Eat, drink
and be merry took on a whole new meaning when the Goan weekend took off.
We had it all planned, the pickup points decided to the minute.
We were well on time.
The road was perfect, times when you really enjoy a long drive.
The conversations flowed, the familiarity of old friends, comfort.
There are not many eateries on the road from Bangalore to Belgaum and we had to open up our stash of cakes and biscuits while we looked for a breakfast joint.
Hot breakfast on the way and we continued on roads meant just for that! Smooth drives!!
We passed through a stretch of Ghats with constant rain for company, skilful driving and scenic valleys had us crossing it in no time!
Reaching Goa felt like a homecoming!
Across from our old campus, we stopped to relax by our favourite haunt, Genes across from our campus!
The river Mandovi flowed ever so calmly, bringing back memories of the years spent by its side. The food, the music, the company, the laughter.
A late lunch and the Goan beer to get started on our weekend!
Found on Airbnb, it was a use and pay place with a well-stocked pantry, 2 kitchens, 4 bedrooms, walkouts to the river front and balconies overlooking the Mandovi. Its location was central to Panjim and Old Goa, in Ribandar, which had been our home for 2 years.
We soaked in the calmness of the place, beer in hand, watching the ferries go to Diwar and back, viewing the Salim Ali bird sanctuary in the distance. A perfect setting.
And then the evening began with the locals and foreigners reaching! They brought with them food enough to feed a home full of hungry men ( or so we thought then) and enough liquor for all the Epicureans in the world ( or so we thought again)
While we were in college, we lived on the good will of kind parents and the pocket money which never lasted! Liquor was Goan beer, fenny or the Old Monk Rum!
17 years later we had plenty and our tastes had refined with living and dining in countries around the world!!
And food, plenty of it, a variety, a feast.
A night of singing, music ( a guitar, mouth organ ) and laughter! A night which never ended.
Morning, saw
me quickly run up to Old Goa to visit the church, being Independence day also
saw the flag hoisted at the Cajetan cathedral.
A long favourite Casa De Cha and a familiar breakfast – the Goan pao. Visit to our campus in Ribandar, reliving memories, most good, some still hurt even with the passing years.
A drive to Diwar island, on the ferry, now famous because of the movie "Finding Fanny''
being shot there, for us, it only held memories of walks along the fields, bus journeys to the church. Calmness.
Back again for more drinks, food and a late night visit to Joet’s at Bogmalo.
Memories of another day, in January when I had visited that place with a young friend! A happening joint along the beach, with wonderful music!
The evening was made more wonderful with our own guys taking the mike and singing familiar tunes! While some of us old birds called it a night and headed back to the chalet in the wee hours of the morning, the more adventurous lot decided to try their luck at the many casinos of Goa.
Morning, decided to take the bus to Panjim for a run along to Miramar. A Sunday morning visit to the church and a short run along the Mandovi again to the sea.
The roads were washed clean from the rains, the constant slow drizzle, not enough to drench, just enough to feel a spray.
Back to the chalet in time to meet a bunch of breakfast hunters and it was back to the city again for a hot breakfast. A crowded favourite again, visit Café Bhonsles for some real good hot puri and bhaji the Goan way.
Meeting old professors,
making plans for the night and back to the chalet!
This was our temporary home and we made it homely! More shopping, more food and we had a well stocked pantry.
We had it all planned, the pickup points decided to the minute.
We were well on time.
The road was perfect, times when you really enjoy a long drive.
The conversations flowed, the familiarity of old friends, comfort.
There are not many eateries on the road from Bangalore to Belgaum and we had to open up our stash of cakes and biscuits while we looked for a breakfast joint.
Hot breakfast on the way and we continued on roads meant just for that! Smooth drives!!
We passed through a stretch of Ghats with constant rain for company, skilful driving and scenic valleys had us crossing it in no time!
Reaching Goa felt like a homecoming!
Across from our old campus, we stopped to relax by our favourite haunt, Genes across from our campus!
The river Mandovi flowed ever so calmly, bringing back memories of the years spent by its side. The food, the music, the company, the laughter.
A late lunch and the Goan beer to get started on our weekend!
The chalet
was a beauty. Situated along the river banks, nestled this piece of Goan
wonder!
Its architecture
and the interiors were interesting and gave a homely feel.
Found on Airbnb, it was a use and pay place with a well-stocked pantry, 2 kitchens, 4 bedrooms, walkouts to the river front and balconies overlooking the Mandovi. Its location was central to Panjim and Old Goa, in Ribandar, which had been our home for 2 years.
We soaked in the calmness of the place, beer in hand, watching the ferries go to Diwar and back, viewing the Salim Ali bird sanctuary in the distance. A perfect setting.
And then the evening began with the locals and foreigners reaching! They brought with them food enough to feed a home full of hungry men ( or so we thought then) and enough liquor for all the Epicureans in the world ( or so we thought again)
While we were in college, we lived on the good will of kind parents and the pocket money which never lasted! Liquor was Goan beer, fenny or the Old Monk Rum!
17 years later we had plenty and our tastes had refined with living and dining in countries around the world!!
And food, plenty of it, a variety, a feast.
A night of singing, music ( a guitar, mouth organ ) and laughter! A night which never ended.
A long favourite Casa De Cha and a familiar breakfast – the Goan pao. Visit to our campus in Ribandar, reliving memories, most good, some still hurt even with the passing years.
A drive to Diwar island, on the ferry, now famous because of the movie "Finding Fanny''
being shot there, for us, it only held memories of walks along the fields, bus journeys to the church. Calmness.
Back again for more drinks, food and a late night visit to Joet’s at Bogmalo.
Memories of another day, in January when I had visited that place with a young friend! A happening joint along the beach, with wonderful music!
The evening was made more wonderful with our own guys taking the mike and singing familiar tunes! While some of us old birds called it a night and headed back to the chalet in the wee hours of the morning, the more adventurous lot decided to try their luck at the many casinos of Goa.
Sleep comes
easy when the mind, body and heart are content!
Morning, decided to take the bus to Panjim for a run along to Miramar. A Sunday morning visit to the church and a short run along the Mandovi again to the sea.
The roads were washed clean from the rains, the constant slow drizzle, not enough to drench, just enough to feel a spray.
A slip, a
fall, a cracked phone and wounded ego!
Back to the chalet in time to meet a bunch of breakfast hunters and it was back to the city again for a hot breakfast. A crowded favourite again, visit Café Bhonsles for some real good hot puri and bhaji the Goan way.
A bit of
shopping and bumping into an old Professor on the streets of Panjim in the most
unexpected places. A quick hello and introductions all around, not knowing
where the night would lead us!
Back to the
chalet for a wash and a trip to our campus now settled in Sanquelim.
This was our temporary home and we made it homely! More shopping, more food and we had a well stocked pantry.
This night,
we had our professors for company and that is an experience which none of us
will easily forget. GIM gave us this feeling of comfort with professors who
taught us subjects we had no clue about, who were easy to hate for making it
all so difficult but whom we loved for being understanding about it! Professors, guides, mentors, friends.
The night continued
with its own bit of confusion, sleeplessness and an early morning trip to the
airport.
And warm
fuzzy memories, alcohol induced in-between wakefulness and sleeplessness and back
to Bangalore for a life of routine.
Not once did
I feel weird being the one girl among the 14 men.
The 3 days
will remain wonderful memories for us who were there, the pictures constant
reminders of the fun and laughter and letting go.
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