25th Anniversary.

doofus · Jan 8th, 2006, 14:34

Going to Goa is really our 25th anniversary gift to me and the wife. However, we still want to do something special for that day. We are a bit restricted to a budget for our time away though.

I like the idea of a Kerala style rice boat trip. I have seen it advertised on tour operators sites for about £75 per person. I was wondering if anyone has been on this or know someone who has.

is it possible to arrange this sort of trip privately? generally anything booked through a tour operator proves to be much more expensive than doing it privately.

i have emailed one tour company to find out what exactly is included in the trip and how many people are allowed on the overnight trip. sadly, they have chosen not to reply. No idea , why?

Also there is a trip advertised which I have pasted here:
Ocean Rhapsody £41
Paradise revisited. An overnight stay (full-board basis) on Cola Beach in the heart of Canacona, one of the most beautiful areas of South Goa.

Does anyone know anything of this at all?

many thanks guys, Pete

Serena · Jan 8th, 2006, 15:31

Have a look at the Kerala threads and you will find a lot of information about backwaters cruise!

You can start from here: Kerala Backwaters - A cruise on budgets!

You can easily arrange a cruise from your own (low season there's no problem) in Allepey.
Happy anniversary!

gopalk · Jan 8th, 2006, 15:44

I think you may find the Kerala backwaters cruise to be well worth than the Goan paradise trips!

john.sw · Jan 8th, 2006, 16:14

There are only about 140 converted rice barges (kettuvallam) on the backwaters of Kerala, so you would be advised to book ahead if you are visiting during the season.

I have a friend in Kochi who has a small travel company. She can arrange it for you and definately won't rip you off!

Please send me a private message if you want Jenny's contact details.

All the best,

John

doofus · Jan 8th, 2006, 17:00

Thanks for that. The only problem is that we are not going to Kerala but going to Goa. I was wondering about similar things like that in Goa.

Pete

gopalk · Jan 8th, 2006, 18:14

You may get similar boat trips, but the experience will definitely not be the same. The reason is that Goa is just the sea coast and there are no back waters.

Kerala is a infinitely more greener, and has one of the best backwater experiences you can have. It is not a very long haul from Goa to Kerala and you can get a cheap flight if you book now.

-
Gopal

doofus · Jan 8th, 2006, 18:16

Gopal,

Thanks for that. I was aware of that as I was last in Kerala before the hoards way back in 1978!!

My wife and I were just looking for something special to do just for one night to celebrate our 25 anniversary whilst we are in Goa. We have no intention of going to Kerala during our stay.

regards, Pete

Malkers · Jan 9th, 2006, 02:04

Hi Pete

Avoid tour operators for any trips particularly through Thomas Cook or anything like that and often the Hotels will put a big mark up on there too. Either hire your own car (driving in Goa is OK compared to rest of India but still watch out for the trucks on main roads coming towards you with lights flashing) which is easy enough, sure you are supposed to have an international driving license but I've done it countless times with cars and scooters with no problems, if you get stopped just speak in Bulgarian and they'll most likely wave you on!

Not sure if you are staying in a nice hotel already but I can highly recommend taking a night and day at Intercontinental Hotel and Resort in Cancona, it is a stunning place with a beautiful quiet beach. Your wife can have a day of pampering at Champneys there and if you like golf you can take a round on a great course! They also have air conditioned tents with ensuite bathrooms right next to the beach which I wish we'd known about before we booked but they don't advertise these on their website, only $100 per night for these!

Would recommend a trip to Sakahari Spice Farm in Ponda, hiring a taxi there and back will cost around 800rs without ac or 100 with ac. Most spice farms are brutally quick and give you the hard sell on their products which are 4 times as expensive as anywhere else, this place doesn't, really relaxed interesting tour that teaches you a lot about spices, fruit, cashews etc and you get a lovely meal included for just 300rs per head, you can also wash and feed the rsident elephants or take a ride on them for additional cost.

Another fab trip is to the Dudsaghar Water Falls (about 50km past the spice farms so you could leave early morning and easily do both) where you jump out of your cab and take a 40km ride in a jeep through rough terrain and rivers to get there and take the coldest bath you ever had in the rockpool at the bottom.

Avoid a place called Jungle Book which you see advertised and sold by the tour operators, its expensive, uninspiring and crap!

Old Goa town is a lovely place to go and not very far, if your lucky St Francis's body might still be on display in the Bom Jesus Church, lots of annoying hawkers here though!

On the road between Panjim and Old Goa is a village called Ribander (spelling?) where you can drive on to a ferry to a little island called Chorpa (spelling?) where there is a huge bird sanctuary that you can explore on a boat with a couple of ornothologists, not done this but am told it is good if a little pricey. Just cruising around this and the adjoining islands and getting lost is great fun, they are all connected by these little old ferries!

If you are in Colva it is only a short trip to Cavalossim which is a cute little town and again if you turn left whilst heading down this route you will hit the River Sal which is quite beautiful. One particular tip is to go past the Holiday Inn on your right and take the next left to a great little restaurant on the river called Fisherman's Wharf (Had my Christmas Dinner here, just turned up without booking!), brilliant food and brilliant service and kingfishers and herons fly around you in numbers, you can watch the fishing boats working and if you carry on back down the main road you'll see loads of fish being dried on the road and riverside!

All my best experiences in Goa have been the ones with no itenarary and no fear of getting completely lost and thats even more fun if you are at the wheel as a driver won't understand why the hell you might enjoy these lovely quaint villages and islands!

Hope that helps a little, if I think of anything else I'll let you know!

Cheers
Malc
PS: There are boat trips available on backwaters and rivers, I haven't but friends have and said it wasn't much good!

doofus · Jan 9th, 2006, 02:42

Malc.

That was extremely intersting what you you said. how did you go about booking those trips.

I think me and my wife would enjoy the meal with herons and kingfishers flying around the restaurant. Sounds just right for us. We love watching birds and will not forget to take our binoculars.

Doing things around the Colva area suits us fine.

i wa a bit sceptical about the 'rice boats tour'. I am glad you confirmed that.

Once again, i do appreciate your help and advice. I will probably be in contact again when I have showed all this to my wife.

many thanks, malc, reagrds, Pete

Malkers · Jan 9th, 2006, 02:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by doofus

Malc.

That was extremely intersting what you you said. how did you go about booking those trips.

I think me and my wife would enjoy the meal with herons and kingfishers flying around the restaurant. Sounds just right for us. We love watching birds and will not forget to take our binoculars.

Doing things around the Colva area suits us fine.

i wa a bit sceptical about the 'rice boats tour'. I am glad you confirmed that.

Once again, i do appreciate your help and advice. I will probably be in contact again when I have showed all this to my wife.

many thanks, malc, reagrds, Pete

Pete, I didn't book any trips, I just did them. For the waterfalls and spice farms I drove myself in a hire car (which I borrowed from a friend of course), in fact I did it all in a hire car or on a scooter, the islands and everything, I've only used taxis if I want to go out for a few beers (although this doesn't stop locals from driving) or transfers to and from airport.

I wouldn't actually recommend driving yourself anywhere if it is your first time in India, I had a lot of practice from much worse places with more dangers!

Just hire a cab and tell them where you want to go.

For your information. Thomas Cook in Calangute wanted £78 per person to go to the waterfalls. Our cost for 4 of us was 800rs for the hire car, 400rs for petrol and 1800rs for the jeep! A total of 3000rs or £37 which is an eighth of what they wanted!!

If you don't want to go down as far as Cancona then there is also Leela resort which is about 500 metres along from Fishermans Wharf, didn't go to it but rest assured it will be amazing!

Cheers again
Malcolm

Malkers · Jan 9th, 2006, 02:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by john.sw

There are only about 140 converted rice barges (kettuvallam) on the backwaters of Kerala, so you would be advised to book ahead if you are visiting during the season.

I have a friend in Kochi who has a small travel company. She can arrange it for you and definately won't rip you off!

Please send me a private message if you want Jenny's contact details.

All the best,

John

John

I'd very much like those details please!

Thanks
Malc

GoanCanuck · Jan 9th, 2006, 07:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malkers

where you can drive on to a ferry to a little island called Chorpa (spelling?) where there is a huge bird sanctuary that you can explore on a boat with a couple of ornothologists,

That would be Chorao.
http://www.paulos.uk7.net/chorao.html

doofus · Feb 4th, 2006, 16:50

malcom,

have been in touch with the spice plantation farm you suggested. Will definitely be going there. Also going to the Animal Rescue Centre.

That fisherman's Wharf restuarnt sounds just right for us as well.

I haven't driven or ridden in India before . I shall probably do neither, just in case.

There seems to be a fair bit to do around Cavalossim. May be an idea to stay overnight somewhere. Any idea of anything sort of 'middle of the roadish'?

Have heard there is an excellent river trip run by Betty's Bar that is highly recommended.

We go three weeks today(saturday).

Any other suggestions would be most welcomed. have also heard that a short stay at Agonda beach is a good thing to do.

regards, Pete

goangoangone · Feb 4th, 2006, 23:07

Try Betty's Boat Trip at Cavelossim. Day trip(600/-) I think. They first take you out from the Sal estuary to see dolphins then back up the river very slowly. The day includes lunch and all your drink. Also binoculars are provided to spot birds, bats and whatever.......

Jan 8th, 2006, 14:34	#1
doofus Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Uk Posts: 61	25th Anniversary. Going to Goa is really our 25th anniversary gift to me and the wife. However, we still want to do something special for that day. We are a bit restricted to a budget for our time away though. I like the idea of a Kerala style rice boat trip. I have seen it advertised on tour operators sites for about £75 per person. I was wondering if anyone has been on this or know someone who has. is it possible to arrange this sort of trip privately? generally anything booked through a tour operator proves to be much more expensive than doing it privately. i have emailed one tour company to find out what exactly is included in the trip and how many people are allowed on the overnight trip. sadly, they have chosen not to reply. No idea , why? Also there is a trip advertised which I have pasted here: Ocean Rhapsody £41 Paradise revisited. An overnight stay (full-board basis) on Cola Beach in the heart of Canacona, one of the most beautiful areas of South Goa. Does anyone know anything of this at all? many thanks guys, Pete

Jan 8th, 2006, 15:31	#2
Serena Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Bologna, Italy Posts: 282	Have a look at the Kerala threads and you will find a lot of information about backwaters cruise! You can start from here: Kerala Backwaters - A cruise on budgets! You can easily arrange a cruise from your own (low season there's no problem) in Allepey. Happy anniversary! __________________ http://namasteindia.blogspot.com/

Jan 8th, 2006, 16:14	#4
john.sw Up in the hills with my head in the clouds... Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: India/UK Posts: 1,019	There are only about 140 converted rice barges (kettuvallam) on the backwaters of Kerala, so you would be advised to book ahead if you are visiting during the season. I have a friend in Kochi who has a small travel company. She can arrange it for you and definately won't rip you off! Please send me a private message if you want Jenny's contact details. All the best, John __________________ www.nilgiris.asia your guide to the Nilgiris, Ooty, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Gudalur

Feb 4th, 2006, 23:07	#14
goangoangone Monsoon Loon Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Goa Posts: 1,502	Try Betty's Boat Trip at Cavelossim. Day trip(600/-) I think. They first take you out from the Sal estuary to see dolphins then back up the river very slowly. The day includes lunch and all your drink. Also binoculars are provided to spot birds, bats and whatever....... __________________ GoanGoan......here

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Jan 8th, 2006, 15:44	#3
gopalk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 242	I think you may find the Kerala backwaters cruise to be well worth than the Goan paradise trips!

Jan 8th, 2006, 17:00	#5
doofus Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Uk Posts: 61	Thanks for that. The only problem is that we are not going to Kerala but going to Goa. I was wondering about similar things like that in Goa. Pete

Jan 8th, 2006, 18:14	#6
gopalk Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 242	You may get similar boat trips, but the experience will definitely not be the same. The reason is that Goa is just the sea coast and there are no back waters. Kerala is a infinitely more greener, and has one of the best backwater experiences you can have. It is not a very long haul from Goa to Kerala and you can get a cheap flight if you book now. - Gopal

Jan 8th, 2006, 18:16	#7
doofus Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Uk Posts: 61	Gopal, Thanks for that. I was aware of that as I was last in Kerala before the hoards way back in 1978!! My wife and I were just looking for something special to do just for one night to celebrate our 25 anniversary whilst we are in Goa. We have no intention of going to Kerala during our stay. regards, Pete

Jan 9th, 2006, 02:04	#8
Malkers Not So Bloody Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chipping Sodbury, UK (was Bangalore) Posts: 411	Hi Pete Avoid tour operators for any trips particularly through Thomas Cook or anything like that and often the Hotels will put a big mark up on there too. Either hire your own car (driving in Goa is OK compared to rest of India but still watch out for the trucks on main roads coming towards you with lights flashing) which is easy enough, sure you are supposed to have an international driving license but I've done it countless times with cars and scooters with no problems, if you get stopped just speak in Bulgarian and they'll most likely wave you on! Not sure if you are staying in a nice hotel already but I can highly recommend taking a night and day at Intercontinental Hotel and Resort in Cancona, it is a stunning place with a beautiful quiet beach. Your wife can have a day of pampering at Champneys there and if you like golf you can take a round on a great course! They also have air conditioned tents with ensuite bathrooms right next to the beach which I wish we'd known about before we booked but they don't advertise these on their website, only $100 per night for these! Would recommend a trip to Sakahari Spice Farm in Ponda, hiring a taxi there and back will cost around 800rs without ac or 100 with ac. Most spice farms are brutally quick and give you the hard sell on their products which are 4 times as expensive as anywhere else, this place doesn't, really relaxed interesting tour that teaches you a lot about spices, fruit, cashews etc and you get a lovely meal included for just 300rs per head, you can also wash and feed the rsident elephants or take a ride on them for additional cost. Another fab trip is to the Dudsaghar Water Falls (about 50km past the spice farms so you could leave early morning and easily do both) where you jump out of your cab and take a 40km ride in a jeep through rough terrain and rivers to get there and take the coldest bath you ever had in the rockpool at the bottom. Avoid a place called Jungle Book which you see advertised and sold by the tour operators, its expensive, uninspiring and crap! Old Goa town is a lovely place to go and not very far, if your lucky St Francis's body might still be on display in the Bom Jesus Church, lots of annoying hawkers here though! On the road between Panjim and Old Goa is a village called Ribander (spelling?) where you can drive on to a ferry to a little island called Chorpa (spelling?) where there is a huge bird sanctuary that you can explore on a boat with a couple of ornothologists, not done this but am told it is good if a little pricey. Just cruising around this and the adjoining islands and getting lost is great fun, they are all connected by these little old ferries! If you are in Colva it is only a short trip to Cavalossim which is a cute little town and again if you turn left whilst heading down this route you will hit the River Sal which is quite beautiful. One particular tip is to go past the Holiday Inn on your right and take the next left to a great little restaurant on the river called Fisherman's Wharf (Had my Christmas Dinner here, just turned up without booking!), brilliant food and brilliant service and kingfishers and herons fly around you in numbers, you can watch the fishing boats working and if you carry on back down the main road you'll see loads of fish being dried on the road and riverside! All my best experiences in Goa have been the ones with no itenarary and no fear of getting completely lost and thats even more fun if you are at the wheel as a driver won't understand why the hell you might enjoy these lovely quaint villages and islands! Hope that helps a little, if I think of anything else I'll let you know! Cheers Malc PS: There are boat trips available on backwaters and rivers, I haven't but friends have and said it wasn't much good!

Jan 9th, 2006, 02:42	#9
doofus Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Uk Posts: 61	Malc. That was extremely intersting what you you said. how did you go about booking those trips. I think me and my wife would enjoy the meal with herons and kingfishers flying around the restaurant. Sounds just right for us. We love watching birds and will not forget to take our binoculars. Doing things around the Colva area suits us fine. i wa a bit sceptical about the 'rice boats tour'. I am glad you confirmed that. Once again, i do appreciate your help and advice. I will probably be in contact again when I have showed all this to my wife. many thanks, malc, reagrds, Pete

Feb 4th, 2006, 16:50	#13
doofus Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Uk Posts: 61	malcom, have been in touch with the spice plantation farm you suggested. Will definitely be going there. Also going to the Animal Rescue Centre. That fisherman's Wharf restuarnt sounds just right for us as well. I haven't driven or ridden in India before . I shall probably do neither, just in case. There seems to be a fair bit to do around Cavalossim. May be an idea to stay overnight somewhere. Any idea of anything sort of 'middle of the roadish'? Have heard there is an excellent river trip run by Betty's Bar that is highly recommended. We go three weeks today(saturday). Any other suggestions would be most welcomed. have also heard that a short stay at Agonda beach is a good thing to do. regards, Pete

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