Goa Vacation

We’ve finally reached the point in our trip where we’re able to fully have time off from classwork and agency visits! We’re all so excited to be arriving in Goa. This is definitely a tropical climate; everything is lush and green, and the monsoon rains are falling intermittently throughout the day and night. The temperature is cooler than in-land in India, about the low to mid 80s (Fahrenheit) but at nearly 90% humidity.

The Fort Aguada Beach Resort is at the end of a road, right on the edge of the Arabian Sea. It’s a beautiful property with comfortable rooms and pretty views. We’re in a multi-story hotel building, but each room has a small patio area and overlooks a fishing pier and small road by the sea. The neighboring Taj Holiday Village hotel is arranged as little villas, and it has a common deck area that sits over the rocky beach. We can get shuttle rides between the two properties and eat at restaurants, use the pools, shop, etc. in both locations. There are lots of families with children here as well, so it’s got an Indian Club-Med sort of vibe. The Holiday Village property is a bit nicer (but more expensive) but I’d recommend either Taj property if you’re ever in Western India and looking for a vacation spot! Taj Fort Aguada Beach Resort Website 

We arrived around 4pm on Friday, July 30th. I wandered around the property taking photos (of course), got room service, and then relaxed for the rest of the evening. My roommate, Allison Uhler, and I watched Three Idiots (this time with full English subtitles) and I enjoyed it even more than the first viewing at MICA. Definitely not a typical Bollywood plot (it confronts the immense familial pressure to study engineering in Indian universities) but an excellent and entertaining movie.

On Saturday, I was able to sleep in (a rare treat) and then enjoyed a spa package. I had a coconut body scrub, a massage, and manicure. Apart from the masseuse literally climbing onto me at the start of the massage (with her knees on the back of my legs, using her arms and elbows on my back- very weird) it was a very relaxing and pampering experience. They used great-smelling oil blends, and even put oil in my hair. Strange at first, but my hair and skin feel great now! Also, they put some blended oil on the wound on my foot and it looks better in one day than it has all week using Neosporin!

Sunday we had our final touring day. We briefly visited Fort Aguada (after which our resort was named), plus two Catholic churches in Goa built during the time of its Portuguese settlement; Bom Jesus Basilica (aka St. Frances Xavier Church) and St. Francis of Assisi (Jesuit Catholic) Church.

Then we visited Sahakari Spice Farm for lunch and a 30 minute walking tour of the plantation. It looked like a scene straight out of “The Jungle Book”, and I wouldn’t have recognized the plants amidst all the other greenery had they not been pointed out to us. Afterward, they had a strange closing ritual of pouring a ladle full of water mixed with citronella down each person’s back. Supposedly, it’s to cool you off from the walk (plus probably amuse the locals). We all left with wet clothes, but the tour was worth it. Also, we got to buy essential oils and spices from their market stand at incredibly cheap prices. We ended the day (of course) by shopping. This group is really good at spending money, especially on jewelry, elephant carvings of Ganesh, and scarves!

Monday is another free day, spent primarily on my patio while using the computer and listening to music. Tonight, we have our final group dinner at the hotel. Tomorrow, lots of travel to come! Goodbye Goa, it’s been fun!