We have all heard of GOA & to be honest before I arrived to India I thought Goa was a city there, but no it’s actually a state. In fact it is India’s smallest state. Goa is famous for it’s beaches and lavish parties that are normally experienced on drugs. From the moment Val & I arrived in India we were looking forward to Goa not only for all of the above, but because we would also be there with Dani & Jessica. We had already arrived in the South enjoyed a stroll through Fort Kochi, did some gray sky beach hopping and then enjoyed some relaxing time exploring the Backwaters of Kerala. We were looking for some crazy fun & thought Goa was the answer. After some crazy horrifying travel days that I still don’t want to write about we made it to Goa.
We arrived to our first beach Palolem and I loved it. Aside from it being off season and most of the hotels and restaurants were already shut down we still managed to have a good time. We were lucky we got a lot of sunshine and that it was a nice beach with nice water and where you can sun bathe, relax and kick back with out any problems. I managed to get drunk on several occasions and one night ended up on the beach late at night. I remember talking to like 20 dogs, but not writing on my hand… I found out by looking at my photos the next day (oops). After a few nigths there it was time to move on. The only problem was Jessica was having problems with her leg and would not be able to continue with us as she needed to visit many doctors. We felt bad leaving her behind but sure assured us she would be okay. The 3 of us went to Hampi and enjoyed some more relaxing days in the beautiful town filled with ruins. We then returned to Goa. Dani went back to Palolem to meet up with Jessica (and then would meet up with us later) while Val & I went on to Panaji and then Anjuna.
—PALOLEM—
We arrived in Panaji and realized we really didn’t need to stay a night there after we had paid for a room there. We walked around the city and saw the main things in like an hour… so we did more of nothing. This was the highlight of Panaji… this statue.
—PANAJI—
The next day we had an easy transportation day to Anjuna… oh yes the WORLD FAMOUS BEACH. When Val & I arrived it was dead… when I mean dead… I MEAN DEAD. Off season in a way haunted us. I guess I haven’t learn about visiting WORLD FAMOUS PARTY TOWNS during off season… same thing happened to me when I visited Ibiza during off season. Anjuna looked like a ghost town… so many business shut down, not many shops open. It was boring… and then we walked along the beach and it honestly was not a nice beach. I could post photos of nasty things I saw it but won’t. Later that evening I got and email from Dani that Jess got rammed by a buffalo (read the post it’s crazy) I couldn’t believe it. I replied in a hurry needing to know where they were. I wanted to go back to them ASAP. I found they were still in Palolem, figured out how to get back there from Anjuna and knew I was heading back.
—ANJUNA—
We made our way back to Palolem I changed my plans to skip Pune and spend the extra day with Jessica before heading to Mumbai. We spent the remainder of our time in Goa by Jessica’s side. I couldn’t believe what happened, she was already having problems with her leg and then a buffalo rams her. To make things better we finished watching the few episodes of Modern Family we hadn’t finished, watched TV and chatted away the few days we had left together. On the last one we finished a bottle of Vodka they had brought from Southeast Asia. Yup we used a plastic bottle cut in half as a cup. Then sadly it was time to split up again and this time for good (at least in India). I was already walking out with my bags and everything when I remembered I needed a picture of the 3 of us.
It was so nice to see the girls again and am glad I was able to travel with them for a few weeks in India. It was some crazy weeks, but weeks I know I won’t forget anytime soon. I hope our paths cross again. As for off season beach hopping through Goa? I think we enjoyed it the most we could given it was off season and the situation we had at hand. Of the places I visited in Goa it would be Palolem I visit again. Just loved everything about it. So have you been to Goa during season… how is it? If you haven’t been to Goa is it a place you want to visit?
I was in Palolem in February & really liked it! It was busy but not too crowded; it still had a chill atmosphere. However this was the time period right before the elections, and police enforced a strict 11pm curfew – so there was no raging party scene.
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Yeah Ann I loved the chill atmosphere & we had the same no raging parties… cus of low season. Sucks we both missed out on huge parties. Oh well means we must go back…lol!!!
Well… it DOES look much calmer. Sorry to read that about Jess. Freaky.
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Yeah it was very & calm. As for Jess I know very freaky.
Jaime! I really can’t thank you enough for coming back to help take care of me and keep me company 🙂 I swear I couldn’t have gotten better as quickly without your smiling face. Even though Dani and I have each other, this whole long-term travel thing can get pretty lonely, and it was AWESOME to have such a good friend be with us in such a ridiculous and painful situation. Love you, kid! And yes, we will see you soon, somewhere! <3
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Oh Jess no don’t thank me. Seriously I would have felt horrible if I didn’t go back… I mean really when we are abroad the chances of us getting hurt are high, but the chances of getting hurt while friends are around is ummm LOW… so yeah. Love you too & yes see you soon somewhere in this tiny world we live in.
Interesting…would you go out of your way to see it on season? Your lack of a glowing review makes me think it’s not that great.
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jaja Aygelina “lack of glowing reviews” the truth is I doubt I’d go back. So many better beaches else where in the world, but if I did go back it would be Palolem. I like that town a lot.
I can’t wait to get back to India. It really is an incredible place to visit.
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It is an incredible place to visit, but I know for a fact I can wait to get back to India…lol!!!
I love the sunset picture! Sorry beach hopping in the off season wasn’t so great. You’d think there wouldn’t be much of an off season somewhere that’s warm all the time.
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Thanks Ali, yeah sadly off season here means off season. The weather was perfect while we were there but then MONSOON season was only weeks away so things just start shutting down.
Hi Jaime,
I was going back and reading your posts. I read the one about BKK and wanted to share some thoughts about both the countries as i currently live in one and extensively traveled through the other. Love and was nodding to your choices of being bluh about BKK and loving Chiang Mai as i myself felt the same way.
Regarding Goa, BKK, Pattyya, they are popular tourist places so the shopkeepers try to upheld the images they think all foreigners like to see, the exotic environment but some how make it run of the mill. And also most young backpackers like the party atmosphere of the place.
However if you ask the locals ie an Indian or Thai they like to holiday, then they will name places totally unknown to you and more abound with different charms.
Well that was my two cents. Happy traveling and cheering to feeding your soul.
Hi Ani thank you so much for going back and reading some of my old post. I know what you mean about popular tourist destinations… the image is all the same from place to place and is why I try to get off the beaten areas when I visit. Sometimes though it’s harder when you are pressed for time. Sadly I knew I only had a limited amount of time in each place so of course b=picked the top picks and loved it anyway.
Hey I’ll be headed to go in a couple of weeks (low season) and wanted to stay in Palolem for a couple nights and then head up north for a week. Are you able to find cheap guest houses still in low season? A lot of the advertised accomodation is quite expensive for off season and I’m hoping to locate something much cheaper on arrival. Cheers!
Codie, sorry for the late response…. yes you should be fine. We just showed up and found cheap hotels. They are not on the beach but like one block from it so it’s not bad. You should be just fine. We actually arrived in many places without reservations and were fine.