Goa may be the party capital of the country but, on the flipside, it boasts a state of perpetual calm that one appreciates after a night of indulgence. While my annual visit to Goa is usually limited to swanky beachside resorts and the shacks, I recently swapped it for an old-school Portuguese villa, a little away from the beach. The villa, an undertaking of OYO&rsquos latest venture, OYO Homes, is in Calangute within walking distance from the market and a short drive from the sandy shores.
Coconut trees surround this 80-year-old property, where a small gate opens to a yard with an outdoor kitchenette, barbecue grills and lounge chairs for simple night outs. This is a self-service home with the staff only there to assist one&rsquos stay. It is ideal for a group of friends looking for a weekend getaway. The single storey villa has a gorgeous porch. Inside, the high ceilings have small windows for the sunlight to stream in and upside down, lit-up umbrellas make for quirky lights. Everything about this villa speaks simplicity and clean designs.
I do appreciate their open layout conversation flows easily through large doorways and the house provides an organic space. The first area shapes out like a giant hall a double bed on the left (which was a part of the original house) and two single beds on the right, all with pull-out beds underneath. Like in most traditional Portuguese homes, the bathrooms are separate from the bedrooms. I took the only bedroom that affords privacy here, a similar double bed occupies most of a tiny room. Every bed here has a canopy and fairy lights, and an accent of blue and yellow (reminiscent of the beaches) is seen through the villa. Painted glass walls, linear design, and geometric decorations are all influences of the local culture.
In the kitchen find instant noodles, sodas, chips, coffee and other &lsquobasic amenties for millennials&rsquo. A quick look around had us grab what is required for a night in before dragging the pull-out beds to the common area for an evening of binge-watching movies and shows, eating and drinking.
Though the night is spent away from the sea, the blue hues across the villa reminds one of the waves. Instead of stars, fairy lights twinkle. When the show ends, the gossiping stops and sleepy yawns take precedence. The sound of rain keeps me company as I begin to dream of a day at the beach.
