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FrançaisIn South Goa, where life is simpler
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We’ve already told you, Goa season is definitely on ! During Diwali festival, we came back there, for 4 days, in the south of the region this time, very near from Palolem on a beach called Patnem.
I’ll try not to oversell this place but it will be hard! It’s the third time we’re coming here. First time, in 2006, just after the new year eve spent up north, we already stopped a few days on this quite isolated beach (Patnem). There were some huts, two or three restaurants, not more. People there were almost only backpackers and some “bobos” looking for spirituality at the yoga center on the beach (which no longer exist by the way).
In 2009, after going to Iran and an insane urge to wear a swimsuit, we gave ourselves some days to enjoy this place where we had excellent memories. The beach didn’t disappointed us and we rediscovered with pleasure the simple life at Patnem. Nevertheless, we found out that prices were higher and that there were some more huts….
So 2012. Before coming back, we learnt that Palolem had became “mainstream” and that “it was no more what it used to be”. But we were confident. Just off the bus, we get on 2 moto-taxi to reach Patnem. Yes, it has changed a little bit. There are more huts for sure. The people also are not the same anymore. A majority of British people, some families with little children and even some people with rolling suitcases!! But the place is still great. Palolem and Patnem beaches are still wide and beautiful. Grilled fish is excellent. The sea is hot (and not too hot at this time). Prices are cheap. Surrounding are very nice. And the sea makes THE perfect sound to lull us by night.
To counterbalance, you have to keep in mind that it’s still India, so there are cows on the beach (which is actually pretty cool), the beach is not so clean and the sea is less nice than in Thailand….
Honestly, we’re not fond of beach and we do not like to sunbathe more than 10 minutes in a row. And it’s unusual when we come back to places we’ve already been to. But it seems that the story has just begun with Patnem, it’s just a place where we feel very good. By the way, we go back there in 2 weeks !
