If you want to know how “boring” can turn out to be magical – go ahead and read it 🤭

✨ What you’ll get from this post:

If you’ve ever:

• planned a trip expecting magic, people, chaos, transformation
• but ended up doing almost… nothing

This post will show you how “nothing” can quietly become everything.

You’ll walk away with:

• How a holiday in a quaint not-so-popular town of South of Goa can look like
• a new way to travel (slow, intentional, deeply felt)
• a glimpse on how comfort, ease and slow living looks like
• ideas to escape the rat race!
• permission to change plans
• ideas for a peaceful South Goa trip
• and maybe… permission to stop chasing “Instagram moments”

🌴 The Goa I Thought I Wanted

I went to Goa expecting a “crazy party experience”…
But I returned feeling something far more surreal.

In my head, Goa looked like:

• an Eat Pray Love-style rustic beach party
• strangers turning into soul connections
• aesthetic cafés, deep conversations, maybe even a fortune teller

Basically… Pinterest Goa. Instagram Goa. Cinematic Goa.

I had experienced a glimpse of this in Varkala — café hopping, night beach talks — and I thought,
“Okay, now Goa will be THAT… but bigger.”

🌿 The Goa I Chose Instead

But I didn’t want too much chaos either.

So I chose South Goa — quieter, slower, less crowded (or so I hoped, considering it was peak season in November).

This time, I did something different.

No Zostel.
No hostel life.

I booked a beautiful Airbnb with Portuguese villa vibes — soft, airy, peaceful… and surprisingly budget-friendly.

I imagined:

slow mornings, coffee on the balcony, sunlight touching my face

Did I live that life?

…we’ll get there 😄

✈️ The Journey Begins (and Ghost Hunting??)

Originally, I planned a road trip… but practicality won → I booked a flight.

Also, random detail:
I had just heard that Kempegowda Airport is haunted 👀
Apparently, there’s a lady in white.

Was I scared? Yes.
Did I secretly want to see her? Also yes.

Anyway, 6 AM flight. Sleep-deprived. Slightly dramatic.

As the plane descended, I saw:

• candy clouds fading
• the ocean slowly appearing

And I had this moment:

“Oh… Goa is here.”

🚕 First Lesson: Goa Moves Differently

At the airport, I briefly considered pre-booking a cab, but my friend suggested using “Goa Miles.”

It turned out to be one of the simplest and most efficient systems. I walked to their booth, mentioned my destination, and within minutes, I was in a cab.

There was something comforting about that ease , as if Goa was quietly telling me, “You can give a break to your brain.”

Simple. Efficient. No drama.

🌾 The Shift: City to Soul

It had been 10 years since my last visit — back when I was 21, fresh out of MBBS, doing a simple, no-frills trip with friends.

This time… felt different already.

The first part of the drive looked like any other city. There were dusty roads, incomplete flyovers, and a certain roughness that felt familiar. But gradually, almost imperceptibly, the landscape began to soften. As we moved closer to Vaneli, where my Airbnb was located

The world seemed to exhale.

The roads became narrower, lined with coconut groves and thick green bushes. There were small homes with generous spaces around them, as though no one here was in a hurry. Scooters passed by occasionally, unhurried, and the air carried a faint saltiness that you could almost taste. There were cafés scattered here and there, appearing like quiet invitations rather than loud attractions.

Definitely not as many cafes as in North Goa.

I remember thinking, almost wistfully, that life here must be slower, perhaps even kinder.

I was extremely hungry by then, and as we approached my stay, I spotted a café nearby called “The Imlee Jar.” It felt like a small blessing.

I checked into my Airbnb much earlier than expected, around 8:30 AM, thanks to a very kind host who allowed an early check-in even though the official time was 2 PM.

People of South Goa are very warm

After freshening up, I waited for the café to open at 10 AM, eventually giving in to a short nap because my body refused to cooperate with my excitement.

At exactly 10 AM, I walked to Imlee Jar Café.

☕ First Stop: Imlee Jar Café

I was starving.

The breakfast was simple and satisfying, but what stayed with me was the space itself.

It had books, board games, and a kind of relaxed, welcoming energy that made you want to linger.

Books. Board games. Calm energy.

Sat there planning my day…

(Spoiler: I did not follow that plan at all 😂)

🛵 The Scooter Story (and Scam Survival Tips)

After breakfast, I arranged for a rental scooter through a contact given by the café.

My friend had previously warned me that scooter rentals in Goa could sometimes involve small scams, and he had given me a piece of advice that was both practical and hilarious. He said, “If they try to crawl under the carpet, you crawl under the rangoli.” He was referring to a Kannada saying that essentially meant being one step ahead of anyone trying to outsmart you.

So, when I received the scooter, I recorded a video of every inch of it, including the exhaust pipe.

No one is outsmarting me today! 😛

Got a scooter for ₹400/day (great deal btw).

🌊 And Then… Colva Happened

I went back to my stay, packed a small bag with sunscreen, sunglasses, and water, and set off for “Colva Beach”

The ride itself was unexpectedly beautiful.

The roads were easy to navigate, and along the way, I noticed small shrines with statues of Mother Mary, occasionally with someone standing in quiet prayer. There was a large church, a bridge over still backwaters, tattoo shops with signboards written in what looked like Russian, and cafes scattered along the route.

The weather was warm, as it was nearly noon, but November made the heat tolerable.

When I reached Colva Beach, there was a large open space for parking. As soon as I walked toward the shore, I was greeted by hawkers offering sun loungers and inviting me to their shacks. I walked further, searching for a place that felt right, something less crowded, less insistent.

That was when I found “Sucorina Beach Shack.”

🍺 The Moment Everything Shifted

Not too crowded.
Not too pushy.
Just right.

Sucorina beach shack had a certain balance that immediately drew me in.

There were a few foreigners sunbathing under the harsh sun, something I could never quite understand, given how instinctively we tend to avoid such heat.

I quickly found a table under a fan, positioned just right so that the sea breeze could still reach me.

I ordered what I was told was Goa’s “People’s Lager” and a plate of French fries. I was still quite full from breakfast, so I kept it light.

My carefully made plan for the day quietly dissolved in that moment, and instead something else began.

I sat there.

And I did nothing.

At first, it felt unfamiliar, almost uncomfortable.

But slowly, something shifted. The sea breeze softened the heat, the faint buzz of the beer relaxed my body, and the steady rhythm of the waves created a kind of quiet background to my thoughts.

Time began to stretch.

I found myself revisiting parts of my life I had not intended to think about. My past, my trauma, the questions I keep postponing, the life I am trying to build. None of it felt overwhelming.

It felt… held, somehow. As though the sea was quietly absorbing the weight of it.

At some point, I called my best friend, and what followed was hours of laughter. The kind of laughter that feels medicinal, the kind that resets something inside you. My friend is the funniest ☺️

I started to feel like – let out of a pressure cooker – so free and light. Comfort and ease flowed in.

I remained at that table until 3 PM.

And then I returned to my Airbnb and slept as if I had no responsibilities in the world.

🌌✨Goa – Nightlife

Nah! Not what you are imagining.

That evening, I went out again, initially in the opposite direction just to explore the town. There was not much to see there, just regular shops and restaurants, nothing particularly remarkable.

Almost instinctively, I turned my scooter back towards Colva.

And just like that, I was back at Sucorina.🫣

The same shack. The same table. The same chair. And shared laughter with the same friend over call!

Only this time, everything felt different.

The path to the shack was lit by the soft glow of the moon. The coconut trees swayed gently, and the air carried a coolness that the afternoon had lacked.

When I sat down, it felt less like returning to a place and more like returning to a feeling.

Something unexpected happened over the next couple of visits. The waiter began to recognize me. The first time, he smiled in acknowledgement. The next time, he brought my order without me having to say a word. It was a small thing, almost insignificant, but it created a strange sense of belonging.

As if, for a brief moment, I was not a tourist passing through, but someone who belonged.

After all, we all want to be felt “belonged!”

There was something deeply comforting about sitting at the same table, in the same chair, day after day, watching the same sea and yet feeling something slightly different each time. It was as though the repetition itself became the experience.

It was like – the Sea, the breeze and the time telling me –We are your home! And you are safe and comfortable with Us, and We are always here we would never go away from you! – Felt like the Universe telling these things to me..!

I stayed there until around 10 PM and then returned to my stay.

⚠️ Real Talk (Especially for Women Travelers)

It can get a bit deserted at night.

Please:

• carry pepper spray
• stay aware

Also, almost got chased by dogs ready to attack😭
(10/10 adrenaline, would not recommend)

Turned out to be owned dogs and thankfully their owner intervened!

⏭️The Next day – Day 2

🌅The Softest Morning

Woke up at 4 AM.

Waited till 6… like a kid waiting for permission.

Reached the beach.

The world at that hour felt entirely different. It was quiet.

The sky held that soft, in-between light of twilight. The sea here was grey, not the turquoise blue I had seen in Varkala, which I personally prefer, but there was a quiet beauty to it nonetheless.

But still beautiful.

As the waves rolled in, the sea foam gently brushed against my feet, and I was reminded that this simple sensation alone is reason enough to return to the sea again and again.

Therapy. Period.

I noticed shells, conchs, even starfish scattered along the shore, and I collected a few as small tokens of the morning..

And I just… existed.

The beach shacks were closed, and the sand was still damp from the tide, so I could not sit anywhere. I found myself craving coffee and wandered in search of a café, only to find most places still shut.

Eventually, I returned to my stay and searched for nearby cafés, which is how I found Bay Tree Café.

☕ Bay Tree Café: A Surprise Favorite

When I arrived there, I immediately felt like the café aesthetics were a gentle blend of Bali and Portugal, something both tropical and old-world.

The café was run by an English family, and I was greeted by the son of the owner, Debra.

He had an effortless warmth about him, the kind that makes you feel welcome without trying too hard. For a brief moment, I found myself slightly lost, simply taking in the kindness of the space!

I ordered an omelette and a cappuccino.

The food was good.

Desserts = AMAZING!

I spent a long time there eating, observing, absorbing, and eventually speaking with the family. It was one of those interactions that does not change your life dramatically but leaves you feeling a little softer, a little more open.

Overall – it was a chill, laid back, sweet and a warm café with yummy food where you can spend a lot of time and enjoy interactions with café owners.

🌅 Evenings Became a Ritual

The rest of the day followed a familiar rhythm. I returned to my room, slept through the afternoon, and by evening, found myself once again at Sucorina

Every evening:

• back to Sucorina
• sunset
• dogs playing by the waves
• people just… being

And I realized something important:

I wasn’t “doing Goa”
I was living a life inside Goa

A life without urgency. Without performance. Without the need to constantly seek something more.

🧘‍♀️ Day 3: Same Again… And That’s the Point

Bay Tree.
Sucorina.
Flight back.

No checklist.
No “must-do places.”
No rushing.

And strangely…

I did not feel like I had missed out on anything.

🌊 What This Trip Taught Me

What this trip gave me was not what I had expected.

This trip DIDN’T give me:

• wild stories
• dramatic transformations
• or life-changing encounters with strangers

Instead, it gave me something quieter, but perhaps more lasting.

🌿 1. You don’t need chaos to feel alive

Peace can be just as intense.

🌿 2. Doing “nothing” is actually something

It gives space for clarity to come.

🌿 3. Not every trip needs to be Instagram-worthy

Some trips are meant to be felt, not shown.

🌿 4. Repetition can be beautiful

Same café. Same shack. Same routine.
And yet… never boring.

🌿 5. Healing doesn’t always look dramatic

Sometimes it looks like:

• beer + sea breeze
• a quiet thought
• a slow afternoon
• laughter with friend

If you are planning a trip, I would gently suggest this: do not try too hard to make it meaningful or productive or useful. Just let it be. Do not overfill it with plans and expectations. Our day to day life is already occupied and burdening us with expectation, planning and responsibilities. Leave space for stillness, for boredom even.

BOREDOM IS WHERE MAGIC HAPPENS!

✨  Thank you for reaching this point of the post!

Let me know in the comments if you have ever experienced a trip like this!

Also a word at the end. Not just solo travel, you can head towards Vaneli, South Goa, with your partner or friends and you can enjoy the slow travel and escape the burdens of life.!

Do Like and subscribe to keep receiving such posts on travel, life and ophthalmology. Thank you ☺️

---