Re: Goan rhapsody

Travelogue Approved

And you ride again to lovely Goa, while i get baked in 45 degree summer. Nice nice sir

Re: Goan rhapsody

Once again! Glued to your thread sir.

Re: Goan rhapsody

Thanks Avi! I understand the heatwave around many parts of the country, this ride was in April when it wasn't so bad I guess.
Btw, one more log from last weeks ride is due Cheers!

Just as you cross the border into Goa and the change is obvious, relaxed little family run “Bar & Restaurants” flank the road and there seems to be sudden burst of cashew trees everywhere. The sweet smell of ripe cashew fruits greets our nostrils. It’s the fruit of the season and the base of the elixir of good times to come :P



Another pleasantly noticeable factor is the road condition. For a biker its bliss, almost like a five star welcome drink! After riding for more than 600 km from morning it’s great to be welcomed by these roads and easy on our aging bodies too. We just need to be really alert since we are still on the narrow NH17 and the traffic can be treacherous at times.



Before the sun could set we are at Majorda where we are to spend the next 12 days. A warm welcome from our friends Franco and Susan ends an awesome day’s ride and lots more to look forward to in the days to come.




Since we’ve been coming here almost every year for many years now, the “been there, done that” syndrome is upon us. It’s mostly just relax and unwind, an early morning ride to the fish market to get into the thick of the unique hustle and bustle, do some light hearted haggling with the mostly lady fish mongers and come back with some fresh “catch” for the day. It’s a must do, the Madgaon wholesale fish market, business starts at around 3 am and by around 8 am it’s totally bustling!





Catching up with friends is another priority. Long conversations and even longer nights. There’s music to set the moods and with biker friends highways, motorcycles and rides to discuss (mostly to the frowns of the ladies!)





Evenings are often at the beach to watch the sunset and be entertained by the frolicking kids in the sand. Majorda is a quieter and more relaxed beach unlike its neighbor the hugely crowded Colva.







One morning on a whim, as often happens in Goa, we decided to explore a bit of the interior. April/May is the season of cashew and also the only time when fresh Feni (Urak) brewed, so we decided to go in search of the freshest we could find.







It was a truly enjoyable ride, from Majorda/Madgaon/Raia/Rachol/Shiroda, by a most enjoyable Ferry ride and through some amazing village roads embraced by cashew trees with the cashew apples just falling off. And finally we did find elixir! The finest ever! I guess there’s a Rainbow, a pot of gold or maybe a bottle of the best at the end of every exploration. It just needs the will and the desire to go for it!





Ride Up North & The Return by The Rain Forest ...Coming Up

Re: Goan rhapsody

Thanks for the post sir, I follow all of your posts. I was waiting for the log, You took so long to post the log .

I spotted you(riders couple) near Yashwantpur, did a thumbs up. I wanted to have a quick chat with you but due to traffic constraints(and also was a group ride I was just before the sweep, as I should not fall back) I was not able to. We were doing Royal Enfield ONE RIDE, more than 200 bullets turned out.

Now waiting for the rest of the log.

Regards,
Santosh

Re: Goan rhapsody

Superb. Eagerly waiting for the next part!

Re: Goan rhapsody

Thanks Santosh
Was busy with work, hence the delay, in fact another log is due (Wayanad & Coorg Ride)

Thanks Krishna


Most of our time in Goa we spend down south. North is where the “action” is. Calangute,Candoilm, Baga,Anjuna,Vagatoor and many more. Over the years we have seen the extreme changes. I remember on a visit in the late 1970s (I was single then), the “Flea Market “ at Anjuna used to be just a small bunch of foreigners trying to hawk things like chillum pipes and other sundry stuff to maybe prolong their stay a few days longer. Today it’s like a Mela with from around the country and hardly room to even walk. Vagatoor, further north was practically deserted and lonely, guess things have changed now.




Of course we still have many friends at Calangute, Baga and Mapusa and do drop by to say hi. We’ve also had our share of night outs and partying all night at Titos, but over the years we’ve seen the changes and prefer the mellow moods of the south.



One morning we decide to ride up to Old Goa to revisit the 5 century old St.Francis Xavier church. Luckily parts of Old Goa still retains the ambience of just that “The Real Old Goa” and it’s a great feeling to ride along the Mandovi River.



On the way we pay a visit to an old age home where a dear old friend of our stays. She’s 93 years old but still sharp as ever. She was so happy to see us and us to see her. Blessings from her and we are on our way, a little emotional but still happy inside.









A brief visit to the twin churches to pay our respects and prayers and we ride back to Majorda before the tourist crowds start to swell.

Coming up....The Ride back via the Rain Forest & Our stay at the !50 year old "Malgudi Days"!

Re: Goan rhapsody

Simply superb sir, beyond words can say..

Re: Goan rhapsody

Thank You

12 days flew by before we could realize it and it was time to leave Goa once again. It’s always a bit sad to say goodbye to our most favorite place but then all good things must end. We decide to take another route on the return ride and also planned to break journey for a day enroute. We thought Agumbe would be ideal since the Western Ghats and the rain forest always fascinated us. One call to our dear friend @phanikar to check the route. As usual it took him about 7 seconds to give us the best route!



Route: Majorda/Canacona/Karwar/Kumta/Honnavar/Murudeshwar/Bkatkal/Kundapura/Halady/Someshwara/Agumbe.

The night before our ride our good friend Gavin McFarland an avid biker himself called us to say he would ride with us up to the Karnataka border. He joined us at Madgaon early in the morning and rode with us up to the border.





We stop at the border say goodbye to Gavin and to Goa too. It’s been a wonderful 12 days but the ride must go on.








The ride on NH17, the coastal highway is interesting and also quite dangerous too. Lots of traffic for the very narrow road. Widening work is in progress and once done it’s going to be quite amazing. Till then there are detours and diversions. The totally awesome Arabian Sea keeps us company on the right and most of the beaches are pristine and pure, hardly any commercialization unlike the beaches in Goa.





At Kundapura we leave NH17 and turn off on to Halady road. It’s much cooler as we get closer to hills. Traffic is thin and the roads so beautiful. By afternoon we reach the rain forest region of Agumbe and check into the 150 year old “Doddamane” where the episodes of the hugely famous R.K. Narayan’s “Malgudi Days” was filmed.






We are warmly welcomed by adorable ‘Kasthuri Akka’ as she is fondly called. The house itself in imposing and steeped in history and tradition. Truly a once in a lifetime experience.





Sharing the dinner table with other families and being served personally by Kasthuri Akka herself and to taste her legendary vegetarian fare is truly unforgettable




That night Agumbe which receives the highest rainfall after Chirapunji (sometimes even surpassing it) gave us a taste of the monsoons would be. Thunder, lightning and torrents of rain for a few hours. The monsoons would be magical here for sure.

Next: Around Agumbe and the ride back!

Cheers !!

Re: Goan rhapsody

One word - magical!

Sent from my Xperia L.

Re: Goan rhapsody

Re: Goan rhapsody

Fantastic ride sir

Re: Goan rhapsody

Sir you are a source of inspiration for people like me who has a small bike in his disposal. Thumb up!

Sent from my Xperia L.

Re: Goan rhapsody

Thank You

Thanks Krishna

Re: Goan rhapsody

great going once again. all the best.