Travel feature| GOA – everyone must have a plan to visit Goa!
“A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.”
Earl Wilson
Hello again! It’s been a while since I blogged. Just got back from a short vacation in Goa. It’s a beautiful city, even though it was off season, a visit some folk may call no-brainer, but we LOVED it! The laid back lifestyle, the quaintness, the gentle mild folk, the lilting beaches and the Portuguese flavour all leave a song in your heart! For starters, I bring to you a bit quite a bit of colourful, vibrant Goa … then in my next post a Black Forest Cake that I made just before leaving Delhi.
Reaching there from the mad hustle bustle of North India put us in the slow lane immediately. It’s a city of pubs, bars, sea, sand, sea-food, beaches, tattoos, more beaches, barges, beer, two wheelers, cashew nuts, coconuts, ceramic tiles, churches, tiled roofs, wonderful warm folk … and COLOUR! My visit couldn’t have ‘happened‘ so beautifully without Aparna who I finally got to meet after years of virtual blog talk! She’s been in Goa for years, got me the best cab driver ever, and helped me find my way around the city!
The ‘now beginning to be quite terrible‘ pre-teen and me hit Miramar beach early in the morning, while the ‘not quite so terrible anymore’ teen snoozed! It was just me and the kids in Goa as Mr PAB was busy at work, so I tried to work around their interests which were quite limited actually. Sleep, beach, food, TV, sleep, beach, food, TV, sleep, beach, food, TV … and a little shopping. Go to Goa folks. It’s got something for everyone!!
I haven’t seen them smile so much in a while, loving the sea, enjoying the sand {and each others company} … almost like when they were toddlers! Goa did it to them … {they are back to being grumpy again as the temperature here in North India hits 45C and rising}.
Oh and I also very bravely took the kids in a rickety old boat to the mouth of the Arabian Sea to see dolphins, but chickened out halfway through as the sea was really CHOPPY … and we had no life jackets!!
We sailed past Mumbai millionaire Jimmy Guzder’s beautifully landscaped bungalow, which stood in stark contrast to the the Aguada Jail a few heartbeats away! Then the others on the boat panicked big time as the rickety old boat hit the waters alarmingly. Much to the horror of the kids, we turned the boat around even as they were ready to swim the choppy seas! No dolphin sighting for us!! 
En route to a south Goa beach, Majorda, I stole a devious detour and off we went to the Sahakari Spice Farm. We were welcomed with flower garlands and a warm lemon-grass ginger tea {very refreshing indeed}. Then led for an eye opening tour of the farm by the very affable guide Sachin. I thought I knew all a lot of spices, and was proved absolutely wrong! 
To end the spicy tour we were all served some fermented cashew drink before it became traditional Goan cashew feni... 
In the few days we were there, we did a short drive through of Old Goa, and managed a Mandovi river cruise as well ….
… and ended the trip with a second early morning visit to Miramar beach which was a brisk walk from the Vivanta Taj where we stayed!
It’s been ages since I made a Black Forest Cake. Cherries, plump, black, juicy and delicious ones have flooded the market of late and this quintessential cherry dessert cake called my name! Typically, the day I decided to bake the cake every silly thing went wrong, leaving me in a race against time … and I had to turn to a jar of canned cherries! The Black Forest Cake is a cake lovers delight … and that’s up next!!
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Also find me on The Rabid Baker, The Times of India
Deeba @ PAB
About me: I am a freelance food writer, recipe developer and photographer. Food is my passion - baking, cooking, developing recipes, making recipes healthier, using fresh seasonal produce and local products, keeping a check on my carbon footprint and being a responsible foodie! I enjoy food styling, food photography, recipe development and product reviews. I express this through my food photographs which I style and the recipes I blog. My strength lies in 'Doing Food From Scratch'; it must taste as good as it looks, and be healthy too. Baking in India, often my biggest challenge is the non-availability of baking ingredients, and this has now become a platform to get creative on. I enjoy cooking immensely as well.
28 Comments
belllii
I loved this trek through photos of Goa almost as much as you loved it there with the kids.
Bindiya
Looks like you had a very good vacation. The pics say it all, nice shots! 🙂
Aparna
You’ve caught the essence of Goa in your photographs. Was lovely meeting you you too, after all these days. And loved, loved the cherries! 😀
Rosa
A wonderful place! Thanks for sharing your lovely pictures with us.
the Black forest cake is magnificent.
Cheers,
Rosa
Divya
I’ve been planning a Goa visit since ages now.As you say,it has something for everyone!!The pictures are gorgeous!!!Not to forget the Blackforest cake at the end of the post-Mindblowing!
shooting star
have to go Goa!!….have been hearing lovely stuff and images from fellow bloggers..and ur post just nails it!!!
Sarvani @ baker in disguise
Ahhhh Goa!!! no better place to recharge yourself!!! as for the black forest cake.. it always remnds me of childhood… these were a staple of all bakeries.. and all birthday parties!! lovely pics!!
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy
Such beautiful pictures Deeba! I m reminded of our Goa family vacations each year. Love all the captures.
sreelu
always wanted to visit Goa your post makes me want to go even more
abha
Hi Deeba , your pics took me to the beaches of Goa.I visited this place in Nov. ’11.
One thing i love about this place is that you are just yourself, casual( unlike north ).
People are so genuine .Happy for Aparna who is living in such a heaven.
Happy Baking.
Abha
ritu
Lovely clicks!!!Brought back soooooooo many memories!!My most favorite holiday destination!!
Sally - My Custard Pie
Lovely seeing Goa through your eyes – it’s so close to Dubai and I’ve always been meaning to go. It’s looks rather appealling off season.
Manuj Mehta
Indeed it is a wonderful place. I had a great time shooting in Goa. I think i have also clicked the same lady in Mapusa market 🙂 You have captured a great story in the pictures! thanks for sharing.
Deeba @ PAB
What a small world Manuj! She was amazing and spoke fluent English too!
Barbara @ Barbara Bakes
That is my type of vacation. So glad you had a wonderful time. It’s beautiful. How fun that you got to meet Aparna.
Priya Sreeram
fine pics and looks like you have had a blast ! looking forward to your next post
kate
Love the pictures. the guard station is a crazy building huh? 😉
Srimathi
Goa looks so amazing through your eyes. Will visit one day. Thanks for sharing.
Nisha
Wow. Goa and your vacation, both sound amazing.
I’m pleasantly surprised that lady spoke English (from your comment above)!
I’ve only seen Goa in Bollywood movies. Was always curious to visit and see the Portuguese influence there.
Look forward to Black Forest, one of my most favorite cakes! 😀
Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen
You are brave to have faced choppy waters in a small boat! Looks like a beautiful and colorful place!
Jagruti
This post took me back in time..when I was an intern at NIO..lazy afternoons, pristine beaches..relaxed summer of 2006. Did you manage to go to Palomar beach in South Goa? Its the most beautiful and pristine beach ever!
Looking forward to your Black forest cake recipe 🙂
Gauri
This post bought back soo many memories and fun times in Goa… its one place where u know ur going to have a great time, be it family or friends!
Thanks for sharing your vacation and recipe
Cheers
Katherine
According to the NavHindi Times, official statistics reported the highest ever recorded number of foreign tourists visited Goa in 2010. The figure given is 4.41 lakh (441,000). A large number of foreign visitors arrive by charter flights. Russians make up the largest group of charter tourists, followed by the British.
Miguel Bloch
Nice post. The pictures are gorgeous!! Not to forget the Blackforest cake at the end of the post Mindblowing. Thanks that you’ve shared.
Nic
What a great place to visit, would love to go there! Licking the cake too!
Heidi19
This is a very exciting place to visit! Thanks for sharing those wonderful photos with us and i’m looking forward to on your 2next post!
sangeeta khanna
What a beautiful post it is…capturing the soul of the place like Goa 🙂
Daryl
My friends and I are planning to tour Goa (in a months time). I was really confused where do I start my plan from.
All we’ve have planned right now is to spend 4-5 days in Goa.