2025 - India (Mumbai to Goa)

Tue 25 & 26 Nov 25 - Mumbai to Singapore to Melbourne to Canberra Better late than never I suppose....Despite the very good standard of the hotel room, I had a very restless sleep - possibly due to the excitement of returning home. After getting ourselves organised early by 6.00am Greg and I ventured out for a cup of tea and a bit of fruit in the hotel dining room, then waited around for the check in counter to open before heading up to level 4 to check in for our flights. Check-in was a super smooth process, and after passing through immigration, we were soon sitting in the Adani Business lounge having breakfast and waiting to board our flight. Singapore Airlines don’t have a Business Lounge in Mumbai, but they have a partner lounge - Adani which while modest in appearance, had a good array of food available. Our flight boarded on time at 11.20am and we were soon airborne for the 5h 30m flight to Singapore. After a welcome mango lassi and hot towel, the waitress took orders for po...

Mon 24 Nov 25 - Candolim to Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) Our last day in Goa before we flew back to Mumbai tonight for an overnight stay at the Niranta Transit Hotel at Mumbai International Airport. It seemed like a wasted day with all the waiting for a 3.15pm taxi to the airport, and scheduled 6.55 pm flight to Mumbai which was delayed twice.   We had a few walks to kill time at Candolim on another hot sunny and still 33 Deg day (feeling like 39 Deg), before our very bumpy 65 minute taxi ride to the Goa - Dabolim airport. We eventually checked in without too much trouble, and had one more vegetable Thali for dinner in the food court while waiting for our flight. The Indigo flight was delayed twice by an hour, and we eventually arrived in Mumbai and, afer some difficulty, eventually found the Niranta Transit Hotel  2 levels below the arrivals gate, for our very conveniently located overnight stay. Tomorrow morning, we'll walk up 2 levels and enter...

Sun 23 Nov 25 - Candolim Another morning walk and swim at the beach to start the day, followed by breakfast at 9:00am. We then said farewell to John and Simmo who were the first to leave from the remaining group. Greg and I then set off for a 9km retrun walk to Sinquirim Beach and Fort Aguida.  Fort Aguada, located on Sinquirim Beach overlooking the Arabian Sea  is a seventeenth-century Portuguese-era fort, built in 1612 . A 32 Degree day with 80% humidity - it was a very hot and sweaty walk but still nice to stretch the legs. Back at the hotel we then said goodbye to Ken who left at 2:30pm (returning to Canberra), then we next bid farewell to Baz and Simon at 5:30pm, for the start of their return journey to the UK. Greg and I then headed up the street to our favourite restaurant for another wonderful Indian meal - we're still not sick of it. After dinner and a quick visit to the beach to catch the sunset, it was back to the hotel for a quiet night. Tomorrow, Greg and I w...

Sat 22 Nov 25 - Candolim A very quiet and relaxing day today. Nothing much to report apart from an early morning walk and a swim at the beach followed by a late breakfast, then some quiet time around the cabin, and later a coffee in the main street. Another walk through the Candolim market strip and back along the beach for a  Mango Lassi at Appi's beach shack in the afternoon, then more quiet time and a swim in the pool. 8 of us from the cycle group met at a nearby restaurant for a lovely dinner and a couple of beers in the evening ending a much needed rest day. Morning walk along the beach Morning walk along the beach. Dogs gathering at the beach for a Yoga session Morning walk along the beach Morning walk along the beach Morning walk along the beach Morning walk along the beach The Amrit Goa - The monsoon season delivers so much rain for almost 6 months and causes so much damage that the houses are repainted once a year. The monsoon finished later this year in October and t...

Fri 21 Nov 25 - Panaji to Candolim (Amrit Goa) An early morning walk around the Portuguese Quarter with Greg was followed by breakfast then bidding farewell to Mike, Khila and their support team. Greg gave a fitting thank you and farewell speech before handing over tips collected from the 11 riders for the four support team (Deepak, Thambi, Anthony and Deepak's brother). At midday, a taxi came to collect us, and drove us 12 km across the river to our next destination for our remaining 3 nights stay in Goa, the Amrit Goa in Candolim Beach. The Amrit Goa main building is a gorgeous 300 year old Portuguese Villa, which has been renovated magnificently to reflect its colonial past. Set a long way back from the main road and away from any traffic noise, it's centrally located near countless restaurants, bars and markets, and only a short walk to the beach. Needless to say, we're very happy to be staying here for the next 3 nights (except the internet is poorly). After settling i...