Hi, here is a nice article about Palolem Beach, Goa before the season starts, Remember there is lots more information about Palolem in our guide Palolem Beach.com
via TravelPod.com TravelStream™ — Recent Entries at TravelPod.com on 10/17/10
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Where I stayed
Palolem Beach Resort Canacona
After yet another night in the train and now more than 48 hours since our last shower we arrived in Madgaon, Goa. The climate has changed completely now. Suddenly everything is green and the humidity has skyrocketed. At the station we discovered that the bus terminal had been located with typical Indian logic, a mere 6 km away from the station. Soon after we found where to go with the bus and settled in for waiting at least an hour before the first bus for Palolem would leave. Somehow we found out that we could go on a bus immediately that would stop only 2 km from Palolem. Quickly we got on and the conductor promised to make sure to give us a head up and make sure we got off at the right place. The bus soon got filled to the bursting point, as everyone was bringing quite a bit of luggage. In an attempt to fill as little space as possible we tried to put our bags in the top shelves, only to discover that our backpacks where far bigger. So we sat on a 3 person bench with our luggage on our laps trying to take up as little room as we could. After almost not getting off at the right stop (the conductor had forgotten everything about giving us a head ups) we walked the short distance towards Palolem. All new impressions started to sink in. First was the fact it was humid and green, but also that the culture here is very different. The feeling is in many ways much more European. Painted advertisements, catholic shrines (from Portuguese times), proper roads and no constant sound of car horns. It was also a lot cooler in Goa; around 28 degrees rather than 38. It was delightful. Finding the "strip" of Palolem proved to be more difficult than expected. All we saw were small huts and not so many hotels and shops. After a while we enjoyed our first rain in India. At that point we were luckily located outside a restaurant. We had a delicious breakfast and we used the break to look in our travel bible Lonely Planet. We determined our location to be at the very south end of Palolem. We walked on to the beach to Palolem itself and discovered that it was indeed the beginning of the season: most of the beach huts were in the process of being built (before the monsoon they are taken down). With our usual determination we walked the full stretch to get an overview. But easy it was not. In the end we sat down at a beach restaurant and order drinks while Vicky went out looking for accommodations leaving the difficult job of sitting with the bags to Tue. After a while the clouds opened again. Vicky came back drenched and with good news. She found a cosy purple cottage in a beach resort, actually on the beach! It was the last one available. We checked in, enjoyed our very necessary showers and went out for a beer. And guess what? There is no tax on beers :-) Beer is less than half price compared to Rajasthan. This morning we discovered the best breakfast place ever: Euphoria. They serve an endless variety of organic fruit & vegetable shakes, salads and meals. It really is heaven for our taste buds. Even true carnivore Tue loves it. Today we will have a further look around. Until Friday we will stay in Palolem. Hopefully the sun will show itself more frequently. Otherwise there are enough other things to tickle ourselves with: ayurveda massages, dolphin watching, swimming (it is still very warm!) and of course walking… Palolem Beach Resort Canacona
