Feb 11, 2007 05:33 PM
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We usually spend Christmas & New Years at home until last year, when we decided to spend Christmas in Goa. My sister in law suggested we go to Goa for Christmas as the whole of Goa is transformed into a wonderland. How very true.
We left Pune (NIBM Road) at 06:30 in the morning of the 23rd. Beautiful weather, had to don our jackets as it was quite chilly. We tried the shortcut through Kondhwa khurd via Khadi machine turning and onto the Katraj byepass, we hit the Bangalore Highway in no time, 7 am sharp. By now I was clocking 120-140 on the speedo and the road was perfect.
On our way again at 11:15 and this is where the blunder took place. We carried on towards Hubli passed Belgaon cause we had no clue where to turn off. At 12:40 we reached the Hubli-Dharwad bypass and took this turn. This was the start of our nightmare. There was basically no road all the way and we lost all the time we made up in the highway. Just about managed to feed the kids at a dhaba and continued the agony for 3 hours more, passed Londa and Castle rock. Saw some glimpse of road at 17:30 hrs and reached our destination Benaulim at 18:35 . Please do not take this turning ever. Speedo clocked 561 km from home.I am really shocked how there are no guidance all along the highway for a turn off as important as a tourist destination like Goa.
However I was not going to let that ruin my well earned vacation, the liquor shops cheered me up right away and the kids were a big help. Goa was as beautiful as ever and even better. Checked into our abode, which we had arranged through a close friend of ours so I will not quote many details of that.
Got up in the morning. Off to the beach we went, Beanaulim beach was beautiful, just what the doctor ordered. Colva, 2 km away is very commercial. So I would advice you to just enjoy Benaulim.
This beach had just the right combination of sun and sand. It had a few shacks but none better than Jhoncy’s. this became our abode in the sand and the food there is outstanding and real VFM. I do not advice you to go anywhere else for food. They totally do not discriminate between foreigners and Indians.
So there we were sipping on Kings beer mixing sea sand and seafood. Jhoncy’s serve a beautiful American breakfast, must try their French fries are out of the world. Their chilli fry items are the best.
Benaulim was perfect in every way. All our daily needs were catered for very easily and at close proximity there was a beautiful supermarket, well stocked , chemist shops, groceries, liquor shops etc.
On Christmas night we drove to Fisherman’s Warf , at the furthest end of the road, close to Leela’s about 12 km away. Beautiful settings and ambience, a must try. Live band and good food with drinks.
Next day we were invited out for lunch at a family friends place in Madgaon. What a spread, typical Portuguese fare and food like we never tasted before. Our friend advised on the various spots and most importantly gave us direction to get the best road on our way back.
Our days passed on the beach and evening in the pool with the kids. And it almost felt as if time had stood still. Alas it was time to get back but not before we tried out Martin’s. Last night in Goa. Reached there quite late and it had transformed itself from our last visit. Martin business with his mothers crab curry was bustling with who’s who of Goa and he even had a bouncer at the entrance. We had a long wait before we got our seats, the music was mind blowing and the must try are the baked crabs. Had to leave cause morning was departure.
Left quite late as the luggage and cleaning up of the house took long. 7:40 left our abode and hit NH17A, towards Panjim, stopped for breakfast at our favourite joint Infanteria on Calangute-Baga road. This was a long detour from the highway but was well worth it. Nice continental breakfast and we picked up our stock of various stuffed rolls for lunch. Stoppage took an hour 08:30-09:30. Took the Calangute-Mapusa road to get back to the highway. The detour was 20 km in all. Headed for Amboli-Ajra via Nipani Ghat. Directions are pretty clear and road is good. The ghats are also ok but slight potholed roads as you approach the Bangalore highway nh4. From here to my home was 277 km.
Beautiful drive with all the passing thoughts of Goa and lovely music. Had lunch en route to save time and had a beautiful drive on the highway. Slight mishap occurred though, the luggage sling broke and suitcase flew and emptied its contents on the highway. Soon we recovered and on our way. Arrived in pune at 6:45pm and clocked 460km on the speedo from Madgaon to home. From Panjim it was about 425km.
NOT MUCH TIME IN HAND. EXCUSE THE ERRORS.
