Goa!

Sawantwadi is quite modern and is very beautiful. From there I got on a bus to Panaji at 8.45 a.m. The bus entered Goa at Patradevi at about 9.25 a.m. As the bus trundled through the narrow streets on the way to Mapusa you can sight a lot of crucifixes. A few of them are really beautiful. As we go from Maharashtra to Goa, the change of sport seems conspicuous- cricket to football happens in a matter of kilometers.

I reached Panaji at about 10.30 a.m. You know you have touched Panaji when you get that peculiar smell of sea and salt. Its total bliss. From Panaji I left for Miramar as I had to first find accommodation at the Youth Hostel. I located the Hostel. It is right next to Mariott and faces the beach. It is beautiful and cheap. Rs.50 per night is amazing. Then I located a cyber café, sent a few mails and charged my ipod. At about 3.00 pm I decided to start checking out the sights around and also try and reach Anjuna. They have the Wednesday bazaar over there.

Miramar beach comprises a massive spread of sand west of Panaji, where the Mandovi River joins the sea. The area is referred to as the Marine drive of Goa and gets very crowded in the evening. The beach is one of the best in Goa. It is clean and nicely maintained. It is relatively quiet as compared to the noisy Calangute and Baga. There is this stretch near the Hostel that is very beautiful and you can sit here all alone in peace with no soul in sight and just the sea.