Goan River Rum, I mean Run!

As part of a ritual started off back in my college days, a trip to Goa was in order this December. Not just to be a beach bum but more to explore its lesser known locales. I chanced upon the Goa River Marathon one fine day and thought what a unique addition to the trip this will be! So I logged in, registered.

Over a 10 kilometer down hill and uphill route, across a river and onward to the beach, a route that took me around one of the few green stretches of Goa that was not open to exploring on foot, but for this day. I have to tell you, I am not much of a runner, more like a jogger, a slow one at that. So 10 kilometers can be a pretty long excursion, I am sure you will agree! Did I have a plan, a target time in which to complete the run you ask? Of course, not! Like Lao Tuz says, "A good traveller has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving." 

(l to r) My sister Yuktie Jhangiani, I and Girish Mallya, a photo op before the run with the ultra marathoner 

So I set off, half strolling, half brisk walking, taking to jogging only due to a nudge from down hill slopes. A friend's exasperated expression, "A run in Goa, you got to be kidding me!" brings a lazy grin to my face seeing as I am doing anything but running. 

As I reach the tip of another hill, I see a group of men and women huffing and puffing in the opposite direction of the run. I try to reach out to them to say, "Hey you are heading in the wrong direction." Before I voice my concerns, one of the men ask a police man standing near by, "How far is the station? We will miss our train!" That's when I notice bags strapped to their backs, and hand bags being shuffled between the group. A mental calculation suggested we were a good three kilometres away. I nod in approval, "A valid and relevant reason to run, that, yes." 

Another turn along the route and just as I began day dreaming again I notice something small and dark running towards me with such speed. No no it wasn't one of the super sprinters, they had whizzed pass a while back. My defense mechanism finally kicks in and I - yes - run! As I flew past the 6 kilometer mark the black shadowed creature ever reducing the distance between us, I saw him bend his head and flare his nostrils - a goat! I cry, a goat is attacking me! 

"What did I do!" I cry! And I wont lie this tale is true! 

Come to think of it now, I think it was a conspiracy to make me run, as with a little under two kilometres remaining, I ran for my life! From a goat, yes. I was later told the goat lost interest in the pursuit after spotting another unassuming innocent target. I wonder what it was I did that made him chase me so!      

The finish line, yes I ran here

Enjoyed I did in that gorgeous weather, beautiful route, what with rolling hills, being fed with little treats of oranges, bananas and more (courtesy the gracious Goa Marathon Team) and fab encouragement at every kilometer. It wasn't much of a river run though, what with parts of it resembling a sewer, but leading it back to Biana beach was a super idea - with the cool waves just perfect for those tired feet.   

Did I mention I was yelled at for being slow? "Its just 500 meters away, run, don't smile! yells a volunteer near the finish line. Ahh, the pleasures of leisure travel, what does he know.

Travelling Through Ireland

"You did not look real to me at first, I never saw so many colours on one girl before. But you looked like you belonged out there all right. You and all your colours! Do you remember the first thing you ever said to me? 'I’am lost.' Oh you didn’t look lost, not to me." - Gerry

From the Film P.S.I Love You

Cecelia, I love you so for introducing me to your gorgeous country – Ireland. My first tête-à-tête with Ireland was through this film, revolving around Dublin’s city-scapes and countryside of Kilkenny and Wicklow Mountains National Park.

In all my colours

The movie is an adaptation of one of author Cecelia Ahern’s many dreamy romantic bestsellers but what’s unique about her stories is that they all exude the fragrance of her country; her characters seamlessly telling the story of Ireland through their personal journeys, that’s what drew me to her stories. Her descriptions of Ireland, her lucid imagery of Dublin, the Vikings Tour bus, passing by Trinity college, walking around in the vast wilderness of Wicklow National Park, lost not knowing where to head...

Of course there’s Gerard Butler too to blame!

Yes, I was smitten by Cecelia’s romance with Ireland and I wanted to feel the magic too. Needless to say what I experienced naturally was quite different.

Art pieces for sale, Abbey Road 

Dublin

I choose to spend most of my days in Ireland based out of Dublin city centre due to sheer lack of time and logistics.  Also there are quite a few day trips from the city to the country side which are easily explored by coach. A group of four of us decided to hitch a cab and we were delighted to hear him sing an Irish song for us just as we started off towards our hostel!  

Irish Beer

The city has a range of accommodation options, I chose the area of Temple Bar - Prepare to be thrilled or scandalised! This part of Dublin city is bursting with colour, music, performances, Bachelorette parties and keg full’s of Guinness while listing to local Irish music in a pub!  A big advantage of staying at Temple Bar is -knowing where all the parties are! The quickest way to get around the city is by the Hop-on Hop off tour buses, we spent two days exploring Trinity college, Abbey Street, Temple Bar, Guinness factory and walking along the river Liffy. 

Most nights when we got back from exploring the city, our dorm rooms were empty seeing as everyone was at a party! Yes, we made the most of that information on our last few days there. (That's all I’am going to reveal!)

Wicklow and Kilkenny

The idea of marking an expanse of nature into a national park, let to freely grow gorgeous and wild, changing colours with the changing seasons.. It is truly a sight to behold.  I would have preferred walking through the national park but with moody weather and rains, we were forced to drive through it with few pit stops along the way. That’s what brings out the reality of travel sometimes; you may arrive with the idea to explore a destination but may end up spending more time exploring another, in my case Kilkenny.

We decided to head to Kilkenny and explore its quaint charms seeing as it is the smallest city with a charm of the countryside.  On a beautiful sunny afternoon with a cool wind in the air we walked along the streets of Kilkenny, exploring the marble castle, enjoying a pint with locals and window shopping at the many colourful stores in the city centre. This was all about taking in the vibe of a place, relaxing and enjoying. I mean you can rush around to tick off more destinations off your list of things to do and see or you can stay back for a little while longer and make memories! So thats just what I did.

For those of you with more time on your hands:

Explore the Medieval city: http://www.collinsdaytours.com/kilkenny.asp

Check out the Mountains and Hills: http://www.collinsdaytours.com/wicklow.asp

Tour of the 7 Wonders: http://www.daytours.ie/tour_7wonders.aspx

I hope to head back there someday, amble around the wide expanses of Wicklow Mountains,   

I’d like to end with a quote from the film -

‘Just create something new and there it is, it’s you, out in the world outside of you and you can look at it, hear it, read it or feel it and you’ll know a little more about you! A little bit more and anybody else does!’

For me it’s this – my travel blog. Have you found what it is for you?

My Hostel Accommodation:  

Barnacles Temple Bar House

19 Temple Lane

Temple Bar, 

Dublin

p. +353 (0) 1-6716277

f. +353 (0) 1-6716591

email: tbh@barnacles.ie

Bookings via hostel world