To Diu or not to Diu?

lucyf · Jan 11th, 2005, 22:18

Hello folks,

I'm new to this forum, so Namaste

We're thinking of heading over to Diu after Rajasthan. Any comments or suggestions and how long would it take to get back to Delhi - can it be done in less than two days?

Cheers, Lucy.

Vasko · Jan 21st, 2005, 17:52

hi lucy

i'm in diu at the very moment, took a private car from rajkot with 3 other people for 2000 rps, about 6 hrs. i guess from rajkot the bus and train services to delhi and elsewhere are pretty good. getting a bus from rajkot to diu seemed a bit difficult, apparently only one travel agency books bus tickets...

diu itself is incredibly relaxed. not many people here. a large kingfisher is 30 rps... nice after paying 100 in rajasthan. a vodka shot will go for 12 rps, if you're into a little bit of drinks in the sun. there is no hassle here whatsoever, beaches are quiet too. if you have time and maybe need a holiday from india, this definitely feels more like portugal or something!

cheers,
vasko

Matty Gee · Jan 21st, 2005, 17:59

Hey vasko is there a herbal dimension in Diu?

Vasko · Jan 23rd, 2005, 21:46

no charras available in diu, mattygee

and i'll have to take a little bit back on the 'no hassle' bit. on nagoa beach some dudes bombarded us with idiotic questions and finished with calling us "f##king a##holes" and told us to "go to hell" just because we didn't entertain them. a personal first for me in india. i felt like an exhibition piece on the nagoa beach... try the other more quiet ones if you decide to come here.

apparently a lot of people come in from mumbai during the weekend, so it's a bit busier.

machadinha · Jan 24th, 2005, 01:11

Diu is just a very nice and relaxed place to hang out, or so it used to be less than ten years ago. The sea is about the only unquestionably safe place for swimming that I know of in India, i.e. no tricky undercurrents or anything like that like in many other places. As noted above it has drinks and cheap ones to boot, a relief after "dry" Gujarat.

Nagoa Beach is popular, the Ganga Sagar Hotel used to be popular and pretty much your only choice there, although there's probably more around these days. It used to be you could set yourself up in a hut rented from the locals in the area but you had to provide all your own supplies and bedding and cooking gear etc.

Diu town itself is also relaxed and nice actually and has a nice mediterranean atmosphere to it, owing to the Portuguese past and the prevalence of bars and cafes no doubt. The Hotel Mozambique with a veranda overlooking the central market used to be popular.

It is true that in the weekends Indian tourists flock to Nagoa Beach and Diu in general to get (very) pissed (again, the rest of Gujarat is dry so what would you do?) and/or to watch the Western tourists. Especially if you're a woman this can be very annoying with people just gawking at you and striking up silly conversations and basically you can forget about lazing on the beach over the weekend, let alone in a bathsuit, better to retreat to your room and read that book you wanted to finish. Alternatively, this can be a good time to take your bicycle (that you hired in town to get to and from Nagoa) and cruise the island, which is small enough to get around. The interior at Nagoa and westward is nice and (partly) forested and there's the occasional village with children to goof around with. Vanakbara on the western tip sounds nice enough and has a ferry to the mainland which could be fun for a daytrip, I never tried. Diu Town and the east coast is also nice enough to explore, with a fort and some churches.

I think the overnight train takes you to Delhi so probably less than 24 hours. (Via Ahmedabad from where the train is said to take 17 hours.)

Say hi to the beach and to the nice folks there

lobo · Jan 24th, 2005, 02:37

Diu sounds so nice.
I really want to go there someday.

sciencewallah · Jan 25th, 2005, 00:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by lucyf

...how long would it take to get back to Delhi - can it be done in less than two days?

Hi Lucy,

try http://www.indianrail.gov.in/ and find your train. IMHO there are no direct trains from Diu to Delhi. There are direct trains (about 15 hours) from Ahmedabad to Delhi. But I don't know how long it will take you from Diu to Ahmedabad.

bye
sciencewallah

Matty Gee · Jan 25th, 2005, 00:35

Where could you rent a room with a viranda or balcony of its own, preferably near the Diu town?

I'd like high Cielings if possible.... In an old character filled building.

machadinha · Jan 25th, 2005, 01:04

Sciencewallah, I did it on the overnight train but I can't remember how to get to Ahmedabad either or how long it takes, no longer than 24 hours in all I think but I was suffering from a severe sunburn (on the leg can you imagine? watch out with those secluded but windy and unshaded beaches) and consequent fever at the time (I had also just been informed over a very crappy phoneline that my mother was dying back home and that my travel agent had fucked up on the insurance policy I had so carefully discussed with them so I couldn't fly home just like that like I had arranged or I would have taken the speed ferry to Bombay and a plane from there. I did make it in time to say goodbye to her and watch her die), quite psychedelic situation in short and I don't remember all the details. There's a bus or train from the mainland to either Ahmedabad or the next railway junction or something, it's not complicated. (Don't people travel with a guidebook and an Indian Railways timetable booklet of a whopping 15 Rs. or something anymore? The latter is really worth it.)

Matty if the Mozambique is still around you get a private verandah I think if those rooms are free, otherwise you'll have to make do with a shared one. It's right in the center of town, as far as there is such a thing. The place is/was atmospheric if a bit rundown. I didn't take a mental picture of the ceilings I'm afraid.

Taking note of LucyF's original posting date I assume she's already been there and done it by now anyway.

Cheers guys.

Matty Gee · Jan 25th, 2005, 01:26

It says in the LP that the Mozambique has a 'Seedy Bar'

Not sure about seedy bars.

machadinha · Jan 25th, 2005, 01:28

It's where things get seedy.

Yikes.

Matty Gee · Jan 25th, 2005, 01:38

I mean most bars I've been to in India have a certain sense of seedyness to them. Apart from one I went to in Ansal Plaza in Delhi, which was like something out of the most plastic of western shopping malls. Not a case of seedy, more like scary!

machadinha · Jan 25th, 2005, 01:52

Yes so what's the deal? Seedy sounds like lively and some action to me, according to my old LP they all close at 9'ish anyway, it's not like there's wild stuff going on. If otherwise, you could probably avoid the bar and enjoy the verandah. Who's to say really unless you try it. Let us know if you do!

steven_ber · Jan 25th, 2005, 02:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matty Gee

Where could you rent a room with a viranda or balcony of its own, preferably near the Diu town?

I'd like high Cielings if possible.... In an old character filled building.

Samrat Hotel.

Matty Gee · Jan 25th, 2005, 04:07

Cheers people..........

Shall keep these in mind.

Jan 11th, 2005, 22:18	#1
lucyf Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxfordshire, UK Posts: 6	To Diu or not to Diu? Hello folks, I'm new to this forum, so Namaste We're thinking of heading over to Diu after Rajasthan. Any comments or suggestions and how long would it take to get back to Delhi - can it be done in less than two days? Cheers, Lucy.

Jan 21st, 2005, 17:59	#3
Matty Gee What's wrong with curry for breakfast? I love it! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 212	Hey vasko is there a herbal dimension in Diu? __________________ Check my gallery out : http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser =3636

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Jan 21st, 2005, 17:52	#2
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 493	hi lucy i'm in diu at the very moment, took a private car from rajkot with 3 other people for 2000 rps, about 6 hrs. i guess from rajkot the bus and train services to delhi and elsewhere are pretty good. getting a bus from rajkot to diu seemed a bit difficult, apparently only one travel agency books bus tickets... diu itself is incredibly relaxed. not many people here. a large kingfisher is 30 rps... nice after paying 100 in rajasthan. a vodka shot will go for 12 rps, if you're into a little bit of drinks in the sun. there is no hassle here whatsoever, beaches are quiet too. if you have time and maybe need a holiday from india, this definitely feels more like portugal or something! cheers, vasko

Jan 23rd, 2005, 21:46	#4
Vasko Non-speaker fruit-eater Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: State of Contemplation Posts: 493	no charras available in diu, mattygee and i'll have to take a little bit back on the 'no hassle' bit. on nagoa beach some dudes bombarded us with idiotic questions and finished with calling us "f##king a##holes" and told us to "go to hell" just because we didn't entertain them. a personal first for me in india. i felt like an exhibition piece on the nagoa beach... try the other more quiet ones if you decide to come here. apparently a lot of people come in from mumbai during the weekend, so it's a bit busier.

Jan 24th, 2005, 01:11	#5
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,917	Diu is just a very nice and relaxed place to hang out, or so it used to be less than ten years ago. The sea is about the only unquestionably safe place for swimming that I know of in India, i.e. no tricky undercurrents or anything like that like in many other places. As noted above it has drinks and cheap ones to boot, a relief after "dry" Gujarat. Nagoa Beach is popular, the Ganga Sagar Hotel used to be popular and pretty much your only choice there, although there's probably more around these days. It used to be you could set yourself up in a hut rented from the locals in the area but you had to provide all your own supplies and bedding and cooking gear etc. Diu town itself is also relaxed and nice actually and has a nice mediterranean atmosphere to it, owing to the Portuguese past and the prevalence of bars and cafes no doubt. The Hotel Mozambique with a veranda overlooking the central market used to be popular. It is true that in the weekends Indian tourists flock to Nagoa Beach and Diu in general to get (very) pissed (again, the rest of Gujarat is dry so what would you do?) and/or to watch the Western tourists. Especially if you're a woman this can be very annoying with people just gawking at you and striking up silly conversations and basically you can forget about lazing on the beach over the weekend, let alone in a bathsuit, better to retreat to your room and read that book you wanted to finish. Alternatively, this can be a good time to take your bicycle (that you hired in town to get to and from Nagoa) and cruise the island, which is small enough to get around. The interior at Nagoa and westward is nice and (partly) forested and there's the occasional village with children to goof around with. Vanakbara on the western tip sounds nice enough and has a ferry to the mainland which could be fun for a daytrip, I never tried. Diu Town and the east coast is also nice enough to explore, with a fort and some churches. I think the overnight train takes you to Delhi so probably less than 24 hours. (Via Ahmedabad from where the train is said to take 17 hours.) Say hi to the beach and to the nice folks there

Jan 24th, 2005, 02:37	#6
lobo Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: london Posts: 431	Diu sounds so nice. I really want to go there someday.

Jan 25th, 2005, 00:35	#8
Matty Gee What's wrong with curry for breakfast? I love it! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 212	Where could you rent a room with a viranda or balcony of its own, preferably near the Diu town? I'd like high Cielings if possible.... In an old character filled building.

Jan 25th, 2005, 01:04	#9
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,917	Sciencewallah, I did it on the overnight train but I can't remember how to get to Ahmedabad either or how long it takes, no longer than 24 hours in all I think but I was suffering from a severe sunburn (on the leg can you imagine? watch out with those secluded but windy and unshaded beaches) and consequent fever at the time (I had also just been informed over a very crappy phoneline that my mother was dying back home and that my travel agent had fucked up on the insurance policy I had so carefully discussed with them so I couldn't fly home just like that like I had arranged or I would have taken the speed ferry to Bombay and a plane from there. I did make it in time to say goodbye to her and watch her die), quite psychedelic situation in short and I don't remember all the details. There's a bus or train from the mainland to either Ahmedabad or the next railway junction or something, it's not complicated. (Don't people travel with a guidebook and an Indian Railways timetable booklet of a whopping 15 Rs. or something anymore? The latter is really worth it.) Matty if the Mozambique is still around you get a private verandah I think if those rooms are free, otherwise you'll have to make do with a shared one. It's right in the center of town, as far as there is such a thing. The place is/was atmospheric if a bit rundown. I didn't take a mental picture of the ceilings I'm afraid. Taking note of LucyF's original posting date I assume she's already been there and done it by now anyway. Cheers guys.

Jan 25th, 2005, 01:26	#10
Matty Gee What's wrong with curry for breakfast? I love it! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 212	It says in the LP that the Mozambique has a 'Seedy Bar' Not sure about seedy bars.

Jan 25th, 2005, 01:28	#11
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,917	It's where things get seedy. Yikes.

Jan 25th, 2005, 01:38	#12
Matty Gee What's wrong with curry for breakfast? I love it! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 212	I mean most bars I've been to in India have a certain sense of seedyness to them. Apart from one I went to in Ansal Plaza in Delhi, which was like something out of the most plastic of western shopping malls. Not a case of seedy, more like scary!

Jan 25th, 2005, 01:52	#13
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,917	Yes so what's the deal? Seedy sounds like lively and some action to me, according to my old LP they all close at 9'ish anyway, it's not like there's wild stuff going on. If otherwise, you could probably avoid the bar and enjoy the verandah. Who's to say really unless you try it. Let us know if you do!

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Jan 25th, 2005, 04:07	#15
Matty Gee What's wrong with curry for breakfast? I love it! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cambridge UK Posts: 212	Cheers people.......... Shall keep these in mind.