Mumbai to Trivandrum

After 10 days of cycling, we made it to Goa. Initially near Arambol, in the north, but this looked very busy in comparison to the villages we'd stayed in on the way down the coast, so we continued south. This included negotiating our biggest and busiest Indian city to date. Pan Jim, capital of Goa. Multi lanes of fast and slow moving traffic, weaving in and out, of each other changing lanes and in some cases direction. Nerve racking, as bikes are low in the pecking order of vehicle rights of way. It took a couple of hours and some very judicious use of gps and route finding by John to get us through and around the worst of the city.

It took two days to get from the north to the south of Goa. It has a very different feel and distinct history as it was a Portuguese enclave until the early 60's. There are many churches and quite a high % of Christians in the population. Cleaner towns and villages and generally a lot more affluent and cosmopolitan.

We ended up at small beach resort that Ken had stayed at 35 years ago. Not so small anymore.
Not as hectic or youth culture driven as some of the bigger places further north, but wall to wall restaurants and bars along the beach. But the sea was warm, the sand white and clean, and a few cold beers very welcome. (First of the trip).

Palolem beach in the quiet of the morning.