The first images you get as soon as you land in Goa make you feel that time has truly stood still here: The sun-kissed beaches and narrow roads with minimal traffic is so refreshing to see. Pretty little homes beckon you, untouched as they are by their pristine charm and beauty. But what I love most about Goa almost instantly, is the smell…it’s the smell of the beach, the coast that surrounds you no matter where you go. What you also take back with you from this place is the ease, the comfort and the friendliness with which people greet and treat each other, as if they have no worries in the world whatsoever. People driving on the roads actually smile at each other, something that you miss seeing in big urban Indian cities. It almost seems that the entire state is on a perpetual 365-day long holiday and every hour is happy hour! Someone rightly commented, ‘Goa isn’t just a state; it’s a state of mind’. It’s the kind of place where you can befriend restaurant owners in a weeks’ time and the party just never seems to end.



So if you have a week to spend in Goa, here are some of the top things to do in order to maximize your trip. The north is most usually the more happening side of town, with most of the action and excitement. I stayed at the Country Clube de Goa, a neat little hotel close to Anjuna beach. What’s best about it is the location, walking distance from the beach with many little shopping places and restaurants near by. The Wednesday flea market at Anjuna is a big attraction this side, where stalls from all over the city with possibly everything under the sun come together. Another huge draw this side of town, which is a must-do is the Saturday night market at Arpora. This market has practically all of Goa shopping and partying until the wee hours of the morning and there is also live music by various local bands that you can jive to!

 

Some of the must-try restaurants close to Anjuna are Zoori’s which is at the beginning of the beach. This is a very relaxed and chilled out place which has the backdrop of the beach as a scenic view. It’s also one of the rare places I’ve seen where you can actually lie down on the mattress while you wait for your order to arrive! Another nice place to check out this side is Curlie’s, again on Anjuna. Here too, you can laze around in the up stairs seating, which for us was almost like a private balcony! It truly epitomizes the Goan spirit of ‘sussegado’ meaning timeless fun. Don’t forget to try out their cheese pancakes and Goan paon. But one of the most exciting places in Anjuna is the Paradiso nightclub. This place actually has ladies night every day, which means free unlimited drinks for all women!
 
Apart from the numerous roadside places for clothes, some of the interesting stores that particularly caught my attention at Anjuna were Flame and Goa Magic. What’s also definitely worth going to is Artjuna, which has a mixture of furniture, clothes and other accessories. It also offers yoga and pilates classes on request.



What’s also worth going to this side of town is Vagator beach, which is relatively more serene than Anjuna. A must-try restaurant this side is Thalassa, a Greek tavern. The pita wraps here are every bit original and definitely a must-try on the menu! Other than that, there are a number of juice bars and other shacks that are great for breakfast and very affordable too. You can find almost any fruit possible, whether in season or not – from strawberries, to pineapples, avacados and coconuts. Also eat the falafel which is easily available at most places; another local speciality is bibenca, a fruit-based dessert. Of course, don’t forget to buy cashew nuts and feni! At Eatopia, which is on the main market road of Anjuna, there are daily film screenings at 7 pm, an excellent form of recreation while you eat dinner. The Guru Bar & Restaurant at Anjuna is another pleasant beach-facing shack that has good food, reasonably priced. You must also try the avocado sandwiches and mint tea at the Oasis Café with Bar & German Bakery at Anjuna.



If you drive up a little further up north from Anjuna, you reach Ashvem beach, which is relatively quieter, calmer and more peaceful than the others. There’s also Morjim beach close by and if you’re lucky you may get to see the olive ridley turtle nesting sites here. Here, in order to preserve the turtles, the government has undertaken the task of putting turtle eggs under the sand in a shielded area. After a period of 53 days, the eggs hatch and are put into a bucket of water and thrown into the beach.



Calangute side has some of the most happening joints and places to visit. Amigo’s is a nice beach-facing restaurant that offers some good seafood and feni. Further, you could head to Café Chocolatti at Candolim for some of the best salads, quiches and handmade chocolates this side of town. One of the classiest restaurants here is A Reverie, which has some beautiful décor and interiors. A cool nightclub close by is Butter, which is quite popular with the locals. At the Fortune hotel in Candolim, you can get to eat some authentic Goan food. If a good department store is what you’re looking for, then head to Newton’s, which is in the heart of town. You can buy almost all your groceries here. The Calangute mall, located centrally has most of the bigger branded shops. A really nice store for clothes in Calangute is Curves, where you can find some great styles and at good prices too.



Baga beach is very close by. Thursday evenings at Baga are a treat, as you can head to Britto’s which has a fun karaoke night. Don’t forget to have their delicious palm or cashew feni while you lose yourself into a night of music! Later, you can also head to Tito’s, a nightclub which again has free drinks for ladies! And if you want to pick up a light dinner, then there’s a little eatery right outside Tito’s that serves the most amazing paper cheese masala dosas!

Apart from the churches in old Goa, if it’s some worthwhile shopping you want to do in Panjim, then head to Velha Goa Galeria, where you get hand printed azulejos & ceramics as well as beautifully tiled paintings by the well-known artist Mario de Miranda, who belongs to Goa. Right next to this fascinating shop, is the Welcom Heritage Panjim Inn. Almost a hundred years old, this property is divided into three separate wings, with mansion-like ambience and ancient furniture. Staying at any of their rooms is a truly royal Goan experience! The property also has its own in-house gallery called Gitanjali, which displays original work by local and overseas artists. At Panjim, you may also get to catch some gypsy jazz. We were lucky to watch an enthralling performance by Djaima and her Bulgarian-Parisian ensemble which took place in a residential area of the town.



Central and southern Goa also has some interesting things to do and you should try and take out some time for it. You could head to Ponda to buy some spices from the famed spice plantations here. Also if you want to take back home some of the healthy Goan salt, go up to any big marketplace in Mapusa. Colva beach, further down south is an interesting site if water sports are what you are looking forward to. Here, you can parasail or take a water-scooter into the beach. Also try some Kingfish curry rice, coconut water and ice cream at a beach shack here. Palolem which is almost the southern-most tip of Goa, bordering on Karnataka is another relatively calm and quiet beach.

Overall, Goa is all about merriment, cheer and joy. A week’s trip was more than enough for me to explore this lovely state. Moreover, the friendly ambience of the staff at the Country Clube de Goa as well as amenities like its lovely swimming pool, massage spa and gymnasium made my trip all the more worthwhile. With a heavy heart, I bade goodbye to this beautiful state, but its memories will surely stay with me for a lifetime…