A small glimpse into our stay at the Silver Sands Holiday Village Candolim Goa.
They have many other properties in Goa.
We stayed for 2 nights at this property located in bustling and yet quaint candolim bylanes leading to the beach where sea sports were in full action.
This resort is hardly a minute walking distance from the beach situated amongst very pretty quaint restaurants and shopping buzz.
We booked our rooms through Oyo for around Rs 3000 per night and I suggest the cottage rooms in case you are looking at this property.
We rated this property a 3.5 on the basis of service (which was ok) rooms, cleanliness, facilities offered. We didnt try their food though.
The location is great.
Take a look at the video and get a glimpse of this property with complete review of the rooms and how it is.
Check out the complete book review video above. The author sent me the book Ambushed and I am so glad she did and I got to read this gem.
Rooted very much in the real world.
So suited for today's world, the story is so real, so true it tugs at your heart deep down.
Especially for me, it just my kind of book. As you all know I am a complete nature lover. I believe in balanced living having said that my inclination is still towards the jungles, the mountains, nature, wild life. I want to live with the nature away from city hassles and enjoy the simplicity of life leaving behind the chaos and fast paced race.
Human beings are evolved and they use this knowledge, technology to destroy what is so pure, so natural. We should be using our technology to help the nature, protect the wild animals and our universe instead by all means we are destroying them completely. Forests are being cut, animals poached. So many species extinct and we are to be blamed for most of them. We humans for bringing life to extinction. Where we should be the ones to safeguard all.
The younger generation is getting so addicted to technology they don't know the joy of being in nature or being one with it.
We need to inculcate in them the love for nature, the outdoors, animals and fresh air.
This book just touches the right chords.
The book is such a breezy read I completed it in one sitting. It's fast paced and the characters are sketched beautifully. The author had managed to pen down the emotion of each character thoroughly yet simply, you can connect with each one of them.
There are no lose plots, everything is precisely written and well conceptualised with reasoning and background.
The book follows Tara a 10 yrs old smart and toity city girl. She belongs to a well to do small family having all luxuries and a complete gadget freak.
The story then takes us with Tara on an unexpected and unwanted holiday to a Himalayan Forest. The twist and turns that the story takes. This is where Tara experiences an adventure of her lifetime. Meeting a tribal boy, living in nature, finding her strengths, experiencing the real beauty, finding herself amidst poachers, rescue mission, saving tigers all this and more on a holiday which she thought was the most boring and enforced one.
The author takes up the issue of Toger poaching and declining population of the species.
This is the dire need of the hour and like the tiger many animals in the world are on the brink of extinction. The nature, forest are all declining in statistics snd it's a sorry state that the human beings are to be blamed for.
It's high time that we need to teach our kids our generation, everybody needs to take steps to stop this.
We need to take pride in our universe and nature and safeguard and inculcate the same feeling amongst the children, others.
I think this book is beautifully written and covers the gist in a nutshell of the present scenario. It's a must read for anyone and everyone.
All children must must read this book.
All royalties from Ambushed go to Tiger Watch, an NGO in Ranthambhore, for a school set up for the children of tribal (ex) poachers, to give them a window to alternate livelihoods (short video clip below)
Goa is many things - amazing beaches, shopping, delicious concoctions, beautiful offbeat places, amazing architecture, amalgamation of cultures and nationalities and a foodies heaven.
Goa holidays means- Beach, swim, eat, sleep - REPEAT.
So let me take you on a journey of my favourite places to eat in Goa, some really famous and others of the beaten track utterly delicious nevertheless.
I hope you liked me taking you on a journey through the Goan by lanes in search of food.
Here's a small picture tale just for you.
Enroute Goa a small detour to the small sleepy town of Sawantwadi to enjoy the fish thali at Bhalekars. So worth it. A small family run place without any fancy ambience but plain simple good old food. It was very crowded. No pictures do justice to this drool worthy food. Comforting and super delicious. completely value for money. Around Rs 500 for two thalis.
Check out Bhalekar Hotel on TripAdvisor https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g1162201-d3793939-Reviews-Bhalekar_Hotel-Sawantwadi_Maharashtra.html?m=19904
First stop after reaching Goa.
Bob's Inn - a hidden jewel on the candolim road. This place is so boho and dishes out amazing goan fare at super vfm rates. Must visit for it food and laid back vibes.
Check out Bobs Inn on TripAdvisor https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g297605-d1733498-Reviews-Bobs_Inn-Candolim_Bardez_Goa.html?m=19904
A glass of feni with some juices, their in house speciality which was yum.
Prawns masala - finger licking good.
The continental fare is amazing. The pasta was so awesome, one of the best pasta I have ever tried. They will certainly give the authentic Italian restaurants a run for their money.
Juicy soft chicken with creamy perfect pasta.
Soft pois with tangy green chicken cafreal which was perfect and so authentic.
Must Must visit. 10 /10
First stop for breakfast has to be our all time favourite - Infantaria.
This place ranks on all aspects- food, drinks, desserts, service, offers, music and more.
Check out Infantaria Cafe on TripAdvisor https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g306995-d2328922-Reviews-Infantaria_Cafe-Calangute_Goa.html?m=19904
Creamy pinacolada
they whip up some mean concoctions and have amazing offers.
Margherita pizza which hit all the right spots.
one of the best aglio olio I have ever had.
simple and big on taste, slurrrrp.
Death by chocolate.
A big mound of heavy gooey chocolatey sinful indulgence.
this stuff was hard core.
Drooling just watching it.
chicken with cream sauce, buttered rice, soft mashed potatoes and sauteed veggies- heaven.
Garlic bread loaded with cheese.
Must visit. Order anything and you will relish it with equal gusto. Everything is supreme over here.
Next on the list is Fat Fish a place located on the Anjuna road.
A big shack with good music and thronged by people till late night.
The service is prompt and you will have to wait to get a seat every single time.
We tried the Golden fried prawns, soft from the inside and crisp on every bite.
The prawn curry rice definitely passed the test.
7/10 compared to others on my list.
we had fun nevertheless. Nice place indeed.
Another hidden jewel. Starlight is a local favourite on the anjuna vagator road.
The place is thronged by local crowd any time of the day and we had to wait a long time to satiate our hunger. It serves authentic local dishes and they are amazingly delicious and super vfm.
Check out Starlight on TripAdvisor https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g312680-d4548434-Reviews-Starlight-Arpora_Goa.html?m=19904
The surmai masala fry was amazing. The pieces were super thin coated with spicy masala and very well marinated and super soft and fresh.
Goan prawn chilly- huge portion and soft prawns with generous masala.
It was a hit.
This thali is fit for kings.
It had surmai, two other fish gravies, muscles, shell fish, crab, squid, ladies finger and every bowl of preparation was different with different masalas. Big on taste.
must must have.
Recommended highly.
Amazing on quality and huge portions with super value and mind blowing taste.
We rate it 10/10
St Anthony's
This place is a must visit. Located on the Baga beach next to Brittos. The place vibrates of life and charm. The shack is pulsating with high energy music, karaoke and more. It's sublime to sit on the beach with sand under your feet sipping on the yummy drink and eating the fresh catch. The food is incredible, the whole vibe is. No matter what dish or cuisine you chose it's excellent. Must must try.
Last but certainly not the least. Our favourite joint on our way back home.
A pitstop in Kolhapur to refuel ourself.
Parakh - dishing out a mean kolhapuri thali. Check out Parakh on TripAdvisor https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g737166-d3802938-Reviews-Parakh-Kolhapur_Maharashtra.html?m=19904
Our All time favourite.
A thali which is to die for.
I can slurp on umpteen bowls of pandhra rassa over her.
This place once quaint is very famous now but they have maintained their quality, quantity and taste which is mind-blowing good.
Authentic kolhapuri thali consisting of- chicken/ mutton masala, bhakri/roti, kheema, pandhra, tambda rassa, rice and down it all with a refreshing sol kadhi.
You can see us in action with detailed reviews as well as the places over here https://youtu.be/VIOVev57-0k
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Hope you liked it.
let us know in comments.
Until next time stay cheerful and happy.
We love to explore new places so This time around we stayed in the Vagator area at this quaint and small property called Belmonte by Ace.
The area itself is a little far away from the beach, vast plains with coconut trees and beautiful Goan villas and houses dot the landscape. It's picture perfect.
Normally what we look in a property is cleanliness, warm, easy access to major places and it should be nice.
I personally love cosy, quaint and off the beaten track places and stays with lot of nature and greenery.
The property that we stayed in is a definite steal owing to its location. It's out of the hustle bustle and you can enjoy the calmness and slow life of local Goan people yet you are just a stone throw away from all major attractions, eateries, beaches. Vagator, Anjuna are just 15 minutes ride away. Whereas the Candolim , Baga stretch is 25 minutes away. Cafe Leela, German bakery, Starlight are just 10 minutes away.
Coming to the main property.
It's simple and pretty. A theme of white and gold. Looks very serene at night.
It has a small blue pool surrounded by flower beds and garden. The rooms are huge. We took a suite 818 sq ft, which opened up on the pool. The rooms are clean and very comfortable with a small kitchenette. The staff is friendly and very helping. They also have some cruises and tours which are collaborated with their hotel.
The breakfast was good and the spread was nice. The quality of food, rooms and service was really good. There was no place for complains. The place has potential. We loved our stay here.
You can check their website over here.
We booked our stay with GoIbibo.
