Lohagad

Lohagad, a photo by dangerous_minds on Flickr.

Photo Stream of Lohagad Trek on Flickr.
A short blog post of the journey on Loud Thinking - "My Trek at Lohagad".

Yesomite

yesomite, a set on Flickr.

Drive to Yesomite National Park, CA in May 2007.

Trek to Purandar

Amazing trek to Purandar Fort on 3rd March 2012 with Mighty Men of Word of Grace Church.

dangerous_minds' photostream on Flickr.

Goa Travel Tweets

Day #1 /23d Dec

Highlights : Don Bosco Church/Panaji, Miramar beach, Colva beach

• Travelling Pune to Goa by bus , should switch to train or flight next time.
• Reached Old Mandovi bridge, North Goa with sore back and a bad tummy !!
• Breakfast at Kamats, KTC bus stand, Panaji - Idli/Wada & Coffee ... feels refreshed.
• Excited about the rented car which is about to meet us after breakfast at 8am
• Planned our first ad-hoc trip to the nearest beach - Miramar.
• Loving the Ritz, that we don't mind driving in the opposite direction to a small village.
• (Added on Jan3,2013) Need to fill-up the tank ... Petrol is Rs55 per litre ! amazing, no wonder CNG is not popular yet.
• Don Bosco church at Panaji  for morning service ... Some cool Santa pics.
• Looking for morning chai to be refreshed. Landed at stars & books - Broadway Books instead !!
• Finally reached Miramar beach at about 10:00am, first taste of sand !
• 1hr drive to Margoa, South Goa - Terrific !
• Hotel Woodlands, Margoa - Warm welome, great chocolates.
• Lunch at Rangoli / Woodlands hotel ... Malai Kofta, Roti & Yogurt with rice.
• Plan for the day : Colva beach sunset time.
• Colva beach here we come ... been here 7 years ago.
• Cool beach water at Colva is amazing ! great crowd.
• Peaceful and fun, wish we made it on time for the sunset !
• Lets shack up at A&mpersand ! Beach & Sand restro-n-bar.
• Where's the camera ... somewhere on the beach. 
• Thank God !  Jenny found it where she left it, under the newspaper
• Prawn curry and mocktails for din-din ! 
• Nice way to end the day at a Colva beach shack.                                    

Day #2 / 24th Dec

Highlights : Palolem beach, Agonda beach

 Beach sport at Palolem beach.

Quick breakfast ... a buffet ...such little time 

Plan for the day : Palolem and Cola beaches.

Off to Palolem at 8:30am .. 35 km ride.

Nice scenic journey ! Feels a bit like Kerala - Slim roads, green fields & coconut trees.

10:30 : Finally at Palolem , Yippe ! Nice view of the beach .

Fed up of the boat ride hawkers ... Kept bargaining from 1200/- to 800/- for a ride to Butterfly island and dolphin view.

Nice lunch of shark fish curry .. But hey wait, why is the shark fish pieces so tiny. Maybe shark fish from an aquarium !

My daughter is a Maaza Girl ! Yes she has discovered love for the mango drink - "Maaza".

Shopping at Palolem is quite interesting. Embroidery on black tees done on order from any design.

Coffee and cookies at a cool little Cafe in Palolem market area. Run by foreigners ? Seems to be swarming by foreign tourists !

Driving out to find Cola beach ... Found the details in one of the editions of "Planet Goa".

Have reached Agonda beach but are unable to go further to Cola. Sun-set time ... Picture time !

Daquiri and lime juice after a swim ... sunset and fun with joe & jen.

Shower at the shack and refreshing view. Love the relaxing setting.

Tandoori, Kalmari / Squid curry & soda ... Merry Christmas coming up

    

Day #3 / 25th Dec

Highlights : Holy Spirit Church/Margoa, Vasco Da Gama, Bogmalo beach, Dona Paula, Calangute beach

 Parasailing at Calangute beach.

• Pleasant surprise from Jenny ... Card and chocolates ... great start for Christmas.
• Test of speed - Quick breakfast and drive soon to church !
• On time for Christmas service ! Sitting in the front for a change. 
• Joanne is all jumpy during service ... Trying to keep her calm.
• Plan for the day : Vasco Da Gama, Dona Paula & Calangute beaches.
• But first, we need some tea. Missed our usual dose in the morning rush !
• Stopped at Leonara's Restaurant for some Chai and complimentary goan delicacy.
• The Kings Pub within Leonaras Restro is amazing. 
• Need to pick up some yummy goan cakes for home ... Bebinca pudding .. Thanks a bunch !
• Drove to Vasco Da Gama , thinking there is a great beach there. Its a port !! turn-around to Bogmalo or Majorda beach on the way to Dabolim airport.
• Next stop is Bogmalo beach ... soft and white sand. Quiet beach.
• Joe is fearful of the crashing waves. Finally distracted her to play with the sand.
• Planning about going to Dona Paula for lunch ... hope we drive soon :)
• Dona Paula kithe hai ? Have crossed Miramar and trying to reach DP beach.
• Lunch at Dona Paula a warf with a market. Its not the same as Dona Paula beach.
• Goan fish curry with fried fish ! Quantity is always good for one.
• Lime Soda on menu but not Lime water. Can't you just replace water with Soda ?
• Nice monument on DP warf. Excellent view ... Joe is all game to climb up the 4 floors of steps.
• Hectic traffic jam ... very narrow and harrowing experience for 30 mins.
• Driving out to Calangute ... have to make up for some lost time.
• My God .. Calangute seems to be the most crowded beach !
• Is Calangute the king of Goan beaches ?
• Sunset is excellent ! Should we shack up for dinner ?
• Shopping for Port wine and cashews.
• Naah !! Driving back to Margaon ... Martins Restro & bar on our mind.
• Dinner : Mojito, Blue Lagoon, Red Snapper, Rice & Yogurt
• Amazingly cooked fish at Martins. One of the talked about restaurants in one of the Goa Android Apps. 

Goa 2012, a set on Flickr.

Credits : Photos taken by Android Mobile Cam & Sony Video Cam.