People draw a picture of #Goa by sea, hills, river, forest besides casinos, drinks and tourist from all around the globe.
We traveled a lot before in India and Europe. Mostly we traveled in #India by our own car [https://www.youtube.com/user/dhirajpatra/videos?view_as=subscriber]. And in Europe by public transport. We hardly make any plan for any journey. Certainly get few days and go where ever we like or get chance to go.
Goa tour was also unplanned. Last week [Dec 14th 2018 Friday] we thought and bought bus [#ksrtc Govt Sarige bus which was a bad journey for this 15+ hours road each way. Will tell more about it later.] tickets. Then found a good guest house just behind #Calangute beach, north #Goa. Plan for Friday evening bus, reach saturday, hop on several tourist attraction in #Goa, next day sunday also similar plan, monday leave guest house, catch afternoon bus and back home at tuesday morning.
This #ksrtc [#Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation] #Sarige bus is normal express bus which is non AC 3 X 2 seating no comfort bus but fair is cheaper than other non AC or AC buses.
My wife made all baggage ready for journey. We reached #Majestic [#Kempegouda bus stand #Bangalore] bus stand by a AC local bus from near to our house at Ashoknagar #Bangalore. After almost 45 min struggle in #Bangalore horrific traffic we reach #Majestic and got that bus [reserved] standing there. For 3 person this seat is hardly enough. Within few minute full bus was crowded no place to move. It started around 15 min late. Then it started to divert from high way and stop almost all big town or city including a small dhaba stopped for dinner at 10 pm as well.
When we reached #Panjim bus stand # Goa it was almost 9 am morning. We were totally devastated with no sleep at night and pain in body due to bad road and bad bus journey.
Any way we took small local private bus from that bus stand to our guest house in #Calangute north #Goa. It was too crowded. I requested conductor to inform when my stop #Umtavado come. But he ask us to get down in wrong place almost 3 km before our destination.
We checked map and found it is difficult to go again with 2 medium bags. We decided to hire a #scooter there from rent a bike agent. We took this [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM5MxBb9gU4] #Honda #Activa for two days. By deposited one original ID and full payment. Reached by riding this to guest house around 11 am hot noon. Weather was hot almost 35 deg cel with humidity.
After submitted all ID we entered the room. Refresh by bath then we went to #Calangute beach then #Baga beach and found it is too hot to move anywhere. Moved back to hotel for then.
After 4 pm found little less sun and hot weather. We went a beautiful places #Chapora Fort, #Anjuna beach. Fort was really amazing. Cliff from fort was nice. Then went to saturday night bazaar [market]. It is a big fair with all type of goods sold here. But I liked live band music inside it.
Came back hotel, went for dinner. #Goa is expensive comparative to other #Indian cities.
Next day morning started for south #Goa. Old Goa has some very beautiful places like #Aguada fort, #BomBasilica church, #SeCathdral, #StAugustin church and more. Road was also beautiful besides sea and river #Mandovi. After saw some beautiful places we went for #river #cruise at bank of #Mandovi river at evening. It was also pleasant 1 hour time by watching beautiful scenery both side of the bank and sea starting point.
At the time of returning we took dinner in road side stall. It was really nice paratha and chicken curry.
We came back hotel for a good sleep. Next day morning went to #Calangute beach which was only 100 mtr from our hotel. Me and my son take 1 hour swimming and bath at sea.
Checked out hotel at 10 am. Caught a local bus to main bus station at #Panjim. There we kept our bags in private #clock room for few hours against a nominal fees and ID as we had few hours in hand before our reserved afternoon bus will start.
We went to #DonaPaola beach. Actually it has nothing only a #jetty or ferry port. From there went to #Miramar beach. Which is better comparative to #DonaPaola. But weather was too hot and humid as usual. Came back to bus stand around 3 pm. Took our lunch at local restaurant.
Saw the same bus by which we came to #Goa three days back. So we started our sleepless pathetic journey again to come back home at #Bangalore.
After a whole evening, night rode in horrible journey reached #Majestic bus stand #Bangalore at 6 am. From there caught a local bus and came back home.
Total journey time: Friday 6 pm to Monday 7 am. [it can be done in two days instead of three for Goa city and surrounded places]
Total approx cost [all in #INR] following heads: -
Hotel/Guest house: [two days] 2800
Bus: [Bangalore to Goa and back] 4200
Local bus: [both Bangalore and in Goa] 400
Scooter rent and petrol: 700 + 250
Food: [including 1 kg #cashew nut] 2700
Misc: 500
This was a tight budget family of 3 trip to #Goa
Conclusion-
Goa is nice place indeed but hot and humid even in December. It is expensive for common Indian people.
You must need a scooter to roam around as bus are too small, crowded, conductor etc are short tempered, not available all the tourist places.
Some old places including forts are very nice. North Goa beaches are cleaner and good. Though wave are not high enough to enjoy. Calm sea.
Local food means Goan fish curry is ok. Wine and beer shop every where. Tax is less than other part of India as per my knowledge as I am not a drinker but I purchased there and they told too.
No where you can bargain in Goa all are fixed price.
Local shop keeper, restaurant owner think that western foreigner and we common Indian have same income and spending power. So there price is higher side obviously.
People enjoyed their liberal life here same as western foreigner literally. Indian with very small dresses and drink any where are common. So common people enjoy this scenery as well.
At least one you should go.
We missed #DudhSagarFalls and few which were approx 80 km away from Panaji/Panjim.
No comments:
Post a Comment