Be My Goan Valentine!
A full moon will shine over the 14.2.14 weekend. And it’s time to start a new adventure of the heart.
Our little state is attracting more than our fair share of Valentine’s Day revelry.
A survey by the travel site Skyscanner last year revealed that Goa is the place that most Indians would like to visit for a romantic break within the sub-continent. Over 800 people voted in the survey, site and Goa topped the charts with 28% of the vote, buy followed by the Andaman Islands (14%), dosage Agra (9%), Kerala (8%) and Shimla (8%).
Lucky you! You’re already here. If you have a deep wallet and a fat bank balance, head for the Deltin Jack floating casino in the Mandovi River, and take part in the Valentine’s Day Special Indian Flush Tournament. Lady Luck might smile and you might win Rs 1.5-cr promised to the winner of the Teen Patti games. The action is spread over the weekend and concludes on Sunday. Entry fee is Rs 1 lakh. The Deltin also has live entertainment, so you can sing and dance with Regan and Faith and The Muzibition, plus watch comedy acts and Bollywood dancers. On the Deltin Royale, the high-voltage Abhinanda Sarkar, India’s answer to Madonna, will rock you with her Hindi pop-rock songs from her albums ‘Bindaas’ and ‘Kahkashan’. And the award-winning dance duo, Sai and Kirti will do the Salsa and other dances. Expect Champagne entertainment, and on the Deltin Royale, Bollywood dancers, international belly dancer Petra and Orlando’s serenading trio.
If you’re looking for a Valentine’s night cruise without gambling, go for the GTDC’s special ‘Lovers’ boat cruise on Friday; it starts at 9 pm. Entertainment includes a special shadow act, dancing, live music and dinner.
Check out the five-star hotels for a lovely dinner. Alila Diwa Goa in Majorda has a five-course ‘Aphrodisiac’ dinner which comes with a bottle of sparkling wine. At Vivanta in Panjim you can expect ‘beautifully set tables, long-stemmed roses, strawberry swirls and wicked chocolate delights’. It promises you ‘Valentine trysts so transcendent, they’ll get tattooed to your soul’. Hotel Fidalgo has a poolside celebratory buffet dinner at O Goa with live music. At the Marriott in Miramar, besides special dinners at all their restaurants, you can also cozy up for an intimate dinner in a private cabana overlooking the Mandovi. Then boogey away at Az.U.R’s Valentine’s after party. Try the romantic spa package, Valentine’s Bliss.
You could also check out the newly-launched Flor do Mar at Morjim. It’s India’s first ‘Luxury Sea Lounge’ and has two levels for dining and partying, so you can do both.
North 16 Goa, the swish new property at Calangute, has a poolside dinner celebration with live music. Keys Ronil’s will have the same, plus fireworks.
If you and your partner are trance lovers, Vagator has the biggest bash of the weekend, the Hill Top Festival, from 4 pm, February 14, going on non-stop till 10 pm on Sunday.
Bay 15 at Odxel near Dona Paula has a buffet with a live barbeque.
Down south in Betalbatim, at Mandi in the Jasmine Hotel, there will be a live performance by Manipuri chau (folk dance) artistes and street food. In Margao you can have a candle-light dinner at Martins.
No matter where you are, you’re sure to find heartwarming, love-inducing party!
