A short guide to; Agonda beach, south Goa

Fishingboats on Agonda beach, south Goa

Agonda beach

Agonda beach is located in Canacona taluka, south Goa. The beach at Agonda is a stretch of pristine white sand lined with palm trees, it’s wide and almost 3km’s long. With large headlands protruding into the sea, clearly defining it, on either end. The quaint little village lies just behind the beach. The centre of the villages, around the church, is located roughly at the middle of the beach. A small road runs through the village and continues to run parallel with the beach in both directions. Pretty much everything on Agonda beach is on either side of this road, most places to stay, eat or drink, more than a few little shops selling all the necessity's needed for a stay on the beach, a few beauty parlours, yoga places, scooters and motorbikes for rent, and of course shops and stalls selling the usual tourist trinkets, jewellery, clothes and what have you. At the very southern, less built-up, end of the beach is a space designated for overland travellers, usually you will find about a half dozen or so of these adventurers, in trucks of various sizes, camping out in the palm grove next to the beach. At the very northern end of the beach, at the river inlet, is the place where the local fishermen keep their boats and bring their fresh catch.

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Getting there and away; southeast Asia just a hop, skip and jump away

Flights to and from southeast Asia

Getting to India from South-east Asia has never been to much of a challenge and nowadays it is even less so. The overland trip through South-east Asia have been hugely popular with travellers since the 1970’s, and will more then often begin or end in India. The number of international holidaymakers, to both South-east Asia and the Indian subcontinent, has risen steadily for many years, and the regions are now among the most popular destinations in the world for holidaymakers and travellers alike. Over the last decade or so there has also been a big increase in the number of middle-class Indian Holiday makers going to South-east Asia, with Thailand being by far the most favourite destination.

All this considered it comes as no surprise that the number of flights to India from the Southeast Asian nations, and vice versa, is huge, and you will have no problems what so ever in finding a suitable flight to India from almost anywhere in South-east Asia. The major travel hubs in the region are Singapore, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur and Penang) and of Course Thailand. Cheap flights to Thailand (Bangkok) are the most numerous and frequent. With several flights daily you will have no problems finding a good deal.

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India's New Anthem, togethter we will prevail

A short guide to; Talpona beach, south Goa

Talpona beach, south Goa

Talpona beach

 

Talpona beach is located in Canacona taluka, south Goa. Its nearest neighbours are Galgibaga beach , just beyond the headland to the south, and Rajbaga beach across the Talpona river to the north. Talpona is a sleepy little fisherman's village centred around a small dock at the north end of the beach. The beach is a wide, 1 km stretch of unspoilt golden sand, back droped, at the north end, by the little village and scattered palm and pine trees, at  the south end by bushes and a large open area. At both ends of the beach are wooded headlands sticking out into the sea. Except for two local bars that serve cold drinks, and a couple of shacks on the beach, the only activity on Talpona beach is  relaxing at the beach. Even if chanses are you will not stay here, Talpona beach and neighbouring Galgibaga beach are good day trips from the more popular beaches in the area. Even if Talpona beach is beautiful, totally unspoilt, and close to all the more popular south Goa beaches, chances are that you will have it pretty much all to yourself.

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Who’s driving that red jeep; Lifeguards on all Goa beaches

Lifeguards on Cola beach, south Goa

Lifeguards on all Goa beaches

This season has seen a much increased number of lifeguards on the Goa beaches. The major beaches have been patrolled for a few years already, but this season all of the popular beaches, and even some ‘off the beaten track’ ones, are being patrolled as well. The force of lifeguards, more than 500 men strong, dressed in bright red and yellow outfits, with yellow surf rescue boards and red Mahindra lifeguard jeeps are a welcome and noticeable presence on the beaches.

In early December The Miramar beach lifeguard tower turned into a fortress of disgruntled lifeguards demanding the suspension of a senior officer who allegedly had hit one of the lifeguards at the annual party organized by their employer Drishti Special Response Service (DSRS), as well as a salary hike and reduced work hours. This conflict soon grew in to a full fledged strike, with some 300 lifeguards not turning up for work, and bringing lifeguard services on all Goa beaches to an abrupt halt. All of this happened just as the peak season was about to start, and it seemed for a while that the whole thing would come tumbling down just as hoards of tourists were arriving in Goa for the holiday seasons. In the end though, no surprise, the lifeguards surrendered and came back to work. Drishti’s response to their demands was simple, a full page add in the ‘times of India’ looking for 300 new lifeguard recruits.

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A short guide to; Palolem beach, south Goa

Dawn at Palolem beach, south Goa

Palolem beach

 

Palolem beach is situated in the very south of Goa state, within the taluka (district) of Canacona, Canacona taluka stretches from the Karnataka border in the south to the beginning of the Colva bay, in the north. In this area you will find, except for Palolem, beaches like Polem, Galgibaga, Patnem, Agonda and Cola, the administrative centre of the area is the small market town of Chaudi where you will also find the districts main bus terminal and the Canacona train station. The area is not very big, and most places are within comfortable daytrip reach from Palolem. Palolem is the most popular tourist destination in the area and is visited by tourist from all over the world, including a growing number of domestic  visitors. Being the most popular destination in south Goa, Palolem beach can be very crowded during high season. The peak season however is short, 2-3 weeks around the Christmas and new year holidays. Outside of this 'silly season' Palolem seldom gets overly crowded. The beach itself is a perfect crescent shape bay with fine grain golden sand at the south end and powdery white sand at the north end, the entire 1,6km stretch is fringed with large palm trees and an occasional banyan tree. The beach is where everything happens in Palolem, for tourists as well as locals, the beach is alive with people and animals, moving around at almost all hours of the day. Palolem has been voted to be among the 10 best beaches in the world, several times. More posts about Palolem beach.

 

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Afternoon drinks at Cozy nook, Palolem beach, south Goa

Cozy nook, palolem beach, Goa

Cozy nook Palolem beach

At the very north end of Palolem beach, in south Goa, is Cozy nook, a Palolem beach classic. When Cozy nook opened in 1996, it was one the first places on the beach, and it is still one of the very best places around. The bar at Cozy nook is the perfect place to round of a long lazy day at the beach with a cold drink, or two, while waiting for the perfect Palolem beach sunset. The cool guys behind the bar, really good drinks, great music, and the mellow relaxed atmosphere of the place, will make you come back again and again, at least I do. Except for being one of the premier spots for sunset drinks, Cozy nook also have really good food and offer some of the best accommodation on Palolem beach, the huts are furnished and decorated in an eclectic and very personal style that makes them all different from each other, as well as from every other place on the beach. More info about Cozy nook on: www.cozynookgoa.com.

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A short guide to; Ashvem beach, north Goa

Ashvem beach, north Goa

Ashvem beach

 

Ashvem, or Ashwem, beach is located in Pernem taluka, north Goa. Situated on the stretch of beach that begins on the banks of river Chapora in the south and continues almost uninterrupted, for 13 km’s to the Querim beach on the banks of river Terekhol, and the Maharashtra border, in the north. Ashvem beach is the approximately 1,5km of beach between Morjim beach to the south and Mandrem beach to the north, a little further north is popular Arambol beach. The beach at Ashvem is fine white sand backdroped by tall palm and pine trees, resorts and huts are nestled in groves of  palm trees just behind the beach. The mood at Ashvem beach is one many laid back and relaxed beaches in Goa, and it never gets really crowded.

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Mackies Saturday nite bazaar, Baga, north Goa

image from mackiesnitebazaar.com

Mackies Saturday night bazaar is located on the banks of river Baga, near Arpora, north Goa. If you are not staying in the area you taxi driver will know where it is. They are, as the name implies, open every Saturday from 6pm until late night. The vendors offer everything you would expect to find in a place like this, and probably some things you did not even know existed before you came here, but I am sure they will try to persuade that you need them anyway. Of course, most of the stuff is pretty much the same, as you would find anywhere else in Goan street stalls. If you go here for shopping, remember to haggle fiercely, this people are seasoned pros, and will overcharge you through the roof if you do not put up a fight. Except for shopping the bazaar also offers lots of different food, Goan, Indian, European, even sushi last time I was there, there is also a couple of bars that sell cold drinks, including alcohol.

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Ride the Bullet; The Indian dream

Ride the bullet

 

For a lot of people the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions India, is classic Enfield motorcycles, and especially the legendary ‘Bullet’. Bullets have been made in India since 1955, and not a lot have changed since then. Sure, some of the Enfield models have recently been fitted with disc brakes and other modernities, but for the classic Bullet, the 350. It’s still drum brakes and the 346 cc, single cylinder, four stroke, air cooled, twin spark engine producing 19,8 bhp, and it’s very characteristic sound. The Bullet is the longest running motorcycle model in constant production, and it’s more popular than ever. In Goa you see and hear them everywhere, for a lot of people riding the Bullet is the main reasons to come here, and you can’t blame them, cruising through the lush Goa country side on a Bullet is an experience not to be missed. In India at large these machines have become legendary and the myth around them is just growing. They represent personal freedom, independence and an alternative way of life. they are very much part of the emerging Indian dream.

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