By Kamalika Sarkar
Like many, Goa is my favourite holiday destination, for obvious reasons. The seashore, bright sky, shacks and the food, the easy-going lifestyle of the people, the party culture – the list is endless. In 1992, my parents and I went on a long trip to Maharashtra. During that tour, Goa was just one of the spots we stopped by to celebrate the New Year. As a six-year-old, I watched from the hotel room, as youngsters roamed on the beach on bikes amid loud cheer and laughter – It was my first brush with the place – of which I don’t have many memories.
Cut to 2010, I embarked on a whirlwind and unplanned trip to Goa along with my friends in August, an ideal time to visit the beach destination. The trip remains memorable for several reasons: first, it was unplanned; second, it was my first outing with my friends after I shifted to Bangalore and out of the wings of my family; third, it was our first self-sponsored trip since we all got our first jobs after completing college.
We had initially decided on Gokarna, a town on the Arabian Sea in Karnataka. After reaching there, we were told by the hotel authorities that the beach is closed. And our dreams of jumping into the sea and playing with the waves were shattered. However, not giving up, we decided to travel to Goa which is a three hours drive from Gokarna. We booked a cab and began our road trip to Goa.
For a child who had always seen her family plan their yearly vacations, the joy and excitement of an unplanned trip with friends was a completely new experience. On reaching Goa, we decided to stay in the south on the Colva beach. Contrary to the north, south Goa is silent, serene and draws everyone who is looking to spend quality time with friends and family. Hence, we decided to stay away from the maddening crowd of the north and be with ourselves.
They say good things happen when you don’t plan and there is nothing better than this trip to prove it. Something that I will always cherish and which made me start an affair with my favourite holiday destination – Goa.
The author is a journalist and an amateur writer who loves to travel and explore new places.
