Playing The Guide in Goa

Day 5

I had an early rise on our last day at this place and while my friends continued to slumber well into the morning, I decided to get out and have some time by myself. I got on my Activa and drove to a cozy little neighborhood cafe – Infantaria All Day Diner . This place has, for some time now, been my favorite breakfast joint in North Goa. Absolutely smashing breakfast menu ranging from the yummiest omelettes to ham, sausages, the pancakes & desserts (Jesus, I’m already salivating). Hey if you’re a non vegetarian and have an appetite of any sorts, you cannot skip this place for anything. To add to it, the place has miraculous offers on beer, some brilliant decor upstairs and sometimes absolutely blissful Goan folk music going (I’ve attached a clip if you want a sample).

 

The player doesn’t seem to work sometimes, in which case, you can listen to it here .

After a hefty breakfast, I picked up some wine for my dad and headed back to the hotel. We spent the afternoon packing up and left for a late lunch, leaving our baggage with our helpful landlord while we all went for a last ride. Today, I took my friends over to Candolim Beach and Aguada Fort. Situated on the Sinquerim Beach, Aguada has been declared a National Monument. A good part of the original fort has been converted into a fantastic five star beach resort –  Vivanta by Taj . Yet, the original lighthouse and a good part of the remaining fort is open to the public and a resilient reminder of the great Portuguese influence in the area. We spent our last evening watching the sun set over Sinquerim’s horizons and in the process clicked some really beautiful pictures. It was here, perched on the edge of the fort, smoking my last cigarette in Goa when I realized this is what I wanted to do – to travel and to write; it was here that I decided I’d take on writing as more than a mere hobby and in the fading light of that evening, came a moment of clarity that I will forever remember every time I have doubts about what I desire from this life.

We took a bus from Mapusa back to Mumbai that night – the rest of my friends slept ceaselessly while I was gripped by a nervous energy to explore horizons that until now, were nothing but a distant possibility. I’ve been to Goa countless times in the past, but this one trip will forever remain deeply etched in my memory for a variety of reasons.

 

For more pictures, please visit my Flickr set here.

Have you been to Goa before? Do you plan on visiting soon? Please feel free to share your experiences with us through your comments.

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