My first adult trip to Goa 🔞
Guess why the year 2023 was super-special for me? I was turning 30 and I wanted to make unforgettable memories the whole year. When it was my birthday, I took my mom to a five-star hotel and the bill surely made it hard to forget!
“Sexy thirty”, as I would like to call it, is a refreshing restart of adulthood. It is the age at which you feel old enough to do what you want and do it without the help of others. That’s why I decided to strike off something from my bucket list, which has been there for a while. By the end of the year, I was planning to visit Goa and party till dawn.😎🎶
- Found a solo travel group—check
- Packed all the cool and comfy dresses—check
- Finish everything that is needed before I become unreachable—check
All that
was left was to board the train to the land of many dreams. “Have you packed
everything you need?”, grilled my mom. “I will know if I missed something after
I reach”, I smirked. Thus, our journey started with a lot of giggles and gossip.
💕
When we got down and had dinner in Kerala, we were slowly getting to know each other. While waiting for the direct train to Goa, I started to paint my nails and suddenly felt everyone’s attention shift towards me. “I had no time for this as I was focused on packing everything” I mumbled. Immediately, someone I knew from the group got my polish and helped me paint my right hand. Even though I could do it myself, I decided to sit back and enjoy the moment..😊
As we continued
chatting on the train, I made up my mind to stay awake till late. Then,
feelings of my left shoulder pain washed over me and I remembered the doctor’s
advice to get enough rest. I said a quick goodbye to the group and climbed
onto the upper berth. While I could hear them having a good time, I tried drifting
into sleep. Being the light sleeper I am, the train’s hullabaloo and low
temperature on the AC were not helping either.
After almost spending the night with little to no sleep, I woke up looking forward to our first breakfast in Goa. After a filling breakfast, we headed straight to the hotel where we would be staying for the next three days. On reaching, I took a sip of the welcome drink at the open-air lounge while inhaling the Goan breeze. After we checked into our rooms, I jolted towards the bedroom hoping to get some rest.😌
Soon afterwards, we got ready to head to a famous local hangout and grab our lunch. At the entrance, we were greeted by a bunch of people waiting for a table. Finally finding a seat, I ordered vegetarian dishes from the menu and engaged in a light-hearted chat with others. Brushing away the trolls for being a vegetarian, I took a spoonful of peas pulao served hot to us. It felt like eating grass, just as my peers were joking about. 💀💀
No offense to vegetarian dishes but they taste better in a vegetarian-only restaurant. There, it tasted bland and was seemingly overlooked by the chef, as people were lining up for the seafood anyways. After clicking some photos for Instagram, we officially started our tour by exploring some landmarks. The next thing I knew, we were already on our way to the much-awaited beach.
️
After making a complete mess out of myself in the water, we
were summoned by our trip leader to move to the next spot, a floating casino! I
felt underdressed for the casino, even with a denim coat over my dress and a
chunky sling bag on my shoulders. Still, I couldn't resist snapping pictures of
me with the Christmas tree near the entrance.
Once our hands were tagged, we climbed a boat and set off to
the three-floored casino on the Mandovi River. The illumination of the floating
casinos and the mild river breeze kept us excited all along the way. When we
reached the destination, we saw scantily-clad women and people ready to blow
their money on the betting.
It took me several minutes to realize the games were not for
me, even after seeing the lady giving demonstrations on how to play. Therefore,
we hurried towards the buffet corner in hopes of filling our stomachs for the money
we paid. Since we were so early for dinner, I settled down with a cocktail in my hand to catch the on-board entertainment.
After having a taste of everything on the buffet, I was already feeling full. Meanwhile, some of us went onto the weather deck to get some air and enjoy a few drinks. So, I pulled up a chair to sit together in front of the open-air stage and watch the ongoing live shows. The dance troupe with cute lads caught my eye and also stole the spotlight with multi-lingual numbers.🎆🎆
As the night deepened, the cooling breeze and mind-blowing performances made me wonder if a day like this would ever come again. After admiring
the reflection of lights on the river on our way back, we had a sound sleep. That
was until the sunrays were gleaming upon us, marking the start of another
eventful day! 🌄
The first
spot for the day was Parra Road, which was flanked by palm trees on either side.
The road was perfect for a picturesque photoshoot and had made its appearance
in many movies like ‘Dear Zindagi’. Letting my inner diva out, I posed for some
pictures here despite the glaring sun. 😎
After a
short journey, we found ourselves strolling on the sands of Anjuna Beach. The
beach shacks and plethora of shops surrounding the beach added to its coastal
vibes. I started a shopping spree and finally ended up taking a wholesome swim in the sea.
The beach shacks also served yummy pizzas, pinacoladas and whatnot!
As we went
back to the hotel, I took a quick bath and dressed myself up in the
off-shoulder dress I got for a good price at the beach. And then, we were ready to
hit the nightclub, which is an experience not to be missed in Goa. First, we
recharged with a meal and then danced till we could no more. I slept like a
baby that night, thanks to the nonstop cheering and grooving to the energetic performances.
Usually, I skip breakfast but I did not want to give up on the complimentary buffet at the hotel. After enjoying a hearty meal, we also decided to take a dip in the hotel’s pool. The fun time at the pool helped dissipate the heat and get some much-needed relaxation.
For lunch,
we went to a café where you can enjoy delectable food and vibe to live music. Listening
to the soothing songs made me feel like life had slowed down its pace for a
while. We completely relished the wholesome moment as well as the delicious
spread on our table.
The next
place on our itinerary was kept a secret until we reached there. It was ‘All
About Alcohol’ museum where one could see how ‘Feni’ and other alcoholic drinks
were made. It served as an eye-opener as the curator of the place was not only
informative but also urged the importance of drinking in moderation.
Additionally, we got to taste pure feni and some cocktails made by the
mixologist there.
As it was already evening, we stopped by the beach and watched the sun settle down the sea among the passing boats. Also, we made sure to click pictures of us trying to holding the sun in our hands as it went down slowly.
Then, we rushed back to the room, only to glam up and visit another hotspot in Goa. It was Baga Beach known for its happening nightlife and shacks dotted on the shore. Though the road to the beach was packed with lively clubs, we grabbed a seat in one of the airy beach shacks. We didn't forget to try various cocktails and drinks, which is an essential ritual in Goa. Time went by as we chitchatted while dipping our feet in the cool sand.
I decided to sleep in, as I was feeling a mild hangover thanks to the drinks. On the last day of our trip, we were in for a huge surprise. We visited Immaculate Conception Church, which can be seen in many Bollywood films like 'Malang’ and ‘Simba’. We could also find Portuguese-style houses and some of the oldest Goan eateries within a short stroll.
As Christmas and New Year were a few weeks ahead, the shops looked warm and welcoming with cute decorations. While we were here, we also managed to get our hands on some Goan-Portuguese confectionery. Then, a Goan didi braided my hair carefully with colourful threads, which is a hot trend among tourists there. With my new hip hairstyle, I hopped onto the van taking us back to the station.
The fun did not end there, as we started playing cards and amusing games while gorging on the snacks bought from Goa. Every journey gives us something to remember but this one kickstarted my pursuit of adventure, fun and all things wild. The train took us back home while we held on to the joyful memories and postcard-worthy pictures. 🖤🖤
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