Immediately after arriving at the Luck Star Hotel we had breakfast in their pleasant
open-air restaurant. We then walked south on the beach for about 3km (2 miles) to the next
beach-town, Benaulim, where we had lunch at the Samrosa restaurant on the beach. Benaulim
has at least a half-dozen "beach shack" restaurants, but most of the village is +a twenty
minute walk inland. Benaulim seems to have many repeat long-term European visitors At
lunch we were joined by Robert Pleiner, an interesting German who for years has spent his
winters in Goa.
open-air restaurant. We then walked south on the beach for about 3km (2 miles) to the next
beach-town, Benaulim, where we had lunch at the Samrosa restaurant on the beach. Benaulim
has at least a half-dozen "beach shack" restaurants, but most of the village is +a twenty
minute walk inland. Benaulim seems to have many repeat long-term European visitors At
lunch we were joined by Robert Pleiner, an interesting German who for years has spent his
winters in Goa.
Immediately after our arrival in Margao, South Goa's largest town, we took a motorickshaw 6
km (4 miles) to the beach village of Colva.
We checked into the Lucky Star Hotel at Rs. 550 (US$15) per night., later reduced to Rs.
500. This pleasant beachfront hotel in the northern part of Colva. The Colva & Benaulim
map on page 873 of Lonely Planet India guide 12th edition shows Lucky Star's location
incorrectly; it actually is located next to No. 17, the Longuinhos Beach Resort. Our room in
the Lucky Star was fairly clean, had excellent cross-ventilation, a ceiling fan, and good views
but lacked running hot water in the attached bathroom; no A/C but the pleasant temperatures
made it unnecessary. Below are a few snapshots.
km (4 miles) to the beach village of Colva.
We checked into the Lucky Star Hotel at Rs. 550 (US$15) per night., later reduced to Rs.
500. This pleasant beachfront hotel in the northern part of Colva. The Colva & Benaulim
map on page 873 of Lonely Planet India guide 12th edition shows Lucky Star's location
incorrectly; it actually is located next to No. 17, the Longuinhos Beach Resort. Our room in
the Lucky Star was fairly clean, had excellent cross-ventilation, a ceiling fan, and good views
but lacked running hot water in the attached bathroom; no A/C but the pleasant temperatures
made it unnecessary. Below are a few snapshots.
Partial views of our room at the Luck Star Hotel.
Another view of our room at the Lucky Star.
View from our veranda at the Luck Star Hotel,
looking toward the beach and the garden of the
adjacent Longuinhos Beach Resort.
looking toward the beach and the garden of the
adjacent Longuinhos Beach Resort.
Above , a Christian cross at the
entrance of the Lucky Star Hotel.
Note the cross is decorated with
Hindu-type flower garlands.
entrance of the Lucky Star Hotel.
Note the cross is decorated with
Hindu-type flower garlands.
To the right, some fishermen's
shacks near the Lucky Star,
thousands of small fish drying in the
sun.
shacks near the Lucky Star,
thousands of small fish drying in the
sun.
Ready for lunch at the Samrosa
Restaurant, Benaulim, Goa.
Restaurant, Benaulim, Goa.
On the right, Robert Pleiner joining us for lunch
at the Samrosa Restaurant, Benaulim, Goa
at the Samrosa Restaurant, Benaulim, Goa
| Colva & Benaulim, Goa |
Colva suited us well for several reasons. It's location is convenient, less than a half-hour
busride to the town of Margao, an important transportation hub, with buses between the two
towns every few minutes. Colva is right by the beach, while some of the other Goa beach
towns are a twenty minute or longer walk from the beach. Colva has many moderately priced
pleasant hotels, guest houses, and restaurants, a wide range of accommodations and cuisine.
busride to the town of Margao, an important transportation hub, with buses between the two
towns every few minutes. Colva is right by the beach, while some of the other Goa beach
towns are a twenty minute or longer walk from the beach. Colva has many moderately priced
pleasant hotels, guest houses, and restaurants, a wide range of accommodations and cuisine.
The beach at Colva extends for many miles (km) in both directions, and the hard-packed sand
near the water's edge makes it perfect for beach walks. During our stay in Colva the water
was cool and a bit murky, not up to the standard of beaches we enjoyed elsewhere. There
were some tourist attractions --- parasailing, boat excursions, kite flying, etc.
near the water's edge makes it perfect for beach walks. During our stay in Colva the water
was cool and a bit murky, not up to the standard of beaches we enjoyed elsewhere. There
were some tourist attractions --- parasailing, boat excursions, kite flying, etc.
Who comes to Colva? Many are European package tourists (more women than men) who
come for a week or two and spend most of their time getting a tan. Then there older foreign
visitors (more men than women), who come each summer and stay for several months.
come for a week or two and spend most of their time getting a tan. Then there older foreign
visitors (more men than women), who come each summer and stay for several months.
Many Indians take day-trips to Colva, especially on weekends, spending most of the time
looking at the tourists, observing the parasailing, and maybe taking a boat excursion.
Indians tend to go to the beach in groups of 4 or 5 young men, 4 or 5 young women, a few
young couples, and occasional family groups. Indians very seldom swim in the water and
almost never wear bathing suits. Almost without exception they wear their usual street
clothes and do not get into water deeper than their knees. They seldom stray very far from
the bus stand.
looking at the tourists, observing the parasailing, and maybe taking a boat excursion.
Indians tend to go to the beach in groups of 4 or 5 young men, 4 or 5 young women, a few
young couples, and occasional family groups. Indians very seldom swim in the water and
almost never wear bathing suits. Almost without exception they wear their usual street
clothes and do not get into water deeper than their knees. They seldom stray very far from
the bus stand.
Also at the Lucky Star Hotel we had the
pleasure of meeting some guests,many of
whom had stayed at this hotel repeatedly,
several months at a time. There was a
German-Indian couple, a Portuguese-Indian
couple, and several singles, mostly German.
We had some fascinating talks with Robert
Naeslund, a Swedish researcher, lecturer
and writer whose main interest is
cybernetics. On the outside of the door to
his room at the Lucky Star Hotel Robert
had posted the illustration shown here to
the right. We had never seen anything like
this before!
pleasure of meeting some guests,many of
whom had stayed at this hotel repeatedly,
several months at a time. There was a
German-Indian couple, a Portuguese-Indian
couple, and several singles, mostly German.
We had some fascinating talks with Robert
Naeslund, a Swedish researcher, lecturer
and writer whose main interest is
cybernetics. On the outside of the door to
his room at the Lucky Star Hotel Robert
had posted the illustration shown here to
the right. We had never seen anything like
this before!
Volunteers helping launch excursion boat at Colva.
Parasailing at Colva Beach.
Outrigger fishing boat at Colva Beach. Note the nets and floats near the stern.
