6 Things You Should Not Do While in Goa

By Dinesh Singh @travellerpath

Goa is one of the most exotic Indian destinations and it is said that one can get unadulterated fun out there. However, sometimes youths take certain things for granted and do stuffs that bring them the stigma of shame and the allegation of debauchery amongst others.

Goa is a charming place and a trip there can be fully enjoyed without going over the board. So, why bite into the forbidden fruit when there are so many legitimate ones available.

Here is a quick look into six things you shouldn’t do in Goa:

Don’t over-drink: Goa has this rather rabid reputation that it is a drinker’s paradise. It is true that as far as Indian destinations are concerned, this beach heaven is where you get the license to drink freely. However, that does not mean that one should drink too much for one’s own good. Instances when tourists have got inebriated and crossed lines of decency in public are a bit too replete to be ignored. So, do make sure that you drink within the limits so that you retain your common sense and do not tread on to the tabooed territories.

Don’t take a lot of money to the casino: Goa is that state that has legitimized gambling. It has been done so perhaps to give a boost to its tourism industry and to those casinos that thrive here like mushrooms in a rainforest. But bolstered sometimes by the lack of restrictions, travelers get carried away and spend too much of cash. It is for this reason that you should be discreet while playing those table games. Ideally, you should not carry too much cash when you head to the casino. And it goes without saying that you must play the game only in a sober state.

Don’t over-stare: On these umpteen Goa beaches, you will stumble on to countless suave women and many of them may not be adequately clad. This point goes especially for the men who are accustomed to staring and over-staring, sometimes without realizing so. But it is due to such behavior that foreigners tend to recall their Indian trip with bitterness. Besides, crossing such lines of decency has often resulted in brawls and fist-fights. It is only wise to check out women with added discretion.

Don’t click pictures of any tourist without consent: Clicking pictures of tourists, especially female tourists whom you do not know, is strictly prohibited. It is not just labeled as hooliganism but is likely to bring you the ire of the cops. Most first-time tourists, in their bid to capture everything on their cameras, do get carried away sometimes and also take snaps of bikini-clad women so that they can ogle them later at leisure. But if caught, such an act is surely going to dampen the remaining part of your holiday.

Don’t miss out on squids: This is for the foodies especially the ever-hungry belly-flaunting gluttons who don’t mind trying new dishes. Goa, as is widely known, is noted for its seafood. While you are permitted to try a variety of saltwater friends, do make sure that you sink your teeth into the delights of the crunchy squid.

Don’t miss out on Palolem: Though it would be a bit unjust of us to point out one single beach, yet Palolem in South Goa is the beach that stands out for the quality of its crowd and the length of its shoreline. If you decide to stay put at this beach (preferably on a shack), you will feel as if you have been planted on a European beach. Yes, the number of foreign tourists outshines the meager Indian tourists by a healthy margin. Plus, the delights of dolphin trip are undeniably tempting.