[octane78]

More pics from the day

Casino on water



One fab yatch

A small traffic jam in Goa

Raavan to be burnt on Diwali

Sun set at Baga





This is where we decided to eat



At dinner time

Candle light dinner

Something the name which I dont remember but tasted heavenly

Pre diwali celebrations by the beach.

[octane78]

26th Oct Diwali it is. It is one of the festivals which is eloboratedly celebrated back home and we both were in Goa. Our family members were thinking that we would be back by this day by evening and we could revel in the festivities but they were wrong. We planned this vaccation with no set goals as when we would start back and how long would we spend our time in Goa.

This Diwali it is Goa for the both of us. After a peaceful nights sleep we get up and finish our morning rituals and we are off to Anjuna for the Wednesday flea market.

This is the place where we bought gifts for family and friends and bought a few stuff for ourselves.

One thing that I noticed in the market they are exorbitantly priced when compared to the shops on the beaches, though you bargain hard the difference is not much when compared to the bargained prices on the beaches of Calangute or Baga.

Anyways after a full half days shopping and loitering around we were hungry and found a stall at the market run by a woman who settled in Goa of European origin. She made some exceptionally well rolls which were just out of this world.

Returned back to Calangute and put all our shopping bags in our room and we were back on the beach in Calangute.

Time for some water sports. We were approached by many tout's offering some nice discounted prices and we bargained hard and we got the following

1.Para sailing
2.Bumpy boat ride
3.Banana boat ride and
4.Ride on the water scooter

All this was for just 1200 for both of us.

We thoroughly enjoyed all the rides. The best part was parasailing which was experienced first time by both of us.

Since it was Diwali the beaches were full and it took us some time to get our turns for the rides but it was worth waiting and playing in the water.

Some pictures of the day

At Anjuna flea market

Waiting for the misses to get ready to go to the beach for water sports

Ready to take the plunge

All geared up and ready to go

Awesome experience

This was fun

Clear skies





Back after a great evening of water sports


To be continued.

[Night_Hawk]

Originally Posted by octane78

Sent you a PM with the details of Caith's comfy villa.

Thanks for sharing the information.

All Pictures are awesome. Puri and Aloo mutter(?) appears to be too yummy !!

Was visit to Mageshi Temple and Mandovi cruise on your plans?

In comparision to Baga i felt Clangute to be extremely crowded. Whats your opinion.

Waiting for more updates on your stay in Goa and return trip

[octane78]

Originally Posted by Night_Hawk

Thanks for sharing the information.

All Pictures are awesome. Puri and Aloo mutter(?) appears to be too yummy !!

Was visit to Mageshi Temple and Mandovi cruise on your plans?

In comparision to Baga i felt Clangute to be extremely crowded. Whats your opinion.

Waiting for more updates on your stay in Goa and return trip

Thanks Night _Hawk

We planned to visit the Mageshi temple but could not do so and it is left for our next visit.

I do agree with you Baga is a less crowded when compared to Calangute.

[octane78]

Once we finished of all our rides for the day we returned back to the room and relaxed for a while and were wondering what next?

Diwali it is so why not go out towards Panaji and the likes. So we finally took our beast out which rested for 2 complete days and I was dumbfounded to find my left head light blown out anyways we started off thought we will find some place where we coudl but a bulb and fix it but alas all shops were closed and it was also getting late and people were busy with their celebrations. So we finally reached and bought some sweets at Punjab Sind to celebrate Diwali and we were able to see some brilliant fireworks displayed.

We thought this was not enough and we went to the casinos and enquired about the rates and found out that Casino Prime offered the best rate.

We were charged 3000 bucks for entry with 8, 500 Rs dummy chips and we were given unlimited beverages and snacks during our time we spent playing. We were also entitled to a lavish buffet with a live band performing in front of us. We spent close to 4 hours on the ship and enjoyed throughly. We made some decent amount of money and came back winners .

The Casino was maintained immaculately as I noticed. The same standard that I have seen in the casinos of Australia. No pictures were allowed inside the ship so none taken, after spening a splendid Diwali we returned back to our room and called it a day.

Pictures from the day.

Casino on water

This is where we played and won

One more shot of the same

Church near Calangute

Near by to our room

Last shot for the day near to our room


To be continued.

[octane78]

27th Oct Thursday we get up to a bright and sunny morning and finish our breakfast and finished our last minute shopping around Calangute and settled our bills for the bike and room and bid adieu to our hosts at Comfy Inn and moved on towards South Goa. Our plan was to stay in South Goa for today and leave the next day.

Since one of our head light was blown we searched for a car accessory shop and found one and asked him if he had blue vision bulbs by Philips or Osram night breakers. The guy at the shop was busy pimping up a lancer and was adjusting the settings on the amp. The guy checks and tells us that he does not have Philips or Osram but has some high quality Chinese blue vision lamps. So asked him to change them and checked the lights under bright sunlight and found them to be ok (Big mistake) and paid the guy and moved on.

Main agenda was to stay in a beach shack. It was a great drive with flora all around and the drive was simply superb till Palolem beach in South Goa.

One more sour incident in the trip was when we were on our way to South Goa. I dont remember the name of the bridge but once we crossed it we were waived by the cops to stop. The reason they gave me was " A White Scorpio in Goa with Black tints and an Indian flag on a bull bar" can be used only by politicians, MLA's and the likes as a police man is supposed to salute when such a vehicle passes. Since our's is a AP vehicle we were stopped. Informed the cops that my mom is a Superintendent for observation home for girls/boys in AP and is a high ranking govt official and that is the reason we have the flag. The cop asked us to remove the flag and challaned us 100 bucks for black tints. paid the maount and moved on.

4 years back when we friends first went to Goa we stayed at Palolem and I remember the roads around those places. So went near the beach and parked Maverick 2 in the parking lot and went in search of beach shacks. The first one we visited was awesome and we found mostly foreigners here and no shacks available. We searched around the beach and did not find any suitable shacks as most of them were being built or some of them which were ready to occupy were smelling of paint which was not to our liking. So finally checked around the places and were dissapointed of not getting a proper place and finally we decided to leave and check other parts where we could find some accomodation. Something struck my mind when I saw a small lane beside the row of shops and upon going into it found a place with 4 A/C rooms and upon enquirying found that they have a vacant room. These were rooms that were recently furbished and were neat and tidy. Immediately took a room and found a place and had our lunch after which we spent a lazed evening at the beach.

When you compare North and South Goa, North Goa is full of life and activity and South Goa is calm and serene. We enjoyed on the beach and finally at dusk came out of the water and did some shopping and settled at Om restaurant for dinner. Once done we called in a day and retired to our room and watched a movie on our personal DVD player which we carried for wifey's entertainment through the trip.

Pictures from the day

Last pic of our rented bike in Goa

View all around





This is the bridge after which we were fined.







Well deserved lunch after reaching Palolem

Catch of the day

The chef marinating the fish with the required spices

The pizza that we ordered

Front view of the restaurant

The room where we stayed





A pimped up rick






The room cost us 1500 bucks for a day which was well worth it. The room is located behind a restaurant which faces the sea.

[octane78]

28th Oct we decided to leave for Hyderabad but after visiting Galgibagh beach enroute. We start at 12 PM after a nice breakfast and a bit of shopping from Palolem and we drive on towards Karwar. Galgibagh beach is at the south most tip of Goa which is famous for nesting of Olive Ridley turtles. Upon reaching teh place through a scenic drive we were dissapointed to know that the turtles come here in the evening time. So spent a few mintes on the beach and drove on. On the way towards Karwar we were stopped by Karnataka Excise cops at the checkpost after exiting Goa. So far this was the worst experience with cops on the trip. We had to pay around 1200 bucks as opposed to the 4400 bucks which we were asked to pay. Paid the cops and moved on and stopped at Karwar bridge for a few moments and after crossing karwar instead of taking a left towards Hubli to go to Hyderabad we took the road towards Gokarna.

At Gokarna the temple was closed and we were approached by pujaris asking us to perform various pooja's and were hounding us which left us in a bad mood. So off we went towards Om beach and on the way found a small board which read "Hanuman Janma Bhoomi", so we though we would visit it on our way back.

We went to Om beach and found steps to actually get down towards the beach which we did not. Enjoyed the view from top and then started back. On the way back we turned left towards "Hanuman Janmabhumi". It was a path to be taken by vehicles with high GC's and not any low sedans. At one point we were not sure if we were going in the right path beacuse there was no road and it was all a rocky terrain, so we turned back and find a man walking in those woods. He gives us directions and we are off. The place is through thick woods and we were lucky enough to spot a peacock but alas before we could take our camera out to click some pictures the Peacock ran away.

We reached Hanuman Janmabhumi and saw the palce and offered our prayers for a few minutes we came out. The palce is like a small ashram. Then we sopt a small hill with a trail so we drive towards the hill on the trail and lo behold it was the most beautiful sight we came across.

The sun setting in the horizon with the cliff ending and the sea water hitting the cliff's end. We spent some time here enjoying nature's beauty and started off towards Hyderabad via Hubli.

We drove on and on and finally reached Hubli and after a well deserved dinner started back our drive towards Hyderabad. Started at 10:30PM at Hubli and reached home in Hyderabad at 8:00AM and slept through out the day.

Pictures of the day.

Towards Galgibagh beach





At Galgibagh beach



Dissapointed at not seeing any turtles





Past the Goa border







Gokarna beach

On the way to Om beach

Om beach





Way to hanuman Janmabhumi









No where to go

[octane78]

Before ending the travellogue the important thing I missed out was once we reached the Hubli highway from Gokarna it was getting dark and on swithcing the lights found them emmiting a red coloured light. The accessory guy instead of fitting the car with Blue vision lamps fitted them with red vision lamps and it was a complete pain to drive in the Ghat section with those lights. Followed a KA registered verna all the way till Hubli and changed the lights to normal Philips Halogen bulbs and continued our journey.

Final set of pictures

Hanuman Janmabhmi

Enterance

This is where the lord was born itseems

Closer view of the same

A foreigner mediatating





View from the top of the cliff



View below the cliff

Standing tall











Final dinner of the trip in Hubli

Sunrise before Shamshabad


With that comes to an end of our travellogue and hope you all liked it.

Thanks for reading.

Till the next trip bye.

[Dr.Sav]

A well written travelogue. Enjoyed the pics thoroughly, especially the ones of the cliff at the end.

I know it is harassing to be milked by cops often, but it was equally pleasing to see that it did not affect your spirit much. Kudos to you for that.

By the way, do you really need that dark a film tint for your windows? I know that here in Mumbai it is illegal and cops will fine you every time they stop you.

Anyways, enjoyed the trip with you by just going through the travelogue.

[patil]

Great travelogue and pictures. Thanks a lot. Looks like Goa was not so crowded and it is actually a good thing sometimes that too for a anniversary.

[gajadonga]

Nice travelogue and some good pictures of Goa.
From Hubli did you take the road via Koppal and Sindanur.
How were the road conditions from Koppal to Hubli.

[mobike008]

Excellent travelogue Sashi, Goa is one place in India that I can never get enough. Had wishes been my horses, would have visited this place atleast twice in a year. Trying to keep pace for the time being with once a year

Nice pictures and belated wishes for your anniversary. How many days did you spend there? Was it your first visit? I presume the travelogue isnt over yet. What was the return route?

I am curious to know how did you take the couple picture in the open area where i am guessing noone would be around to click it for you?

Keep posting

[octane78]

Originally Posted by Dr.Sav

A well written travelogue. Enjoyed the pics thoroughly, especially the ones of the cliff at the end.

I know it is harassing to be milked by cops often, but it was equally pleasing to see that it did not affect your spirit much. Kudos to you for that.

By the way, do you really need that dark a film tint for your windows? I know that here in Mumbai it is illegal and cops will fine you every time they stop you.

Anyways, enjoyed the trip with you by just going through the travelogue.

Thanks Dr.Sav for liking the travellogue and the pics. Well personally I do like the dark tints so got them installed. So is it that you cannot have tints at all on cars in Mumbai?

Originally Posted by patil

Great travelogue and pictures. Thanks a lot. Looks like Goa was not so crowded and it is actually a good thing sometimes that too for a anniversary.

Thanks Patil, Goa was not so crowded at this time. Usually it starts getting busier now as told by the locals there.

Originally Posted by gajadonga

Nice travelogue and some good pictures of Goa.
From Hubli did you take the road via Koppal and Sindanur.
How were the road conditions from Koppal to Hubli.

Thanks Gajadonga, on the return we took the road via Koppal and Sidanur and the roads are good except for an occasional pot hole and speed breakers before and after every town we passed.

Originally Posted by mobike008

Excellent travelogue Sashi, Goa is one place in India that I can never get enough. Had wishes been my horses, would have visited this place atleast twice in a year. Trying to keep pace for the time being with once a year

Nice pictures and belated wishes for your anniversary. How many days did you spend there? Was it your first visit? I presume the travelogue isnt over yet. What was the return route?

I am curious to know how did you take the couple picture in the open area where i am guessing no one would be around to click it for you?

Keep posting

Thanks for the wishes Avinash. Goa is one awesome place and this is my second visit. Previous visit was with friends and was we did what people typically do when in Goa sans sight seeing. So this time covered it up.

We spent 6 days in Goa and the return route was via Hubli>>Koppal>>Sidanur>>Raichur.

The travellogue is complete and regarding the couple pic we were lucky to find a guy trekking on the hills and he obliged us by clicking our pic

[Dr.Sav]

Originally Posted by octane78

So is it that you cannot have tints at all on cars in Mumbai?

No, it is not as you think, sir. We do have tints allowed in Mumbai but till a certain permissible limit. And it is strictly followed generally unless you are a VIP/politician (who flout every rule anyway). The traffic police are usually strict about this especially after crimes done in darkly tinted cars.

The specific rule about the fine mentioned in the traffic law is:
Offence - Vehicles fitted with dark glasses/sun films.
Fine - Rs.100.
Rule/Regulation no. - 100 CMVR 177 MVA
Where - MVA = Motor Vehicles Act 1988, CMVR = Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989