Part -2 ( if you have not read Part 1, Click here )
Backpacking to Goa – Part 2
Goa evenings are special. It’s like the wine that goes with any mood and emotions. our first evening for BackPacking to Goa.The light glittering in the distant, the evening waves and the sip of beer made the mood just right to explore the extraordinary evening.
The ‘dusk ‘which was looking darker made us take a decision that we will not return to our hotel for the night, another reason being we might get tipsy after the drinks that we were about to have as the night grows, so it won’t be easy for us to drive back. Hence we will be at Bagha beach at night.
We managed to get help from our waiter. He offered us the restaurant’s common area for us to sleep at free of cost. Sleeping on the beach was something that I had never experienced before and was excited to try out
After those drinks that we were having, we set out aimlessly to explore Tito’s lane, Another seemingly popular place at Bagh that our waiter agreed too.
As we reached, Crowd filled along with the start of the road. This was the first time I saw something like these in India or any other part of the country, where a road full of nightclubs were playing loud open music, offering cheap booze and great food, all at the same place. The crowd was decent & friendly and people were from different parts of the world which reminds me of one of the best things I love about GOA life.
I am a big-time foodie and its something that turns my mood on anytime J. We knew that GOA was famous for its seafood, so we started looking for a restaurant that had good seafood and crabs. We were approached by someone who told us they have Crabs in his restaurant. When we walked to his restaurant the ambiance was good but unfortunately when we sat they dint have crabs, definitely we move out.
We moved to another restaurant which was not so crowded and ordered crab curry and my favourite Calamari. However, the food was not really pleasant & our bill was INR 600. Long story short, we understood that Tito’s lane was not a food place, rather a drinker’s heaven or one big local club lane.
Something about GOA best night club,Tito’s.
On the way to Tito’s, the view of the street was mesmerizing. Clubs playing great music and people dancing. It was a weekday, so we could possibly guess that those places go on a different level of excitement on the weekends, however, my curiosity to try ‘the famous’ GOA night club was a bit strong, so we went to the great Tito’s.
In front of Tito’s, we found a couple of guys selling out Tito’s tickets, with packages for couples. At first, they offered us INR 2000 for two, unlimited rum, vodka, gin, and beer along with finger foods. The cost didn’t convince us to visit as we saw less crowd inside. We decided to just look around and try another alternative club with a better crowd, and come back later at night when the time was right.
Later, after spending time back and forth the street, we again reached Tito’s but this time a different sales guy approached us with tickets which somehow now was cheaper. Tito’s is split into 2 different places, one is a restaurant, another is a club. After a long conversation, the sales-person agreed to give us INR 1500 per ticket but I requested to see the club first before paying. They allowed only me to enter and security went with me. I entered and saw less crowd and honestly found nothing special about the place. I felt it was a bit hyped, compared with other club surrounding it.
We were anyway ready to pay, but when we were about to enter post purchasing the ticket, the host refused us due to our attire. A according to them was not valid, which was a bit weird for us as it was a beach bar. We were wearing shorts and slipper. That was the first time we experienced a beach bar not allowing beach attire to enter. Frustrated with the whole thing we cancelled the tickets.
We found our Pub. ‘One nightclub’ was on the 1st floor at Tito’s Lane. At one glance looking from outside it attracted me. The place was playing Bollywood music which I recon from the tv ads and they had an offer which said 5 beer for INR 150. However when we sat there, sadly the beers were somehow finished, so we ordered ‘buy 1 get 1 cocktail’. it cost us INR 150 for 2 cocktails. It was pretty decent at that price.
It’s already 11 pm and as expected we felt slow, & didn’t feel like to explore more on the clubs. Returning to the night beach alongside the lively bars with lights, candles, and music, We reached the restaurant where we were to stay for the night. They were already closed as expected.
Our restaurant was an open one on the beach sands. We prepared our place to rest in that bar, right in front of the beach. It was not really an experience I want to repeat, but it’s a one-time life experience. it is safe to sleep in the open but the staff said that the local police might enquire, so we slept below the shade of the bar, though that was also open on all the sides.
I selected a swing in the bar, however, we couldn’t really sleep. The dogs at the beach kept on howling along with the sounds of the waves, which was pretty eerie at night. We then decided to sleep on the sands of the beach restaurant, layered by chair pillows.
The beach gets really quiet at deep night. if someone is not easy to sleep in the open it can get scary. The night had sounds of waves, wind blowing and dogs howling, also to mention at night the sea breeze gets s cold too.
We struggled a lot to sleep that night but finally made it to sunrise. It was a great experience and one of my rarest.
May 15th,
We move around at 6 am from Bagha beach to Arombol for our hotel. The worst sleeping time replaced with the smell of morning and cool breeze along our ride back toward Arambol beach. The place was fresh and the scenery by the road made our stay worthy
Tips :
It’s a good thought to stay at Arabol as its more peaceful.
We reached our hotel around 9 am and slept till 12 PM noon.
Visiting local GOA’s house
My friend had a local friend who had a small business at Goa. He had invited us for lunch with his family.
He stayed at a near village in Arambol. He was from Goa and was living at his ancestral house.
The house, traditionally GOA one, had a garden in the middle of nature, no AC, just a fan and a big yard in front and back. The Ceiling was decorated with traditional handicrafts.
Garrden Mangoes and Homemade sweets House grown cashew The ceiling we covered with diff rent artworks
We were royally treated and were welcomed with GOA sweets made from palm sugar and cashew. We were honored to be welcomed further with home-cooked and served with their traditional food for lunch. Our Lunch was Fried fish, vegetable curry and small onion salad with rice. I tasted the real Goan food and felt it was the best that we had.
After lunch, we were given a plate of jack-fruits which was from our friend’s garden.
Their hospitality left me with no words and I was amazed by the Indian culture and the way people treat guests. We had a great stay and though they can’t really speak English, we never felt we didn’t belong there.
Sweet water lake and Paliyem beach
After we came back from our friend’s house. At the Afternoon we decided to stroll down the Arambol beach. Compared to Baga beach, Arambol is more quite. I didn’t see much nightlife surrounding the area but had a very peaceful experience.
As we strolled, Google advised us to visit ‘sweet water lake’ which looked like 20 minutes’ walk. Along the zig-zag route were beautiful stony beach and plenty of cottage and homestay which made an option for our next stay when we come
On the way heading to our venue we met a guy who offered us heaven’s grass , ‘marijuana’ at INR 500. Later we were lucky enough to meet a guy who was quite friendly to invite us to his friend’s place to smoke together. His place was on the beach. His friends were a couple from Bangladesh and Tamil.
Though we were stranger to them, we felt very warm and it was pretty another lifetime experience for us to have such moments.
We then continued our trip to Sweet water lake, Called the
Paliem sweet water lake.
When we reached, we realized why it was so popular. It was a lake in the middle
of the hills and was covered on all the sides with forest and on one side the open
ocean. It was a breathtaking place
Wasting no time we got in the water. It was lukewarm, gave a nice fuzzy. Though it tasted a bit salty as it was near the sea but was warm.
What we learned from the locals and internet, that it was centuries old historical lake and was also being mentioned in Hindu holy books. The locals believed that lake mud can cure diseases. We were refreshed by the feeling altogether.
After dipping in the lake for a while we decide to rest at the beach and watch the sunset.
It felt like heaven sitting there and simply enjoying the quiet and calm beach seeing the sun go down into the seas.
On the way to the hotel room, we decided to have dinner in one of the only restaurants on that beach.
Mainly we stopped cos they played nice music and the restaurant was elegantly made facing the sea. As it was our last dinner we ordered the special 1 whole fried kingfish for INR 600 with beer.
The fish was good but the best was the spot with the beach right in front of us.
We were lucky to be the only guest as it was offseason. After speaking to the Hotel owner we came to know, the same restaurant also provides home-stay for INR 500, that next to the lake and the sea. We saw the place, it was shack type huts but looked very comfortable, especially cos of the lake & the beach that was next to the huts.
Last day in GOA
Our Bus was in the evening, so we woke up a bit early to enjoy another sunrise and last time swimming in the sweet water lake. We didn’t have enough of our last evening experience.
The lake was very quiet as no one came that early and water was crystal clear, We swam very peacefully and enjoyed the sun.
Along the way back from the beach I bought 2 pretty beach dresses, that was INR 150 each. I also buy few accessories. Highly recommend to bargain the price.
Tips: When you buy some stuff make sure to check the material as somehow one of my dress torn.
We had breakfast in a local cafe near the area. My friend’s suggestion was Veg fried rice, chicken 65 and fresh juice, which surprisingly cost us only INR 500. We also purchased biryani for our dinner for the bus on the way back home, it was only INR 100. I just couldn’t say how much I fell in love with Indian cuisine.
Later at 12, We returned the scooter to the owner who stayed 3 minutes walk away from the bus stop. We took a local bus to the Goa Bus terminal. The fare was only INR 150 and our bus ticket to Bangalore to was INR 1900 each. This time we bought the tickets from a local agency at Goa bus terminus
Taken night trip and reach our destination 6 AM safe and sound.
My honest review on the trip – I had super amazing 2 days spend at Goa and I really look forward to my next trip to Goa. However, during Monsoon Goa is beautiful.
GOA is a very beautiful, clean and peaceful place. A place where one can have Booze and weeds but can also find nirvana. Being a female tourist I didn’t feel insecure or unsafe for a single moment.
Local people are very helpful and friendly. I strongly suggest GOA for those who seek for adventures and peace of mind, both at the same time.
By Maria Theresia