Weird and wonderful beaches

The perfect beach holiday typically involves stretches of white sand, crystal-clear waters and cocktails with little umbrellas. Of course, not all beaches are idyllic perfection; some are outstandingly weird and wonderful. You may not be able to sunbathe and swim, but these beaches are well worth a visit.


Glass Beach, California This beach pays true testament to the incredible force and sheer skill of Mother Nature. Located in Fort Bragg, California, this beach was unceremoniously used as an official dumping ground until the late 1960’s. Over the following decades, the sea filtered the rubbish and softened the glass, creating millions of multicoloured pebbles.

Chandipur Beach, India Chandipur is a distinctly unique beach. At high tide, the sea can recede up to an astounding 5 kilometres. When the sea retreats the ocean bed appears, revealing all manner of natural habitats. This beach allows for some serious exploration and you can expect to find beautiful shells, driftwood and tiny red crabs.

Giant’s Causeway, Ireland The Giant’s Causeway is a fascinating place, shrouded in legend and intrigue. The landscaped is scarred by hexagonal basalt columns which were created by an ancient volcanic eruption. The remarkable columns are so uniform and precise it’s hard to believe they were not carved by human hands.

Punalu’u Beach, Hawaii The white sands of many Hawaiian beaches are forgotten at Punalu’u as ancient volcanic activity has created striking jet black sands. Visitors to this beach may be treated to a rare sight of the endangered Hawksbill and Green turtles, who often call this bay home. The water is cold and very rocky so swimming is strongly discouraged.

Cow Beach, India First Snakes on a Plane, now Cows on a Beach, but this is no Hollywood Blockbuster. It’s not uncommon for visitors to this beach to have an encounter with a cow or two. Despite the bovine presence, this beach is extremely popular with tourists on cheap holidays thanks to its beautiful sands, lush palm trees and enticing waters.

Note:The photo in this post belongs to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnkay/6952135282/

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Koh Rong’s Long Beach: One of the best beaches I have visited

New York times puts it in the ‘Top 5 Beaches in the world’ list. I do not hesitate to say that it is one of the top beaches that I have been to. It has a long beach stretch, lovely waters safe for swimming, it is remote and hence very few people turn up here and it is in absolute pristine condition. This beach is the Long Beach of Koh Rong Island in South Cambodia.


This beach is so long that even if there are 150 people (which is generally a high number for this beach), you have enough beach area to ensure that the other people look like small dots in your vision. The hard beach floor, but soft on the foot, ensures that walking on it barefoot is like walking in heaven. The white sands are very pleasing to the eye and the shallow turquoise waters are perfect for swimming and floating. If you like to get a tan while reading your favorite book and not be bothered by anyone, then this is the place you have to be at. Since no local lives on this side of the island, there is no tourist infrastructure here and that means that you cannot get anything to eat or drink. Hence, if you do plan to spend the day here, it is advisable to carry enough water and food to survive the day. It would also be a good idea to carry a with you.


To reach the long beach, there are 2 options. One, you can do the 45 minute slightly adventurous hike from the bungalows on Koh Rong Island. This hike crosses tropical forests and then follows a steep decline that leads into the beach. The second option is to take the boat from the Koh Rong boat jetty to the Long Beach. A typical charge per person for such a trip is USD 4. Since the long beach waters are pretty shallow, the boat will drop anchor quite far away and you will have to wade through waist deep water to reach the beach.


Since the beach is a west facing beach, one of its best views is during sunset. Try not to miss it. The Long  beach here, like most of the beaches on Koh Rong Island is notorious for its sand flies, whose bites can be very irritating. Ensure that you spray yourself liberally with insect repellant that has a high DEET percentage. This is one place you should not miss on your next holiday to Cambodia. More so if you like tropical beach holidays.

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Beaches of South Goa’s Canacona District

Even though North Goa is known for its parties, flea markets, adventure sports and more, I find the beaches of South Goa to be more picturesque, serene,  endowed with natural beauty and less crowded. Below is a list of my top beaches (have ranked them: 1 being the best) that come under the Canacona district of South Goa. I thought I should share this list given that the Goa season is fast approaching.

1. Galgibaga Beach This is definitely the cleanest beach in Goa and may be, the whole of Indian mainland. I call it the turtle beach since the Olive Ridley Turtles come to nest here. Accommodation options may be less here, but that helps in preserving this natural beauty.

2. Cola Beach A very remote beach that has its own river, a small lagoon and the sea to itself. This is ideal for those who prefer a very quiet beach and would like to enjoy those serene sunsets with their loved ones. The freshwater body also adds a special charm to this beach.

3. Agonda Beach This is a popular beach next to the Agonda river estuary that is frequented by those who wish to stay around for long periods of times. One can find houses and shacks on rent by the month here. Sunsets here are legendary. For those staying here, the Cabo de Rama Fort is not too far away.


4. Palolem Beach The Palolem Beach is the most happening beach in the Canacona district with a lot of facilities. Ideal for families with great choice available in food.

5. Honeymoon Beach This is a pristine beach that is located on an island. One can get here in the early hours of the morning with packed food, enjoy the beach to themselves and then return to Palolem by evening. Great place to spot dolphins too.


6. Butterfly Beach A very small island beach that is about a 15 minute boat ride from Palolem. Ideal for those who are interested in climbing up the small hillocks of the hill, soak in the stunning Arabian Sea views, take a swim in the waters, have a relaxed afternoon and then return to Palolem in the evening. Watch out for the tides here.

7. Patnem Beach This is the beach that is most preferred by the foreign tourists as it is real close to the party zone that happens all night. Thursdays and Saturdays are the happening nights. It would be difficult to find a domestic tourist staying here.


8. Rajbaga Beach This is the beach that is right in front of the Lalit Intercontinental property. The Talpona river separates it from the Galgibaga beach. Ideal for those luxury seekers and those who wish to indulge in some adventure sports.

9. Colomb Beach This beach next to the Patnem Beach is known for its cove. Has an equal mix of domestic and foreign tourists. The beach is really small, but the waters can be real gentle here.

I hope that this list helps in planning your upcoming South Goa holiday.

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Unawatuna Beach: A great cove beach on Sri Lanka’s west coast!

Sri Lanka’s west coast to home to some of the best beaches on this tropical island. Hikkaduwa is one of the more popular touristy beaches, while Thangalle is the more quiet and local beach. Unawatuna, located 5 kilometres south of Galle is the one that offers the best of both worlds.

 
It’s natural cove ensures that it is a safe beach for swimming and its silversands and peaceful location give it a one-two punch. It’s beach shacks ensure that the tourists get a vibrant and luxury atmosphere close to the beach.

 
Unawatuna is also home to some of the best restaurants offering a great culinary experience especially the sea food and its clubs provide great nightlife opportunities. The waters here, apart from being great for swimming offer great win surfing opportunities and other adventure sports.

 
Owing to its proximity to the coastal town of Galle, a stay at Unawatuna also allows the tourist to explore the cultural highlights of Galle, roam its gem n precious stone stores and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Galle Fort.

 
Unawatuna is about 120 kilometres south of Colombo and 5 kilometres south of Galle. A short bus or tuk tuk journey connects Unawatuna to Galle. From Galle, one can reach Colombo either by bus or train. AC buses between Colombo and Galle offer a luxurious journey. A one way journey would take abut 2 hours 30 minutes and would cost about 230 LKR.

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Indulge in some Parasailing at Rajbaga Beach, South Goa

The exotic tropical destination, Goa, is the land of many personas. It has the wavy beaches, the pristine waters, the chilled out lifestyle, the bustling nightlife, the beach facing coco huts and many more. But, the one thing that is fast catching on in Goa is water sports, which ranges from scuba diving, snorkelling, parasailing, banana boat rides to jet ski.

 
Most of these water sports are fiercely popular with the local and foreign tourist population as there are a lot of adventure operators catering to the needs of these adrenalin lovers. The one adventure sport that is easily accessible to all adventure lovers, is affordable and is accessible across all age groups and health levels is parasailing.

 
Parasailing is an adventure sport, where the tourist is strapped onto a parachute in a body harness and is then pulled by a long rope that is connected to a speed boat. As the speed boat opens throttle and heads off into the open waters, the adventure lover is lifted high into the air along with the parachute.

 
This is a sport where you are totally airborne without your feet being on any surface. It is the easiest way to fly, let yourself loose, feel the adrenaline rush and enjoy the views of the wide open seas all at once.

 
There is no certification or practice required to participate in this sport, though a basic training session is provided by the instructor before the adventure activity begins. This adventure sport is generally organized during the afternoon hours when the gentle sea breeze blows in towards the land. None of the operators offer this sport during rough weather conditions.

 
A typical parasailing session lasts about 5 minutes and costs around 800-1500 rupees per person. Though, when in flight, the adrenalin rush is so high that the 5 minutes seems like 30 seconds and people often complain that the high gets over too soon. Parasailing is offered at many beaches in Goa along with other adventure sports. But, the operators at Rajbaga beach in South Goa are more reliable and have trustworthy equipment.

 
So, if you seek that adrenalin rush and are planning that holiday in Goa, then you know where to go and what to do!

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The Remote Sands of Honeymoon Beach

Ever wondered how it would be to be the only person or couple on a pristine beach? Well, that wonder will turn to reality if you set foot on the Honeymoon Beach, a secluded beach cut off from all civilization on the Goan coastline of India.

 
The Honeymoon beach is a small stretch of sand that is surrounded by small ranges of hills and lush green forests. And in front of it lies the vast expanse of the Arabian Sea. The nearest civilization from this place is Palolem in the Canacona district of South Goa. It takes about an hour by boat to reach here. If you need a vacation rental be sure to check out: Goa Vacation Rentals for a great deal! 

 
In terms of infrastructure, this beach has absolutely nothing. And that in my mind is its best asset. The waters are great for swimming too. This beach is also a great place for camping. You can catch your fish and do your own sweet barbecue. However, do ensure that you carry all your trash back to civilization.

 
This is also the place where one can spot a lot of dolphins early in the morning. Early morning treks to the top of the hill peaks offer great panoramic views of the picturesque Goan landscape.

 
The sands of this beach unlike the rest of the more popular beaches is very soft. So soft that your foot can sink in quite a bit. The place is so remote that your footprint will stay on till the next high tide session.

 
All in all a bang up beach destination. And as the name suggests, it offers the best privacy for the adventurous honeymooning couple. For access to the market, restaurants and clubs, Palolem Beach is just an hour away.

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Corta’s – The In-House Beach Restaurant of the Plush Intercontinental Resort at South Goa

If you happen to be holidaying in South Goa and wish to indulge in some lip-smacking Goan cuisine, you should definitely drop by Corta’s, the beach facing restaurant of the Intercontinental Resort, a five star luxury property run by the Lalit Group.

 
This restaurant is located on the Rajbaga Beach in Canacona district and in front of the Intercontinental Lalit Goa Resort area. The entire restaurant is very tastefully designed with a wood and haystack theme. This beach shack restaurant is also voted as the finest beach restaurant in Goa.

 
During the months of November through April when this restaurant is open, one can experience the frolic of local cuisine of Goa along with an exotic range of sea food and grills made from daily fresh catch and vegetables. The food served here offers a wonderful mix of food styles from all over the world.

 
The kitchen at Corta’s is influenced by the Portuguese and European cuisine,  with a rich use of tomatoes, potato and cashew nuts. However, the local coconuts are a favourite here and can be found in many dishes.

 
The few delicacies offered at Corta’s are Chicken cafreal, pork sorpotal, chorizo, Pao, Lobster peri peri, pomfret rechado and prawn belchao. In terms of desserts, they offer the Alle Belle, Jenie’s port wine poached, Banana trifle, Bowl of fresh fruits with coconut whipped cream and Portuguese Custard Pie. Out of the dessert menu, my personal favourite is the Alle Belle.

 
Overall, the menu is pretty well rounded with options for both vegetarian and non-vegetarian eaters. The menu spans Appetisers, Soups, Preparations from the Clay Oven, Rice, Noodles, Pasta, Breads, Grilled Food, Brew and Desserts.

 
The restaurant offers 64 covers and is open for both lunch and dinner and offers special sun downer cocktails. This restaurant offers its guests a wonderful mix of great ambience and delicious cuisine.

 
It’s rustic, yet creative look and its proximity to the sparkling Rajbaga Beach and the lapping waves of the Arabian Sea make it a wonderful and unique venue for a great dining experience. In terms of price, the place is slightly expensive, but totally worth it.

 
I would recommend this restaurant with two thumbs up, but if such expensive places are not your cup of tea, then you can possibly check out these cheap city breaks.

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Enjoy your private moments at South Goa’s Cola Beach

The name ‘Goa’ is pretty much present in every traveller’s head. And in all probability it is significantly high on their travel bucket list. And it is for this very reason that it is difficult to find places for a private holiday in Goa.

 
However, in spite of the burgeoning tourist population, there are still a lot of places and beaches that are unknown and still retain the pristine and solitary look. Cola beach is one such destination that is tucked between two hills of South Goa.

 
Cola beach is situated at a short drive from Palolem Beach, the most popular of South Goa’s beaches. In terms of the geographical layout, the Agonda Beach is located north of Palolem and the Cola beach is situated north of Agonda.

 
The last mile access is through a mud road and then a steep descent onto the beach. The beach with its untouched golden sands greets you as you begin this descent. But, the real specialty of this beach is a small river that joins the sea right in the middle of this beach.

 
And this is what I call double bonanza or a heady mix of the salt water and the fresh water. The tourists holidaying at Cola beach get to enjoy both these worlds. You can do kayaking or swimming in the small river and if you feel adventurous, you can hit the vast seas.

 
The beach is safe for swimming. But, even then a couple of lifeguards are always present during the day to prevent any mishaps. The most popular sport here is beach volleyball, which is played right between the river and the sea. One wrong shot and you need to jump into the river to fetch the ball and the other wrong shot can send you into the Arabian Sea.

 
In terms of accommodation, there are two niche resorts that offer a mix of tented accommodation, log huts, beach facing cottages and river facing cottages. And all this is located under the shade of swaying casuarinas and coconut trees. For food, the resorts dish out the local catch in continental and local cuisine. And, if you feel like partying, the clubs of Palolem Beach and the more famous ones of North Goa are not too far away.

 
Cola Beach is ideal for spending a private and blissful holiday. Don’t miss the special sunset here or the early morning swims with the dolphins. Overall, it forms a great holiday package.

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Sunset Moments from Agonda Beach, South Goa

Agonda Beach is a beautiful beach that is located close to Palolem beach, but it is no way close to Palolem in terms of infrastructure development, facilities and tourism. Instead, it offers a very laid back holiday to the beach vacationer.


Unlike the Palolem Beach, Agonda Beach doesn’t have a lot of beach shacks. May be a couple here and there, but the speciality of Agonda is its row of houses that run parallel to the beach. These row houses give the tourist the ideal opportunity to soak in the pristine beach and Goan sun for a very reasonable cost.


The other thing special about Agonda is the river that joins the sea at one end of the beach. This estuary is a fabulous place for an evening walk with plenty of mangrove forests dotting the banks. This estuary is also a happening place during early morning and late evening for the fishermen.


The sunset at Agonda is also very scenic as it offers variety in landscape. At some places, it is just open beach and blue waters. At other places, it is a river and its estuary. Then, at one corner is a small hill.


Thus, if you take an evening walk across Agonda Beach, you are bound to see the sunset in various shades and forms. Each mood and is surrounding landscape is pretty in its own way.


The sunset views at Agonda are as great as any other beach of South Goa! But, the experience is unique and very special. I recommend that you try it out.

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Cola Beach–The Private River Beach, South Goa, India

A remote beach, a calm river, a lovely lagoon, brilliant sunshine and pristine blue seas is how I would describe the Cola beach surroundings. This is a great place for people who seek privacy. At best, you can see thirty people on this entire beach. The reason being this beach is set against a cliff and entry and exit is not a well paved path and hence avoided by the general tourist.


Even though, the Cola beach is best for folks seeking privacy, it is also great for the holidaying family. The beach is fairly safe, the lagoon offers great opportunities for swimming, fishing and kayaking, the beach offers great options for sports and the surrounding rocks offer a little bit o adventure too.


In terms of accommodation, there are only a couple of options, but they are either log huts or tented accommodation that face the sea or the river. And all these huts and tents are set amidst coconut trees and casuarinas.


The Cola beach is located in the Canancona district of South Goa and is situated between the Palolem Beach and Cabo De Rama Fort. It should be about 15 kilometres from the Palolem Beach. The final mile is a steep un-cobbled path that descends to the beach.


In terms of food and accommodation, one has to rely on the 2 hotels that exist here. But, the best part here is that you can setup an open air barbecue right on the beach after your successful fishing expedition. This is the place if you are looking to soak in the sun, the beach and the water at Goa. If you are interested in such vacations, then do check out these cheap family holidays.


A great value for money place that is ideal for backpacking couples and families travelling on a budget, but those who do not want to sacrifice on natural beauty.

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Beach Cricket!

Given that we are in the middle of the knockout stages of this ICC Cricket World Cup, I thought I should may be write something about cricket and that goes with the season’s theme.


I may not have watched any match live in the cricket stadium this world cup season, but I sure did get a chance to see live and also take part in the game of beach cricket that had captured everyone’s attention at Patnem Beach in South Goa.


When the match began, only local goans were there, but soon the interest caught on and foreign nationals and other Indian tourists like me joined in. Soon, it was a fantastic extravaganza. The tennis ball was perfect on the hard floor of Patnem Beach. And when the ball went towards the water, we got a chance to get wet and splash around making for an all round workout. And the best part is that, once we were all tired after our games, we could plonk our backsides on the beach and sip some cold brew.

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