Goa! Goa has long been a favorite destination. I have been to Goa at least 3-4 times, as far as I can remember. And I still wouldn’t let any opportunity to visit this beautiful state go by. The humid, salty air has always been alluring. So is the vastness of the sea, the slightly warm breeze and the steady sound of the waves crashing on the shore.
My earlier visits were more like that of a regular tourist and included all the places and beaches in the North and South Goa. We even signed on to the local beaches tour many years back that took us to the Vagator beach and ended the day on the river cruise. The various churches and Donna Paula pier kicked off the day.
No matter what time of the year you go, the Sun is always beating down on you. If you are not near or in the water, the heat is unbearable.
Thankfully, my trips to Goa now do not include the run-of-the-mill sightseeing schedule. And apart from a last day visit to the Panji market, I spend most of the time sitting in the beach shacks or lounging under the palm trees on a quiet shore.
Enjoying this kind of vacation without shelling out the steep rentals for luxury hotels with private beaches means you need to carry a lot of stuff with you, so a road trip becomes a must. Moreover, the journey from Pune to Goa through the Western Ghats is something that I hate to miss. Unfortunately, Goa tourism season kicks in after the end of Monsoon, sometime in October and picks up post November. Traveling by car in October means you are in for a rude shock as the roads through the Ghats are at their worst after heavy, incessant rains in the hills.
Beauty and the Bumps
Driving through this rough terrain is definitely not a task taken lightly in a soft suspension sedan. Not only will you feel the bumps, you will have to be ready to spend a fortune on the suspension by the time you complete your trip back home. A tough suspension will ensure that the car is stable and comfortable through rough roads and tight curves.
But we need to do our bit too. Any road trip has to include pillows for everyone to make the journey comfortable and come out of the long journey without any back aches.
Comfort and the Vacation Gear
My love for road travel and driving has forced people around me, at times, to make very uncomfortable journeys. We have traveled across the state in small cars, have had to stop at some very unpleasant places, and weathered strong storms with gusts up to 60 miles per hour.
What I like most about a spacious car is that folding the last row seat will give me the space that I need to dump everything I need for a beach vacation.
Traveling to a destination like Goa means long hours on the beach, listening to the wind and the waves. Goa has numerous beaches and enclaves off the beaten path where you can relax and enjoy the serene sea. The huge boot space means I can have the Chatai and camping chairs to set up shop at a secluded spot and sip on a cold beer from the cooler – a must if you don’t want to mess up your love for beer.
The Sound of Music
Vast empty stretches of endless road, low hanging clouds, blue skies, what you need is some amazing music to cruise on the four lane NH4 and enjoy the post monsoon greenery all around you.
What comes hand-in-hand with road travel are endless arguments on which turn to take and where to stop for refreshments. With a spacious car, I can relax a bit as the navigation system will take care of the directions. Although I do dread the mechanical ‘You have Arrived’ command, which has landed me in the wilderness at times. What is indisputable is the ease of adjusting the sound and selecting music, with the controls mounted on the steering wheel. I absolutely cannot think of stepping out of the house without my music CDs, digital players and any other device that I can hook up to the car.
Satying Safe
A road trip is fun. But it also automatically includes a lot of risk when you are on the road for long hours. Our road safety data doesn’t inspire much to drive and neither do drivers who cut lanes at will and have no regard for traffic rules. On the highway where you are traveling at high speeds the safety of airbags brings that risk a notch down and gives you a fighting chance.
Connectivity is essential to call for help in an emergency. Long travel time means there is a huge demand on the phone battery. This means that I not only charge the phone, but also carry a battery pack to charge the phone on the road. Well, you may not need these anymore with multiple charging ports for almost everyone in the car.
Relax those Legs
The only flip side of driving long distances is getting your legs all worked up. Cramps and uncomfortable footwear can make driving very uncomfortable. I need to carry at least three different types of footwear to ensure that I have the right footwear all through the vacation – in the car, on the beach, and at a party! With cruise control, I can engage the auto pilot and get that foot off the gas pedal for a while to extend my legs and give it a workout without having to pull over. With the cruise control set at 70 KMPH you can comfortably cover long distances without resting your foot at an awkward angle and also get better fuel efficiency! Who wouldn’t like that?
The Western Ghats are a sight to behold in the Monsoon – a sight a travel enthusiast must not miss.