BOM BOM - Ristorantino Italiano

"I'll serve Carpaccio to you tomorrow for lunch" he said with his thick Italian baritone throat.

While I never knew how to pronounce the dish, however ! I agreed to it. What I figured later while relishing it that It's a culinary wonder made with ultra thin & raw meat slices submerged in olive oil & marinated with lemon... Served with shavings of Parmesan cheese. 

I hadn't ever ventured to raw meat ever  but it was scrumcious . I realised that knowng that it's raw meat, I would have perhaps not let it pass thru my one & only blessed gob ... Well, glad to have ventured & not miss savouring the flavour. There are many things that we don't opt to do or try only because we hold our own notions . Some one said it so right say " the biggest risk is not having to take one !!!" U Don't know what u r missing ?

Coming back to the BOM BOM ...The chef cum owner of this little Italy .. Or should I say culinary twinkle in Agonda, once had a restaurant in Italy. He wound up all and now runnning this shack named BOM BOM in Goa .. 

The restaurant is simple but the chef's perfectionism & passion surfaces in every dish you order ... be it sea shell Pasta or or pork or French roast chicken . 

         Chicken in white wine

           Sea Shells for Pasta

And the best was Tiramasu with cocoa sprinkles over ice cream scoops . Haha ..its a battle between your weighing scale over your taste buds :) .. Well He plans to double the size of the restaurant next year and add more options to the menu. Well while I write this my mouth is watering .. Catch u later .. I better finish my meal .. :) 

Bon appetite !!!

Home For Next Six Days- Om Sai Huts, Agonda

                    Our Beach hut

              Sunset, Agonda

As soon as I mentioned to friends that this month we are going to Goa again, they said "why don't you buy a place in Goa?" Last month during New Years it used to get quite cold in the evenings but  whether has started to change.

This is gonna be our home, our beach hut for this week. 

           View from beach hut

A basic accommodation but with a view like this from our bed we definitely don't call it basic!!!!

The meaning of luxury is different to different people .. Just the way right now happiness means lazing around by the sea.. Replenishing energies with the provisions of nature is surely luxurious.

It's the serene concoction of the sparking sands,fresh blue skies, diluted with grand splashes coming from sea .. And a dash of the moist oceanic breeze..

 ... I say cheers to the world with most simplistic afternoon yet it could not get any more exotic than this. 

This time we choose to stay in OM SAI BEACH HUTS, Agonda, Goa. The place is right on the beach with a restaurant name Sweet Chilly. We definately  recommend this place to anyone looking for peaceful stay. 

Utorda , Goa Dec14 - Lunch at Zeebop!!!

               ZEEBOP - Beach Side Shack

The setting is nice, the food was good, in fact very tasty specially the Goan fish curry and Goan prawn curry but the place was kind of over crowded.

Zeebop is a beach side shack in Utorda, South Goa next Royal Orchid and Park Hyatt. It has a very big sitting space  and you get the sea view from almost all the tables. 

Head to the place if you looking for tasty food and lot of action!!! 

There is direct access to the beach from the restaurant. They even have a beach shower enclosure if you plan to have your food just after you have taken a dip in the ocean!!!

The food is moderately priced but we found the portions inadequate.

Zeebop chefs surely make their way to your heart with the delicious Goan cuisine but the sea view conspires  the same :) . A must visit when in South Goa.

Zeebop contact number-  0832 275 5333

Agonda, Goa - Dec 14 , Staying at Elements!!!!

                   ELEMENTS, AGONDA GOA

             View from Beach Hut

Now with a view like this out of your bed, who would like to go out beach hopping??? There's this small resort called ELEMENTS in Agonda Goa where we are staying for 9 days. The place has got two beach front cottages and 3 rooms in their property. My favourite are the beach huts, very simplistic yet beautiful and the view from the bed is to die for!!!

                   2 Beach Huts

You can sit up there and have uninterrupted view of the ocean. Last year also we stayed in the same hut for 10 days and here we are back again.  The restaurants are right next doors and they are happy to provide room service and wi fi !!  For tarrif and availability you can get in touch with Deepak (090-49-018718). They are not yet having net presence / online booking.

THE MOST SIMPLE THINGS ARE THE ONES WHICH BRING THE MOST HAPPINESS!!! 

Goa In Monsoons- This Time It Was Palolem!!!

From the moment I finalised this year's plan of Goa, the excitement level was at all time high. Last to Last year I had seen Goa in monsoons and believe me, since then I was trying one thing or another to take out time and be there again in the same season. Last year I went in June, I loved it at that time of year too but felt some thing was missing. I had never been to the southern most part of Goa, Canacona made famous by Palolem Beach. It's less touristy as compared with the beaches in the north but during season time it can also get really busy.

I was there for 5 days. I took an evening flight and landed in Goa in the night around 9.30pm. This time around I booked 1 night in Marriot, Panjim in the north and 3 nights in The Lalit Glof and Spa resort. Marriot is a beautiful property on the Miramar beach. A beautiful 5 star property. The infinity pool is small but beautiful. I specially loved their swim-in bar stools where you can still in the water and enjoy your drink. It rained almost through out the night and continued till the morning. The rain had painted everything green.

Couple Enjoying A Beautiful Evening at Marroit

Miramar Beach , North Goa

Off To Fishing!!!!

With A View Like This, Who Would Like To Leave???

Marriot, Goa

Garden View From The Room

Raining!!!

Next morning I left for Palolem. BTW the local transport in Goa is extremely costly. Taxi from Miramar to Palolem was 3800/- and that too from an outside taxi stand. The hotel quoted me 4800/-!!! As soon as you enter south Goa the huge buildings of the north give way to open paddy Fields in the south. I have always loved South Goa. It's much calmer, beautiful, great beaches and the pace is slow. The drive was so beautiful that I felt like stopping the cab every now and then to take pictures.

Beautiful South

Lush Green Paddy Fields As You Enter South Goa

Just Couldn't Stop Clicking!!!

Beautiful Drive

Reached The Lalit in the afternoon. Lalit is a beautiful, well maintained Golf resort spread in over 85 acres on Rajbag Beach. It's hardly 2 kms from Palolem. The rajbag beach itself ia a beautiful beach and I would say more prettier than palolem itself. The property is huge with all suites room. They have close to 220 suites. Some of them are room facing and some are sea facing. They even have few Villa which they rent out as single unit. Every villa has its own private pool. You have to spend a Lakh a day to live in one of those.

Golf Course At The Lalit, Cancona, South Goa 

After a smooth check in I took a bike on rent for which I paid 300/- a day. Rode the bike to Palolem and spent the whole evening there. It became a daily ritual for 3 days. Because of Off season there were not many options to choose from. Most of the shacks were still not operational. I had my dinners in a restaurant on the beach named Dropadi!!! Funny name for a restaurant but location was brilliant. Though I'll not rate food too great may be because I had better food in Goa. My favourite food joints in South Goa are Fisherman's Wharf (Near The Leela) and Martin's Corner. They serve some amazing dishes.

Evening At The Palolem Beach

View Of The Palolem Beach From Dropadi Restaurant

Girls Wanna Have Fun!!!

Beach Patrol

The Beautiful Palolem Beach

Some local suggested me this little Italian restaurant named Magic Italy. I must say, it serves authentic Italian food. I had a small conversation with the lady who runs the place. The family is  Italian and are running this place for past 15 years now. They get most of the ingredients from Italy. Loved the Meat Lasagna and Pizza that I ordered. The portions are huge !!!!

Magic Italy !!!!

Colourful Sunset At Palolem

Most of the evenings were spent watching the Sun go down from Dropadi Restaurant. All the below images that you will see were taken at Rajbag Beach. 

Drift Wood

Morning walks on the beach are refreshing and are usually highlights of my trip. 

Dead Fish

What A Play Ground For Football!!!

The kids from nearby village come in the evening and play football. I was lucky to witness a local Goan festival. It was Raksha Bandhan and in the evening people came from nearby villages to celebrate this festival in which they worship the Ocean. It was a riot of colour. The women came dressed in their best of dresses and there was suddenly fun and chantings in the air. The ceremony lasted about 2 hours. 

Goans Celebrating A Local Festival 

Pleasing The Ocean God!!!

I have always loved Goa in the monsoons and this time around the feeling became even stronger. The rains bring out a different Goa. A Goa which is green, less crowded and with beautiful cloudy skyline flooded with colours. There's magic in the air. Till next time, I will miss you Goa!!!!


Places I stayed and will recomend:-

1. Marriot Resort and Spa, Panaji, North Goa.   http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/goimc-goa-marriott-resort-and-spa/


2. The Lalit Golf and Spa Resort, Rajbaga , Canacona, South Goa. http://www.thelalit.com/the-lalit-golf-and-spa-resort/overview



I will also recommend this beautiful property named The Ciarans. It's a small 4 bedroom property right on the beach in Palolem. 
Word of caution- It may get a bit noisy in the day during peak season time.  http://www.ciarans.com/

If you planning to stay for a longer period say 6 months to a Year and looking for a 1 Bedroom or a studio apartment then you can checkout Ruby Residences which is nearby in Chawdi, Canacona. I went to their property, it's a safe and gated community. It can be a good option for a single women traveller. They charge somewhere between Rs 15000/- to 20000/- a month for a fully furnished 1 Bedroom apartment. 
Check out their link- http://www.bharatdevelopers.com/rentals/

There are lot of beach hut options during the peak season time in Palolem. Beach huts are dismantled during monsoons and are rebuilt every season. For moving around, bikes are easily available in the palolem market area. Charges are anywhere between Rs 200/- to 500/- for a day. 

Here's last my year trip report of Goa where I have recommended some other places to eat and stay in Goa. http://karantraveller.blogspot.in/2012/12/goa-india-different-world.html

Goa, India- A Different World

Goa- All that comes to mind when one thinks about Goa is Ocean, Beaches, Party, Boat Cruises, Casinos but wait there's lot more to it. Even I used to think of all these things when I used to think of Goa until recently I discovered another part of it. As you will be able to see in the photographs below a very different Goa. Imagine Goa with Green Mountains, Waterfalls, Lakes, Wild Life... Yes, I'm talking about Goa. Explore area around Chorla Ghats and you will fall in love with the place. There's also a Beautiful Resort in Chorla Ghats by the name of Wildernest Nature Resort. Have a look.... And if you want to know more about the places drop me a line.

Early Morning Walk, Varca Beach, Goa

View From Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant- South Goa

Chorla Ghats, Goa

Chorla Ghats, Goa

Infinity Pool at Wildernest Nature Resort

Wild Life!!!!

On Way To Chorla Ghats

Have You Imagined Goa Like This???



Waterfalls as seen from Wildernest Nature Resort

South Goa is the place where I head to whenever I'm in Goa. Following are the tried and tested places

1. Zuri White Sands , Varca

2. The Leela, Cavelossim

3. Park Hyatt Resort and Spa, Cansaulim

4. Head to Palolem and find your self a goodbeach hut. I haven't explored that area yet but will add specific info next time I go there.

For North Goa, I would recommend following

1. Ozran Beach Resort, Little Vagator ( Beautiful Property with breath taking view!!!)

2. Vivanta by Taj - Fort Aguada

You can also check out my latest trip report on Goa for 2013 http://karantraveller.blogspot.in/2013/09/goa-in-monsoons-this-time-it-was-palolem.html