Blogs from Baga, Goa, India, Asia
April 23rd 2012
Planning this trip to India felt a little bit like planning a trip to Mars. I didn’t think that any of my travels to date had prepared me for what was to come in this seemingly mystic and chaotic country. I had absolutely no idea what to expect as I tried to imagine what almost a billion and a half people in one place looked like. As far as I knew, I didn’t like Indian food and I was allergic to one of India’s main staple foods of rice. I was told repeatedly that the infamous ‘Delhi Belly’ would without a doubt take down my normally pleasant digestive system for days or maybe even weeks upon arriving. This intestinal distress would apparently only be amplified by the sole availability of ‘water bucket’ systems for toilets. The ... read more
Hawkers, Gawkers, and Russian Roulette at Christmas...
Published: January 7th 2012Asia » India » Goa » Baga
January 7th 2012
I am writing this blog on a rattling 14hr train journey heading south to Kochin, Kerela. It's pandemonium around us, with plenty of staring and head wobbles, but we do have a small bunk with a curtain. So forgive me if I waffle on.......... ...I just saw a mouse! Hawkers, Gawkers, and Russian Roulette at Christmas. After only three days in sleepy Cavelossim, South Goa, we were on the move again. We would have stayed longer, but the accommodation was already booked. Still not never normal after food poisoning, we took a taxi to the boisterous, booming and brash town of Baga, North Goa... Luckily for nicetaximan, and friend, the two passengers in the back managed not to barf after every bump@?#!. We passed through small villages and settlements with huge bright white churches? ..Probably the ... read more
November 13th 2011
As soon as I landed in Goa, I went right to the tourist booth and simply asked him, “Where do I go to party.” He pointed me to Baga and within 30 minutes I was off to what I figured would be a massive beach party. And even though I can’t swim and hate sand with a passion, I was real excited. I read a little bit up on Goa and it was lookin like an unreal spot. I was especially excited about this Goan Trance music that they play in the clubs. My shoulders were ready to rock. I was in for a surprise. As soon as I got into Baga I looked for the cheapest place in town. I stayed at a place that cost me 30 bucks for 3 nights, total. Grandad was ... read more
June 18th 2011
Mysore to Goa Our night bus to Goa starts, luckliy enough just down the street from our hotel, so it's a quick walk instead of another confusing ride in a Tuk Tuk. The bus is our first sleeper bus experience in India, which I'm looking forward to. I feel like if I can lie down flat, perhaps I can sleep a bit while we're on the bus. Most buses only run at night in India to avoid the traffic, so I better get used to it quick, we have many many more rides ahead of us! The bus, at first impression, is a bit creepy. Its twilight, dark on the bus, and each bunk has curtains to the tight central hallway. There are only about 6 people on the bus when we leave Mysore. I've got ... read more
October 11th 2010
Baga, Goa 11oktober 2010 Na een treinrit van 13u kwamen we aan in Thivum. Normaal gezien zouden we om 17u aankomen maar door de bijna 2u vertraging kwamen we pas aan om 18u40. Hierdoor zaten we voor de 2de dag op rij met hetzelfde probleem, geen hostel gereserveerd en het was al donker. We spraken enkele backpackers aan en volgde hen naar Baga. Proper hostel met iets wat hardere mattras maar we gaan niet klagen ;) Ik was zo blij dat we weg waren uit Mumbai ‘s ochtends werd ik wakker met buikpijn en een slecht gevoel. Een gevoel dat eigelijk nog niet echt was weggeweest en een continue aanwezigheid werd. Baga bleek een Indische versie van lloret del mare! Dus bracht ik de hele dag in bed door met buikpijn. ... read more
March 5th 2010
Hello all, I am currently in my third day in Goa. Very warm, and we're staying in a fantastic hotel. We landed in Mumbai arounf 1am sunday morning. Realised straight away that India has no traffic laws. The taxi man didn't stop once at a red light. The first full day in mumbai, we walked around the south of the city. Even though it is very big, we found it very easy to get our bearings. We saw the gateway to India as well as the taj palace. The day we paid a taxi man to take us round the city. We went to the Gandhi museum as well as the hanging gardens and we took a visit to the slums also. The gandhi museum was very interesting, but I wasn't as shocked as I thought ... read more
March 5th 2010
The last few days in Goa ahve been probably my best so far in India. Goa is just such a magical place and i love it here sooo much. It was well worth the day and a half spent on the sleeper train, leaving at 10:45pm on the 1st and arriving at 5.30am on the 3rd. It was quite comfortable on the beds and they bring good free food, better then you get on a plane. I had a tasty chicken Bryani which i have been eating quite a lot of recently. Its the only thing they have on the menus here which bares any resemblance to a curry house back home. In my opinion the naan breads are not as tasty as the Jalsha's but who am I to judge. They are just a lot ... read more
August 28th 2009
Leaving mumbai was a bit sad after a night in a great hostel, even if we were sharing 3 beds all pushed together as it was the only room we could find at 11:30pm. A taxi to the hotel was definately a must as it was down a dark alley and up 3 flights of stairs all with people sleeping in the stairwells and voices rising from the dark corners pointing in the right direction, pretty funny but a bit wierd to find such a nice hotel in the middle of all that. Mumbai was a revelation after Varanasi which are probably two of the most different cities i've ever been to in the same country. The really nice hostel owner in varanasi advised against mumbai with his exact words being " i dont ever want ... read more
