I am Write!

Just when I was realising that the awesome time at Panna was coming to an end, Ashutosh Mishra managed to prop up a plan to hit Goa, with some of the guys offshore. With Diwali gone, on the 31st of Oct, 6 of us had packed our bags into an Innova. Ashutosh, Anto, Arun, Abhijit, Aashish and the Ekta Kapoor fan - Keith (coz only his name started with a K in this group) all managed to get their asses to Upna Dhaba near Kohinoor for the dinner. Oops, Abhijit Das was in Vashi, and we had to pick him on the way. 

All this done, into the Innova by 9 PM, we filled the icebox with cans of Kingfisher premium, and a few cans of Kingfisher strong - for Mr. Strong - Arun Negi. We were not driving, the good thing. Hence, some drinks down, we were on way to Palm Beach Galleria to pick up Mr. Das, who was there seeing someone. Lost our way, had to call in the doc to show us the route to get to the Galleria. Some McD fries and gossip later, back on the road we were. We did stop for more beer, this time Draught and Strong. Everyone realised the importance of the front seat here. No worries, soon people were made to rotate seats all around the place. 

Our next feature was the major fog and smog we hit enroute, and the slowness with which we had to cross the ghats on the way. Speeds of 40, and sudden breaks marred the entire route. We broke for a tea-break at 4 AM and then for breakfast at 9. Didn’t make it to Goa before 1 PM though, as against our budget estimate of 11 and stretch of 10! 

Ekta Kapoor fan Kkkeith had worked out a plan with an Aunti in Baga - a 3 BH-noK for 2,000 Rs a night, and each room had a fridge, a TV and a Toilet/bath. Nice. Rooms taken, changed into shorts, we moved out for lunch to Baga/ Calungute area and made headway to Brittos. A table was hard to get by at even 2.30 in the afternoon, and finally we managed to get a seat under ourselves. Our driven joined us, and orders placed. Food, booze and more food and more booze flowed. A kitty for all expenses was created, and so all our escapades and parties became kitty-parties. Nothing great, we thought we could match women on gossip - well atleast after booze. Nah. They still rule. No worries, we ain’t sad either!

A 2.5 hour meal later, we decided what the next plan of action was. Aguada fort we got to just in the nick of time, to ensure we entered the upper part 5 min before the doors closed, and hence got ample time to see the sun set and take some great snaps of the gang together Das and Ash were the models, and Anto and I the camera men. Mr. strong and Kkkeith were the mere spectators and the side-show personnel on board

Around 7, and a lot of contemplation later, we decided to buy a khamba of Tequila, and head back to the rooms loaded with some nimbu & namak. Shot after shot, peg after peg, we felt high in half hour, and then started our way down to the baga beach, walk all along, see some firang chicks bury a firang guy, offer help, get refused, walk to Mambo’s and Tito’s, realise that there wasn’t any crowd, be refused entry into Mambo’s coz its for couples - be rejected even when Mr. Strong and I offered to be gay-couple, we started looking for a pool table around which we could show our skill. Someone located a poster, and we felt awesome. Soon we were to realise that of all things in Goa, we found a veg gujju place for having our 1st night out. Spot on! Or as Kkeith would put it - Spazz. We drank breezers and occasional hard drinks, played pool for hours and hours, and ate only paneer chilly and masala papads. 

All this done, we walked back to the Baga beach and had a round of vodka with fresh orange juice - an awesome combo, that never felt the same with the canned one Back in the rooms we dozed off, with Mr. Strong promising to wake us all at 9 AM. Obv., he was the last man standing the next day - coz he was asleep

Day 2 started with a breakfast-lunch-wine-food-laze at Infantaria, where we ate for almost 4 hours! A drive to Wagator, a climb to the now famous DCH fort, and then dips on the beach made the day pleasurable. Football on the beach, a mark for life (??) on Ashutosh’s nose, some more sea dips.. and we thought of rounding up the day with Anto wanting to get to the Flea Market @ Anjuna beach, but we were quickly informed that it only operates on Wednesdays, and we were looking for the same on a Saturday. This decided, we went to Margao to check the casions, and after checking the rates, came back to round the day with dinner at Brittos - where half the bill was thanks to the Bailey’s that we drank! Some nice food it was though Here, At Britto’s, I confirmed when does the kitchen close, and were promptly informed 12 midnight. On asking the same for the bar, it was a cool - till the last table gets up - concept So, we were the last table to get up at 1 AM

Once again, Mr. Strong promised us a 10 AM wakeup rooster, and once again he was the last man standing This day was when down to South Goa to try out the local - Anto’s - home beach - Colva. Once at Colva, we called in Roy (Tapti) and chilled out at the beach - obv. after a 3 hour meal Paragliding, waterscooter, and time pass at the beach, we were free by 7. Here I had the opportunity to improvise, with nothing really on me with regard to the permitted wear to the casino. I had jugadoed a shirt and jeans off Ashutosh, and was looking for a pair of shoes desperately! So, on we went into a hunt for shoes.. and soon found a shop where in I bought something for Rs. 500! Leather, and worth office wear. In the jeans and Shirt though, I looked like someone in the 70’s, nothing really fitting in! 1800 rs down, we were promised free booze and food along with russian dance entertainment. At the top deck of the barge, the Russian dancers danced, we drank, Mr. strong tried multiple cocktails.. and as Anto videographed us, we drank and drank and later danced as the on-deman singers sang! 

Slowly, the time hit 11, and the singers moved to the casino. We followed suit. Mr. strong was drunk by now, while Anto, Kkeith and I tried to control him. He fell in love with the singers, and applauded them wildly, wherever he was, what ever he was doing! Here he also had a the incident in the loo (not worth mentioning here.. considering his situation :P) Some games of Blackjack later - remembering my time at Sydney - I had lost a 1000 rs, and another 30 min later, I had regained my strength. With each one of us capped on a budget, we decided to have thoda sa khana, wherein Arun managed to create some scene for fun Once back in the playing room, all but Anto ended up on 1 table, and that table was dedicated to just us! Kkeith played and then got up, Anto just watched, Arun was spent to the core.. he started gheezing on Kkeith, Das’s and my piles of chips soon… and after all the nagging, he stopped. Soon, he was at the counter, trying to get his credit card swiped, which for some god-thanked reason didn’t work. Kkeith was good enuf to stop him swiping another… and so we continued the show with just Das, Ash and me in the market. I was spent soon, and curtailed my losses to 2.5k. Ash and Das on the otherhand were on a roll. Ash at the end of the night made 3k, Das 1.8, and both managed to recover the money spent at the Casino entry. All this done, the time was 4, and we had to drop Anto to the airport. All in the car, none in a situation to talk, just dozed off, one by one! Anto was dropped and we back in the house with no idea of what conspired in between.

Next day, we got up at 11. Not bad as per when we had slept! Being our last day with Keith on board, we decided to check out the nearby Calungute beach. Here we found the waterscooter and the parasailing a lot cheaper, and Ash and I did some more - ofcourse after a heavy lunch! The others played pool, and when joined with Ash and I we downed some drinks and then made off to drop Kkeith at around 7 to the bus stand. This day may feature as one of the smallest, as the remaining 4 decided to shop, and then Arun and I found a lonely but good place to play pool and eat. Secluded, and where people got more choices than just eating paneer chilly! Drinks, food and pool down, we made our way back to the house by 2, with plans and idea of some beach called Arambol.. and a secluded beach a little north where we’ll get maal! 

Next day was a day on a mission. Just 12 hours to go, we grabbed Subway sandwiches, and head of north - all bags packed. For an hour we travelled, to get to Arambol beach. Israelis were in a majority here. 2 piece swimsuits, and what not. A little north on the beach - some rocks, and then another beach - west the sea, east a fresh water lake. Lovely. Beach chairs rented, breezers ordered, Das Arun and I were in the water in no-time. Ash wanted a massage, and as hard he tried to get a woman to do it, a guy massaged him - and none of us really care on what all that covered! Once back from the beach, we got back to have some food and drinks, and then into the fresh water lake, as the massage continued! Fresh and clean, we decided to take some rest Ash was done by now, and he decided to make it into the waters. Once all this done, and a few more dips completed, we decided to head off a little early today, considering at 14 hour journey ahead. We made our way back, changed into something less dirty and more comfortable, sat down in the Innova and headed off. Kaju feni bought for Anto, Kajus for most of us, we were through the border in some time quick, via Pernem. A dinner stop at a Punjabi Dhaba, followed by a movie at the back was the plan. The dhaba came out correct, but the ghats and the movies don’t really mix. What happenned was I asked for the car to be stopped coz I wanted to puke. What was seen was Arun, followed by Das running out of the car to puke. 3 men - all puking. Awesome We quitened, mannered, and then all the way back to Mumbai, we all were back in town by 10 AM. Nice timing. 

Sadly, I made my way to the office soon, and regular work started off. So much for blogging this trip!