Kaushal Karkhanis's guest appearances

Kaushal Karkhanis

The Musafir Stories - India Travel Podcast

Travels, Tales and Takes with Preethi

Sharanya Iyer

Ankita Kumar

Divyakshi Gupta

Ayush Khanna

Subhadip Mukherjee

Shivya Nath

Meenakshi Arvind

Riverside Goa

Johann Kuruvilla

Chandroma Ray

Siddharth Keswani

Reshma Narasing

Satyarup Siddhanta

Renuka Walter

Explore Spiti

OwlTail

Winners of last episode's giveaway of "Into the heart of the Himalayas" by Jono Lineen:- Praneet- Anushika Litoria- Shiv Khilwani--------------------------------------------------------------------------This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Kaushal Karkhanis aka The Exotic Gringo. Sit back and listen to where this pro traveller and polyglot takes us to today! Today's destination: Riverside Goa! Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport (GOI), Goa Nearest Railway Station: Multiple options depending on your destination. Prerequisites - NA, but make sure to plan and book your stay ahead of time if traveling during the holiday season Packing - Nothing specific, but make sure to carry appropriate clothes depending on the weather Time of the year - November to March is ideal, but is also going to be busy! Length of the itinerary: Can be anything from 1 weekend to long term for slow travel Itinerary Highlights:  Kaushal starts off by taking us to the river side of North Goa - starting at the Tirakhol river. Tirakhol river divides Maharashtra and Goa and is one of the lesser explored regions. Tirakhol Fort, which is now a hotel, is a beautiful place and the restaurant is open to public. Make sure to carry your camera along, specially right after the monsoons! Nearby regioins of Keri and Arambol are very popular for their beautiful beaches as well. Mandrem, Patnem and Morjim are some of the other beaches in the vicinity.  Next up is the Chapora river, which is Kaushal's favorite for its tranquility and calm. It also has a number of rare bird species and other flora and fauna. The Siolim, Chapora and Vagator are some of the villages along the river. Historically, this was the river that demarcated Portuguese India from the rest of India. Goa only became a part of independent India only in 1961! Whaaat!  Other places of interest are the Chapora fort of Dil CHahta hai fame! There is the fishing village of Chapora (The village gets it's name from Shahpura, its Mughal name from the past!). There are a number of jettys which you can take a boat ride on. A very offbeat destination, ideal for someone who is looking to get away from the crazy crowds of tourists.  As one heads further south, one can spend time at the village of Colvale, a quaint fishing village, also famous for the Colvale beach. Make sure to lodge at Kaza Colvale while here.  Getting around Goa is a breeze - one can take the local buses, the most budget way of traveling. Then there are the 'for hire' bikes which is ideal for solo travelers and couples and Bike pilots for someone looking for a cheap alternative to cabs. The government has also tied up to Ho-Ho Goa or hop-on hop-off Goa, for full day tours around Goa for a steal. The newest mode of transport that is going to be commercialized soon will be the ferry service that can fetch you directly from the airport! Woohooo!  As we continue our journey further south, one can experience the beautiful mainland from the banks of rivers like Baga, Arpora, and Mapusa which have some beautiful flea markets on the banks.  The backwaters of the river Mapusa have some beautiful and quaint villages of carona, Olaulim, Corjuem and Aldona, non-touristy and super tranquil - just the perfect place to do NOTHING, and relax!  Next up on the course, is the river Mandovi - one of the bigger rivers of Goa along with the Zuari. Mandovi has a number of commercially active regions along its banks and is also close the the mainland that has the capital Panjim - just the place to get you a sample of Old Goa, with ample heritage walks, fontainhas - UNESCO declared world heritage walks.  The other regions of note are Reis Magos, Ribandar, Old Goa as well as a handful of islands like Vanxim island, St. Estevam island (the smallest ferry crossing), Divar island (great bicycle trails) and Chorao island (famous for Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary)  Also, FOOOD! The area around Panjim has some of the best places to eat. Check out Anand Ashram (for the fish thali, check out Chonak and Motso fish), Konkani canteen and DTR (for some great local food), Taj Aguada (for unlimited buffet!).  And for dessert, make sure to check sweets like serradura (at Mr. Baker), Bibbingk (Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro), Dodol (Cafe Morango), Vonn (at Chef Peter's restaurant).  Further south are the rivers of Zuari and Sal - areas in the vicinity like Lutolim (famous for old portuguese mansions by Zuari), Varca, Cavelossim, Assolna and Navelim (by Sal river).  Further south are the Agonda and Palolem backwaters (which are more popular for the beaches by the same names). In the vicinity of the Palolem backwaters are hidden beaches like Butteryfly and HOneymoon!  Talpona, Galgibag and Rajbag beaches and backwaters are further down south and have some marvellous 5 star properties for anyone interested. However, one should explore the riversides in this area for some great bicycle rides.  The final reccommendation, that Kaushal is also planning to visit soon is the wonderful Cola beach lagoon (north of Agonda beach), accessible by foot, bicycles and bikes only!  Before wrapping up, Kaushal also gives a big shout out to Jeevit Nadi (www.jeevitnadi.org) that makes organic products like shampoos, soaps and more as well as free recipes for a toxin-free lifestyle, that go a long way in preventing the pollution of rivers, which is a real problem that is staring at the ecology of the region. Make sure you support them and the environment. Kudos!  Links: Kaushal's blog: http://exoticgringo.com/ http://www.goatrippers.com/ Twitter: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Facebook:@gowithgringo/ @goatripping Instagram: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Follow the Musafir stories on:Twitter : https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=enwebsite: www.themusafirstories.comemail: themusafirstories@gmail.comApple podcasts -  https://apple.co/2LPtTA3Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7ljwebsite - http://bit.ly/2xFZqOVSaavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqiSpotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSViGaana - http://bit.ly/2NClUYYpocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewgcastbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQiOvercast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnfStitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhwaudioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowSTuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4aRadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8RDeezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winners of last episode's giveaway of "Into the heart of the Himalayas" by Jono Lineen: - Praneet - Anushika Litoria - Shiv Khilwani -------------------------------------------------------------------------- This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Kaushal Karkhanis aka The Exotic Gringo. Sit back and listen to where this pro traveller and polyglot takes us to today! Today's destination: Riverside Goa! Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport (GOI), Goa Nearest Railway Station: Multiple options depending on your destination. Prerequisites - NA, but make sure to plan and book your stay ahead of time if traveling during the holiday season Packing - Nothing specific, but make sure to carry appropriate clothes depending on the weather Time of the year - November to March is ideal, but is also going to be busy! Length of the itinerary: Can be anything from 1 weekend to long term for slow travel Itinerary Highlights: <ul> <li>Kaushal starts off by taking us to the river side of North Goa - starting at the Tirakhol river. Tirakhol river divides Maharashtra and Goa and is one of the lesser explored regions. Tirakhol Fort, which is now a hotel, is a beautiful place and the restaurant is open to public. Make sure to carry your camera along, specially right after the monsoons! Nearby regioins of Keri and Arambol are very popular for their beautiful beaches as well. Mandrem, Patnem and Morjim are some of the other beaches in the vicinity. </li> <li>Next up is the Chapora river, which is Kaushal's favorite for its tranquility and calm. It also has a number of rare bird species and other flora and fauna. The Siolim, Chapora and Vagator are some of the villages along the river. Historically, this was the river that demarcated Portuguese India from the rest of India. Goa only became a part of independent India only in 1961! Whaaat! </li> <li>Other places of interest are the Chapora fort of Dil CHahta hai fame! There is the fishing village of Chapora (The village gets it's name from Shahpura, its Mughal name from the past!). There are a number of jettys which you can take a boat ride on. A very offbeat destination, ideal for someone who is looking to get away from the crazy crowds of tourists. </li> <li>As one heads further south, one can spend time at the village of Colvale, a quaint fishing village, also famous for the Colvale beach. Make sure to lodge at Kaza Colvale while here. </li> <li>Getting around Goa is a breeze - one can take the local buses, the most budget way of traveling. Then there are the 'for hire' bikes which is ideal for solo travelers and couples and Bike pilots for someone looking for a cheap alternative to cabs. The government has also tied up to Ho-Ho Goa or hop-on hop-off Goa, for full day tours around Goa for a steal. The newest mode of transport that is going to be commercialized soon will be the ferry service that can fetch you directly from the airport! Woohooo! </li> <li>As we continue our journey further south, one can experience the beautiful mainland from the banks of rivers like Baga, Arpora, and Mapusa which have some beautiful flea markets on the banks. </li> <li>The backwaters of the river Mapusa have some beautiful and quaint villages of carona, Olaulim, Corjuem and Aldona, non-touristy and super tranquil - just the perfect place to do NOTHING, and relax! </li> <li>Next up on the course, is the river Mandovi - one of the bigger rivers of Goa along with the Zuari. Mandovi has a number of commercially active regions along its banks and is also close the the mainland that has the capital Panjim - just the place to get you a sample of Old Goa, with ample heritage walks, fontainhas - UNESCO declared world heritage walks. </li> <li>The other regions of note are Reis Magos, Ribandar, Old Goa as well as a handful of islands like Vanxim island, St. Estevam island (the smallest ferry crossing), Divar island (great bicycle trails) and Chorao island (famous for Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary) </li> <li>Also, FOOOD! The area around Panjim has some of the best places to eat. Check out Anand Ashram (for the fish thali, check out Chonak and Motso fish), Konkani canteen and DTR (for some great local food), Taj Aguada (for unlimited buffet!). </li> <li>And for dessert, make sure to check sweets like serradura (at Mr. Baker), Bibbingk (Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro), Dodol (Cafe Morango), Vonn (at Chef Peter's restaurant). </li> <li>Further south are the rivers of Zuari and Sal - areas in the vicinity like Lutolim (famous for old portuguese mansions by Zuari), Varca, Cavelossim, Assolna and Navelim (by Sal river). </li> <li>Further south are the Agonda and Palolem backwaters (which are more popular for the beaches by the same names). In the vicinity of the Palolem backwaters are hidden beaches like Butteryfly and HOneymoon! </li> <li>Talpona, Galgibag and Rajbag beaches and backwaters are further down south and have some marvellous 5 star properties for anyone interested. However, one should explore the riversides in this area for some great bicycle rides. </li> <li>The final reccommendation, that Kaushal is also planning to visit soon is the wonderful Cola beach lagoon (north of Agonda beach), accessible by foot, bicycles and bikes only! </li> <li>Before wrapping up, Kaushal also gives a big shout out to Jeevit Nadi (<a href="http://www.jeevitnadi.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.jeevitnadi.org</a>) that makes organic products like shampoos, soaps and more as well as free recipes for a toxin-free lifestyle, that go a long way in preventing the pollution of rivers, which is a real problem that is staring at the ecology of the region. Make sure you support them and the environment. Kudos! </li> </ul>Links: Kaushal's blog: <a href="http://exoticgringo.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://exoticgringo.com/</a> <a href="http://www.goatrippers.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.goatrippers.com/</a> Twitter: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Facebook:@gowithgringo/ @goatripping Instagram: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Follow the Musafir stories on: Twitter : <a href="https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/musafirstories?lang=en</a> Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/themusafirstories/</a> Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/musafirstoriespodcast/?hl=en</a> website: <a href="http://www.themusafirstories.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.themusafirstories.com</a> email: <a href="mailto:themusafirstories@gmail.com">themusafirstories@gmail.com</a> Apple podcasts -  <a href="https://apple.co/2LPtTA3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2LPtTA3</a> Google podcasts - <a href="http://bit.ly/2toY7lj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2toY7lj</a> website - <a href="http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2xFZqOV</a> Saavn - <a href="https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi</a> Spotify - <a href="https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi</a> Gaana - <a href="http://bit.ly/2NClUYY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2NClUYY</a> pocketcasts - <a href="https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg</a> castbox - <a href="https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi</a> Overcast - <a href="https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf</a> Stitcher Radio - <a href="https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw</a> audioBoom - <a href="https://bit.ly/2oZZowS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2oZZowS</a> TuneIn - <a href="https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a</a> RadioPublic - <a href="https://bit.ly/2snY9u0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2snY9u0</a> iHeartradio - <a href="https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R</a> Deezer - <a href="https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo</a> See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

96: Rebroadcast: Riverside Goa with Kaushal Karkhanis

How do you earn while travelling? Is it possible to work on the go? Can I actually work while sipping cocktails by the pool? Is this for real? A location-independent lifestyle sure sounds glamorous. With good reason, because living life on your terms, living anywhere in the world and making money while at it sounds like a dream, doesn't it? Kaushal Karkhanis is a graphic designer, a content creator and a community-fiend who's been living the location independent lifestyle since 12 years and joins me on this episode to tell us all about how he does what he does and how we can design a life we probably dream of. You'll hear about how his tryst with travel blogging started at 05:00, how he managed to bounce back from zero at 08:00, and what enabled his location-independent lifestyle at 10:30. He tells us how he started work as a digital nomad at 13:12 and how he manages to balance work and travel at 16:57. The pros and cons of the lifestyle come out at 19:26, and you'll also hear about the different ways you can pursue this at 21:11. Learn about the concept of geo-arbitrage and why it's something you need to know about at 22:15. Kaushal even tells us about the mistakes he's made on this journey and what you can do to avoid them at 23:38. We discuss the future of the gig economy and what the future might hold at 26:05. Take advantage of some valuable life lessons Kaushal doles out at 29:47, after which he gives us all a glimpse into what his journey has been like at 31:35. Skip to 34:15 to listen to what you need to know before jumping into this life, and then move on to tips and tricks at 39:09. Transition options pop up at 41:09 and listen in at 45:54 for resources that will help you out. Hop over to Kaushal's travel blog - www.exoticgringo.com - to see where he's been. Head to www.kaushal.page/nomad for a full list of resources that can help you get started on a location-independent lifestyle. I welcome comments, compliments and feedback! Drop me a message at www.instagram.com/peppytravelgirl, and check out my website www.peppytravelgirl.com. Music by Pranav Chadha.

How do you earn while travelling? Is it possible to work on the go? Can I actually work while sipping cocktails by the pool? Is this for real? A location-independent lifestyle sure sounds glamorous. With good reason, because living life on your terms, living anywhere in the world and making money while at it sounds like a dream, doesn't it? Kaushal Karkhanis is a graphic designer, a content creator and a community-fiend who's been living the location independent lifestyle since 12 years and joins me on this episode to tell us all about how he does what he does and how we can design a life we probably dream of. You'll hear about how his tryst with travel blogging started at 05:00, how he managed to bounce back from zero at 08:00, and what enabled his location-independent lifestyle at 10:30. He tells us how he started work as a digital nomad at 13:12 and how he manages to balance work and travel at 16:57. The pros and cons of the lifestyle come out at 19:26, and you'll also hear about the different ways you can pursue this at 21:11. Learn about the concept of geo-arbitrage and why it's something you need to know about at 22:15. Kaushal even tells us about the mistakes he's made on this journey and what you can do to avoid them at 23:38. We discuss the future of the gig economy and what the future might hold at 26:05. Take advantage of some valuable life lessons Kaushal doles out at 29:47, after which he gives us all a glimpse into what his journey has been like at 31:35. Skip to 34:15 to listen to what you need to know before jumping into this life, and then move on to tips and tricks at 39:09. Transition options pop up at 41:09 and listen in at 45:54 for resources that will help you out. Hop over to Kaushal's travel blog - <a href="http://www.exoticgringo.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.exoticgringo.com</a> - to see where he's been. Head to www.kaushal.page/nomad for a full list of resources that can help you get started on a location-independent lifestyle. I welcome comments, compliments and feedback! Drop me a message at <a href="http://www.instagram.com/peppytravelgirl" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/peppytravelgirl</a>, and check out my website <a href="http://www.peppytravelgirl.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.peppytravelgirl.com</a>. Music by Pranav Chadha.

Ep. 11 - #PepTake! Living a location-independent lifestyle, with Kaushal Karkhanis

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Kaushal Karkhanis aka The Exotic Gringo. Sit back and listen to where this pro traveller and polyglot takes us to today! Today's destination: Riverside Goa! Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport (GOI), Goa Nearest Railway Station: Multiple options depending on your destination. Prerequisites - NA, but make sure to plan and book your stay ahead of time if traveling during the holiday season Packing - Nothing specific, but make sure to carry appropriate clothes depending on the weather Time of the year - November to March is ideal, but is also going to be busy! Length of the itinerary: Can be anything from 1 weekend to long term for slow travel Itinerary Highlights:  Kaushal starts off by taking us to the river side of North Goa - starting at the Tirakhol river. Tirakhol river divides Maharashtra and Goa and is one of the lesser explored regions. Tirakhol Fort, which is now a hotel, is a beautiful place and the restaurant is open to public. Make sure to carry your camera along, specially right after the monsoons! Nearby regioins of Keri and Arambol are very popular for their beautiful beaches as well. Mandrem, Patnem and Morjim are some of the other beaches in the vicinity. Next up is the Chapora river, which is Kaushal's favorite for its tranquility and calm. It also has a number of rare bird species and other flora and fauna. The Siolim, Chapora and Vagator are some of the villages along the river. Historically, this was the river that demarcated Portuguese India from the rest of India. Goa only became a part of independent India only in 1961! Whaaat! Other places of interest are the Chapora fort of Dil CHahta hai fame! There is the fishing village of Chapora (The village gets it's name from Shahpura, its Mughal name from the past!). There are a number of jettys which you can take a boat ride on. A very offbeat destination, ideal for someone who is looking to get away from the crazy crowds of tourists. As one heads further south, one can spend time at the village of Colvale, a quaint fishing village, also famous for the Colvale beach. Make sure to lodge at Kaza Colvale while here. Getting around Goa is a breeze - one can take the local buses, the most budget way of traveling. Then there are the 'for hire' bikes which is ideal for solo travelers and couples and Bike pilots for someone looking for a cheap alternative to cabs. The government has also tied up to Ho-Ho Goa or hop-on hop-off Goa, for full day tours around Goa for a steal. The newest mode of transport that is going to be commercialized soon will be the ferry service that can fetch you directly from the airport! Woohooo! As we continue our journey further south, one can experience the beautiful mainland from the banks of rivers like Baga, Arpora, and Mapusa which have some beautiful flea markets on the banks. The backwaters of the river Mapusa have some beautiful and quaint villages of carona, Olaulim, Corjuem and Aldona, non-touristy and super tranquil - just the perfect place to do NOTHING, and relax! Next up on the course, is the river Mandovi - one of the bigger rivers of Goa along with the Zuari. Mandovi has a number of commercially active regions along its banks and is also close the the mainland that has the capital Panjim - just the place to get you a sample of Old Goa, with ample heritage walks, fontainhas - UNESCO declared world heritage walks. The other regions of note are Reis Magos, Ribandar, Old Goa as well as a handful of islands like Vanxim island, St. Estevam island (the smallest ferry crossing), Divar island (great bicycle trails) and Chorao island (famous for Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary) Also, FOOOD! The area around Panjim has some of the best places to eat. Check out Anand Ashram (for the fish thali, check out Chonak and Motso fish), Konkani canteen and DTR (for some great local food), Taj Aguada (for unlimited buffet!). And for dessert, make sure to check sweets like serradura (at Mr. Baker), Bibbingk (Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro), Dodol (Cafe Morango), Vonn (at Chef Peter's restaurant). Further south are the rivers of Zuari and Sal - areas in the vicinity like Lutolim (famous for old portuguese mansions by Zuari), Varca, Cavelossim, Assolna and Navelim (by Sal river). Further south are the Agonda and Palolem backwaters (which are more popular for the beaches by the same names). In the vicinity of the Palolem backwaters are hidden beaches like Butteryfly and HOneymoon! Talpona, Galgibag and Rajbag beaches and backwaters are further down south and have some marvellous 5 star properties for anyone interested. However, one should explore the riversides in this area for some great bicycle rides. The final reccommendation, that Kaushal is also planning to visit soon is the wonderful Cola beach lagoon (north of Agonda beach), accessible by foot, bicycles and bikes only! Before wrapping up, Kaushal also gives a big shout out to Jeevit Nadi (www.jeevitnadi.org) that makes organic products like shampoos, soaps and more as well as free recipes for a toxin-free lifestyle, that go a long way in preventing the pollution of rivers, which is a real problem that is staring at the ecology of the region. Make sure you support them and the environment. Kudos!  Links: Nagaland Chief Minister's relief fund: A/C No. 10530527879 IFSC Code: SBIN0000214 State Bank of India, Kohima Branch OR https://cmrelieffund.nowpay.co.in/ OR https://paytm.com/helpinghand/cm-relief-fund-nagaland Kaushal's blog: http://exoticgringo.com/ http://www.goatrippers.com/ Twitter: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Facebook:@gowithgringo/ @goatripping Instagram: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: www.themusafirstories.com email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - https://apple.co/2LPtTA3 Google podcasts - http://bit.ly/2toY7lj or "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi web/audioBoom - https://bit.ly/2oZZowS Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi pocketcasts - https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg castbox - https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi Overcast - https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf Stitcher Radio - https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw TuneIn - https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a RadioPublic - https://bit.ly/2snY9u0 iHeartradio - https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R Deezer - https://bit.ly/2L7GmOoSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, The Musafir Stories speaks to Kaushal Karkhanis aka The Exotic Gringo. Sit back and listen to where this pro traveller and polyglot takes us to today! Today's destination: Riverside Goa! Nearest Airport: Dabolim Airport (GOI), Goa Nearest Railway Station: Multiple options depending on your destination. Prerequisites - NA, but make sure to plan and book your stay ahead of time if traveling during the holiday season Packing - Nothing specific, but make sure to carry appropriate clothes depending on the weather Time of the year - November to March is ideal, but is also going to be busy! Length of the itinerary: Can be anything from 1 weekend to long term for slow travel Itinerary Highlights: <ul> <li>Kaushal starts off by taking us to the river side of North Goa - starting at the Tirakhol river. Tirakhol river divides Maharashtra and Goa and is one of the lesser explored regions. Tirakhol Fort, which is now a hotel, is a beautiful place and the restaurant is open to public. Make sure to carry your camera along, specially right after the monsoons! Nearby regioins of Keri and Arambol are very popular for their beautiful beaches as well. Mandrem, Patnem and Morjim are some of the other beaches in the vicinity.</li> <li>Next up is the Chapora river, which is Kaushal's favorite for its tranquility and calm. It also has a number of rare bird species and other flora and fauna. The Siolim, Chapora and Vagator are some of the villages along the river. Historically, this was the river that demarcated Portuguese India from the rest of India. Goa only became a part of independent India only in 1961! Whaaat!</li> <li>Other places of interest are the Chapora fort of Dil CHahta hai fame! There is the fishing village of Chapora (The village gets it's name from Shahpura, its Mughal name from the past!). There are a number of jettys which you can take a boat ride on. A very offbeat destination, ideal for someone who is looking to get away from the crazy crowds of tourists.</li> <li>As one heads further south, one can spend time at the village of Colvale, a quaint fishing village, also famous for the Colvale beach. Make sure to lodge at Kaza Colvale while here.</li> <li>Getting around Goa is a breeze - one can take the local buses, the most budget way of traveling. Then there are the 'for hire' bikes which is ideal for solo travelers and couples and Bike pilots for someone looking for a cheap alternative to cabs. The government has also tied up to Ho-Ho Goa or hop-on hop-off Goa, for full day tours around Goa for a steal. The newest mode of transport that is going to be commercialized soon will be the ferry service that can fetch you directly from the airport! Woohooo!</li> <li>As we continue our journey further south, one can experience the beautiful mainland from the banks of rivers like Baga, Arpora, and Mapusa which have some beautiful flea markets on the banks.</li> <li>The backwaters of the river Mapusa have some beautiful and quaint villages of carona, Olaulim, Corjuem and Aldona, non-touristy and super tranquil - just the perfect place to do NOTHING, and relax!</li> <li>Next up on the course, is the river Mandovi - one of the bigger rivers of Goa along with the Zuari. Mandovi has a number of commercially active regions along its banks and is also close the the mainland that has the capital Panjim - just the place to get you a sample of Old Goa, with ample heritage walks, fontainhas - UNESCO declared world heritage walks.</li> <li>The other regions of note are Reis Magos, Ribandar, Old Goa as well as a handful of islands like Vanxim island, St. Estevam island (the smallest ferry crossing), Divar island (great bicycle trails) and Chorao island (famous for Dr. Salim Ali bird sanctuary)</li> <li>Also, FOOOD! The area around Panjim has some of the best places to eat. Check out Anand Ashram (for the fish thali, check out Chonak and Motso fish), Konkani canteen and DTR (for some great local food), Taj Aguada (for unlimited buffet!).</li> <li>And for dessert, make sure to check sweets like serradura (at Mr. Baker), Bibbingk (Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro), Dodol (Cafe Morango), Vonn (at Chef Peter's restaurant).</li> <li>Further south are the rivers of Zuari and Sal - areas in the vicinity like Lutolim (famous for old portuguese mansions by Zuari), Varca, Cavelossim, Assolna and Navelim (by Sal river).</li> <li>Further south are the Agonda and Palolem backwaters (which are more popular for the beaches by the same names). In the vicinity of the Palolem backwaters are hidden beaches like Butteryfly and HOneymoon!</li> <li>Talpona, Galgibag and Rajbag beaches and backwaters are further down south and have some marvellous 5 star properties for anyone interested. However, one should explore the riversides in this area for some great bicycle rides.</li> <li>The final reccommendation, that Kaushal is also planning to visit soon is the wonderful Cola beach lagoon (north of Agonda beach), accessible by foot, bicycles and bikes only!</li> <li>Before wrapping up, Kaushal also gives a big shout out to Jeevit Nadi (<a href="http://www.jeevitnadi.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.jeevitnadi.org</a>) that makes organic products like shampoos, soaps and more as well as free recipes for a toxin-free lifestyle, that go a long way in preventing the pollution of rivers, which is a real problem that is staring at the ecology of the region. Make sure you support them and the environment. Kudos!</li> </ul> Links: Nagaland Chief Minister's relief fund: A/C No. 10530527879 IFSC Code: SBIN0000214 State Bank of India, Kohima Branch OR <a href="https://cmrelieffund.nowpay.co.in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://cmrelieffund.nowpay.co.in/</a> OR <a href="https://paytm.com/helpinghand/cm-relief-fund-nagaland" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://paytm.com/helpinghand/cm-relief-fund-nagaland</a> Kaushal's blog: <a href="http://exoticgringo.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://exoticgringo.com/</a> <a href="http://www.goatrippers.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.goatrippers.com/</a> Twitter: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Facebook:@gowithgringo/ @goatripping Instagram: @exoticgringo/ @goatrippers Follow the Musafir stories on Twitter: @musafirstories Facebook: @themusafirstories Instagram: @musafirstoriespodcast website: <a href="http://www.themusafirstories.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.themusafirstories.com</a> email: themusafirstories@gmail.com itunes - <a href="https://apple.co/2LPtTA3" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://apple.co/2LPtTA3</a> Google podcasts - <a href="http://bit.ly/2toY7lj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2toY7lj</a> or "Ok Google, play The Musafir stories podcast" Saavn - <a href="https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2J5rIqi</a> web/audioBoom - <a href="https://bit.ly/2oZZowS" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2oZZowS</a> Spotify - <a href="https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://spoti.fi/2HLPSVi</a> pocketcasts - <a href="https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2xu3Ewg</a> castbox - <a href="https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2sqBDQi</a> Overcast - <a href="https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2LN9wnf</a> Stitcher Radio - <a href="https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2JiBbhw</a> TuneIn - <a href="https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2xyQH4a</a> RadioPublic - <a href="https://bit.ly/2snY9u0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2snY9u0</a> iHeartradio - <a href="https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://ihr.fm/2xvOG8R</a> Deezer - <a href="https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/2L7GmOo</a>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.