Goa has been a revelation. I just got a call from a friend who suggested I should look for a flat in Goa and stay there permanently. But today was all about driving around Goa with Ani, as we headed towards his room and shack in a fishing village.
The drive was long, and I was behind the wheel the whole time. The most fun part was driving across the large bridge that connects part of the city with the port. I drove over it without my feet on the clutch or the gas—we literally free-wheeled across with ease. It was a slow ride, but fun, as I had both my legs in the air!
Fresh Fish and Dancing Under Banyan Trees
It was a hot April day and thank God we had the AC on the entire time—that saved us from the sweltering heat. There’s a lot of construction happening all over Goa: bridges and flyovers are being built, cables are being laid—the city is clearly in expansion mode.
We then drove through small Goan villages. The Hindu fishing village had old houses with verandas, and there was a tulsi plant in each veranda, just like in Vedic times. Hindus form the majority in Goa, followed by Catholics/Christians and then Muslims. You can spot many Shiva and Ganesh temples along the winding roads of Goa.
Finally, we arrived at Ani’s shack, which he is currently renovating. He plans to rent it out later. The shack is right next to the sea, with a fishing village nearby. Many foreign tourists come here to fish, and you can see fishermen’s boats tied around the bay area.
It was the perfect place for a brisk, long walk—and that’s exactly what I did. I wandered through the fishermen’s colony and into farmland, looking for shade under large trees. It was fun burning calories in the heat, though I soon got exhausted. Luckily, I had packed some oranges and dates, which helped me regain some energy.
After that, we headed straight to Karvelo’s Hut, a very local food joint and bar that serves freshly cooked seafood—prawns, lobsters, and fish. The owner, Anthony, brought in a fresh fish straight from the sea. His wife cooked and baked it right there. It took a while, but the fish was absolutely delicious.
I had four bottles of beer—it was the first time I felt truly relaxed. I devoured the entire fish and even enjoyed the prawn curry with rice.
After a late lunch, we headed back into the city. My eyes caught sight of huge banyan trees lining the road. Ani took some breathtaking pictures of me dancing under those gigantic trees, with their roots falling into the ground and anchoring deep into the soil. It was such a beautiful, almost dreamlike sight.
And how could we end the day without a touch of spiritual energy? On the way back, we stopped to pray and pay our respects at the Devi Bhagwati Prasanna Temple. It’s a massive temple, where many Goan Hindus come to worship and celebrate festivals.
All in all, it was a hectic day—but full of action, color, and sights from this wonderful city that’s already doing wonders for my health and well-being.
