Bombay and beyond

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 02:19:42 +0500 #441

Thanks, Murtaza.

Cheers, Jazzy.

desiguy (desiguy) 2011-06-07 02:32:35 +0500 #442

Yaar ek choti si jang ho gai na humare saath, sub utha ke le jain ge hum. humara pata nahi hai abhi. lol I am just kidding. Nice spotting. Btw what car do you drive? and is it true that houses are extremely expensive in mumbai and majority of the population lives in apartment buildings and condominiums. ?

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 02:43:33 +0500 #443

So, I went to Goa about a fortnight ago, and somehow, like all my trips in the recent past, this was pretty brief. I'm not a fan of weddings, but I thought, "meh, this one's in Goa, and I have to "represent" my parents (who conveniently had other plans), so how bad could it be?", and sure enough, I had a great time. I'll spare you the details from the wedding, and stick to pictures from Goa.

I took a Jet Airways afternoon flight out of Bombay. I know I should've flown out in the morning to be able to spend more time on the beach before the wedding schedule kicked in, but my legendary last minute booking didn't allow me to. If you think Bombay's hot, Goa is somethin' else altogether!

Arriving at the Jet Airways Terminal in Santa Cruz

Check-in

To security-check

The summer holiday in India means hundreds of fully loaded flights taking off and landing each day, which leads to crowded terminals. Thank God we're getting new terminals nationwide...

Flight 473 to Goa, now boarding...

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 02:45:19 +0500 #444

LOL, uhmm, I drive a 2011 Volkswagen Polo 1.6 Highline, and yup, most Bombayites live in apartment buildings.

nickatnite (nickatnite) 2011-06-07 02:49:17 +0500 #445

Finally, pics but Dang. I haveta get going to work now but i do look forward to lotsa pics tonite. Good going BW. We were actually thinking of taking a cruise from Chennai to Lakshadweep, Goa and Mumbai with AMET Cruise line which operates outta Chennai, later this year. Your thoughts on this idea, when you get finishing posting the pics, ofcourse.

neat pics, btw.

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 03:15:22 +0500 #446

Thanks, Nick. If I'm honest, I don't know much about AMET Cruises, but I have been to the Lakshadweep islands on a 10 seater aeroplane, on a school trip about a decade ago, which was loads of fun. I suggest you go, obviously.

Ground service vehicles at BOM

TATA Aria airport vehicle (Go Airways)

IndiGo Airlines is IMO, one of the world's best low-cost carriers. Impeccable service, great aircraft and cabin crew, and amazing advertising and branding, makes this a much sought-after product. If I remember correctly, IndiGo has ordered over a hundred new jets from Airbus Industrie.

My ride - a brand new Boeng 737-800

The flight time from BOM to GOI (Goa) is about 55 minutes...

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 03:50:10 +0500 #447

The flight out was quick and smooth, just how I like it...

Welcome to Goa, India's party state!

These girls were struggling with their bags. Why do women always overpack?

I met up with a few friends who'd arrived around the same time as I had, from different parts of the country. Once outside the terminal, the humidity hits you like a Peterbilt would...

The prepaid taxi system at the airport is well organised and user-friendly. Not too many annoying touts this time around.

Goa's primary industry is tourism. Loads of hotels catering to different budgets, are spread across the state. Most hotels offer courtesy shuttle buses for arriving guests. My friends and I decided to take a cab to our hotel in North Goa, a good hour and a half away.

waqitariq (Waqas Khan) 2011-06-07 04:28:29 +0500 #448

nice nice

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 04:30:11 +0500 #449

En route to north Goa...

We picked up a friend (who'd arrived a few days ago) from this Calangute hotel to take him to ours further north...

Prime Goan farmland, just a stone's throw away from the beach. The Western Ghats are visible in the background...

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 04:32:37 +0500 #450

Thanks, Waqitariq

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 04:50:45 +0500 #451

The Force Traveller

The new Hyundai Verna seems to be doing rather well in Goa...

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 05:02:58 +0500 #452

Finally arrived at our hotel which was full of vacationers. The Taj group owns the Fort Aguada Beach resort, one of Goa's first 5 star hotels. The property itself used to be a fort, built by the Portuguese in 1612 for protection against the Dutch and the Marathas.

The Taj is known for it's spas, in this case, the Jiva spa...

The wedding party was to happen at the beach adjoining the hotel. It was an all-white linen shack - perfect! The Russian DJ (and owner) refused to play Bhangra/ Bollywood which the aunties wanted, but after a few drinks, the punjabi aunties and uncles were grooving to house and techno. LOL

Excuse the photo quality please...

A couple of kids having a blast at the pool table...

The BBQ area...

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 05:21:57 +0500 #453

These were among the last of the crazy beach parties signalling the formal end of the tourist season (before the monsoon sets in)...

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 05:57:31 +0500 #454

Goa sights...

A traditional Goan home...

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 07:02:02 +0500 #455

Colourful Goa...

The easiest way to get around (excluding state public transport) is on 2 wheels. Goa is dotted with 2-wheeler rental shops...

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 07:13:58 +0500 #456

Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Villa

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 09:07:11 +0500 #457

Everyday Goa...

Many signs statewide are in English, Russian, Japanese and Hebrew...

A side street

Great 24 hour restaurant en route to Baga beach

Goan prawn curry + rice + pomfret fingers + Kingfisher = heaven

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 09:25:36 +0500 #458

87% of Goans are literate, and people belonging to various religious groups live here in peace and harmony. There are a ton of old churches spread across the state, many of them built by the Portuguese.

More colour!

desiguy (desiguy) 2011-06-07 14:28:17 +0500 #459

India could be our biggest role model and a perfect model to learn something. We started at the same time, and look where india is and look where we are. We are living in a stone age, while indians are enjoying the basic necessities of life. We have no electricity, food, clean water, gas, petrol and security. India got everything, Despite the huge population which sometimes become a pain in the *** but in the case of India, their huge population is actually benefiting them, Why? Because the Govt is extremely organized, everything is in order, there is a total democracy. I wish Pak could learn something from India.

Bombaywalla (Bombaywalla) 2011-06-07 14:43:33 +0500 #460

Like I said already, my trip was brief. Back to the airport...

Some aeroplane spotting whilst I await my boarding call...

Goa's new state-of-the-art passenger terminal is under construction at the moment...

There it is...