TRAVEL

Travel feature| GOA – everyone must have a plan to visit Goa!

“A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.”
Earl Wilson

GoaHello again! It’s been a while since I blogged. Just got back from a short vacation in Goa. It’s a beautiful city, even though it was off season, a visit some folk may call no-brainer, but we LOVED it! The laid back lifestyle, the quaintness, the gentle mild folk, the lilting beaches and the Portuguese flavour all leave a song in your heart! For starters, I bring to you a bit quite a bit of colourful, vibrant Goa … then in my next post a Black Forest Cake that I made just before leaving Delhi.GoaReaching there from the mad hustle bustle of North India put us in the slow lane immediately. It’s a city of pubs, bars, sea, sand, sea-food, beaches, tattoos, more beaches, barges, beer, two wheelers, cashew nuts, coconuts, ceramic tiles, churches, tiled roofs, wonderful warm folk … and COLOUR! My visit couldn’t have ‘happened‘ so beautifully without Aparna who I finally got to meet after years of virtual blog talk! She’s been in Goa for years, got me the best cab driver ever, and helped me find my way around the city!GoaThe ‘now beginning to be quite terrible‘ pre-teen and me hit Miramar beach early in the morning, while the ‘not quite so terrible anymore’ teen snoozed! It was just me and the kids in Goa as Mr PAB was busy at work, so I tried to work around their interests which were quite limited actually. Sleep, beach, food, TV, sleep, beach, food, TV, sleep, beach, food, TV … and a little shopping. Go to Goa folks. It’s got something for everyone!!GoaI haven’t seen them smile so much in a while, loving the sea, enjoying the sand {and each others company} … almost like when they were toddlers! Goa did it to them … {they are back to being grumpy again as the temperature here in North India hits 45C and rising}.GoaOh and I also very bravely took the kids in a rickety old boat to the mouth of the Arabian Sea to see dolphins, but chickened out halfway through as the sea was really CHOPPY … and we had no life jackets!!Goa GoaJimmy Guzder's Bungalow, Goa We sailed past Mumbai  millionaire  Jimmy Guzder’s beautifully landscaped bungalow, which stood in stark contrast to the the Aguada Jail a few heartbeats away! Then the others on the boat panicked big time as the rickety old boat hit the waters alarmingly. Much to the horror of the kids, we turned the boat around even as they were ready to swim the choppy seas! No dolphin sighting for us!! Sahakari Spice Farms Goa En route to a south Goa beach, Majorda, I stole a devious detour and off we went to the Sahakari Spice Farm. We were welcomed with flower garlands and a warm lemon-grass ginger tea {very refreshing indeed}. Then led for an eye opening tour of the farm by the very affable guide Sachin. I thought I knew all a lot of spices, and was proved absolutely wrong! GoaTo end the spicy tour we were all served some fermented cashew drink before it became traditional Goan cashew feni... GoaIn the few days we were there, we did a short drive through of Old Goa, and managed a Mandovi river cruise  as well ….GoaGoa… and ended the trip with a second early morning visit to Miramar beach which was a brisk walk from the Vivanta Taj where we stayed!Black Forest CakeIt’s been ages since I made a Black Forest Cake. Cherries, plump, black, juicy and delicious ones have flooded the market of late and this quintessential cherry dessert cake called my name! Typically, the day I decided to bake the cake every silly thing went wrong, leaving me in a race against time … and I had to turn to a jar of canned cherries! The Black Forest Cake is a cake lovers delight … and that’s up next!!

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deeba

About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.

28 Comments

  • Aparna

    You’ve caught the essence of Goa in your photographs. Was lovely meeting you you too, after all these days. And loved, loved the cherries! 😀

  • Rosa

    A wonderful place! Thanks for sharing your lovely pictures with us.

    the Black forest cake is magnificent.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  • Divya

    I’ve been planning a Goa visit since ages now.As you say,it has something for everyone!!The pictures are gorgeous!!!Not to forget the Blackforest cake at the end of the post-Mindblowing!

  • shooting star

    have to go Goa!!….have been hearing lovely stuff and images from fellow bloggers..and ur post just nails it!!!

  • abha

    Hi Deeba , your pics took me to the beaches of Goa.I visited this place in Nov. ’11.
    One thing i love about this place is that you are just yourself, casual( unlike north ).
    People are so genuine .Happy for Aparna who is living in such a heaven.
    Happy Baking.
    Abha

  • Manuj Mehta

    Indeed it is a wonderful place. I had a great time shooting in Goa. I think i have also clicked the same lady in Mapusa market 🙂 You have captured a great story in the pictures! thanks for sharing.

  • Nisha

    Wow. Goa and your vacation, both sound amazing.
    I’m pleasantly surprised that lady spoke English (from your comment above)!
    I’ve only seen Goa in Bollywood movies. Was always curious to visit and see the Portuguese influence there.
    Look forward to Black Forest, one of my most favorite cakes! 😀

  • Jagruti

    This post took me back in time..when I was an intern at NIO..lazy afternoons, pristine beaches..relaxed summer of 2006. Did you manage to go to Palomar beach in South Goa? Its the most beautiful and pristine beach ever!
    Looking forward to your Black forest cake recipe 🙂

  • Gauri

    This post bought back soo many memories and fun times in Goa… its one place where u know ur going to have a great time, be it family or friends!
    Thanks for sharing your vacation and recipe
    Cheers

  • Katherine

    According to the NavHindi Times, official statistics reported the highest ever recorded number of foreign tourists visited Goa in 2010. The figure given is 4.41 lakh (441,000). A large number of foreign visitors arrive by charter flights. Russians make up the largest group of charter tourists, followed by the British.

  • Miguel Bloch

    Nice post. The pictures are gorgeous!! Not to forget the Blackforest cake at the end of the post Mindblowing. Thanks that you’ve shared.

  • Heidi19

    This is a very exciting place to visit! Thanks for sharing those wonderful photos with us and i’m looking forward to on your 2next post!

  • Daryl

    My friends and I are planning to tour Goa (in a months time). I was really confused where do I start my plan from.
    All we’ve have planned right now is to spend 4-5 days in Goa.

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