1. Celebrate India – Sunburn Festival with Yatra.com
Wondering where to head for New Year celebrations? Where else could you
possibly have a better time on New Year than Goa? It is the undisputed champion of
New Year destinations in India. And, if you have an entire week to spare, you are on
a roll! There is Christmas followed by the Sunburn Music Festival and finally the
New Year celebrations. For all my bragging about how much I have travelled, even I
had a tough time keeping up for the entire week. Just make sure to get your
reservations well in advance or you’ll be stuck like me, but that’s another story for
some other time. For now, let’s start the ride!
Goan Christmas celebrations are known to all. Take a suggestion and hire a bike, it
guarantees much more freedom and way more fun. Goa has a sizable Christian
population and they sure do celebrate their Christmas in style. I experienced it
firsthand in Old Goa on the Christmas Eve. There are plenty of beautiful churches
but I thought Basilica of Bom Jesus was just magnificent and the best place to be
at on the Christmas Eve.
Then came the Sunburn Festival. It’s a 3 day electronic music extravaganza. I had
an absolute head bangers’ ball there. It features several Indian and International
artists playing simultaneously on several stages set on the Candolim Beach. When I
got bored with one performance, I just hopped on to the next. When I got tired of the
music, I went and played a few games; when I got tired of playing, I went and ate
and; when I got tired of eating I went and shopped at the flea market. There are
stalls for all kinds of stuff. Isn’t Goa just super cool? I say YEAH! GOA
ROCKSSSSSSSSSSS!
The music festival offered almost all the
activities that make Goa such a hit with
the tourists except one i.e. playing at the
casino. For that I had to visit The Casino
Royale. Ring any bells? Isn’t it too
obvious? Anyway the coolest feature
about this casino is that it’s built on a
vessel, anchored in the Mandovi River.
I even managed to take out a little time to head out to Agonda for a little peace and
quiet even during that peak tourist season. There is also a sea turtle nesting site
there just in case all that peace and quiet start getting on to you. One piece of
advice - keep the place clean and quite so as not to disturb the turtles, the
authorities are very particular about this.

2. Any way if you have any energy left, which I think you won’t, then don’t worry and
get yourself a pack of energy drinks, that’s what I did to keep the adrenaline flowing.
What’s the point of going all that distance and not even being able to celebrate New
Year in style? And believe me the style quotient is extremely high during New Year
with outrageous beach parties that will blow your mind. If you have had enough of
beaches during the Sunburn Festival then there are plenty of super awesome clubs.
Just go and blow the lid off and don’t let up till the gong of midnight strikes on the
31st.
I pray that the gods of partying watch over you and may all of you turn into party
mongering adrenaline junkies.
Be safe but not too much.
This is Joy signing off wishing you a Merry Christmas and an extremely Happy New
Year.