We started the day with a shady driver trying to get extra money for the prepaid car we had booked through the hotel. We refused, smiled and entered the airport without tipping the dishonest employee.
Travel scams in India happen everywhere and all the time. Most of the time, it's just overcharging for the services provided but it sometimes gets worst. We have been sold tap water in bottled water. A tour guide brought us to a high-pressure sales pitch. Countless of street beggars including young children followed us for money. Some have been following us for over 10 minutes before giving up. It's hard not to give them cash but does it make it all worst.
As we arrived in Goa, we were not harassed by touts trying to drag us into their taxis. The prices we clearly showed for each beach and even if they were more expensive they were officials and approved by the government. 2000 IDR for 77 km was still a reasonable fare.
We checked in at JoJo Lapa Agonda Resort set amidst the beautiful coconut palms and the Agonda beach. The Agonda beach’s curvature offered a splendid view of the entire picture-perfect environment from both of its ends.
Goa, a rare Indian state where it is legal to consume alcohol but not today as Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated. The national festival marks the occasion of the birthday of the Father of the nation. So we settled for delicious mocktails at the bar and feasted on curries and seafood at the seafront of the Arabian Sea. With the bellyful, we retired in our beach hut...
Where to stay in Agonda Beach?
The JoJo Lapa Agonda Resort offers cute beach hut style rooms with attached semi open-air bathroom. The cottage is clean and comfortable. The four beach front huts are fantastic but slightly more expensive. They worth to pay the extra buck if you are not o a tight budget. The resort boasts a barbecue, lovely gardens, a sun terrace and a private beach area with beach chairs.
The employees (Prehbat, Prem, Dep...) were entertaining, incredibly helpful and friendly and went above and beyond to make our stay perfect. They kindly arranged our motorcycle hire and taxi when we had to leave.
To add to happy feelings, the Indian and Nepalese cuisine was truly a gastronomical indulgence. The large choice of food and drinks will cater to all tastes.
The stay came as a welcome respite and tranquil relaxation after the craziness of north India. We would strongly recommend for couples going to Agonda.