UNDISCOVERING GOA….
We all look forward to Long Weekends- To Let Lose, To Let go, To Break Free…. While coming up with places to go to, I found myself, like any other individual thinking of places easily reachable, and that are.. To be Honest.. not too heavy on the Pockets… GOA was the best option I came up with.
GOA – Baga- Shopping- Beaches- Party- Alcohol- these are a few General definition for all, well I planned to do it Differently. i wanted to see Goa through another Perspective.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18th May: I landed in Goa and reached my Hotel at 18:00 hrs, Treebo Maison Ocean View Hotel, which stands touching the Amazingly beautiful and silent Asvem Beach.
View from the Hotel
ASVEM is miles away from the hustle and bustle of the city (reason why I chose this hotel). I instantly fell at home and in love with this place. It’s a beautiful property with the rooms facing the beach. you could imagine the View one could wake up to and fall asleep to. Having reached late and kinda- tired, I decided to spend the rest of the day in my Vicinity. After check-in and freshening up, I took a small stroll in the hotel lane. It is surrounded with well lit cute cafe, restos, hotels and a never ending beach view on one side.
I came back to my room, Ordered for fries, sandwiches and a chilled beer, I sat at my room verandah just listening to the silent waves across the sun set, sipping my beer! The best part of staying at this property is that I could go to the beach at any hour, sit on the lounge chairs and just enjoy my music with the view.
"No one Around … No one to Entertain … Just myself !"
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19th may:
I woke up to a Breath taking view. Had my breakfast, rented a Bike, and I was off. Having been to Goa thrice in the past, I never miss a particular property and I didn’t want to this time too. Being an Architect by Profession, I love to go in the nooks and corners of a city, and see places people don’t usually opt for!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The place I am talking about is a complex in Porvorim. Composed of 4 amazingly designed buildings by Ar. Gerard D cunha, lies his Utopia amidst lush green forest surrounding the complex-
namely Architects Bungalow(1986), Nisha’s Playschool(1997), Houses of Goa Museum (2004)and Shikshaniketan school (2005).
All designed as per a vernacular touch in a contemporary manner, each structure fascinates us with its Form, Shape, Order and Space. The use of local materials like Brick and Late-rite have been so beautifully used and molded that showcases the Craftsmanship of the people involved. Nisha’s playschool - Nursery and pre- Primary school. Houses of Goa- a Museum , and Shikshaniketan - a Primary school. I spent my amazing 2 hours in this complex, seeing and admiring the beauty in the details at the schools and then to the Museum that displays the historic art, culture, tradition, vernacular architecture of Goa since its origin. One can get surely lost. there is a fifth structure in the compound that houses the Architects office and a small gallery of the paintings and sketches of Mario Miranda (famous Goan Artist).
After lunching at O’ Coqueiro, I headed to Explore old Goa, something I havent done in all my previous visits to Goa.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I reached Basilica of Bom Jesus, a UNESCO world heritage site that houses the mortal remains of St. Francis Xavier. It is the most visited property by locals and tourists both, especially during the public viewing of his body every ten years (last held in 2014). The saint is said to have miraculous powers of healing.
It is a good historic structure to move around though taking a perfect picture is practically impossible with the flooded inflow of locals, though I managed a nice one.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just 5 minutes from here is another historic, but in ruins World Heritage Site- The St Augustine Tower and church. The complex originally had 8 chapels, 4 Altars and 1 convent. It looks like a picture out of a spooky movie, with ruins, stones, tombs surrounding the compound. The 46m-high landmark tower is the only remaining tower of the church complex completed in 1602.
The bell from the tower from St. Augustine Church was at first taken to Aguada Fort and in the year 1871, the bell was moved to 'Church of Our Lady' in Panaji. Although a ruin, St. Augustine Tower still has its magnificence for the tourists. The view of the ruined tower look unquestionably splendid and is regarded as a great place to visit. Due to its exclusive history and attraction, the ruins of St. Augustine Tower is also observed to be visited by several travelers from the world.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May being the hottest month of the year, I decided to go to the Harvelem waterfalls and caves. It took me a decent 45 minutes to reach here. These are 6th Century Ancient Caves & Waterfall In Goa. Arvelem caves are also known as the Pandava Caves. it is said to believe that the five brothers from Pandavas took refuge in these dense forests during their exile.
The well-known scenic waterfall with a multi-level viewing area is large during monsoon season. Waterfalls being my favorite. I was looking forward to it. Much to my disappointment, the waterfall had dried up with very little water collected on the ground. Well I cant blame, its summers. But it still looked like a beautiful place to indulge in play and have fun. I could clearly picture how the scenario would completely change in the rainy season with the falls in action.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I was back to my hotel by 18:00. After freshening up I just wanted to go and have a dip in the beach. I still remember running, jumping and falling like how I did when I was a little girl. Got me so many memories.
I got all dressed up and headed to the Baga street to end my fruitful Saturday with a bang, the much spoken about place to chill and have a good time. Pubcrawled 4-5 bars in the street to enjoy varied genre of music with light beers on the side.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20th May: I chose to have my Breakfast by the window, sip on my Choco chip Keventers and just enjoy the blue water waves. I think that has to be one of my most beautiful wake up calls, like nothing mattered at that time. i had a moment with myself
"so calm.. So content.. So clear"
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After dressing up I left to visit Fort Aguada, Fort Aguada and its Lighthouse is a well preserved seventeenth century Portuguese Fort standing strong on the Sinquerim Beach, overlooking the Arabian sea.
Built on different levels, one can wander around the property and watch the blue sea from the fort. You get an uninterrupted 180 degree view of the sea.
The Fort was constructed in 1612 to guard against the Dutch and the Marathas. A freshwater spring within the fort provided water supply to the ships that used to stop by. This is how the fort got its name: AGUADA meaning Water.Fort Aguada was the most prized and crucial fort of Portuguese.
During the Salazar Administration, Fort Aguada was repurposed for use as a PRISON...
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I was young had seen the movie Josh, and always wanted to go all filmy at the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church, that they showed in the Movie ( i am sure many remember having seen portions and glimpses of the church in the background in the movie), and so I headed next there.
Baroque style church was first built in 1541 as a chapel on a hill side overlooking the city of Panjim. It’s a beautifully made white structure. This church houses the ancient bell that was removed from the Augustinian ruins of the Church of Our Lady of Grace in the once famed city of old Goa.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chapora Fort is the last location I thought of going for the day as I was in the Movie- fulfillment-mode. Dil chahta hai is one of the classics, and if one would remember, the three best friends visit this place and re-write friendship.hence I thought what better place to go and relax with your friends than this fort – the remembering of old times, the making of new promises, and the thankfulness of being here at this hour, on this day. i remember sitting there on the fort walls, and just watching the waves go by. I could see that in a while the sun would set sail in the beach.
Heading back to the hotel, still in my thoughts, I waited at the parapet to watch the sunset.. my mind filled with happy thoughts. i was a little skeptical when i decided to come here alone, but was really glad i did it.
"-Lets, watch the Waves Run Along, Fight and Finally Collide together to form One.
-Lets, experience the Beaming Mighty Sun Finally lose his Power and step Down his Throne and dissapearing in the Water.
-Lets, wait For the Moon to come in Action with his Star Friends, Slowly yet Steadily and smile with the Platinum Glow
-Lets, Give the Wind a Chance to Toy with our Hair and make it Messy.
-Lets,Sit on the cool Sand, and dig in our Toes as Deep as we can.
-OH ! LETS."....️ _ RpJ_Quotes .
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Once the sun went down and I was done sipping a couple of beers, I spent the rest of my evening not going out, but in my room watching THE HOLIDAY- one of my favorites. Its about 2 girls (Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz) swapping their houses and living each others lives for the next 2 months, leaving behind EVERYONE, EVERYTHING and living afresh. I So could relate and just enjoy the moment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21st may: woke up early and went for a stroll on the beach. Had the last chilled beer and breakfast of the trip. Checked-out and headed for the airport. The bitter Sweet Truth that Work calls us back.
I haven’t been to places alone ever, but Goa didn’t disappoint me. It was clearly ME- TIME, that i was looking for the longest time. if you as me, if you are looking for a place to just feel completely yourself, and have a weekend in Hand, GOA is the place to be!!!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Where Do You Go When you have Nobody to Please, but Yourself ?
-Where Do you Go when You wish to Feel the complete Y.O.U all over again?
-Where Do you Go to Find the Calm and Quiet you are Looking for?
-OH! Where Do you go when you have a Thought to Start All over Again?
Where Do You Go?
I Find my Peace And Quiet Sitting at a silent Beach under the Stars, and Waking Up to the sunrise that Makes its way from the far off rocks in the Sea..
