When you think of Goa, you immediately think of the bone warming sun, soft sand, towering palm trees and ocean breeze. But Goa is much more than that. There is a side to it that sparkles in the monsoon, a season the place is not really known for. When the sky opens to pour its heart out in a manner unrestrained and unabashed. It gives the trees a deep beautiful lush of green, spectacular weather inspiring in us positivity and joy.
I decided to ship myself off to Goa for a few weeks to escape the heat in Delhi and to find some peace away from the loud honks, extreme weather and the everyday routines. For a weekend from those weeks, we were hosted by the sweet people at The Westin in Anjuna. Westin is located in Anjuna which is one of the more popular places in Goa.
Westin stands for luxury, ambience, food and much more but what stood out for me was how they intertwined the culture of Goa into the atmosphere of the property. The first thing we were welcomed with was a festival to celebrate Goa with what pours most here, its spirits. This was our first indulgence. Feni was the widest known liquor coming out of Goa before Gin and now Urak took its place. We got to taste some delicious drinks made by their mixologist, Prince, who also shared some interesting facts; Urak is the first distillation obtained from fermented cashew apple juice. The drink that I tried was made with Guava juice which gave it a fruity, mild note and had a little pungent aroma which is common in Urak drinks. It started our indulgent weekend on a refreshing note.
The Westin Goa offers 171 keys, which opens up to the most beautifully designed rooms with breath-taking views. After a quick check in, we quickly made our way to lunch at The Market, where they bring the world to you on a plate. The executive chef served us a carefully curated Asian menu. Westin offers five exceptional dining spaces, which marked our second indulgence, exceptional food.
A bar called Haven looks out to the lobby and hosts all the musical evenings. With panoramic views of scenic hills and spacious white-toned interiors, Thyme & Ash is known for its modern European cuisine. The lounge by the magnificient lotus pond perched bang in the centre of the hotel, is a serene setting that I recommend strongly. You can even sip on a variety of curated cocktails and grills at Drift Pool Bar. The coffee shop is called Anjuna Coffee &Co., where they do an amazing Vanilla Latte.
After the lunch, we headed to the pool to unwind for the evening. Feeling fresh after a swim, we headed to Drift for a cocktail making experience with the head mixologist. The bar stood under the glimmering moonlight where the mixologist, clad in a crisp white shirt greeted us with a knowing smile. We leaned in while he shared origins of the drinks and joined him sometimes behind the bars to give us our own twists to classics like margarita and whiskey sour. Conversations flowed, laughter echoed, and time slowed.
Next morning, plans for the day were made and we were most looking forward to two things; a Goan thali experience and a movie under the stars later in the evening. The thali experience started with the fish curry—a rich, reddish broth with chunks of tender fish. You tear a piece of spongy poi bread and dip it in, savoring the tang of tamarind and the kick of spices. Beside it, fried fish—crispy, golden was also good. The sol kadhi, a pink elixir made from coconut milk and kokum, is very refreshing and helps cool your pallete. The thali also included crispy fried shrimp kismoor and a selection of local vegetables—all served alongside rice.
Two pool sessions after we took some time to take in the smell of the susegad that the staff loves to talk about. A stroll around also showed some cute spots that became by reading corners in between all the indulgence that we were being showered with.
Later that evening became my favorite during our little getaway, the setting was simply perfect. Imagine this: a panoramic view of scenic hills, sitting under the stars, with a cool breeze gently washing over us. As we watched a movie, the icing on the cake was the delicious food from the restaurant Thyme & Ash, which offered an array of grilled dishes. They served us tender meats, kissed by the flames, with edges charred to perfection. Think juicy chicken, succulent steaks, and even lamb chops, all infused with smoky goodness. We came back the following day with memories of lazy afternoons, starlit conversation, fantastic food, excellent service and sweet luxury.
Words Hansika Lohani
Date 16.07.2024