Seashores have different hues during the rains. The waters seem inviting but have undercurrents that even the best swimmers may not be able to manoeuvre. Now that the rains have finally kissed Goa in torrents, keep away from the water but not necessarily from the shore.
For those visiting Goa in June – the time when monsoon is pretty intense – here are a few tips to slip into one’s mind.
Boats or water sports activities are not allowed from June 1 till August 31 and, therefore, venturing out into the sea during these months is a thought that should not even be entertained.
Boat rides are advertised through social media, but, remember, they are illegal because should something happen, the insurance companies will be the first to refuse any compensation.
There have been cases reported in the past where the bravehearted have met watery graves in Goa, probably because they thought they would get a high by doing what they were not supposed to do.
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Hiring self-driven two-wheelers to discover Goa is turning into a passion for most visitors because of the economics of seeing the place and the freedom it entails. Discovering Goa on two-wheelers is an experience with the rent-a-bike business growing fast.
Drinks, drugs and riding do not go together, but in the rains you are cautioned to go slow because often it becomes difficult to distinguish oil spills on the roads that has led to not only tourists but locals being rushed to the nearest hospital.
Raincoats or jackets are not protective gear against falls from bikes. Locals, during the rains, tend to walk around with umbrellas and when crossing the road tend to be lax on checking the traffic. Hence, prevention is better than cure.
If travelling by a four-wheeler, don’t push your driver to step hard on the pedal because all of you could go for a turtle spin. Instead, by going slow, you can soak up the different shades of green as you traverse past the villages.
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Goa is known as the hotspot of night parties where loud music is played despite there being a ban on this from the Supreme Court. Except if the rains are too intense, parties are hosted everyday along the northern coastal belt – especially at Vagator, Morjim and Arambol.
Most parties are ticketed and the DJs are mostly Indians, though a few foreigners are invited – especially Russians during this time of the season. Parties normally start after 8 pm and are legally supposed to stop at 10 pm though that is only on paper.
Most parties run through the night and will be stopped either because the rains are too heavy or if the law enforcers have interrupted it. That, however, does not happen too often.
So, enter paying a hefty price anticipating returning to your room earlier than expected.
(As the monsoon breaks, we take our readers on a trip through Goa during the rains)
