My Way On High Way: Day 25, Exploring Vasco Da Gama In Goa

It’s hard to say goodbye to a place like Goa. Perhaps that’s the reason why we lingered on this sea-kissed, palm fringed getaway far longer than we planned to!

Vas (co) So Cool

While taking a tour of the Deltin Royale last night, Dexter Pereira, the GM Customer Care, happened to mention that you haven’t seen real Goa till you’ve ventured to the Western coast. The curious explorer in us had to be satiated so we sped along to Vasco da Gama, about an hour and half away from Calangute. An economic hub, it is best known for its port that ships out the manganese and iron ores mined from the land. Apart from that one activity, life prefers to slow down here much to our delight. A ride along the city showed us signs of Portuguese culture gently dominating practically everything people here do, talk or wear.

The Life of a Beach Bum:

The beaches only get prettier along the Konkan coast we discovered. The next one we landed at goes by the name of Bogmalo, about 8 kilometres from Vasco and is located near the Dabolim Airport. A fantastic little beach, it has the Arabian Sea in a stunningly rough mood. The waves, you will notice, go a few feet higher than an average adult’s height. Very few people go there, so most of the time there is hardly anyone around. Look to enjoy a couple of unhurried hours here and you will be hooked for life.

Wendell Rodricks Favourite:

Anyone who knows even a little bit about Indian fashion understands that prominent fashion designer Wendell Rodricks is synonymous with Goa. As luck would have it we happened to make friends with his brother-in-law, Tipu Marrel. On a courtesy phone call, Rodricks recommended Joet’s at Bogmalo Beach to us. Naturally, now we couldn’t give it a miss. The only beach-side restaurant in its location, Joet’s is a charming place to break bread by the beach. The Chicken 65 we ordered had just the right amount of sauce and spice, and so the Trip Stop went to them.

For the Love of Seaplanes:

Tariq, my husband, was like a kid in a toy shop at the Naval Aviation Museum. Situated right behind the Dabolim Airport, it packs in a brief history of how the Indian Navy fought the Portuguese and freed the land in 1961. Vintage aircrafts like Sealands, Doves, Vampires along with Hughes Helicopters and some relatively new ones like Sea Harriers and Super Constellation are on display. For 20 bucks per person, it’s a neat ride. By the way, just half a kilometre from the museum there is a lovely vantage point to see airplanes land.

Where the Turtles Nest:

Upon reaching the town of Canacona in South Goa, we asked around for some must-visits. Go to the Galgibaga Beach, out came the reply! The nesting zone of the Ridley Turtles, this is perhaps the cleanest beach you will witness on the Indian mainland with its beautiful silver sands. That explains why the turtles come here between December and February to hatch eggs. Strictly under the purview of the Forest department, this beautiful beach paradise is kept away from touristic development. There are no shacks and restaurants here but believe me, you wouldn’t miss them even one bit. Just go there and soak in the postcard-like beauty of this striking beach.

Also, this picture of Surya Restaurant does not need a caption as the board says it all. The eatery was closed due to off-season.

goa-surya-restaurant