My Way On Highway: Day 24, Haggling, Hogging And Gaming In Goa

Goa in May is considered to be off season as the temperatures peak to about 30 degree Celsius, but the reality is far from it. In fact, it is believed that May is the best time to enjoy a swim in the sea. Yes, the tropical holiday destination receives revelers consistently all through the year as there isn’t a single dull moment ever. Check out some shots by my husband, Tariq’s camera and you’ll know what I’m talking about.

Shop Along
 

 

Like everything else here, shopping too is pretty relaxed in the Pearl of the Orient. Walking along the Calangute Market Road, we came across plenty of fashion clothing shops, both big and small. The shopkeepers were ready to bargain. Request them gently to give you a discount and they will oblige. If you are looking for swimsuits, you will have plenty of options to choose from here. You can practically come with no baggage to Goa and be rest assured that you will find everything you need at reasonable prices. I couldn’t resist buying an elegant metal anklet for Rs. 30, a flowy beach dress for Rs. 250 and a sarong for Rs. 200! Unfortunately we had to give the Saturday Night Market a miss as we were leaving for Gokarna later today.

Wish For The Fish
 

 

We tried yet another local Goan dish for lunch. This time we ordered Rawa Fry Fish and the kitchen at our hotel Estrela Do Mar treated us to a delectable preparation of Kingfish, dipped in a semolina paste and then deep fried to reveal a sumptuous crispy brown exterior. You can’t miss the distinctly delicious taste of the salt water fish. For dessert, we had the Marathi pooranpoli roti hand- picked from one of the many supermarkets here. Yum!

Casino Royale

 

Tariq has so far driven 3500 plus kilometres since we embarked on the Road Trip and that definitely called for a celebration. So off we went to Deltin Royale, easily the most posh casino in town and got treated like royalty. A small boat took us to the casino ship which is docked right in the middle of the Mandovi River in Panjim. Everything about the place was exquisite, right from the décor and ambience, to the food and drinks. And my, what a fine staff! For a fixed cover charge we got access to the two casino floors, the many bars and the fine dining restaurant with its own live entertainment. Lady luck was truly on Tariq’s side as he made quite a handful at the Texas Hold’em Poker. Happy, happy!

Tomorrow we move towards the aforementioned land of Gokarna. Don’t know where it is? Time you looked it up. More from me later!