Rajbert

We wanted to see some other parts of Goa, particularly because the season hadn't kicked off yet in Palolem, but also because many people had recommended that we try Calungate beach and Baga beach in the north of Goa. We booked a hotel specifically because it had a gym but when we got there the gym had no walls and no equipment in it because it was being refurbished; they promised us it would be finished by the next evening but it wasn't so we found a gym up the road and worked out with the locals a few times!

Calungate beach.

Cow selfie! 

These beaches were very, very different to Palolem. Calm, quiet water was replaced with thrashing waves full of Indian families swimming, bathing and taking photos of each other and instead of stretches of empty sand there were droves of young Indian bachelors drinking on the beach. There were a couple of public holidays taking place (Ghandi's Birthday and a Hindu goddess festival) and so people from all over India had come to this part of Goa to celebrate and blow off some steam. This meant that it was unusually busy and lively but also that Ben and I were the only white faces in the town so we had a lot of attention!

The sea was as full as this for miles!

We couldn't walk down the beach for 5mins without being asked to be in Indian tourists' photos. 

We spent a lot of time mooching around the beach and eating at shacks along the coast under umbrellas. Goa is notorious for its party scene but in recent years the government has enforced a ban on loud music outdoors after 10pm which, unfortunately, has put an end to most of the all night trance raves! Nevertheless we ventured out to the bars sprawled out along Baga beach one evening. I'd heard there still was a wild party scene going on in some places but I haven't found it yet - the only wild thing about our night there was the stray beach dog we made friends with! I can't complain though - we enjoyed eating, drinking and watching all the commotion on the busy, dark beach.

Baga beach at night.

I named him Rajbert - he has scruffy, fluffy paws and he loves tandoori chicken.

Our main activity in Baga involved food; hopping between restaurants for hours ordering random starters and sharing dishes instead of having proper meals. It meant we have tried pretty much every type of Indian food you could imagine! (And it also means we are pigs! However this was counteracted by several gym visits...)

Lazy days under a beach umbrella.

On our last full day there we hired a Royal Enfield motorbike which we'd been trying to do for several days but all the Indian tourists had got there first. We drove off into the Indian countryside and spent the day visiting a few other beaches in the north of Goa (hoping to find some more peaceful ones!).

Riding around Goa.

My helmet looked like it was glued together with curry!!!

On Sunday evening Ben left to catch his flight after spending two weeks in the sunny south of India. I wasn't on my own for long though because, just a few hours later, I met up with my friend Paula again and we planned the next part of our trip.