Trip to North Goa: A Brutally Honest Reflection
Goan roads saw me riding a bike, feeling the air on my face, smiling like a kid who has just eaten cake. Candolim beach saw my stubborn self trying to swim against the tide and tiring myself out only to feel defeated and desolate. Vagator beach shared my sorrow as I looked at the setting sun and Curlies Beach Shack saw the wild animal inside me as I danced through the night. All these places hold the key to a part of me that will remain locked perennially (at least that’s what it feels like right now). All the memories that I created on this trip would live gloriously there and die repeatedly within the walls I live in now, as they should. But I wanted to share some of the reflections I had during and after the trip.
If you are a woman, in an engineering college, and planning a trip to Goa, chances are it would only work out if you have an all-women group, have already met your family’s expectations by securing a high-paying job and are in your last semester. I was convinced that it would never happen for me until I bonded with this bunch of marvellous women who were equally passionate about Goa. When it comes to interests all seven of us have very different tastes and it leads to clashes (and even catfights :p) sometimes. As you might have guessed, the biggest qualm of travelling with such a diverse group is accommodating everyone’s choices. Extroverts would scoff at that sentence but the introverts out there would understand. Being introverted, I have always enjoyed travelling solo or in a small group. To place someone like me in a group of seven people for a whole week in a completely new place was a gamble. I bet against my inherent nature. I bet I could do it. The result was a medley of extreme emotions equally felt. Unlike most things in life, this indeed was a dichotomy. Black and white.
North Goa Beyond a Checklist
I have learned to ditch checklists through my past travels. But peer stories of popular beaches, night clubs and local brews made me give in to the temptation. Getting a tattoo on my neck bone, getting my hair braided, partying at Tito’s club, visiting Baga, Calangute and Anjuna beaches, tasting the local brews were some of the things on my checklist. Before I realised, two days from our four-day stay went by in a blink as we jumped from one destination to the other. I told you there was a dichotomy, didn’t I? The ugly side of the coin surfaced every night when I sank in my bed exhausted from all the rushing around. Every day I was treading along a thin line between let’s slow down and experience Goa in its natural peaceful state and maybe another time. In hindsight, when I reflect upon what people in my group meant when they asked me to “chill”, I understand the importance of experiencing a place in its natural state. You can’t be a city slicker and expect to experience the breezy tranquillity that Goa has to offer.
Meeting Travelers and Chasing Adventures
I have experienced time and again that our everyday thoughts are a by-product of the people we meet and the things we read. My conversations with travellers, locals, artists and also people from my own group have left indelible impressions on me. Be it the hospitable owner of the beach shack explaining his menu, the musician narrating his journey of dropping out of college to pursue his passion, the indo-Portuguese traveller (who called himself Jhonny NoCash) explaining the tax-racquet that has sprung up in Goa driving away the gipsies from Russia, Israel and Cyprus or the bartender at Curlies introducing us to the local brews, all their stories fascinated me. I would be lying if I say that I didn’t second guess the quality of life that I lived presently.
My best memories involve doing and learning new things. The same tasks in a new place seem less daunting than they do back home. I went swimming in the ocean (something that terrified me a year back), initiated conversations with strangers, enjoyed psytrance music (that I had blatantly avoided till now) and embraced my sunburnt skin with grace (something I would crib about for days normally). All of them were akin to morphine shots for me (not that I would ever find out). I spent an entire day basking in the sun on the beach and building sandcastles and I absolutely loved it. I am a high energy particle, who hates sitting idle but I learned the importance of slowing down and savouring the moment that day.
Lessons from Travelling in Goa
If you embark on a group trip hoping for a serendipitous revelation, you might be out of luck. I had no one profound moment of bonding. Rather, I had dozens of minuscule moments of togetherness and differences that bonded me to the group. I learned that heartfelt conversations with friends in a new setting can be as rewarding as talking to strangers. While at Clive’s Saturday Night Market, I observed how some places are better left untouched by technology and globalisation and learned how these developments have robbed us of some invaluable cultural activities like folk music. I learned how to stop and devour the breeze on my face while not constantly pushing myself to fit in another completed task before the day ended.
If you ever visit North Goa, and are looking for a memorable trip, my tip would be to avoid doing the popular checklist things. Instead, dive deep into the essence of the Goan culture by spending time at less crowded beaches and local markets. These places, although less glamorous like Baga Beach and Calangute beach, still preserve the Goan vibe.
Note From the Author
I’m writing this based on a week-long trip that I took to explore North Goa. If you would like to know the places I visited and other bits of information, check out my Travel highlights here.
