So the much hyped Goa trip finally happened and it turned out nothing short of being a stupendous experience ! The initial hiccups caused due to the unavailablity of two much anticipated company(Junnu and Gouraj) from BITS somehow succumed and we started off our 14 hour Bus Journey to Panjim - The heart Of Goa !!!
Akhil, Anurag, Kallu, Joe ,Rathi , CP and me comprised the Bang Gang !!! Surana was the lone warrior all the way from Kota-Rajasthan ( I can just bow down for that kinda enthu man ) and how can I forget the great one - Sandheer ( without his plans we would have only dreamt of Goa ) joining us from Pune ! The Goa beaches only beckoned this PS-II re-union.
The Bus Journey never felt tiring with Salaam Namaste and DUS (actually paanch coz they showed just half of it ) screened back to back.While the whole Bus slept , Mr CP starts his cell-phone conversation at the top of his voice ( bloody khud ko neend nahi aayi to pure Bus ki neend uda di ! ).It went something like this -" Bus mein Sab so rahe hai ! Mereko neend nahi aa rahi. Abe rathi tu soya hua hai kya....le Dhavish se baat kar ".I am sure the whole Bus must have be cursing him at that moment.Next morning we reached Panjim . Sandheer and Mahaveer soon joined us !
The Bus Journey never felt tiring with Salaam Namaste and DUS (actually paanch coz they showed just half of it ) screened back to back.While the whole Bus slept , Mr CP starts his cell-phone conversation at the top of his voice ( bloody khud ko neend nahi aayi to pure Bus ki neend uda di ! ).It went something like this -" Bus mein Sab so rahe hai ! Mereko neend nahi aa rahi. Abe rathi tu soya hua hai kya....le Dhavish se baat kar ".I am sure the whole Bus must have be cursing him at that moment.Next morning we reached Panjim . Sandheer and Mahaveer soon joined us !
DAY 1 - Thursday
(Panjim - Miramar beach, BITS-Pilani Goa Campus, Majorda Beach Resort )
First task at hand was to hire bikes and with one Pulsar, one Splendor, one Passion and two Activas' - we were ready to loose control. After lodging in a flat ( Hotels can be a bit expensive ) , we headed for Miramar beach. It was a lovely golden beach of soft sand griddled with palm trees facing the blue Arabian Sea and some of us already hit the coastline with utmost vigour. Akhil dedicated his specs to the Arabian Sea and started cribbing but we soon convinced him specs are not required everywhere ;)
(Panjim - Miramar beach, BITS-Pilani Goa Campus, Majorda Beach Resort )
First task at hand was to hire bikes and with one Pulsar, one Splendor, one Passion and two Activas' - we were ready to loose control. After lodging in a flat ( Hotels can be a bit expensive ) , we headed for Miramar beach. It was a lovely golden beach of soft sand griddled with palm trees facing the blue Arabian Sea and some of us already hit the coastline with utmost vigour. Akhil dedicated his specs to the Arabian Sea and started cribbing but we soon convinced him specs are not required everywhere ;)
Our next destination of the Day was BITS-Pilani Goa Campus. It was a 30+ km journey from Panjim , and I felt on top of the world throughtout the way riding Activa for the very first time. Amidst the lush green meadows, hills and valleys, the sea and panoramic view of picturesque surrounding encompassing Zuari River, this charm and beauty sets the right ambience for Goa Campus. Comparing with BITS-Pilani, I must say Goa wins hands down. The centrally air-conditioned classrooms, the covered Pathways connecting hostels to the main building, the PVR class Auditorium (seating capacity of 2500 -To be inaugurated by the Indian Prime Minister on 6th May,2006) mesmerized us. With just 2 batches, the campus just needs more students to set the right mood. We also met Prof. Bharat Deshpande, who gave us a warm welcome and showed us around the Computer Center and the Library. In the end, I can say we felt at home after a long time and the campus re-enlightened the togetherness feeling.
This was not end of the day as we squeezed in more activity in the nearby Majorda beach,made famous by the resort of the same name. We wasted no time in getting wet. The sand here was quite rough and Anurag, CP were soon left with bruises on their knees. But this did not dampen our spirits and we braved the waves with more defiance,gulping down more salt water and still standing tall with each passing splash.
It was getting dark, and our guide ( Akhil ) was to led us out of this secluded beach resort. In the criss-cross of roads, confusion ensued and the guide ordered us to take the road to nowhere. Our Activa (Me and Anu) refused to obey and we decided we can use our own brains to find the right path. Soon we crossed the railway tracks and reached Verna to catch NH17 back to Panaji. Best part was when CP calls us up and asks if we are going in the right direction, and I replied - "we are already in Panaji" :D. All the 4 bikes had followed the guide only to reach a dead end and a Haunted Mansion with a U-turn of death.
Day 2 - Friday
(Old Goa, Aguada Fort, Sinquerin Beach, Calungute Beach Shack Stay, Blue Club Disc )
Day 2 - Friday
(Old Goa, Aguada Fort, Sinquerin Beach, Calungute Beach Shack Stay, Blue Club Disc )
We checked out of the flat ( Sea Homes ) around 9.30 am. and headed towards Old Goa. Here we got into one of the famous cathedrals in Goa, called 'Se Cathedral'. It had some impressive paintings and art works inside. Being the largest church in Old Goa, this church is built in 16th century. The building style is Portuguese - Gothic with a Tuscan exterior and Corinthian interior. Took lots of Orkut Snaps in and around the Cathedral and after visiting one more Church/Cathedral ( dont remember exactly coz I was busy spotting some foreign babe ;) we reached Aguada Fort in the afternoon.
Aguada Fort (recently acquired fame for featuring in Dil Chahta Hai) provides a fantastic view of the sea and the adjoining areas. It used to serve as a point for water-filling and monitoring the sea, even having a functioning light-house till 1978. 9 of us and 3 cool DCH snaps, we thought we only missed a Catherine or a Sue. Some more orkut snaps and it was time for some water sports on the Sinquerin beach. While returning from the fort we saw a Mumbai team taking a shoot. Locals told us John Abraham, Amisha Patel and Big B are here. Unable to believe our luck, we wandered around their camp. We spotted Diya Mirja for sure, doing some make-up in one of the cabs, but before we could get any closer we were soon sidelined from the set area :( .
@Sinquerin beach
I wanted to go for speed boat but had to sacrifice coz bacha ( Sandheer ) quickly filled the last seat. So the rest of us joined in the banana ride with two holi dips in the Arabian Sea. Water Scooty and more banana rides followed. We wanted to go for para sailing but @1000/head it was a way too costly affair.
Beach Volleyball was another activity we indulged still in our undergarments having lost our modesty long long back.
I wanted to go for speed boat but had to sacrifice coz bacha ( Sandheer ) quickly filled the last seat. So the rest of us joined in the banana ride with two holi dips in the Arabian Sea. Water Scooty and more banana rides followed. We wanted to go for para sailing but @1000/head it was a way too costly affair.
Beach Volleyball was another activity we indulged still in our undergarments having lost our modesty long long back.
Calangute Beach is said to be the most happening beach in Goa and that inspired us to take a shack (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shack) for the night. There was still time for the much talked disc in town ( Titto's ), so we sat on the beach gazing at the stars in the clear night sky. I observed Orion, the Bear and other astronomical features for the very first time and felt somewhat fascinated. Exotic sea food was on the menu as we said bon appetite. For we poor veggies, we could just look on as the rest feasted delicacies on the other side of the table coupled with red wine. Crabs, prawns, fish- they had 'em all !
It was 11 in the night and time to hit the disc. When we reached Titto's, the scene there immediately had a salivating smile on all our faces. But soon the gleaming hopes dissapeared seeing the stag entry @ 800 bucks. We comforted each other in total faith of finding another disc and no far did we find our destination - CLUB BLUE. This was entry to some place which I could have never imagined existed in India. There were these crazy Europeans, some almost stripped down, foot tapping in the most non-sensical manners, with lots of booze and smoke all around us.
It was 11 in the night and time to hit the disc. When we reached Titto's, the scene there immediately had a salivating smile on all our faces. But soon the gleaming hopes dissapeared seeing the stag entry @ 800 bucks. We comforted each other in total faith of finding another disc and no far did we find our destination - CLUB BLUE. This was entry to some place which I could have never imagined existed in India. There were these crazy Europeans, some almost stripped down, foot tapping in the most non-sensical manners, with lots of booze and smoke all around us.
As we started for home, one of us in a total drunken state was giving ideas who should drive the bikes and who should sit at the back. Man alcohol takes you places ! And the next place he went was the Shack-bogs and puked like hell through the rest of the night.
Day 3 - Saturday
( Shopping @ Calangute and lunch at Dominos )
Today was the last day of our stay in Goa, and the last night's memory was still fresh in my mind. Couple of us were cursing ourselves for not being bold enough :). The hangover still doing rounds in our mind, we went for shopping along the streets just outside the beach. It was a hot and humid day with the sun blazing down! Shopping proved to be a painful exercise. After a glass of Sugarcane Juice and Watermelon to satisfy our thirst, we finally managed get some sea shell key chains, Goa beach T-shirts ( 3 @ 100 bucks! Thats cheap - aint it ? ) , hats and track pants.
We returned to our Panaji hotel room where we had dumped our baggages and out comes Saif Ali Khan in Pink Sleeveless T-Shirt. Confused ? It was our own CP who has bought for himself a pink t-shirt which was tight at the sides and bulged out from the front. Man ! we laughed like crazy rolling on the floor when he said " I would wear it in the GYM ".With that stomach aching laughter riot, we went for a Dominos treat to give our hungry overworked stomach some respite. Six large Pizza's and we ate like hooligans. It was 5.30 and time to bid adieu to Goa !
Day 3 - Saturday
( Shopping @ Calangute and lunch at Dominos )
Today was the last day of our stay in Goa, and the last night's memory was still fresh in my mind. Couple of us were cursing ourselves for not being bold enough :). The hangover still doing rounds in our mind, we went for shopping along the streets just outside the beach. It was a hot and humid day with the sun blazing down! Shopping proved to be a painful exercise. After a glass of Sugarcane Juice and Watermelon to satisfy our thirst, we finally managed get some sea shell key chains, Goa beach T-shirts ( 3 @ 100 bucks! Thats cheap - aint it ? ) , hats and track pants.
We returned to our Panaji hotel room where we had dumped our baggages and out comes Saif Ali Khan in Pink Sleeveless T-Shirt. Confused ? It was our own CP who has bought for himself a pink t-shirt which was tight at the sides and bulged out from the front. Man ! we laughed like crazy rolling on the floor when he said " I would wear it in the GYM ".With that stomach aching laughter riot, we went for a Dominos treat to give our hungry overworked stomach some respite. Six large Pizza's and we ate like hooligans. It was 5.30 and time to bid adieu to Goa !
Goa surely beckons and this was yet another exciting and exhiliarating experience of my life. Scintillating, mesmerizing, exuburent, ever inviting, exotic, cosmopolitan, unforgettable - I love Goa !
Enjoy !
