From Station to Activa

Finally!!!

I stood on the platform, rock solid trying to digest the fact that I was in Goa. I was just not able to believe that I am here, it was a day back that I was in the office slogging my A** out with those clients and here I am in the land of churches, bridges, sun, sand, sea and yes not to forget DARU.

I just closed my eyes for a good minute or so and felt the warm moist wind lash my face. I just wanted to feel Goa before I start experiencing it. I wanted to live every moment I spend there. I just wanted to be sure that it has happened.

I was still in my half unconscious state when Sudeep shook me and that’s when I realized for once and for all that yes I am in Goa, and that when I realized another very important thing that we were hungry like crazy. Sudeep wanted to first check in and then eat something he wanted to settle down and then enjoy the lunch, but I wanted to eat first because food was the only thing I could think of at that time so after a small discussion (Which actually was an argument) we did what we always do, follow what I said, this is the second thing which I love about Sudeep, he never does anything which I do not approve (other then one thing, which he always does without my consent). We went to the railway canteen and not in mood to experiment anything ordered normal “Proper food” I know Balu will make fun of this term but I still insist to call north Indian food as proper food (sorry for the biases).

Once we were full and stuffed, we decided to proceed. As soon as we stepped out of the station there were these pilots who surrounded us and started asking us where we want to go, now it’s a situation I can not handle, I get very nervous. Sudeep suggested that we should go to the Goa tourism counter on the station but then we reminded ourselves that we are on an unplanned trip and we are supposed to explore places on our own, so we walked past these pilots who looked us as if we were the game ready to be hunted down. Suddenly we saw this man who was standing at a little distance from this crowd. We went to him and asked him if he would get us a bike on rent, he unlike every other person talked to us in a very calm tone and said that he would take us to the Madgaon town and there we would get a good vehicle for reasonable amount. We asked him what would be his charges and he said it would be 80 bucks, me and Sudeep looked at each other and we knew that both of think it’s too much but for some reason we decided to agree with him.

It was a Pulsar that we took, he took us to the main city, the roads were narrow and reminded at the first instant of any other small Indian town but as I entered the town I realized it has a little European touch but people were Indian in every possible way. We reached the town and enquired at a few places but did not get any vehicle so we decided to go to Colva beach as our pilot told us that there we will get more options and a good bargain. He took us to a small house outside which 4 Activa were parked. This is business number one which you can do in Goa, giving bikes and vehicles on hire. This is one of the businesses which would never go in loss. Here only we first saw effect of terrorism on travel and tourism industry. We got a bike (I will refer activa as bike only) on hire for just 300 bucks per day, here we realized how much the business is affected due to Mumbai blasts. When he said 350 we were shocked and very happy but like true Indians we still bargained and got the rates down to 300. He asked for out license and Sudeep gave it to him, he asked for mine and I said I don drive Bhaiya, he warned us not to drive without license and always wear a helmet while on highways, which we chose to ignore. He also wanted to keep something with him as guarantee, Sudeep could not give his license so I had to give my PAN card, I was not very comfortable giving it because it is the only proof I have of being an Indian citizen but then I gave it as there was no other options. I did not know at that time what a great decision it will turn out to be in next couple of days. The guy told us that we have to return the bike after 4 days and to fill petrol and take good care of the bike. We paid the money in advance, which again was a great decision which came to our rescue later. And by the way Sudeep wanted to take a Pulsar but we took Activa because it was practically impossible to carry all the luggage we had on a bike, so again Sudeep had to agree with me.

And yes we took off for Panjim

Cheers

Rajat