The Susegad life

Goa continues to reign as one of the preferred destinations for travel

- AKANKSHA MAKER

During the midst of the pandemic in 2020, I remember taking my first trip after a hiatus of many months to Goa. Keen to getaway from the woes of lockdown life to sun, sand and slow living, Goa was an obvious choice, and a drive of 12 hours from Mumbai got us to a place we called home for a few weeks.

I understood finally why the Goan community spoke so highly about “susegad”. For those who aren't aware, the word comes from the Portuguese word sossegado - which means quiet. It refers to the chilled out and laid back attitude of the Goan people and their zest to live in a perennial state of contentment. And it's not so hard, when tranquil beaches with soft sand and rhythmic waves are just walking distance from your home. While we do have beaches in Mumbai, they do not come close to the ones in Goa.

This lifestyle can be addictive. And it doesn't mean that one has to give up on worldly passions and a career to live this. A number of professionals have moved their home-offices to Goa, with work from home translated to work from the beach. The quietude and peacefulness of the state can arguably be conducive to a productive work environment.

It also helps that now there are no restrictions for travel to and from the state. One needs to be double vaccinated and that's the only requirement for entering Goa. Flights are a dime and dozen, with almost all airlines - full-service and budget - plying several times a day from most big cities. The best part about the flight between Mumbai and Goa is that it's barely 45 minutes - giving you just enough time to go through your itinerary for your time ahead. Over the years, Goa has seen growing connectivity with many tier-II cities like Nagpur, Indore, Surat, Kochi, Raipur, Lucknow and Amritsar, among others, as well.