Take the off-the-beaten path to discover the real beauty of the region.
It’s true, what you’ve read in the papers. Like a well-worn lover, Goa isn’t carrying middle age very well. It’s been 55 years since her independence, but the concrete jungle is quickly spreading, garbage is strewn everywhere and the industrial complex is making inroads into the lives of those who call Goa home. The romance of the sussegad lifestyle is showing cracks and leaving many disenchanted, including tourists. But if you’re willing to slow down and stay off the beaten track, you’ll find the beauty and character of Goa nestled in the details that reveal themselves to you— only if you are patient. If you’re keen to step off the usual conveyor belt of sightseeing staples, here are some of my favourite things to see and do while still having a memorable stay.
Find a village homestay
The image of Goa that tends to stick in people’s minds is of booze-fuelled partying and beach-swims. But the best way to see Goa is to wander through its villages on a two-wheeler or, better yet, a bicycle. Find a village that speaks to you and set up camp in one of the family-run guest houses that advertise rooms with signposts on their front gates. Tucked away in one of those villages, you’ll find yourself waking up to charming birdsong and the clarion call of the local poder (baker), delivering fresh bread from the nearby bakery in a basket perched on his bicycle. Choose between my favourite variety—slightly grainy poee, or fluffy palm-sized cubes of pao. Warm and fresh with a thick pat of butter, local Goan bread with strong morning chai is the only way to truly enjoy breakfast.
Coffee and a book in a heritage house
この記事は Forbes Life India の January/February 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Forbes Life India の January/February 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
The 'Glocal' Rush
Curators of Interesting Ideas.
Mira and the Movies of Life
Though she draws from the street to tell stories that endure, Mira Nair calls herself a shameless populist who doesn’t want her movies to be homework. With her acclaimed Monsoon Wedding soon to hit the American stage as a musical, the 59-year-old filmmaker continues to find new ways to entertain and inform.
Beyond Vegas
The casino town is only half the story of Nevada. The loneliest road in America is the other.
Bring On The Blues
Dining at his rooftop restaurant overlooking the Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, you have to work hard not to fall under the spell of the multi-faceted Bablu.
Discover The Real Goa
Take the off-the-beaten path to discover the real beauty of the region.
Hrithik Roshan Emerged Stronger Calmer Happier
Hrithik Roshan’s professional success has often been offset by personal setbacks and injury. But the actor has found a way to stay unfazed: By focusing on family, films and fitness.
Fight For Survival!
A journey into Icelandic waters proves to be an introduction to the wonder of whales, as also to the grim reality of their fight for survival.
Pitching It Right With Zaheer Khan
He is that rare Indian cricketer who could make the new ball talk. He has run through famed batting lineups with his fierce seam bowling. His years of toil and doggedness brought him 610 wickets across formats, the fourth-highest for any Indian. The six-footer leftie, who bagged a five-for in his last international outing in 2015, tells Kunal Purandare what kept him ticking through the highs and lows
Face-Timing Sid
Sidharth Malhotra’s acting career has been equal parts deliberate decisions and pure happenstance.
The Taste Of The Hills
The flavour profile of Northeast India is as diverse as it is delicious. But if you were given only three words to describe it, you’d call it authentic, simple and unmistakable.