Goa being almost synonymous with holidays, going there for work sounded different and I looked forward to this rather unplanned second visit to Goa. My first visit was a disaster as I went there during peak summer and didn’t not enjoy it one bit. In a way I was giving myself and Goa a second chance!
I had read and heard loads about the Konkan railway stretch from Mumbai to Goa being an amazing journey, especially when it rains, so I decided to go by train. Within a few hours I was convinced that however much you write you cannot do justice to this truly blissful journey. This is a must for all those who love landscapes, tunnels and bridges. It is truly a modern day engineering marvel and one of the few things Indian Railways can be proud of. The countless tunnels and bridges not only remind you of the awesome amount of research and planning required to pull off such a feat but also strengthens your belief in the statement “Nothing is Impossible”. Cutting through the terrain deep into the mountain took years but the results are impeccable. The lush greenery of the landscape is perfectly punctuated by the dozens of waterfalls throughout the journey. The 12 hour journey seems too short and I won’t mind spending all of it standing near the door. This is one time when you won’t mind unscheduled halts and red signals on the way. The icing on the cake though was the service provided on the Mandovi Express. There is a non-stop supply of goodies to eat. They are very reasonably priced and surprise surprise even the branded eats are sold at MRP and no more! Try catching this train on a weekday and you will almost have the entire compartment to yourself :)
Of late, 'Goa in the rains' as a concept has been aggressively marketed and I can confirm that it’s been done with good reason. The lushness in the landscape gives a very fresh and bold look to the entire region. The intermittent rains and the sight of people scampering around for shelter during spells of cloud burst instantly brings smiles to many faces and the rains seem to have a very calming effect on everyone around. Strangers literally coming under one umbrella even for a few minutes means a new acquaintance made. The subtle nod of the head or a warm smile as a thank you gesture is what humanity is all about. Small acts invariably make big statements.
With such a beautiful weather outside the thought of going into an office for work was hardly something to look forward to. Some documents were to be signed, discussions to be held and the future course of action was to be decided. Everything seemed so dull and boring about the meeting until a smart dusky girl walked in. She was introduced as Meghana, the CFO. As I started interacting with her I realized that she was the Cutest Financial Officer I have met in a long time. She had an extremely warm and pleasant disposition and I couldn’t stop myself from going up to her after the meeting and complimenting her for her sweet personality.
With work out of the way, the next few days were spent going around Panaji and even venturing into the South of Goa where the sprawling Taj property, Taj Exotica is located. It's big, beautiful but expensive. The right place to splurge windfall gains and a perfect hide-out for lovebirds. I even managed to catch a movie and explore some little known restaurants in town. Also visited a friend at the Goa Institute of Management which is housed in an old Portuguese style building, which used to be a hospital once. It has a nice cozy campus and there is a magnificent water front just outside the building.
If you love your fish and booze, Goa is the place to be. Like most coastal cities Goan food too uses a lot of coconut. Fish, chicken and all kinds of meat are available in plenty. Goan vegetarian food by far seems to be cooked with the sole intention of making guys like me feel totally out of place…really! The subtle question seemed to be “What are you doing in Goa if you don’t eat non-veg or take liquor?” Booze is extremely cheap and the whole place is dotted with liquor and wine shops so much so that when you try to get a good cup of tea or coffee what you get is almost a rebuke for not ordering liquor in liquorland! The tag line Goa seemed to wish for is “The Customer is Always 'Tight'!” Within a few days I gave up my quest for a decent cup of tea or coffee and decided to bring in my own tea bags and coffee powder for my next visit.
All said and done a great trip to a beautiful place with a laid back lifestyle and some pretty friendly locals. If you enjoy your booze and fish you have to look no further.
I had read and heard loads about the Konkan railway stretch from Mumbai to Goa being an amazing journey, especially when it rains, so I decided to go by train. Within a few hours I was convinced that however much you write you cannot do justice to this truly blissful journey. This is a must for all those who love landscapes, tunnels and bridges. It is truly a modern day engineering marvel and one of the few things Indian Railways can be proud of. The countless tunnels and bridges not only remind you of the awesome amount of research and planning required to pull off such a feat but also strengthens your belief in the statement “Nothing is Impossible”. Cutting through the terrain deep into the mountain took years but the results are impeccable. The lush greenery of the landscape is perfectly punctuated by the dozens of waterfalls throughout the journey. The 12 hour journey seems too short and I won’t mind spending all of it standing near the door. This is one time when you won’t mind unscheduled halts and red signals on the way. The icing on the cake though was the service provided on the Mandovi Express. There is a non-stop supply of goodies to eat. They are very reasonably priced and surprise surprise even the branded eats are sold at MRP and no more! Try catching this train on a weekday and you will almost have the entire compartment to yourself :)
Of late, 'Goa in the rains' as a concept has been aggressively marketed and I can confirm that it’s been done with good reason. The lushness in the landscape gives a very fresh and bold look to the entire region. The intermittent rains and the sight of people scampering around for shelter during spells of cloud burst instantly brings smiles to many faces and the rains seem to have a very calming effect on everyone around. Strangers literally coming under one umbrella even for a few minutes means a new acquaintance made. The subtle nod of the head or a warm smile as a thank you gesture is what humanity is all about. Small acts invariably make big statements.
With such a beautiful weather outside the thought of going into an office for work was hardly something to look forward to. Some documents were to be signed, discussions to be held and the future course of action was to be decided. Everything seemed so dull and boring about the meeting until a smart dusky girl walked in. She was introduced as Meghana, the CFO. As I started interacting with her I realized that she was the Cutest Financial Officer I have met in a long time. She had an extremely warm and pleasant disposition and I couldn’t stop myself from going up to her after the meeting and complimenting her for her sweet personality.
With work out of the way, the next few days were spent going around Panaji and even venturing into the South of Goa where the sprawling Taj property, Taj Exotica is located. It's big, beautiful but expensive. The right place to splurge windfall gains and a perfect hide-out for lovebirds. I even managed to catch a movie and explore some little known restaurants in town. Also visited a friend at the Goa Institute of Management which is housed in an old Portuguese style building, which used to be a hospital once. It has a nice cozy campus and there is a magnificent water front just outside the building.
If you love your fish and booze, Goa is the place to be. Like most coastal cities Goan food too uses a lot of coconut. Fish, chicken and all kinds of meat are available in plenty. Goan vegetarian food by far seems to be cooked with the sole intention of making guys like me feel totally out of place…really! The subtle question seemed to be “What are you doing in Goa if you don’t eat non-veg or take liquor?” Booze is extremely cheap and the whole place is dotted with liquor and wine shops so much so that when you try to get a good cup of tea or coffee what you get is almost a rebuke for not ordering liquor in liquorland! The tag line Goa seemed to wish for is “The Customer is Always 'Tight'!” Within a few days I gave up my quest for a decent cup of tea or coffee and decided to bring in my own tea bags and coffee powder for my next visit.
All said and done a great trip to a beautiful place with a laid back lifestyle and some pretty friendly locals. If you enjoy your booze and fish you have to look no further.
