Planet Goa

Now that we had tasted the freedom a road trip to Goa gave us, it was inevitable we would try this again. So it was just five months later, we were packed on a wintry Pune morning headed out to our favorite Indian beach once again. Given our experience, I would strongly urge people to try and get to Goa right after the New Year's celebration and party hordes are gone.  The weather is every bit as desirable and the beach-side shacks are open. Yet, the prices are down when peak season ends on January 2nd.

This time, we decided to try out a newer resort, Planet Hollywood, not because we really wanted a Vegas/movie themed resort, but rather because of its splendid location.  Unlike our last trip when we camped within reach of the capital, this time we were amidst the quieter beaches of South Goa.

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Day Trip To Mulshi

My wife and I had a rare day to ourselves when our daughter planned a day trip with her friends. On a whim, we decided to drive down to Mulshi, a popular picnic spot on the outskirts of Pune that is particularly alluring during the monsoons. This turned out to be one of the better ideas we have had lately. Mulshi was everything it promised to be and more. Mulshi was green, lush, and open all around with a large lake in the middle that fed into the dam - nature at its prettiest. On the day we were here, there were few tourists which made this visit even nicer.

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Ambling Through Mumbai

Cities that have been a melting pot of cultures and attracted a steady stream of immigrants through the ages are the best ones if you are a foodie. Food moves in along with people bringing a variety of new cuisines and cooking styles even as completely new ones are created as the old melds with new. New York, New Orleans, Hong Kong and Kolkata all owe the richness in their food scene to this simple fact. So does Mumbai! In this teeming city of millions, there is always a new delightful place waiting to be discovered, no matter how many times you have visited this grand old city before.

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Surf, Sand and Seafood

The Grand Hyatt in Goa is a new 5-star entrant in this vacation city. Located within the capital city on a quiet bay with its own private beach, this hotel is a great option for those who wish to have access to the many dining spots within the city even as they reside in a luxury resort.

We loved strolling the clean and quiet beach, which would be strewn in the mornings with capiz shells, unique to this stretch of sand. We would head back to the resort for breakfast.  The hotel has an elaborate buffet with live counters to satisfy most taste-buds.  Our room was fantastic too and had an outdoor verandah with a whirlpool where we could relax in the late evenings when the night fell.

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Driving to Goa

Goa is clearly our favorite vacation destination within the country.  From the time we moved to Pune, we have made several trips to this idyllic beach paradise where time seems to slow down even as the rest of India continues in its mad rush.

Note: Yup, I am back on the blog again, making up for lost time! :)

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Introducing Pal@table

Dear Readers, as many of you have noticed my blog has not been as active as it used to be once.  This is the reason why! I have been completely involved in something exciting. Palatable is a labor of love for fellow foodies and social animals, the next step to realizing the true potential of tech and smartphones in helping take our social life and food experiences to the next level.  Hope to see many of you try the app and let me know what you think.  Cheers!

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