My Budget Vacation in Goa - Day 5 - Siolem and Morjem

Cheap Travel and Hotel Rooms Around Goa Made Our Trip Real Great !

On Day 5 of our budget vacation in Goa we took the bus to Siolim, a small village with rice fields in North Goa. We got off at St. Anthony's Church and walked around watching the farmers plowing their fields followed by a line of white herons. Walking along the banks of the Chapora River we watched the ferry and fishing boats dodge the reeds as they rowed forward. We then caught a six seater auto rickshaw over the bridge to Morjem Beach.


Morjem - was a quiet long beach with fine white sand. It was also a nesting ground for Olive Ridley sea turtles, but we did'nt see any there. There were a few interntional tourists getting a sun tan on the beach beds for hire.


Tourists were staying in rented tents and cocohuts ( houses made of bamboo and thatched coconut leaves. Shacks with restaurants had been hired by rich socialites from Mumbai for private parties, which we realised after being asked to leave when we tried to place an order for Lunch. We got up in annoyance and walked to a neighbouring shack and where we ordered of simple Goan fish curry, rice and wine. The food arrived as cold as the waves we had just splashed through and we sent it back for reheating. The portions were small and the bill when it arrived was scandalous. We left no tip.

We took the early bus back to Mapusa as we were leaving for Delhi and had to pack. At Mapusa, we went to the muncipal market for some last minute shopping. We bought bottles of wine and feni for our friends. Also, some more Goan sweets, dried fish and various pickles. After having a Falooda (strawberry sundae with noodles) we rushed back to the apartment and got on with the packing.

We ordered takeaway again for dinner from Heera Restaurant - Chicken Cafrael, Nan and Paranthas. As our train was leaving at 5.00 the next morning we went to bed for a few hours. Our host rang the bell to wake us exactly at 3.00 am. We paid him for the rooms and piled into the taxi he had hired to take us to Tivim raiway station. It was really cold at Tivim and I was thankful for the jackets we had brought along from Delhi.

We looked through the windows of the Ernakulam Express as we sped back to Delhi thinking of all the magnificent beaches and churches we had visited. It was a real miracle and a bit of planning that lead us to have such an awesome holiday at an unbelievably low rate at one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world.

Expenses on Day 5 of my Budget Vacation in Goa
Bus Tickets - 80
Lunch at Morjem - 550
Shopping at Mapusa - 500
Snacks and Breakfast - 125
Rent for Apartment for 4 days/5 people - 2000
Taxi to Railway Station - 250
Train to Delhi for 5 folks - 2533
Total - 6038 Rupees

Day 1 - Rs. 3828 - Mapusa
Day 2 - Rs. 915 - Old Goa Churches, Panjim, Miramar Beach
Day 3 - Rs. 1450 - Mapusa, Dolphin Boat Ride, Sinquerim, Fort Aguada, Candolim, Calangute
Day 4 - Rs. 985 - Vasco Da Gama, Mormugao, Hollant, Anjuna
Day 5 - Rs. 6038 - Siolem, Morjim and Mapusa

Total- Rs. 13216 for a 5 day vacation in Goa covering to and fro fare by train, lodging, food, transport, sightseeing and shopping for five adults. I'd say it real cheap - what about you ?

Tags Goa india Mapusa Siolim Morjim beaches Budget Holiday