Tuesday, 19 Dec 2006: Schmoozeby hits Goa!

Watched the sun rise, as the train sped fast over the Sharavati River on the longest bridge in Konkan Railway near Honnavar in Karnataka. Chatted up to a British family who shared my sentiments regarding Kovalam. A fellow passenger was kind enough to share ‘dope’ on Goa – what to see and where to go. Vital information which came in much handy, later! Got down the train and posed for snaps as we waited long for a train to cross us. The almost deserted train trundled into Madgaon around 11am.

Posed for a pic next to the Kalyan WDM2 with my backpack, Pepsi bottle, et al. Trudged straight into the reservation office, to book my return ticket to Kannur (Cannanore) in North Kerala. Was told that all trains were full. So took a ticket to Mangalore which is close to Kannur. Got a bike taxi outside Madgaon Station. The driver, a Keralite himself, added onto the useful knowledge accumulated on Goa. Made my travel plans on the bike. He insisted that I take notes! It was going to be North Goa. Travelled from Madgaon to Kadamba bus stand. From there to Panjim. And then decided to take life on the road as it came. The ride to Panjim was exciting. The landscape bore much semblance to Kerala. Kingfisher billboards adorned the landscape… wherever you went there was Kingfisher. A fitting tribute to Goa – the land of good times. And then there were the Hutch hoardings. Wherever you go, our network follows. Very much ironical, as my Hutch connection never worked outside Kerala. Thus, Hutch hoardings were always an eyesore. Met a lady on my bus ride from Panjim to Miramar, where I wanted to stay. She too became my ‘Goa Guide’.

Like providence would have it, I got dropped right in front of the Miramar Residency, at the Miramar beach. Checked into a cosy cottage. Had lunch and then explored Panjim in the afternoon. Took a ride on the Mandovi River in a ferry. Even indulged in some shopping. Scoured Panjim’s lanes for the famed INOX theatre. Finally discovered it and watched Kabul Express. So-So. Decided to hit Calangute next day.

To view more snaps from Goa and Konkan, click on http://new.photos.yahoo.com/schmoozeby/
Type 'Goa' or 'Konkan' in the 'search tags' field in the top right corner and click 'Go'.

Wednesday, 20 Dec 2006: The Miramar Magic

arunWoke up early morning to catch the sunrise at the idyllic Miramar beach. Took a long walk on the beach while plugged into music. Watched the barges lugging iron ore sail by, dogs chase each other and birds swoop around. Felt like the happiest soul on Earth. :) Left for Calangute in the afternoon. Managed to find a decent room in Calangute Residency, albeit just for a day. Was OK with me! Apparently the season was beginning two days later, when room rents were set to soar. Booked myself for a guided North Goa tour for the next day. Soon hit Calangute Beach, my first real beach experience in Goa. Was great, walked from Calangute to Baga, not before dashing off for a jet-ski ride. Devoured seafood from numerous joints on the beach. Wondered how my tummy shaped up into an endless pit. Picked up some fancy beaded jewellery on the beach for a bargain price. Wandered along the beach still sun dipped into the sea… dined late evening at Suiza Lobo, very much recommended. All nightclubs were closed down, owing to some security threat. Snuggled into bed, MTV still blaring.

To view more snaps from Goa, click on http://new.photos.yahoo.com/schmoozeby/
Type 'Goa' in the 'search tags' field in the top right corner and click 'Go'.

Thursday, 21 Dec 2006: Calangute comes calling...

Took a morning walk along the Calangute beach. Was more crowded than Miramar. Went for my GTDC organised North Goa tour that cost 140 Rs. Visited the Shri Saptakoteshwar Temple at Narva, Mayem Lake, Mapusa, followed by the beaches of Vagator and Anjuna. Didn’t go boating in Mayem Lake, but clicked scores of snaps of a plucky herd of ducks and the flora at Mayem. Found the guide to be excellent, and learnt a lot of things on Goa from him. Loved the beach at Vagator, with its bevy of topless babes. Even ran into an ‘eight-legged bull’ and its companions.

Picked up my first dhol (drum), at a handsome price after some shameless haggling. Had a hippie look about me and I could feel the ever-present grin on my face growing wider. Got myself photographed by a Swiss ‘chocolate’ on the rocks, tried hard to get her daughter in the frame. Succeeded only in squeezing her bum in.J Anjuna has a special place in Goa’s history, as it is the first beach where the hippies landed, putting Goa on the international tourist map. Today the sea has reclaimed most of the beach and this very rocky, hazardous beach doesn’t attract visitors compared to Calangute or Vagator.


However, the Wednesday flea market in Anjuna is still alive and kicking. Go to seedy dealers on Anjuna beach if you want to gamble… and loose all you got. Decided to miss the trip to Port Aguada and got down at Calangute. Went on a dolphin watching cruise, got to see those lovely creatures toss their flippers and play hide and seek with us. Was the only one in the group to get them on film. Well, at least their fins. They can be incredibly fast… and can do without the attention. Got myself two temporary tattoos… and then visited Suiza Lobo to bid bye to Goa and have a parting shot of wine.

Calangute to Madgaon on minibus. The kind bus driver ensured that bike taxi driver didn’t take more than enough from me. Wandered into the AC Lounge at Madgaon Railway Station. Loved it… Three lady tourists were poring over the map of India. Great conversation starter – Is that the map of India? All three gave me a ‘you don’t know India on a map????’ look. Soon we were talking, even took their snap. And that’s when I came up with the not so great conversation ender – What time is your train? Never seen anybody so shocked. Apparently they had forgotten that they were to catch a train. The ladies ran for dear life. I enjoyed an expansive shower as I made myself home at the lounge. Met with two elderly couples from Jodhpur who were touring South India. They were telling how Jodhpur is such a beautiful place to visit. It seems that the water there is sweeter compared to brackish water in other parts of Rajasthan. A while later, I cut my finger while fiddling in my backpack. The two ladies swarmed over me as I sucked on the cut finger. They were kind enough to lend me Boroplus and band aid. I dozed off to sleep, after requesting the lounge attendant to wake me up in time for my train. Soon the 2619 Mumbai – Mangalore Matsyagandha Express came chugging into Platform 1 at around 1am, almost half an hour late.

To view more snaps from Goa, click on http://new.photos.yahoo.com/schmoozeby/
Type 'Goa' in the 'search tags' field in the top right corner and click 'Go'.

Schmoozie says Hi!

Hello...

The weather's been pretty great in Muscat today, with the clouds sailing past my glassy windowscape at work and the sun playing peekaboo. With people in office discussing their holiday plans from 29 Nov to 1 Dec (National Day Hols in Oman when the country goes off to snooze), I chipped in with my travel plans for my vacation.

I have got 10 more days to go before I take off for a month to India. One definite thing I'm looking forward to this vacation is to do an 'India trip on rails'. Being a train freak myself, it's been a long time dream to travel across India on trains and check out the sights one of the most beautiful lands on Earth has to offer.

The IndRail pass offers an excellent way to explore India on rails for a designated period of time. I will have to go one of these days to National Travel & Tours in Muscat to pick up my IndRail pass. http://www.indiatravelite.com/railway/indrailpass.htm

I will be taking a pass for 21 days, which would cost me around US$ 198 which works out to around Rial Omani 76. And this pass entitles me to travel in 2AC, 3AC, Sleeper and General classes in virtually any train in India for 21 days, without paying any reservation or supplementary charges. Works well for me, since I am planning to hop on, hop off trains as I go places...

I've been taking pointers from friends at work on my Bharat Yatra (Indian Trip)... Chan, the art director at the agency says that it's better to travel in AC class during winter... as sleeper compartments will be all covered up and would get very stuffy and uncomfortable to travel in. He highly recommends AC travel... while I know I will really miss awesome rail sights including rumbling trains, idyllic railway stations and picturesque views if I am boarded in a darkened AC compartment...

Shanty, the copy chief at agency and close compatriot was recommending places of interest to visit... he suggests taking off on the breathtaking Konkan Railway Route with stopovers at Mahe, Karware & Mumbai before taking off for Rajasthan and then coming back to Goa, where he recommends me to spend a few days checking out Goa, Madgaon, Kulem, the babes n beaches till Christmas before coming back to Kerala sometime around New Year...

Will keep you posted on the travel plans... Ciao 4 now!