Is Goa really a hell hole ?

Ikuru

Is goa a hellhole?

HELL NO!

If that´s hell than the devil must be a pretty mellow kind of guy.

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cyberhippie

Lot's of places that are in guide books lead you to a quieter more laid back lifestyle: Benualem, Morjim...........
I won't list them all as I'm getting a little selfish in my mellower days!!

I do promise though with some kind of transport and a little curiosity you'll find that illusive Goan beach that brought millions to her shores!! Just don't expect the tourist trimmings,the two don't mix!!!

I hope you can understand my reluctance to divulge........ So many places I loved have been tarnished by people such as myself and other tourists!!

I think I'm applying a bit of spritual/philisophical secrecy these days in an effort to stem the flow!!
Selfish bugger I know but you'll find everything you need in Goa if you just look for it!!
Pick a quiet place from the postings here on IM and enjoy

passingby

you want a Goa guide book?? of course I will recommend you to read my book, 'Young Female, Traveling alone' I have a whole section dedicated to Goa in the book...
You can find out what Goa is like through my eyes...

pix

thanks everyone...well a bit off topic i know but...i think guide books are a good source of information to get you started...to give you an idea...and at the moment i could probably do with reading one! BUT having said that I really think i prefer to hit the road and just go for it....you know explore and go with whateva happens...

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passingby

no offence and all... but then why are you asking questions about Goa then?
the answers you are getting are some sort of guidance anyways... isn't that right?
it is up to you how you want to prepare for your trip.
for me... Goa it has always been an exotic, adventurous, mysterious and mystical place to go to. That is how I picture the place to be like and I guess that is what I allowed myself to experience when I got there and I guess that is how I wrote about it in my book too.

As I earlier said, we all make our lives the way we want to and how much we allow ourselves to experience. I am not saying you should go crazy in Goa either.
but some people are more adventurous and want to experience intense feelings and some people just want to live life on a surface without too much trouble and exhaustion.
it all depends on your character.
however, before I went to India, I did a lot of research on the internet on India and Goa. I fell over some interesting sites and indiamike was one of them too.
I also fell by luck over Cleo Odzer website and her book 'Goa Freaks'. I only read the book after I came back from my trip. just to understand the whole hippies history and where they come from and how it all happened.
but that was my curiosity. I also saw the movie Last hippie standing, which portrays both Goa now-days and Goa during hippy times.

I like to broaden my knowledge through other people eyes.
but that is just me.
I do remember studying in some psychology course in university that you can learn something even from a two year old, all you have to do is listen attentively.
So, that was my lesson. I will try to go in life, listening attentively to everything. every minute might be a new lesson learnt!

and by the way, I did not wrote all this just to sell you my book.
those were just some comments on your reply.

kohinoor

-Passingby-, unfortunately the text of your book in your link was not readable.

"Is Goa really a hell hole?" - May be in May to some.

(Ok, I've heard some scary things from pretty trustable source. Beware some locals, and why not also foreigners, especially in the party scene. But I'm sure the same applies anywhere in the world.)

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- Om is where the Art is -

passingby

I am not sure what you mean?

I click on the link on my signature and the website is fine as well as the writing.

what do you mean?

kohinoor

I wish I could copypaste to show you. But I can't.
There are lots of unnecessary signs and numbers and words messing the whole text.

passingby

I tried to fix it, hopefully now it works. please let me know.

kohinoor

Sorry, not working. I sent you a private message.
(It's ok in IE, but not MF browser)

Lotus-Flower

Pix, Goa is definitelly nice spiritual place worth of seeing , one just need to inquire which place, or beaches r "clean"!

caravanserai

Hi all, 30 yrs later

I'm about to hit the road again , this time with a little more comfort , its my return to somewhere that made such a huge impression on this 20 something , who travelled with an open heart and a desire to experience this wonderful place , with all its complexities . So for some time I've been reading all yr posts and its been inspirational . Thanks for this truly happy , helpful website , I fly to Mumbai a week today and then to Goa , I don't expect to be dissappointed.

Ikuru

Goa is not hell. Hell is in Finland.

Dr Funkenstein

I'm in Goa now and it's far from a hellhole - quite the opposite. Passingby's spot on with her 'it's what you make it' approach.

For me, at the moment, it's having an early morning walk down the beach followed by a swim, getting a bit of breakfast, chilling out on my balcony with a book when the heat cranks itself up and then finding a nice restaurant for a good meal and a few drinks at sunset. And watching the dolphins. Hell On Earth.

Goan people are incredibly welcoming - lots of people remember me from my last stay and come up to say 'hello'. And there's a friendly ex-pat contingent who've been equally welcoming towards me, too. And the food's out of this world.

Of course, if you want to spend the whole time off your face on drink and drugs, there's plenty of that going on, too. But like cyberhipppie says - if you want to avoid all that, it's easily done.

I got here a fortnight ago with the intention of staying for a month or so. I now intend to stay here right through Xmas and well into the New Year. That should give you an indication of how much I like it here.

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Out There Somewhere : My Travel Blog.

Styler

Hi Dr Funkenstein,

Nice to know that you're enjoying Goa right now.
Ive seen your posts in Himachal forum too.
It seems you are one person who has really understood India and enjoyed it the way it should be.
Now i need some help from you sir.

I want to do almost exactly what you are doing in goa right now.

Please let me know of a few places which i can visit.
I've started a new thread too, which gives a little detail of what i want to do in a week's holiday in Goa.

I see that you are perhaps in Arambol now. Please recommend a nice good place on the beach in Arambol. I am travelling with family to goa from the 29th Oct, and would be there for a week including Diwali.
Would Palolem be a place like where you are presently. I mean Great place to relax, good food, moderately lively, "Off the beaten Track"

This is my first trip so i want to explore the place, visit 2-3 places for 2-3 days each.

I'm eagerly waiting for a few recommendations from you Sir. Please include the distance from the Airport and some phone numbers of places to stay.

Maybe i'll look you up in Goa in a weeks time and we can talk about our travels.

Regards

Styler