It is said the best way to discover new places is to travel on foot, but we suggest a better way ~ on a scooty!

Having heard and read much about the beauty and gaiety of Goa, it was finally time for me to experience the place in person. As soon as we landed at Goa airport, it was the rain, which welcomed us. And trust me, if Goa with its abundant greenery and beaches is beautiful, the rain seemed to add to it. Our hotel in North Goa was around one-and-a-half hour drive from the airport but taking in all the sights en route ~ lush green beauty, coconut trees all over, tiny huts and brightly cloured houses ~ made short our drive to the Hotel Country Inn and Suites by Carlson, Condlim.
It was late by the time we reached the hotel and planned to take a walk to the nearest beaches after dinner. While we made enquiries at the hotel desk, we were told that we could hire a scooty for just Rs 300 a day. The idea was fascinating and the group decided to wake up very early in the morning and explore Goa on bikes. As we stepped out into the night, we found many people, including girls, driving around on scooties. It certainly came as a surprise for us as it was by then midnight and in metro cities such as Delhi and Mumbai, girls will hesitate before stepping out at that hour.
The next day greeted us with a steady downpour and strong winds ensured many in our group chose to stay indoors and snuggle under a blanket. Finally, three of us ventured out to hire scooties. We were told that we could get the vehicle from any grocery shop and without any hassle of paper work. Surprisingly, they only asked for an identity card. While hiring the scooties, we noticed that these groceriy shops were also openly selling liquor. As we expressed our surprise, the shopkeeper smiled that alcohol consumption was quite common here.

Finally, we took to the roads of Goa on our colourful scooters. Frankly speaking, nothing seemed to be more thrilling than exploring the place on a scooty. During monsoon, Goa's weather is very unpredictable and one never knows when one will get a drenching. On a scooty, with the wind in one's hair, who cared about the rain.
Our first stop was Candolim beach, 15 km from Panjim. One of the longest beaches in the state, it is very calm and peaceful, though broken intermittently by the crashing waves. What adds to the scenic beauty of the sand and sea are the scrub-covered dunes at the back.
Our next stop was Fort Aguada, which was a Portuguese fort and is now protected by the Archaeological Society of India. The word Aguada means watering place in Portuguese. It once served as a chamber to store fresh water and also was a defence against the Dutch and the Maratha's. Now a part of it is a jail and another part open for visitors. A nice view of the Arabian sea can be obtained from here, a perfect place for photographs. And yes, a scene from the famous Bollywood movie Dil Chata Hain and Amitabh Bachchan starrer Bhootnath were shot here.

In evening, we headed towards Baga beach, which is located16 km from the state capital. It figures high on tourist itineraries as it offers a vibrant nightlife. The beach is full of shops on the white sandy beach lit with lamps, milling crowd and live bands, all adding up to a carnival-like ambience. Apart from the scenic pleasures, Baga Beach offers lots of activities for the tourists to indulge in.
For shopping, there are several markets in Goa but the ones that have become increasingly popular are the Ingo's Saturday Night market, the long-standing Anjuna Market and the Mackies Saturday Market. Our scooty stopped at Anjuna Market, with its many small street shops, from where one can buy clothes, accessories and other souvenirs. Moreover, there are many shops that sell cashewnut, the famous produce of Goa. Numerous wine shops scattered across the market are a good place to pick up a few bottle of wines for friends and family.
Talking about the city itself, its architecture echoed the Portuguese design. Visting Goa, it would be foolish to miss its famed churches. Our next halt was Old Goa, where the most imposing of all the churches,  Basilica of Bom Jesus is located. Its vaulted interior overwhelms the visitors by its sheer grandeur. This Cathedral has five bells, of which one is the famous Golden bell, the biggest in Goa and one of the best in the world. The church is dedicated to St Catherine and originally had two towers of which only one exists today.

The next day we were visiting the main city Punjim and had to regretfully give up our scooters.