Thursday, January 15, 2009

Our Goa Trip – X’Mas of 2008

Travel & Leisure: Our Goa Trip – X’Mas of 2008
24 – 28 December 2008 [Written 15-Jan-09]

Itinerary (4 nights - 5 days): Bangalore-Shimoga-Karwar-Margao-Belgaum-Bangalore:
1. Bangalore --> Shimoga – night halt at Shimoga
2. Shimoga --> Margao (Stop for Jog Falls and then for Gokarn, Kudle Beach) – Stay at Margao
3. Goa Sightseeing (3 nights – 2 days)
4. Margao --> Bangalore (NH4 Route via Ponda, Belgaum, Hubli)

This trip came about suddenly as some of my colleagues from office were going and I decided to come along (We actually went with one and returned along with another colleague). We started per plan on the 24th, at about 1 pm from the IBP Petrol Bunk on 80ft road, Koramangala (were we synced up with my colleague and his wife, and also gave their Indica a full tank!!!) There was another couple in their Swift along with two bachelor friends who were slightly ahead of us. We met up on the Tumkur highway at a Café Coffee Day and continued together from there.

We had planned to visit Jog Falls on the way so were taking the Shimoga route. Night halt and dinner was at a hotel in Shimoga (Jewel Rock – one of the decent hotels there, but expensive). The following day we started off early for Jog Falls, stopping for breakfast at Sagar on the way. Not much water at the falls but still an awesome sight and great natural beauty to take in.

Next on our plan was to stop at Gokarn, Kudle and Om beaches on the way. There is this very ‘easy to miss’ turn to the beaches from the highway, and our friends in the Swift did miss it – so they decided to stop separately at Karwar beach instead. We anyways went on and enjoyed these beautiful beaches of Karnataka. It was our two year daughter Maahi’s first visit to a beach and she thoroughly enjoyed her first experience in the open sea.

Starting off from there at around 6 pm, we were able to reach Margao at around 9.30pm, and dropping us at our booked apartment complex (a 1 bhk apartment at 1k per night, this was pretty nice), my colleague – a Goan localite and his wife went off to their home (they were returning to Bangalore later in first week of January).

Next day morning, we started early, rented a Honda Activa from a travel agency near Kadambam Bus stand for the next two days and without much planning we drove off to Panjim (around 30 Kms from Margao) and went directly towards old Goa for a visit to the famous Goan churches. Next we had a brief stop at Miramar beach and then a water scooter ride for my wife at Dauna Paula beach and finally off to Calangute beach, where we spent some time before returning to Margao.

Some of the popular churches in Goa include the Church of St. Francis (here the mortal remains of the Saint lie preserved in a silver ornate casket), the Chapel of St. Catherine or the Se Cathedral and the Basilica of Bom Jesus. Other churches are the Church of St. Augustine, the Reis Magos Church, the St. Cajetan Church, the St. Paul Church, the Church of Mary Immaculate Conception, the Holy Spirit Church and the Lady Rosary Church.

Panjim attractions include the nearby Fort Aguda, Ferry ride / Boat cruise on Mandovi River and shopping at the Panjim Market.

Beaches in North Goa - Arambol, Morjim, Chapora, Vagator, Anjuna, Baga, Calangute, Aguda, Candolim, Bambolim, Miramar, and Dona Paula.

Next day included a visit to Colva beach and some of the other beaches in South Goa. Late afternoon we visited an exhibition going on in Margao market and in the evening went off searching for this Rajasthani Bhojanalaya, which, unfortunately was closed as it was a Saturday, so had to settle for a more normal dinner instead.

Some other good food joints are the Britto’s at Baga, Sazo Lobo at Calangute, Martin’s Corner near Majorda and Moti Mahal in Panjim, which one should try. Also there is the famous Tito’s pub which is just a small walk from Baga Beach.

Beaches in South Goa - Majorda, Colva, Benaulim, Varca, Cavelossim, Mobor, Canaguinim, Agonda, and Palolem.

We started off back to Bangalore the next day along with my other colleague in their Swift, this time taking the Belgaum, Hubli route.

The road till Belgaum is just ok (the stretch from Ponda to Londa is really really bad – it has big craters for potholes due to the manganese mining trucks that keep plying back and forth). Once at Belgaum it’s the very nice highway all the way to Bangalore.

Other places of interest and sight-seeing in Goa are - Charao Island, Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary, Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary (some 40 km off), and the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary.

Goa is also famous for its Hindu temples in North Goa - Manguesh Temple, Naguesh Temple, Navdurga Temple, Ramnath Temple, Rudreshwar Temple, Bhagavati Temple, Brahma Temple, Datta Mandir, Kalikadevi Temple, Mahadev Temple, Mahalaxmi Temple and Mahalsa Temple.

We being short of time didn’t actually see all these places, but Goa is truly a place one can keep coming back to – so more in the next visit. Cheers to Goa!!!


PS - Some Tips (some of these are first hand and some acquired):
1. If going as bachelors and in non-peak season – can just go and then find a place to stay – like a small cottage or a paying guest type or otherwise a 1-2 bedroom apartment at a cheap rate (good enough for 4-5 members).
2. If going by bus or train – can get hold of an Auto or the ‘pilot’ bikes and hop around a few places to find something reasonable.
3. Definitely rent a self driven 2-wheeler – best way to enjoy the place.
4. The Arambol, Chapora, Vagator and Small Vagator (which is down a small mountain path way) are pretty nice. Calangute, Baga and Colva beaches are the ‘family type’ and are generally most crowded.
5. Water scooter, etc – at Calangute, Aguda and Dona Paula beach and also at Colva and Mobor beaches in the south. There is morning ‘Dolphin seeing’ rides at Colva beach.
6. Can take the Ferry ride from Panjim in the morning – they go deep in the sea where one can see corals. The evening rides are mainly accompanied with live music and dance.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Parenting: Vaccination Chart

Parenting: Vaccination
[Written 18 December 2007] - To be Updated with actual dates

Typical Immunization Schedule:
Age / Vaccines / Maahi’s Vaccination Dates
Pregnant women / TT (2 doses at 4 weeks interval)
Birth – 2 weeks / BCG, OPV-0 / 10-Sep-2006
6 weeks / DPT-1, OPV-1, Hepatitis B, Hib Conjugate / 20-Oct-2006
10 weeks / DPT-2, OPV-2, Hepatitis B, Hib Conjugate / 17-Nov-2006
14 weeks / DPT-3, OPV-3, Hepatitis B, Hib Conjugate / 15-Dec-2006
9 months / Measles / 15-Jun-2007
12 months / Varicella (Optional) / 15-Sep-2007
15 months / MMR / 17-Dec-2007
18 months / DPT booster, OPV-4, Hib Conjugate / 08-May-2008 (Planned)
2 + years / Typhoid / 22-Nov-2008 (Planned)
2 + years / Hepatitis A – 1 (Optional) / 22-Dec-2008 (Planned)
30 months / Hepatitis A – 2 (Optional) / 20-Jun-2009 (Planned)
5 years / DPT booster, OPV-5 / 20-Sep-2011 (Planned)
10 years / TT-1 or TD-1 / 20-Sep-2016 (Planned)
16 years / TT-2 or TD-2 / 20-Sep-2022 (Planned)

Other Optional Vaccinations:
Recommended Age Vaccines
2 years Pneumoadip

PS: These are the most common and recommended vaccinations and their typical schedule. Do consult a reputed pediatrician for exact immunization / vaccinations required.

References, Detailed Readings & Web Resources:
1. Indian Academy of Pediatrics: http://www.iapindia.org/ [Accessed: 18 December 2007]
2. http://www.apollopharmacy.in/immunization.asp
3. http://www.pneumoadip.com/
4. http://www.preventpneumo.org/