Trip To Goa 2011

A quick plan, some random meetings, request for leave with manager and finally tickets booking by Pavan Omkar - these all things signified that the boys of IBM Cognos,Pune were all set for Goa leaving their thinkpads behind. On 24th February 2011, 3:30pm IST, we assembled in Pune station and board Goa express at 4:30pm IST. The journey was filled with fun as Sameer Wakode was setting the environment which was continuously filled with laughter. There were really some cool name inventions like Batura, PO(many meanings), PG(many meanings) and KD which I will never forget. Each and every moment of the trip was captured mainly by Ganesh Kedari(Ganya) and rest were Sameer Wakode, Sameer Inamdar and Pavan Omkar(PO). PO and Sameer Inamdar loved taking their solo photographs.

Starting with Day 1: We got down in Vasco Railway station at 5:00pm IST and board a bus to Panjim. And again from Panjim we board a bus to Calangute and got down near Rio disco. We all approached near our rooms which was located 2mins from Calangute beach(All thanks to PO for booking a room with awesome view). Throwing away our luggage bags, everyone rushed towards to beach. Some got wet into the sea while some folks including me, Ganya and Sam Wakode were resting on shack having breakfast. After the quick breakfast, we headed towards Aarambol beach some 15kms away from Calangute. We had hired 4 bikes (Avenger, Pulsar, Eterno and Activa). After the lunch in Aarambol beach, we headed towards our room in Calangute beach at 2:oopm IST. After some rest, we went to the beach where we played volley ball diving in the water while PO was playing cricket. After spending some time in water, we walked along the beach. In evening while heading towards night cruise some folks including me got separated from the group while Haaris Shaikh and Ganya took the roadway from Panjim bridge. The separated folks got a chance to travel via Launch(A motor boat used to dispose people including their bikes to the opposite side of the river and thankfully it was free of charge [;)] ). There was some utter confusion between all of us which resulted in the delay in boarding the cruise. We board the cruise at 8:30pm IST and lucky we got a chance to choose our seats as we were first in the queue while boarding the cruise. Inside the cruise, there were many performances which were 2 Goan folk dance, short dance by children visiting the cruise, couple dance in which a aunty in saree along her husband rocked the floor leaving the young couples stunded and finally, it ended with a lovely Portugese dance performance. Leaving all these things behind and standing in the crowd(we all were sitting), Ganya was busy capturing the night time scenic beauty of Goa. After the cruise, we headed towards AnandSagar restaurant while PO and Shivraj Desale decided to headed towards the beach along with their parcel. After our dinner we followed them towards the beach. On the way to beach during the night we encountered two dogs gazing at us. PO and Desale were on high. I called up PO and told him about the situation. To which he said "Dude, humko bhi dikha tha. Tu tension matle, full confidence se aaa.." and it proved right. There were some mind blowing dialogues - "Iss raith main toh jaadu hain" said by PO and falling in the sand. "Kya Anny, itne door Goa main tu kya sone aaya hain, nite out kab marega" again said by Mr.PO to me on high state when we started insisting him to come along with us as it was already late. As it was 1:30am we all decided to take our 2 warriors back to the room. Refusing to come along us, Shivraj, who was in cloud 9 said the most famous lines "Stop behaving like Gaals Guuyssssss....!!!". Believe me, it was PO, who like a never stopping alarm clock woke all of us at morning 7:15am IST. Tremendous stamina dude !!.

Day 2: Morning breakfast was done at AnandSagar Restuarant which from 5mins walking distance from our room. After the breakfast, we headed towards Fort Aguada. The scenic beauty of Panjim was explored from here. We carried a map for the places we need to explore. On the way to Aguada, Avenger's fuel tank was empty. As PO and Shivraj had to travel downslope, very less effort was required to fill in again. From Fort Aguada we headed towards Old Goa were we explored BOM of Jesus(tremendous architecture), St. Xavier's museum(specially to see the oil painting of Vasco-da-Gama), tower of Augustine( trust me guys, I was stunded by the huge architecture), sunset at Miramar beach and finally Dona Paula. There is something unique about Dona Paula as the images, specially the horizon, are still there in my mind. From Dona Paula we all headed back to our room in Calangute for a quick bath and wearing fashionable clothes. We kickstarted our evening at 8:45pm IST by heading towards Ingo market - Saturday night market, Arpora. There was a huge rush out here as we struggled to get a parking. As we entered, we saw a Israili band performing and all the foreigners chilling out and dancing, enjoying the soothing music. Believe me this market is not for Indians. This a place where a INR 10 simple thing was sold at INR 950 to Russians. So if your code crashes this a place where you can try your career [;)]. We headed up the hill(market was situated on hill slope) and on the way we saw a man, dressed like a comedian, was entertaining people with his hats accompainied by his friend who was playing guitar in background to support his comedy moments. Lastly, we reached the hill top were a foreigner, standing out of the crowd, was madly dancing on trance music. At 11:00pm IST we headed towards TITO's. Only one word for TITO's - "Wooooooooooowwww !!!". After loosing all our energies on dance floor, we headed towards Baga beach for dinner at 1am IST. Dinner tables were set on the beach with Enigma playing in background. Two candles were set on each table. Now imagine what will be the view with more than 100 tables?? After the dinner, all of us fully tired except PO and Shivraj headed towards the room. With PO's intense energy he took all of us excluding Sam Wakode, Sam Inamdar and Haaris to Calangute beach where we raised a toast with Champangue and Red Wine. Lying on the shack, Red wine, cool breeze blowing, sound of the waves and counting the stars. It was an heavenly experience.

Day 3: On 11:00pm IST we started heading towards Fort Charpora(the one where DCH shooting took place). Such was the scenic view from Chapora, we did not felt like coming back. We spent some time here photographing and enjoying the scenic beauty. The view of Morjim beach from Charpora was a million dollar view. There was a lagoon, flock of birds and the waves were approaching as if dolphins were approaching to the shore. From Fort Charpora we headed towards Vagator beach which is basically a rocky beach. Here, we had our lunch which was followed by a power nap lying on the shack after a heavy lunch. It was evening and while returning back we lost our way. This proved a boon to us as we explored the inner Goa with Old houses, kucha roads and lots and lots of trees. On the way, I and Ganya stopped at Baga beach to enjoy the sunset. It was so serene as the orange sun was drowning into the sea. After clicking some good pictures, we headed towards Calangute main market. Here we did some shopping and dinner. All done with the dinner we headed back to our room. After that we headed towards the beach at 11:00pm IST where we saw the World Cup match between India vs England which ended up in a draw. Leaving all things behind we enjoyed under the night sky lying on the shack and got back into the room at 1:30pm IST.

Day 4: It was our last day in Goa. We decided to head towards the Calangute beach for water rides. Previously, I was scared to take the banana ride but after wearing the live jacket gave me some confidence to float as I am a novice swimmer. We as started with Jet ride. In this ride it was PO who did not drove the bike. Then the bumper ride where we sit on the ballon and a rope to is attached on the motor boat. Finally came the banana ride in which I, Ganya and Shivraj decided to go first. Then on some more than 70ft deep sea we were dropped. The rubber boat came upon me and I managed to come out of it. After Shivraj and me climbing up the rubber boat, it was Ganya who again downturned the boat while climding up and again we were in waters struggling to come up. After the banana ride, we were taken to the middle of the sea for para-sailing. It mindblowing experience as if we were flying without wings high up in the sky. After the rides, we headed towards our room and with our luggage we headed towards Margaon station. There were some funny moments in train like PO bringing the phone near his face while talking even tough it was on hands free. The family asking Haaris not to sing during the night as they were getting disturbed. And finaly the Haaris's snoor which can be heard loudly in the moving train.

Such was our wonderful journey to Goa with 7 odd friends from IBM Cognos enjoying their life to their fullest. Now, I decided that once in a year I will surely visit Goa. So what's next?? PO start booking the tickets in advance for _________..