Morning Coffee

What better way to start the day than with a nice cup of hot coffee,
sitting on the balcony upstairs. With a palm tree right in front of the balcony and several other trees on each side as playground for birds and chipmunks, I get morning entertainment gratis of Mother Nature. Looking to the right is the neighbor's house.

Sixth: Enjoying the Beach.....

Finally, just a few snaps to show us enjoying the beach in a leisurely way.....

Fifth: Breakfast

A nice place for a good South Indian breakfast is SAGAR KINARA, just a couple of blocks from the main Colva Beach. Great dosas, vadhas, whatever vegetarian food one would like. The restaurant is divided into a purely veg section upstairs on the roofed terrace, and a non-veg section downstairs. Highly recommended!

Fourth: Early Morning at the Beach

It is quiet at the beach at seven in the morning. A few early walkers up and about enjoying the serenity. The fishermen have already been busy with their catch by this time, and crows are flying around the nets in the hope of catching an easy breakfast.

Third: Surf and Sand

There is never a time of day when the beach in anything but beautiful. It is a serene sort of beach, with fine, powdery sand that crunches almost like fresh snow. Waves roll in calmly but underneath lurks some danger to swimmers. Undertow is treacherous and every year, people who can't swim well or who enter the water inebriated drown. The Goa Tourism Department has now hired numerous life guards. Brightly clad in fire engine red outfits, these young men sit on their lookout posts, walky-talky in hand. A jeep, also part of the crew, comes around every so often. I have not seen any of them having to go after a drowning swimmer but I have seen them alert people when they are out too far from shore.

Though walking, sun bathing or playing with the kids in the sand is what most people do, there are a few water sports being offered. There are water scooters for rent and the ever-popular para- sailing. A three minute twirl into the air will set you back 600 Rupees (may be negotiated a little on a slow day). The para-sailing crew is trained and has to have a license to operate. You never go up alone - one of the crew is strapped in with the customer and maneuvers the ropes.

Sunbeds and umbrellas are freely offered by the shacks, in return for your eating-and-drinking business during the time you spend. The waiters set up a table right by the sun bed and bring you any refreshment you want.

Second: Beach Road

A stroll from the end of the village, past pattyfields and buffalo, runs straight to the beach. Below is a photo of the palm trees lining the right side of Beach Road, providing little shade on a hot day but swaying beautifully in the breeze. Directly in front of the beach, a few signs point to the popular shacks.

First: Village Scenes

As one walks through the village, past the last farm house, a lushly green scenery unfolds: pattyfields with rice plants sprouting, palmtrees, colorful birds and buffalo. Below are a few photos from a walk in early December (2008).

Visit December 2008