Prawn curry is by far my favourite gravy dish in Goa. I do like crab and lobster, but I find it very difficult to cut through the shell and get to the white meat of the damn creature. It feels like hard work, and in the end, you get very little meat. I’d much rather have shellfish. Along with that, the traditional caramel custard and Serradura make just the right dessert for someone who wants a taste of traditional Goan cuisine.

Prawn Curry

I’ve been going on long hikes—over 10 km every evening—and that has given me more strength. It also helps in building my back muscles. The good thing is that I’ve started doing dumbbell exercises, 5 kg each, for the forearms. That helps build overall body strength. But the most important thing is to keep losing weight and getting lighter and lighter.

The evening sea and the sun on the horizon can be very invigorating. At times, I’ve managed to sit on a wooden bench facing the bright turquoise sea, just being there—so still and one with nature. It was an out-of-this-world feeling.

One needs to let the surroundings seep within. There were flowers in full bloom as I walked across steep roads and winding alleys.

Goa has it all—sun, sea, gambling, liquor, and its own vibrant energy. The fish and fresh air really lift your spirits, not to mention the sun that’s always streaming from the sky.