Blog Day 14
I opted to stay back at the resort today and chill. Peter went exploring to Colva (a neighbouring beach) and came back and told me all about it. He said they did great roast corn over open coal fire. He had bought some back to eat. Yummo!!!
Blog Day 15
It had rained early in the morning, refreshing the streets and plants and dampening the dust down. Also, made mud puddles everywhere that threatened to splash over our feet when cars went past.
We were on a big adventure today. We were off to Baga Beach which is north of the capital, Panjin. It’s only 55km as the crow flies, but it took about 3hrs and 4 bus rides to get there. We were told that Baga and Calangute (neighbouring beach) were party ones, where they have big rave parties at them. There are big restaurants set up on the beach. Most of the structures are only temporary and are often pulled down by authorities every six months, only to be rebuilt straight after. Rave parties are definitely not something that interest us.
We visited the markets at Marpusa along the way. They were quite strategically set out. Bananas all in one lane, hemp rope in another, pashminas in the next one, and so forth. A real rabbit-warren of lane ways though. Easy to get lost in.
We arrived at the beach and sun baked for a little while in the late afternoon sun. Peter told me all the men close by we’re staring at me. There was a bit of alarm in his voice. I asked what sort of look, admiring or menacing? Admiring he said. That was ok I said. Funny thing was, I was still fully clothed….hahaha…crazy Indians!!!
We walked an hour along the beach from Baga to Calagute. Along the way, a group of Indian men asked if they could have their photo with me. I asked why, but they didn’t answer and started taking photos anyway. Then suddenly I’m surrounded by quite a group and they’re all vying for position to have their photo with me, the star of the beach. Crazy Indians!!!
We boarded a bus that took us to Mapusa. The sun was just going down. Peak hour at the Mapusa bus station is pure chaos. Not only have you got to ask all the bus drivers if they’re going to the destination we want, then we have to find the right bus. They wait around for ages waiting for the bus to fill up. Once sufficiently crowded, they head off. This bus driver was very aggressive and constantly rode his horn. The traffic wasn’t moving in any direction yet he still blared his loud horn. It was quite annoying. Once we arrived at Panjin station, we still had at least an hour of travel on two more buses.
At Panjin bus station we waited in the ticket line for 60mins to get our shuttle bus ticket to Margao. They don’t start selling the tickets until the bus arrives, so it becomes mayhem with everyone pushing in line. And when that bus fills up, they close the ticket window till the next bus arrives. It’s absolute madness!!
We finally get to Margao around 8.30, and are besieged by taxi drivers all wanting us to hop in their vehicles. There were no more buses we were told. Bra cause the men were all fighting over us, I raised my voice and told them to, “Be quiet, and stop fighting! I’m not in the mood!” They all quietened down. We negotiated a cheap ride and headed back to the resort. I was glad to go to bed that night. It’s been a long day.