Long weekend holiday - Trip to Goa from Hyderabad

Here goes my second Post...

It was long pending trip for us for Goa.Finally, we decided to go to Goa in September taking a little long weekend. It was 3 nights and 4 days trip in all. We enjoyed overall fun-filled trip.

Goa, As all know, is land of beaches. Saksh was saying at the end of day everyday "Mom, How many more beaches?" But the best part was the Uniqueness of each beach.  We saw around top 10 beaches of Goa but each one is different from another.

Apart from that , Goa has lot of Forts to see beautiful Sea from Top. It is home of Temples and Churches. Goa is able to retain lot of Heritage.

It has lot of offer to tourists and great respect for Tourists as Tourism is their biggest business. We were really impressed by PATRIOTISM and HOSPITALITY.

Here goes my story of AMAZING GOA....

Meeting Nagarjuna at Airport

Saksh with Nagarjuna

We started our Journey from hyderabad via Airplane on Friday. So, here comes our first "Nice thing" of vacation. We were getting down from Cab at airport when Vikas said "Look, there is Nagarjuna, go , meet him".

Yes, I am talking about our famous celebrity. I took Saksh to him and said "Hello Sir, want to click pic with you". It was so kind of him that he got himself clicked with Saksh. Saksh was still under surprise, Why Mom pushed me to him and then realizes "Mom, Is he Mass" , I remember he has watched Hindi version of famous Telugu movie of Nagarjuna :)

Journey  to Goa

Our flight was via Mumbai.We took halt in Mumbai for 3 hours to cover any delays or so. So, We started our trip with "Fun" at Hyderebad Airport. Clicked some pics here..

Mumbai Halt

Mom-Son eating big choclate

 We were real hungry when we reached Mumbai so started searching for some mine and vik's all time favourite "Wada pav". Had some at Mumbai airport with Cafe day Coffee.

Me and Saksh bought books at Landmark and clicked some pics.

                     

We had lots of fun and romancing at Mumbai Airport and finally boarded Goa flight.

I was at Window seat this time. It was fun seeing Goa from heights.

Reaching Goa

Wow! Here was beautiful Goa from "Height". We could see Beautiful Sea. And here we were at "Doblim Airport". Goa has beautiful compact airport with Red Carpet Welcome. 

 It was pouring like anything when we came out of airport. We took a cab to our "Beach Resort" in North Goa which was 45 km from Airport.

Reaching Resort

Goa is Lush Green with bog coconut trees, so many trees, that i wondered if this happen everywhere in India, Our India will be GREEN and pollution free.

The roads were mostly narrow and one side , it was sea mostly.

It poured too much and Goa was looking more beautiful.

It look little while to search our resort but finally we reached pour resort. It was looking scary as it was full green and tried to look as natural as it can be. Finally we reached  Ondas-De-Mar Beach Resort. It was on Calangute Beach in North Goa.

We had food, tried going to beach but rain din't allow much so came back and slept.

You can see me and Saksh posing at the main gate.These days, me and Saksh are big time Yoga fan , so Tree pose :)

Morning Walk at Beach

For me, if you do not enjoy morning walk and exercise in vacation, it is not much fun. Though, we need to check for Vikas reaction and sufferings due to that :)

Yes, went for morning walk. The beach was very beautiful and empty as this piece is little away from exact Calangute beach. Played in water, collected shells, some yoga and of course romancing. Clicked some pics too.

We came back, got ready and had our breakfast. Now we were ready to go for North Goa tour.

We hired a car and though of self driving. Took map in our hand, understood major sight seeing spots in Goa and started our journey.

It as rainy day in Goa, but extremely beautiful.

North Goa Tour

We started our journey with beautiful Anujuna Beach. It was a very Rocky beach with lot of crabs on the stones. It started raining and we were real enjoying in rainy season of Goa. Water , all around, looked like 2012 is near :)

 Saksh clicked few pics for us...

Mom-Baby did some fun as usual.

Top 5 North Goa Beaches (in terms of popularity)

• 
  
  Baga  
• 
  
  Calangute
• 
  
  Vagator
• 
  
  Anjuna
• 
  
  Arambol

     You can get good night market in Calangute beach. And flea market in Anujuna and Claangute during peak season.

We did some shopping here. There was some good handicraft stuff here.

    

Saksh got himself tatooed..with a a nice Dragon. You can see him here.


It started raining more so ran to our car and had "Rain Maza" from the car.

We went to Vagator beach after this.

North of Anjuna, divide into two, lie the Little Vagator and Big Vagator Beaches. The Little Vagator (or Small Vagator) Beach is a beautiful little cove, fringed by palms and surrounded by cliffs. Big Vagator, the more frequented, is famous for the two fresh water springs nearby, and the view of the 500 year old Chapora Fort.

 It is one of the most beautiful beach, very clean with white sand and very clear, like the ones

Again , had some romancing and fun in water and here goes Saksh's more photography.

This is "Must to Visit" Beach in Goa.

Saksh was on his best on "Enjoying water". It started raining again.

We went back to car after enjoying for 40 minutes or so.

Our next destination was "Chapora fort". This is what we heard about it:

Sit atop the stone walls and ramparts of Chapora Fort at either Anjuna or Vagator Beach, and sea the near infinite view of the sea from that height, and watch the sunset.

It was little difficult to locate this but few sign boards helped us and finally we reached Chapora fort.

Look at the beach behind us. The beach was looking real beautiful from the top of the fort

This is old fort with very few walls left now.

It was lunch time and someone directed us to go to "Mapusa Matket" which is second famous place after Pnajim, Goa's capital. We could not find much there to eat. Did some shopping, though not much to shop.

There was very good Goa Tourism shop with all handicrafts. This is worth going if you want to select some good stuff for home.

We were feeling hungry by now but we wanted to cover -the Basilica of Bom Jesus - Church on the way to our lunch destination.  The church is old church and worth going.

We came back to "Wagah Border",  punjabi restaurant for Lunch.


It was decent lunch , not like a Punjabi fill lunch , but a decent one.


After filling ourselves,we went to see another big fort in North Goa,  Aguada Fort. The gate closes at 5.30 pm sharp so were not able to go inside but this is what we heard


"Go on, stand on the rampart-on-sea of Fort Aguada on Sinquerim Beach, rest your arms on the railings, and wait for a beautiful sunset over the horizon."

So, we decided to go to Sinquerim Beach which is seen from this fort. O, it was fabulous, part of fort, broken ones, it took us inside sea. It was scary as it was getting dark and the sea water just wanted to come up :)


To add to it, the rain, we got chance to do some more romancing in rain....as it was empty mostly :) It was already dark and poring. We went to famous Clangute beach , which is the first name in Goa when talk about beaches. It was crowded and here we had our day of sea shower.


Had fun and came back to resort.Finished our dinner and slept.

South Goa Tour

We started our next day with "South Goa Tour" . This time, we took a bus tour as South Goa is big to cover and little far away from where we were staying.

It was Fernandes Travel agency and a very nice lady guide who was very kind to share all the facts about Goa very patiently.

We took our first break at Miramar beach. Me and Saksh saw a swing and just ran to it while Vik clicked us.

At Miramar beach, the closest beach to the capital of Goa, , Panaji. A lovely golden beach of soft sand girdled with palm trees, Miramar is one of the most popular beaches. From here one has an excellent view of the Aguada fort. Sunset watching is one the most favorite activity on the beach.

As this was first beach of the day, so we were very fresh and started our fun with getting into water and getting ourselves clicked.

Churches - Goa is famous for...Went to the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, The Se Cathedral.


Church of St. Francis of Assisi has 400 years old dead body which is opened every 14 years.


The Se Cathedral had a bell which was 2 tons and could be heard 12 km away when rang.


It was beautiful experience.Saksh saw Church for the first time.

Goa is famous for temples too , most notably the Mangueshi Temple which is home to Lata Mangeshkar.

We went there, offered prayers and Prasad.It was peace environment and we enjoyed there.It was beautiful architecture.

Next destination was Shanti Temple where we saw "Messenger of Peace, The pigeons.


Going to temple is big peace of mind. I got myself tatooed here.

Goan Heritage Village, not to be missed is a place in Goa which is Portuguese Home which has "As it is" Heritage maintained.


They have a sound and light show of 30 minutes where they explain everything about Goa Heritage Village









We were hungry by now and our bus stopped at Goa tourism restaurant near Colva beach.




This might be good place for Non-vegetarians but for us, we did not like it.


Searched something veg and got into "Cafe day". Got some Samosa, Spinach sandwich and burger with Cold coffee. After stuffing our self, we went to Colva beach.

Colva beach, One of South Goa's most famous beaches, is known for its ambiance, with a happening nightlife and large holiday crowds thronging to it. Plenty of facilities here.


Had too much fun there and got completely into water. Me and Saksh were all wet and need to change now. Got to Goa tourism hotel and changed. Now, we were ready for Cruise at Mandovi River.

Got into bus again and reached Mandovi River.

It has lot of sunset cruise along the Mandovi River that will show you nature's astounding sunsets out on sea.Wow, the sea was looking simply beautiful. These cruises had "All fun with music" on the board.

 As soon as the cruise started, they asked for kids to dance. Saksh was dancing on "I hate luv story's" .
We recorded his dance moments. It was fun. There was bunch of college girls on board so it was lot of "Hulla Gulla".


Then they called couples to dance. Me and Vik were on stage and had a terrific fun while dancing on Tunes of "Yma Yama and some the romantic songs"

The sun set was looking fabulous. We finished cruising and came back to bus. It was already 7.30 and we started back to Resort. Reached back , had dinner and went for small walk. Slept after that.

Next day, we went for morning walk to Calnguet again. Saksh was to collect Pearl shells, which is must and fun activity to do at beaches in Goa. Finshed collecting shells but it was hot day today , of course no rain.

Vikas wanted to do cruising on bike today. So, we hired a bike and went on for our ride with Sports activities.

Riding Bike on Goa Roads and Water SPorts in Goa

 Today, we had to go to most famous and crowded beach "Baga beach". Number of water sports available for nominal rates, you can decide to try one of the most exciting experiences on Baga Beach - jet skiing. Your instructor will be sitting behind you, and allow you to ride on the less choppy and further-out-to-sea stretches of water. Other experiences include Speed boats and sitting under umbrella and relaxing near sea.

We decided to take speed boat. It was scary when boat started. We were swinging with sea up and down and looked like "We are gone". But they were very professional and took boat nicely out of those waves and took us in mid of sea. He showed us "Anujuna beach from mid of sea and then we were back. We saw fisherman collecting fishes from their nets , washing them and they sold at the spot.

We finished some more shopping near Calangute market and went back to hotel as our cab was waiting to go to airport.

Back to Hyderabad

We started back for airport and board our Hyderabad  flight. It was small , little plane to Hyderabad. Said Good bye to Goa from air and We reached hyderabad well before time. Took cab and reached by 6ish types. We were tired so had food and slept off by 8 pm :)

Goa...in Saksh's words

• I enjoyed  in  10  beaches  of Goa
• I  saw some Forts
• I enjoyed in cruise
• I danced in the cruise
• I ride in a motor boat. It was fun
• I swimmed in our Beach Resort
• I had too much fun in Goa in car and bike too
• We went to temples and museum in bus
• I collected shells from Sea shore
• I made Tatoo in Goa and my mother too made a tatoo
• I clicked Photos with My Mom and Dad
• I bought lot of things to decorate my home
• I said Bye to Goa when I was coming back to Hyderabad