GOA - 10 offbeat experiences.

A lot has been said and written and seen and talked about Goa. I would just like to add one simple sentence to it - 'Goa is an experience'. Having visited over numerous times to this Paradise, it was only lately I experienced Goa outside the beaches and parties. The beaches are undoubtedly the most attracted locations over here but Goa is so much more than that. It has so much to offer and I feel sad that it mostly goes unnoticed.

I had been to all the major locations so I had to look for other things to do in Goa while I was there in April this year. That is when I realized that there are just so many other experience one can have and those are as good as relaxing yourself at the beach or getting sloshed with your friends at the night club. Here is my list of the 10 offbeat experiences in Goa:

1. Staying in the hostel.

The hostel culture is slowly growing in India and is proving to be in favor of the growing number of travelers in the country. It is a very good way to meet like minded people and know about their stories and at the same time it goes very easy on your pocket. Check out the options below:

Zostel

http://www.zostel.com/zostel/Goa/

Picture belongs to me.

 Cost : 400/- to 500/- per night

 Jungle by The Hostel Crowd

http://thehostelcrowd.com/junglehostel/ 

Cost : 400/- onwards

Prison by The Hostel Crowd

 https://www.facebook.com/prisonhostel

 Cost : 450/- onwards

2. Stay at a beach shack

 

The view I woke up to at 4.30 AM.

Location : Tantra Beach Shack, Anjuna

 If you are wanting to give yourself a total traveler's vibe, you might as well choose a beach shack to stay. It's a complete different experience in itself. Having said that, I'd also like to mention that it is not at all luxurious. You might as well have to choose to opt out of privacy. I stayed at a beach shack and it was a tree house. I had to climb up and there were no walls (it had curtains). But at the end of the day, it is going to be worth it because not everyday you get a chance to sleep to the sound of the waves and wake up to it. 

3. Cycling to explore.

 

Picture taken at Assagao, Goa.

Ditch the car and experience Goa on a bicycle

Leave the car and two-wheeler behind, and cycle around Goa for a change. I booked myself a cycle and decided to watch life pass by in slow motion, visit places on the journey you wouldn’t normally get to and notice things that would usually get missed out at a faster pace. You’re bound to experience another side of Goa’s beauty when you slow down long enough to notice the birds darting around and the way the light filters through the lush foliage.

  4. Spice Plantations 

 

At the Sahakari Spice Plantations

 This was very, very surprising that I had been to go so many times & I didn't know about this at all. Visiting the Spice farms is one day activity and it's totally worth it. I visited the Sahakari Spice Farms in Ponda, North Goa. Apart from acquiring some knowledge about the spices, they also have one more fun activity that is totally worth a try - Bathing with elephants. Yes, you can actually enjoy a refreshing bath with the elephants.

5. Paragliding 

 

 

Well, I know Goa is all famous for it's water sports, but I give a thumbs up for the paragliding activity that happens here. Imagine yourself up in the air, over the beach, enjoying a bird's eye view of the shore and the city ! It happens at Arambol (I did there) & Anjuna. I would recommend Arambol because from up there you can see the Querim beach & the Querim village which is the last beach and the last village of Goa respectively.

6. Reis Magos Fort

I happened to visit this marvelous fort this year and I was absolutely stunned by the view it offers. It overlooks the Mandovi river and it is perfect location to relax yourself during the sunset (or sunrise). It also a has a small Mario Miranda art gallery. 

7. Talking to the locals

 

Yeah, it's your journey and your story and your experiences. But take out some time to actually listen to the locals while they narrate to you their stories. So many of them have such great and inspiring stories to tell. You never know, they might be capable of giving you a better tour of Goa trough their narrations.

  8. Explore a local village

Goa has hidden some of it's beauty in the local villages. Make a trip to these places and discover the locals and their day-to-day activities. And if you happen to be there around late June, you might as well get to experience their local fest called Sao Joao. I happened to spend sometime in and around Assagao, a coastal village, and trust me, it felt like straight out of the movies. Clean surroundings, pretty houses, home gardens, bougainvillea & their slow paced lifestyle. I will totally recommend this one. 

9. Trek to Dudhsagar Waterfalls

 

Okay now, overcome your beach hangover and take up the hiking route. Goa has some fabulous trekking routes and the route to the Dudhsagar Waterfalls is one of them. Staying true to it's name, the waterfall does appear like a 'Sea of Milk'. The best time to visit here is in monsoons for obvious reasons. And also, during the dry season you won't be able to see it's actual beauty.

10. Volunteering

 

I had saved the best for the last. Well, this is probably the best offbeat thing you can try out in Goa. There are a few NGOs in Goa that give you an opportunity to volunteer. So while I was staying at the hostel, I met Sarah, who was going to head to Arambol to volunteer to help save and treat the street dogs. Though I didn't really sign up for any particular program, I got to spend a few hours with a volunteering team who had got the street kids to enjoy the beautiful Ashvem Beach.  

http://www.volunteering-goa.com/

I am planning to undertake a program through Volunteering Goa but you can definitely look up for some more options over Google.

BONUS. Watch a local football match

Unlike the rest of India, Football is more popular and loved in Goa. If you see any match happening, stop. :D

Thank you visiting.

You can find me on Instagram as @patakaaguddii_

P.S.: Please make sure to give the picture credits if used anywhere.

❤

Photo Story | Wandering Girlfriends

Rains are here and this is probably the best time to visit or trek in and around the Western Ghats. Around this time, last year, I and my friends decided to take up the trek to Tungareshwar. It was our very first outdoor activity in over 8-9 years. Unbelievable right ? It was to us as well and hence this trip was one of our most memorable trips. Have a look through :D

Thank you visiting.

You can find me on Instagram as @patakaaguddii_

P.S.: Please make sure to give the picture credits if used anywhere.

❤

Art Journal | Art to the rescue

There are just these times when you are surrounded with so many people but yet you feel alone. And when that happens, a lot of us feel dependent on our friends, boyfriends, parents, or whomsoever to lift us up. 

Here's the actual deal, these people can only tell you what to do, it's actually you who has to lift up yourself. I agree there's some amount of supportive push needed to take a step forward but if that doesn't happen to you, don't search for it. I tell you today, you're worth is much more than you think and there's so much beauty inside you. Don't underestimate yourself by being dependent on others. Find your own happiness. 

The past few days have emotionally been like a crazy roller-coaster ride and I must admit, I don't wish to go back to that time at all. I've been trying to keep myself positive but sometimes I end up giving in. So, today I decided to vent out the energy that has been building up inside me into a positive way as much as possible. I went back to what gives me tons of happiness. I took up painting after a long, long time. I was kinda happy with the outcome but I realized I have to get back to the practicing. 

Thank you visiting.

You can find me on Instagram as @patakaaguddii_

P.S.: Please make sure to give the picture credits if used anywhere.

❤

Goan With The Wind.

I wasn't very sure of this trip because I had already been to Goa so many times and also I was a little disheartened due to the cancellation of my solo trip to Varanasi. Yes, I was supposed to go to Varanasi earlier but of course, that didn't fall in place. Various thoughts like what would I do in Goa, it's too hot now, will my trip just go to waste and a never ending list of the stupid question wandered my mind. During all of that I read somewhere - 'It's NOW or NEVER'. I decided to pack my bags and leave.

A beautiful local house.

 

Mostly people rent bikes or cars for their journey within Goa but I decided to rent a cycle for 10 days to make my first solo trip a little more memorable. I found an amazing bicycle shop called Probyk. Rajesh over there was very helpful to understand me as an amateur biker and he helped me out in choosing the mountain bike for me. I got myself a MERIDA. It was quite a task to ride the bike with a backpack over my shoulder in the scorching heat right on the top of my head and the roads of Goa. The roads in Goa are beautiful but they aren't as straight as in Bombay, there are slopes all over. And that was quite a challenge.

Photo taken outside Anjuna beach.

I just found this location to be nice for Merida to get clicked.

I reached Anjuna by late afternoon on the first day. I had booked myself a stay at a beautiful beach shack called Tantra at Anjuna beach itself. I spent the evening at the beach. I took myself out for dinner at Curlies that night.  I left the next day for Calangute. I had already decided to stay at a hostel. The concept of a hostel is very common in the West but it is only recently that it is growing in India. I found this amazing hostel stay at Zostel. I was there for five days and I met some of the most amazing people from all over the world. I have always loved meeting new people. I made so many friends and everyone inspired me in some way or the other. I hope to stay in touch with them in future.
One of my favorite places in the hostel was their common lounge. They had wall paintings done all around. I spent one afternoon simply just lying there and reading a good book.

The Common Room

The view from the veranda.

Photo Courtesy : www.zostel.com

During my stay at the hostel, I spent my time at the Calangute, Candolim, Baga & Vagator beaches. I saw the beautiful sunset at the Charpora fort and visited the Spice Farms. I really wanted to try out Elephant riding at the farms and river cruising but I have kept them for my next trip on the top of the list.
I visited the famous Mario Miranda's gallery. His works are simply amazing. I spent a real good one and half hour there. I also ended up at a night club one night when I heard that there was free entry for single ladies & there then was BOLLYWOOD playing.  I am not much of a party person so that was a good experience. Though, at the end of it, one of the guy I befriended there told me I looked 'out-of-the-place'. Haha.  I swear I tried my best to look one of them and enjoy myself.

Mesmerizing sunset at Charpora Fort.

While in Bombay, I was looking for some home stays in Goa on AirBnb and I found a listing named 'OSHO Madhouse'. I looked for the pictures and found the house to be a typical goan house. I had to fall in love instantly. I found their page on Facebok and I spoke to Kabir. a German guy settled in Goa fifteen years back. He told me about a short meditation programme they offer and I instantly took the opportunity to book my stay at his house. I spend good two days there meditating and having fun around. If the Bollywood inside me speaks up then I would say - "Kabir is a solid guy!" (from ZNMD). He's kind, wise and he can go from a philosopher to a teenage friend in seconds. He practices Osho active meditation and I followed him for two days in the mornings. After the meditation sessions, we generally spent time having chai and talking on endless topics. Oh,  he made awesome chai.

The front door of the MADhouse.

I have a thing for swings. Since forever.

I explored some more of the north Goa and then I visited Arambol on one of the days to try out Paragliding. I was unsure if they still flew given it was an off season. To my luck, they did. I enjoyed the scenic view from the top and then I rested myself at the beach with a watermelon juice. I shopped a little on my way back home.

I tried Art Journaling during my trip and I was quite successful than my previous attempts of maintaining a journal on a trip. I would definitely try to practice it more because I just realized that art is the best way that I can emote. A lot of my friends from the hostel appreciated my work and motivated me to keep doing.

And then it was time to go back home. I never wanted to.

Arambol.

A stupid selfie.

I remember there was this one time on the first day itself when I had to ride my bicycle all the way to Anjuna from Panjim where I felt that why did I sign up for this. The heat and the slopes had exhausted me so much that I literally threw my bag on the road and sat down with a sulking face. an hour later may be, I told myself to keep going because I knew somewhere deep down that it was all going to be worth it at the end. This trip explored a whole new world for me and the one thing I can take back home as a lesson is - It's really okay to trust strangers sometimes and the world is a beautiful place to call it a home.

 ❤

Thank you for reading through my story. If you liked the post, please share it with your family and friends. Also, any suggestions and recommendations are welcomed.

Check out the little vlog over here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztCaLZESSJY

Thank you visiting.

You can find me on Instagram as @patakaaguddii_

P.S.: Please make sure to give the picture credits if used anywhere.

❤