So, this year we decided to go to Pune in December for the
first time ever in 8-9 years. We both also wanted a nice relaxing time
together, which we never manage to achieve whilst in Pune. So we chose to take time out from our Pune holidays and go
to Goa. This has been on our agenda for many years and we wanted to make it happen this time. Hence, we did our bookings months
in advance! Our friends confirmed they would join us too and we were set.
The road trip to Goa was so refreshing. It brought me back in touch with nature, our villages and farms. These are the things we miss in our ultra-modern and sanitised lives in Singapore. As we crossed many fields, bullock carts, roadside temples and vendors, sheep, cows and monkeys, on my mind’s checklist I ticked off several boxes and smiled. The cool breeze from the rolled down windows touched my face and I soaked up the earthy smells of the Indian countryside.
The kids were asleep in the car so the drive was very peaceful. We reached our destination, Miramar Residency, by mid-day. After a short break and a change of clothes we headed back out in search of some 'amazing beach-time'. We landed up at Baga beach and toasted to our arrival into Goa. For the next few hours we danced around in the water, had some delicious prawns and fish preparations. Finally, we went back to the hotel for our well-deserved sleep.
The next morning, to humour my request, D found out a church which was on the way to Martin’s corner (known for its amazing food). The church was closed for preparations for the midnight mass as it was 24th Dec but the sister allowed us into the church via a back door. We sat down and said a few quiet prayers. Then, back on the road, we made it to Martin’s Corner by 11am. Having had a heavy breakfast less than a couple of hours back, none of us felt we could eat at that time and as a result, we drove around and reached Majorda beach. This was a very beautiful beach! We could walk/wade a long way in, there were some big waves and it was not very crowded either. The kids had plenty of fun - They loved the waves and played in the sand and looked for shells, hermit crabs, small crabs and starfish. The food was also pretty good and so were the cocktails. Finally, by the time we felt satiated enough to leave the beach, Martin’s corner was closed (post-lunch), and we didn’t end up eating there at all.
That night, we decided to go to Terry’s for dinner. After we reached there, we were surprised when Satya’s friend Mohit and his family showed up (they had initially cancelled their plans to come with us). The evening mood was then even more elevated and we had a good dinner together, catching up on old times and the events of our day.
The next day, 25th Dec, we decided to go to another beach called Bogmalo. However, on reaching there and looking at the crowds on that small beach, we changed course and headed straight to none other than? Majorda beach, of course. We took sunbeds and spent another most AWESOME day there at the beach. We had lunch from the shack and took turns napping and swimming and playing with the kids. All day long!
Being Satya’s birthday dinner, we decided to try our luck again at Martin’s corner. We reached only a few minutes before the crowds started pouring in and luckily secured a table just in time. I ‘managed’ a cake from the pastry counter they had, and we sang for Satya as he cut the cake and blew the candles out for the 35th time in his life. We ordered our first and only round of drinks during that dinner as what followed was so truly awesome that we had no inches or even cms of space left inside our tummies to accommodate anything else. That ‘seafood platter’(which is one of their signature dishes) will be one that I will remember for a long time to come. From the time that platter arrived at our table, there wasn’t much said or heard except the occasional “hmms” and “ahhhs”. The crab was lovely and my favourite was the most orgasmically delicious lobster with herbs and white baked vegetable sauce. Fish, (mega) jumbo prawns (as they were bigger than any I’ve eaten before) and everything else was also really yummy and to die for indeed!
Thus was the end of an amazing and relaxing holiday, food adventure, crazy time with friends and the 35th birthday of the most special man in my world!
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