of waves and the dimmed blurry light of the sailing ships far away. So, I enjoyed my Me-Time thoroughly.

Suddenly, I found that a guy who was sitting on the beach and trying to tune his guitar. So, after finishing 2pints of beer, i went there and joined him in a musical conversation and spent a really good musical time. And after some time I went upstairs. But there was a cat and i can't stand cats. So, I came downstairs again and sat on my designated table to enjoy the food and drink.

After finishing the 4th pint, I called my chauffer and returned to my resort.

The first thing that I did entering to the resort was a promise to myself that I would be going to take the city tour of Goa on the very next day.

I woke up at 8am, called my chauffeur and asked him to pick me up ASAP. He said that he would be coming at 10am.

So, getting ready I had the breakfast over there in the dining area of the resort only.

The dining area was superb. I got to see the sea while having my breakfast.

They served me Puri with some Goan veg curry and I just gobbled it somehow, as my chauffeur was waiting outside.

The first place, where he took me was the Dolphin point in Cocoa Beach. There were so many fishermen's boats as well as there were boats that take passengers to some virgin beach from where one can experience Dolphins. This place was near to Agauda Fort.

After taking some pictures, we moved forward from that place to Agauda Fort.

My chauffeur parked the cab and asked me to go to the fort and he would be waiting outside in the parking zone only.

I went there, took some photos of that place and took a selfie of mine too.

There I met this girl who took 2-3 photographs of mine. Her name was Arshi. So, for the gesture and to keep her name in my memory I took a selfie with her.

From there I went to that place where the shoot of the movie Dil Chahta Hai happened.

And trust me, all the scenes were in front of my eyes. I could recognise each and every trees even.

From here, you can see a C-shaped beach where people can experience all kind of Water-Sports. Basically, you can get a view of Candolim and Calangute from here.

The temperature was so high that I bought an orange Stick and called my chauffer, so that I could go to the next destination which was Candolim Beach.

After reaching there, I didn't find it that happening. So I went to a shack where I ordered for a pint of beer and Grilled Mackerel Fish.

After finishing my food and drink I headed towards my next destination - Calangute Beach.

After reaching there, I saw shacks were superbly decorative and colourful. Most of the shacks had a combination of Yellow and Red that made me think of our very own East Bengal Flag. Anyway, I found a place and settled myself to have my next drink of the day.

I ordered a pint of beer with chicken salad. As I went alone there, the waiters of that place came to me to have a chit-chat session. And they discovered very quickly that I was from Kolkata and I came to know that two of them were also from my city.

So, I felt like home again. And asked them if they could help me with the information from where I could make the Dead Locked Hair Braids.

They called a woman whose name was Mihan or something. She made a Dead Locked Hair Braid in just Rs.50. And as I was from Kolkata, those two Dadas also felt like someone came from their home and asked that lady to make another one dead locked braid in free of cost.

By this time, i finished my drink and dropped in Britto's Bakery and had a brownie and left for Baga beach, obviously after some junk jewelry shopping where my bargaining skilled proved to the shop-keeper that I was from Bengal.

Baga beach was the place where everyone was busy with water sports only.

I wanted to try Para-sailing. But my phobia stopped me from that. So, I just clicked photo only.

I thought of visiting Tito's Club, but my stomach was so full and there was so much of heat that I decided to visit Tito's Club in my next visit to Goa and had some Nimbu Shikanji.

After having this all time favourite summer cooler, I left for Chapoda Fort.

While going to the fort, I was enjoying the view. But, when I reached to the fort, let me tell you I did not like it at all.

If you're a cardiac patient or asthma patient, my suggestion for you is : you won't miss that much if you don't visit this place. Because you've to climb up so long that may occur health issues or breathing problem.

So, I came down from the fort and headed towards Small Vagator.

And trust me, the moment I came to this place, I was feeling like ; "OKAY, NOW I'M IN GOA." You can see the sea from atop where some coconut and palm trees along with small hill islands were there to give a complete frame.

Trust me, if I love any beach after Paradise Beach Pondicherry, this was it : Vagator Beach.

I asked my driver dada to take a picture of mine and he did a wonderful job.

Then we left for Big Vagator. From there you can see the sea, a bit nearer to you than the small one.

My friend Pramita and Devoleena di requested me to visit Thalassa during sunset. By that time sun was about to set, so I decided to visit Thalassa.

There I had a pint of beer and I enjoyed the setting sun through the leaves of a coconut tree.

Pramita suggested me to have Maggi and tea from the Maggi Point which was just beside the gate of Thalassa. So, i ordered a plate of magi and after finishing that headed towards my resort.

After reaching to the resort, I took a shower, called my parents and then ordered my dinner - a pint of beer with Portuguese Noodles.

And I enjoyed the meal with the T20 match that was happening between Chennai and Punjab.

After finishing the every night quota of my fag, I went to sleep.

I woke up with the feeling, "Shit, tonight I've my flight. I've to return to Mumbai tonight."

So, I enjoyed my morning dose of tea with a cigarette and asked for the breakfast to get delivered in the room itself.

That day, I had Parantha and some Konkoan Veg Curry.

I finished my packing, got ready and called my chauffer for the last time to pick me up.

I checked out from the hotel and went to Calangute again to buy something for one of my office colleagues (Pallavi). After buying that I was heading towards the South Goa and found this church.

While going to South Goa, i took so many pictures from the running cab.

Then my chauffer stopped the car in front of a food joint in Palolem.

I ordered a Surmai thali. There were steamed rice, fried Surmai, some thick curry, three types of bhajjis and chutney. I couldn't finish it at all.

Then I went to panjim Beach to experience the last sunset of Goa.

The beach was full of local people of Goa. Mostly families came there with their kids and couples went there.

There I managed a woman who took this beautiful picture of mine.

Her name was Divya. As she clicked a picture of mine, I took a selfie with her too.

Then I just realised that I had to catch my flight. So I had a Chicken Wrap from one of the beach side stalls and headed towards the Goa Airport.

I was so sad while leaving this place. But that was not enough I guess. So, Air India made me more sad by serving their Veg meal where there were a slice of bread with a slice of tomato and cucumber and a sachet of Tomato ketchup.

I tried to cheer myself up and made some design upon it and ended my Solo trip To Goa.

And I think I should thank each and everyone without whom this trip wouldn't have happened. Firstly, my Boss : if he wouldn't grant my leave, it was just next to impossible. My colleagues, who managed my part of work in office during my absence. And obviously all my Travel Partners : starting from Airport Authority India to the hotels where I stayed (OYO Townhouse 031 and Arabian Sea Sand Resort) and my Chauffeur. Now if you are thinking that I would say thank to my parents, you are wrong. Actually my parents have grown me up this way only so that their elder daughter can live her life the way she want.

This is me, signing off here. Thank you for reading.

Please feel free to comment in the comment box for any suggestion or feedback.