Another first at Goa!

It's hard to believe that until now, I'd been to Goa only once and that too with parents!! All plans through college and MBA got canned either due to parental guidance issues or lack of funds! And now when I finally did, I went with my fiancé for 6 days straight!

It is the perfect vacation place coz it is inherently lethargic and laid back! No one is in a rush or in a hurry to reach anywhere or accomplish anything! And that is a welcome breather after the maddening pace of your life in Bombay!

My first drive through Goa.. was from the airport to our resort in Arpora, near Calangute / Baga. And amidst the lush green landscapes, the sea, the tall palm trees, and of course the beautiful churches, spotting a school was like an eyesore! I was like "Oh people work, teach n study too in Goa! It's such a beautiful vacation place.. how do they ever manage to get any work / studying done here!!"

The hoardings in Goa are not at a raised level as in our usual boring cities.. They are at ground level.. lower than the trees so that the ugly metal doesn't spoil the landscape! Interesting in'nit?

Their architecture is unique and contemporary in a stylish way! Im not an architectural expert.. But it was pretty in a very English style.. wooden cottages painted in loud colours.. Red purple yellow orange.. As jazzy as you can imagine! There was this red house and the owners had covered the entire house with a plastic sheet to protect it from the wrath of the monsoons! :D

I dint know that there are no petrol pumps in Goa! At least in North Goa where we put up! They sell petrol in 1 litre bottles at local retail stores! And for people to know that, 2-3 petrol filled bottles will be on display outside the store! Needless to say, they sell it at a premium price!

Oh the food! It aches to think of all the awesome food we had there! Sea food was to die for! So was the baked stuff and the desserts! And to top it all.. beer was available for 20 bucks a pint! So for someone who loves guzzling beer (and worry about the beer belly only once u r back!) it was heaven!

Last but not the least.. the beaches! I'm a complete water baby and i am blissful when i'm around water bodies! Every day hitting the beaches was like religion! If i din't do it i'd feel weird! The sand was abrasive and even through the clouds, the sun was harsh.. but i fell in love with all the beaches instantly!

Back with a tan.. and loads of happy memories clicked and captured.. it was a perfect first vacation with Sid! :)

1601, Shubham Atlantis

"Permanent Address". I hated the field in the numerous forms I have filled. Because my permanent address was never the same as my current one and there came a point in time when I was missing having a fixed set of co-ordinates.

Today I got that. My first own permanent address! - Not taking into account the ones my parents gave me..

1601, Shubham Atlantis. The first house we will ever own. The first piece of earth we own. The first haven where we will build memories for a lifetime. My first EMI! The new party pad. My new secure spot. My new home! The place for so many firsts! It is an amazing feeling - to say the least of course! We entered a new phase in life when he went down on one knee.. Today, 3rd August 2010 is the first important milestone in this beautiful journey!

The feeling is yet to dawn upon me completely.. But I'm writing about it to record this initial euphoria, this intermittent excited feeling, the jittery feeling when I think of my finances going for a toss, the smiles on our faces which says a lot, the look on his face which gives me the faith that we will see this through! I feel like a child who just bought a new toy she was dreaming of for so long!!

Did you know that Cloud # 99 just shifted to the 16th floor of Shubham Atlantis? Come see for yourself!! :-)

God bless this place!