Goa made me a morning person!
Serenity, birdwatching, fresh poi & more - Goa is at its best at sunrise!
In India, a whole generation grew up dreaming of a Goa trip with friends, during school and college days! I believe a cool pathbreaking Hindi film of that time called Dil Chahta Hai (2001) was a major influence. And I’m sure very few of those plans were successful and for most of us, the trip is still pending! (consider this as a reminder to call your friends and make the bookings).
I came to Goa for the first time in 2019 for two days with my family, checked out a few beaches, drank beer and gin, ate lots of seafood and headed back to work in Mumbai.
The second time I came here was just post-COVID in Dec 2022, a week before my birthday, with three big bags and some mental baggage too! This was me moving out of Mumbai to stay in Goa, as I needed a change from the fast-paced city life!
Did I find Goa beautiful? - DEFINITELY!!! I ended up in one of the prettiest remote villages here.
Did I feel at home instantly? - Not really! (But that’s a different story that I might write about soon)
The unexpected morning bliss!
Goa is popular for sundowners! People especially come here to party!
The restaurants, pubs, clubs and even streets fill up, mostly only after sunset.
But I vouch for the unpopular opinion here - that Goa is at its best in the morning!
Earlier, I have always called myself a nightbird, even though I’m from Northeast India where the day dawns at 4 am. When I started my small business in my hometown, I used to work post-dinner from 10 pm to 3 am.
In Goa, sunrise happens at around 6.30 am and I have to wake up maximum by 7 am. If I wake up late, I experience FOMO (as the cool kids say)!
FOMO = Fear of missing out (for people like me, who hate acronyms)
What do I fear missing out on?
Well, all the usual things that morning people have been talking about for ages - peace, a sense of calm, less noise and distractions - but mostly, the birds!
Every morning, I get the chance to see a new bird in the trees from my window. Because I am not very knowledgeable about bird species yet - I can’t name them much but what’s fascinating is that there is a different species almost every day!
One day a pair of bulbuls, the other day a loner eagle, and sometimes a big bunch of yellow or blue or multi-coloured tiny ones chirping around.
The morning weather is also pleasant in the rather humid Goa and the lanes are beautiful to take a ride around on bikes without worrying much about the scorching sun.
There will be a few fellow early risers in the neighbourhood, walking their dogs, jogging or cycling.
And then there is the poider - the breadman, who comes around on his bike to deliver fresh Poi - Goa’s special bread made by traditional bakers.
Very few food joints open up as early but when they do people always gather to relish the freshest batch of breakfast.
Morning writing!
There are a few things that have become a habit now after waking up - munching some dry fruits, making my coffee, journaling (with a pen and paper, no gadgets) and reading at least a page or two (of a paperback, no e-books).
Even if everything else is falling apart, I don’t think I have skipped this 40-60 minutes of morning routine for a few years now, unless I’ve to be out of the house early for some reason.
Because I have been fortunate enough to do this, I understand very well the importance and benefits of consistency in life. But I’ve struggled to remain consistent at other things like exercise or even writing.
Today, my main everyday work is to write! And this year, so far I have been able to be consistent with Substack, thanks to the encouraging community of readers and writers.
Hence, I’m including “morning writing” in my routine!
Earlier, I used to work post-dinner till sunrise for uninterrupted focus. But now I’m trying to do this in the morning, leveraging the quietness of the morning in the quaint countryside of Goa that destiny has brought me in.
Most of my writing now (including this) is being written as a morning routine with a cup of coffee by my side, all notifications blocked from all gadgets and only birdsongs (and hens) in the background along with a few barks of the dogs of my house chasing some squirrels and neighbourhood cats in the garden. I won’t call them distractions!
Next time, if you are visiting Goa, I recommend you wake up early at least one day, especially if you are staying at a quiet location. Let me know if you love it as much as I do.
I plan to write much more about my experiences in Goa and its mornings. Keep in touch! :)
I am Namrata Gohain, a designer-turned-storyteller, writer and content producer. I document stories on responsible travel, crafts, cuisine, slow living and my creative journey.
This felt so close to my heart. I am fully inspired to have a consistent morning routine now. Totally agree on the peacefulness of Goan Mornings. Keep it up, Namrata! You have a long way to go. :)
As someone who’s closely seen your early morning routine, I know how much you value the early mornings. I love how undisturbed you are and how you get lost in the tranquility of the time. Thank you for inspiring me to give myself that time which truly sets the tone for the day.Keep doing you 💜