"Sunshine, sand and a laid back... " a Goa Travel Page by CEP1863

What can I say about Goa that has not already been said on other travel pages? This was my first visit to Goa, why did I choose Goa? I can't answer that question because the answer really is I don't know. Perhaps I will call it a sudden flash of inspiration and if it was that then I hope that I have many more such was my time there.

Goa was an assault on the senses in the nicest possible way. The feel of the sun on your skin (protected with a high SPF cream), the colourful sights and wonderful smells, the food. Goa was everything I wanted it to be: picturesque beaches edged with palm trees, a huge variety of inexpensive restaurants and beach shacks, warm and friendly people, wonderful sunsets and the final ingredient sunshine. I split my holiday between lazing on some of the wonderful beaches with a book in one hand and a coke in the other and exploring what this region had to offer with a friendly taxi driver who was more than happy to take me where I pleased - some of the more touristy spots as well as off the beaten path. All in all, I had a fantastic time and I left Goa with a determination to return sooner rather than later.

With 105km of coastline, Goa has a number of gorgeous beaches and an innumerable number of beach shacks keeping the tourists adequately refreshed during a hard day of lying in the sun. At the time I was there, many of the owners had started to dismantle their shacks as the tourist season was at its end but I still got an excellent variety of food and a non-stop supply on Limca not to mention the wonderful massage whilst listening to the sounds of the waves upon the shore. During my time in Goa, I divided my days on the beach between Vagator, Palolem and Candolim (where my hotel was). Little Vagator was probably the one I enjoyed the most mainly because on the days that I was there, there were only a handful of other people on the beach and so I virtually had the place to myself!

Moving away from the beaches I was shocked to discover how green Goa actually was even before the monsoons. This was particularly apparent when I went to the Bhagwan Mahaveer Sanctuary, which is 240 square km of semi evergreen and moist deciduous woodland. It was here that I visited the Mahadeva temple at Tamdi Surla, a 13th Century temple dedicated to Lord Shiva and an oasis of peace, calm and tranquility.

Another place to visit in this sanctuary is the Dudhsagar Waterfalls which can only be reached by train or a memorable bone-crunching journey by four-wheel drive. I am still realigning my skeletal system as I type!