India (Frommer's, 4th Edition) - Keith Bain [161]
Staying Active Above & Below the Water
Barracuda Diving India (Sun Village Resort, Baga-Arpora; 0832/227-9409 through -9414, or 98-2218-2402; www.barracudadiving.com; barracuda@vsnl.com) is a PADI–recognized dive center where you can rent equipment or take diving courses and get certified (from beginner to advanced levels). Venkatesh Charloo and Karen Gregory, both master diver-trainers, offer a wide range of dive safaris across the entire south Indian coast, including Karnataka, where visibility can reach up to 30m (100 ft.). In south Goa you can not only escape the crowds, but start a new hobby: catamaran sailing. Consistent weather conditions makes Goa an idea spot to sail. Based on beautiful, still-secluded Patnem Beach, Goa Sailing & Water Sports ( 98-5045-8865; www.goasailing.com) is a highly recommended operation. You can hire a catamaran with or without an instructor (Rs 2,000/Rs 3,000 per half-day; Rs 3,000/Rs 4,500 full day), and even take a short course during which you’ll learn to sail. With enough time, you can learn to sail, or take a water-borne trip to other remote pockets of paradise—like Agonda, Honeymoon and Butterfly beaches. Atlantis Water Sports ( 98-9004-7272; www.goa-cruise.com) operates an Indian dhow built in 1924; on offer are a range of regular cruises, including breakfast with the dolphins and a sunset cruise, and you can hire the boat on a private basis, too. Most of the upmarket resorts offer a range of watersports facilities, and you’ll find jet-skiing, parasailing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, scuba diving, and other ocean-going pastimes available from various makeshift structures on the beaches, particularly along the beach between Baga and Aguada (look at the foot of Vila Goesa Rd., Cobra Vaddo, Calangute). Goan Bananas ( 0832/227-6362 or -6739, near the Silver Sands Beach Shack, Baga Beach) organizes jet-skiing (Rs 1,300) and parasailing (Rs 800–Rs 1,000). Offering similar services on Sinquerim Beach, is Thunder Wave Water Sports ( 0832/247-9779), based near the Taj Aguada resort complex.
Goa
Airlines Even the smallest hotels are able to make air travel arrangements for you and usually charge a small fee to process tickets, which saves you the hassle of having to travel all the way to Panjim. Alternatively, book your seats online; both Kingfisher ( 0832/254-2020) and Jet ( 0832/243-8792) have very user-friendly websites, or you can try www.travelocity.co.in for the best deals and sometimes discounted fares. Jet is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm (Patto Plaza, near the Patto Tourist Hotel and the bus stand, Panjim; 0832/243-8790). An assortment of budget airlines offers cheaper airfares.
Ambulance Dial 102 or 108, or you can call the Panjim Ambulance and Welfare Trust (Panjim; 0832/222-4824). Also in Panjim, call the 24-hour Vintage Ambulance Service ( 98-2305-9948). In Margao, call the local Ambulance Trust ( 0832/273-1759). In Mapusa, call 0832/226-2372.
American Express Call American Express ( 1600/1801-242 or 1800/1801-245).
Area Code The area code for Goa is 0832.
ATMs While some of the smaller villages may not have ATM facilities, for the most part you won’t have to search hard to find one. Ask your hotel for the nearest machine with credit card facilities, and—unless you’re staying somewhere remote (like Fort Tiracol)—you shouldn’t need to travel far to draw money. Taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers can also usually take you to one without much bother (preferably during the day). In Panjim. there’s an ICICI ATM at the Sindur Business Centre on Swami Vivekananda Road.
Banks & Currency Exchange For the best rates, you can exchange cash and traveler’s checks at Thomas Cook in Panjim (8 Alcon Chambers, D. B. Marg; 0832/222-1312; Mon–Sat 9:30am–7pm). Another location is between Baga and Calangute, at the State Bank of India, in the Hotel