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.
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Couple Enjoying A Beautiful Evening at Marroit
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Miramar Beach , North Goa
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Off To Fishing!!!!
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With A View Like This, Who Would Like To Leave???
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Marriot, Goa
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Garden View From The Room
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Raining!!!
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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.
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Beautiful South
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Lush Green Paddy Fields As You Enter South Goa
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Just Couldn't Stop Clicking!!!
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Beautiful Drive
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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.
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Golf Course At The Lalit, Cancona, South Goa
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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.
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Evening At The Palolem Beach
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View Of The Palolem Beach From Dropadi Restaurant
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Girls Wanna Have Fun!!!
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Beach Patrol
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The Beautiful Palolem Beach
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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 !!!!
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Magic Italy !!!!
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Colourful Sunset At Palolem
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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.
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Drift Wood
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Morning walks on the beach are refreshing and are usually highlights of my trip.
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Dead Fish
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What A Play Ground For Football!!!
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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.
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Goans Celebrating A Local Festival
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Pleasing The Ocean God!!!
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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
