Day 17
We woke up relatively early on our last day in Goa, but shouldn't have bothered as the hotel was kind of dead and no one was around to serve us breakfast :) eventually we ate and Sydon at the hotel gave us directions to the local bus stop. We had decided to try and catch a bus to Colva beach, the biggest in South Goa, after our initial idea of renting a scooter ended up looking like too much hassle.
We left the hotel before 9:00, and walked in the direction of the village of Betul. We walked down a winding path past houses where local people were going about their business. We had no idea if we were going in the right direction, but wherever we asked, people were friendly and happy to help us. Eventually we arrived at a kind of crossroads, and when we asked "where is the bus stop?" a guy answered "This is it!". We hopped on the first bus that arrived shortly after we did, heading for the main city of Margao, costing a meager Rs15. The bus was initially empty, and pumping dance tunes, and we were feeling proud of ourselves for trying out the local transport, since we had been so dependent on drivers up til now. As we drove North, more and more people got on the bus, at almost every stop. No one was turned away, and eventually the little 25 seated bus was probably carrying at least 50 people! Then we started doubting our logic at using this transport method!
We arrived in Margao, and were directed to the next bus (Rs15), which arrived immediately but then waited a while at a fairly large station. When it left, it also started filling up really quickly, and seemed to be going really slowly, in the wrong direction... We started really stressing, so eventually I chatted to a fellow passenger, who assured me the bus was going to Colva beach... He thought we were Russian, how strange. Eventually, the bus arrived, after about 2 hours in the hot, crowded bus. Definitely a cheap option - if you have the patience!
Colva was more crowded than the other beaches we had seen, lots of Indian tourists and interesting goras... Lots of beach shacks selling food and drinks, and lots of water sports options. We grabbed a drink, then found an ATM, and then walked down the beach a bit to find a place to chill. A bit further south, there were a lot less people, and we decided to stop at Cecilia's place. It was a beach shack restaurant, offering comfortable shaded sun loungers. We grabbed a beer, while Sharon, the "waitress" sat down and chatted away to us. She said that more and more Russians were coming to Goa, and she didn't like them cos they were unfriendly! She was actually secretly hoping to sell us some jewelry, which she was not supposed to be openly selling on the beaches. I later gave in, and bought an ankle bracelet from her for Rs150, and also gave in to her friend Fatima, who drew an elaborate henna design on my wrist, Rs100... We went for a swim in the perfectly warm, clean waters. I must say, the beaches here really are lovely, the sand is white and soft and clean, and the water is great to swim in!
Later we grabbed some lunch there, calamari for me and the usual fish curry for Van. I think he has eaten fish curry every day for the past 5 days, he just loves it :) and these Indians don't mess around with their fish curry, phew it can be spicy!!
We walked down to the next beach, Benaulim, also seems very nice. Now we are sitting in a cafe using the net to post quite a few posts, it's been a while since we have found wifi! Tomorrow we head to Mumbai early, where we will meet up with a friend from TCS. Tomorrow will be our last full day in India! It's been quite a trip... I can't wait to see my family, friends and puppies!
- Nix
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