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Goa Nightlife: the 6 Most Popular Party Places in Goa

Rachel Jones — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 12:00:19 +0000

Goa nightlife is literally notorious for its party scene. However, it’s a very specific type of scene – one that Rachel, being an American, had no idea about since she listened to rap and country for most of her life!

After traveling around India and visiting Goa last, she heard of “Psy,” and wondered, “Is he a DJ?” (True story, lol). But Psy is not a DJ. “Psy Trance” is the music of choice in Goa, where it originated. The parties and raves here are unlike anywhere else. While Rachel shared the most obvious party places in Goa for you to try, we had her friend and fellow Goan expat, Jules, make sure everything was up to date and even add another popular spot!

Keep in mind that even if it’s not your cup of tea, it’s truly something to check out at least once. These parties are 100% part of Goa and Goans, Indians from outside Goa, and foreigners come together at them. It’s not something fake for tourism. In fact, these parties are as real as it gets! The “trance” parties are mostly Anjuna and Vagator but also in Morjim, Ashwem, and Arambol.

Most of these photos are from Rachel’s friend, Katja. She’s the designer behind Dadablui (who Rachel wrote about in this post) and has been partying at these places for decades- thanks, Katja!

Don’t forget to pick up our Insider Guide to Goa and Guide to India ebooks

A Goa Nightlife Guide: Top Nightclubs and Parties in Goa

1. HillTop

HillTop is definitely one of the best party places in Goa. It’s the most well known and also nostalgic. Just check out their Facebook page to see images of the scene and you’ll get how wild it is! Sundays are the night they have their biggest parties starting early at like midday until only 10 pm but some nights like NYE and Christmas Eve go on all night and through to the next day.

You’ll find backpackers, locals, old school Goa hippies who have been coming here for 30 years, and domestic Indian tourists altogether. It’s really not an “exclusive” vibe – people are welcoming and laid back at these things.

If you don’t want to dance there are sometimes ladies with chai on the sides (“chai mamas”) and you can go sit and chill and people-watch.

It does cost to get in! The cost is anywhere from 500 to 2,000 rupees depending on the party. Most of the amazing trance parties here are a little expensive. The DJ’s here are not just some random people, they are internationally known, amazing trance DJ’s and some people travel here just to see their favorites perform.

In January, they have their famous Hilltop Festival which is a 3 day Goan Trance festival with a huge line up of international DJs. This festival sees over 5000 people coming through the door. The stage decor is always amazing, so if Goan Trance is your thing don’t miss this one. It usually sells out and tickets should be bought in advance.

HillTop is up on the big hill in Vagator before you turn to go towards Ozran Beach. It is one of the originals and has been around since 1976!

2. Shiva Valley

Shiva Valley is on Anjuna Beach and is another really epic place for trance music and kind of one of the “original” places in Goa for this. It’s right next to Curlies, and it’s a beach shack like Curlies, but smaller. On Tuesdays, they have their big party which everyone goes to. This starts around 5 pm and there is a cover charge.

3. Curlies

Also on Anjuna Beach, Curlies is the more popular shack of the two side by side shacks (Curlies and Shiva Valley). I think Curlies is said to be the first ever beach shack in Anjuna Beach – but that could be a rumor! It’s been around for decades though.

Curlies is actually a pretty chill place to hang out during the day, too, and the food isn’t bad. We take friends here sometimes. After 5 pm or around sunset it becomes more of a party place though and sometimes goes all through the night. Of all the places on this list, Curlies is actually a place I do go to party sometimes, and it’s great that it’s open in the monsoon.

The party night here in on Thursdays and it’s free to come in. Keep in mind at all bars/clubs in Goa if you are a group of just men, you may be denied entrance. They try to keep the balanced men and women for safety and such.

4. 9 Bar

9 Bar is somewhere I tend to go really late at night after other parties have winded down. It’s a different type of place on Vagator Cliff. It has some outside parties but also this inside space which is a little dungeony since it’s soundproof.

It’s definitely that real “trance” vibe though and a cool place to check out; they get DJ’s here from all over the world. It’s near a lot of hostels and guesthouses, so tourists tend to pop in here for parties. A perk of this place is you get amazing views over the Arabian Sea! Every time I’ve been it was free entry, but there are some big parties where they might be charging a small amount to enter, depending on the DJ.

5. Chronicle

Chronicle is also on Vagator Cliff but down the cliff a little bit. It has levels and has amazing views. Chronicle isn’t really known for trance/psy but has all kinds of electronic music like techno and deep-house. Chronicle is also a restaurant and has a shop inside. I guess you could say it’s a little more upscale party place, and you can get more dressed up here if you want to. It’s actually new since I moved here and opened in 2013. You can check their Facebook page to see when they are having a big party and they do charge an entrance fee on nights like that.

6. Soro – Boshed

Soro, the name of the club, is in a sleepy part of Assagao and is an indoor area that has a pub vibe about it. On different days of the week they have specific nights on. One not to miss is Boshed. Every Tuesday, this techno party has its weekly resident DJs plus special guests. The party goes on until 3am and is always busy. Here you will find a younger crowd and lots of residents of Goa rather than tourists. Perfect for scoping out the true local techno scene. This party goes on throughout the year whereas most of the above will stop for monsoon.

And if HipHop is more your thing, the same Boshed organisers throw a Down n Dirty HipHop night on Thursdays, also at Soro.

So, which of these party places in Goa should you have on your bucket list?

Those were the top places to go for Trance, Psy, Techno parties (you can check their Facebook pages or WUG to see what DJ will be there). This really just scratches the surface though. There are so many more places to have epic parties in Goa like Monkey Valley or new ones popping up in Morjim. This guide is mostly just to show you the most well-known, classic, trance parties in Goa.

It’s definitely not my scene; although I’ve tried these parties a lot, I just don’t love this music. Wish I did! I love how it brings people together and all my friends are into it. But all these years have gone by and I’ve never gotten into it. (I think partly as I’m not much of a partier, in general, these days, so maybe when I was 20 I’d have loved it!).

You also have the commercial scene here in Goa with R&B, hip-hop, and Bollywood. This is mostly in Baga, Calangute, and Candolim at clubs like Sync, LPK, and on Tito’s Lane.

If none of this is your scene and you’re going to be in Goa for some time, you might want to check out my e-book, The Insider’s Guide to Goa, because in each beach/village, I write about nightlife and most include alternative nightlife like live music (which is hard to find here), Reggae, and more chilled out vibes that aren’t as hardcore or crowded as these.

Have you experienced Goa nightlife? Where would you recommend going?

For More Goa Travel Planning Guides:

Check out some of these posts to help you continue planning your trip to India:

Goa Travel Tips

Trip Planning Tips

Logistics

Packing Tips

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Original Post: Oct 2017; Updated Post: June, 2020

The post Goa Nightlife: the 6 Most Popular Party Places in Goa appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Best New Restaurants in Goa in 2018 + New Shops & Hotels This Season

Rachel Jones — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 13:29:50 +0000

I have not written about new places in Goa in a while. The last restaurant post I did was 10 of my favorites for 2015! While my Goa ebook has all the new cool places since then + hundreds of the best places to eat around Goa, this blog hadn’t had new additions in a while. This season especially it seems like there is a huge boom of new companies popping up so I decided to make it my goal to go try as many of them out as I could (for research, of course!). I’ve put together the best new restaurants in Goa in 2018 season and the few new shops and guesthouses, too. I tried 8 new places in the first week!

This isn’t a complete list and I’m simply putting it in the order they came to mind – not best to worst or anything like that. Some of these places have been getting a lot of hype on Facebook and I got loads of recommendations from friends. If I didn’t have time to try it, I added it to the list at the bottom (in case you are curious of new options for this season) and will come back and update this as I try new ones.

Keep in mind these are NEW places this year not a roundup of the best, so if you feel I missed your favorite place, it’s been covered before probably! The complete list of all the best restaurants, bars, places to party, and things to do in Goa is in my Ebook, sorted by beach/town. You can use the code “welovegoa” to get 30% off the book (it’s a 170-page book that has all my top tips for Goa from five years of living here year-round). Click here to buy it.

Best New Restaurants in Goa + Shops & Hotels!

1. Hugs & Mugs, Mapusa

I had been meaning to come here for a while since my good friend Marilyn is the chef here. She worked at Thalassa and Hillbelly previously, but her brother opened this place. They are Goan and from Mapusa. It is by far the best “Western” style food you can get in Mapusa and it’s a chilled out art cafe. Expect American style sandwiches like grilled ham & cheese, pulled pork or beef, and buttermilk fried chicken. It’s cheap at around 200 Rs for a non-veg sandwich served with french fries. The churro ice cream bowl was YUM and I can honestly say this is the best milkshake I’ve had in Goa because it’s actually thick American style whereas most other places make really thin runny milkshakes for some reason. This is located up by the courthouse and you’ll park on the street parallel outside.

2. Crab & Co, Assagao

This place is all hyped up this season! Ben and I went for dinner and got too much food as always: the crab stuffed onion rings (mmm), the calamari (also good), a 400-gram crab which was 1200 Rs and according to Ben the best crab he’s had in Goa, and I got the home-style pork chops (450 Rs.) which I can say are the best pork chops I’ve had here – juicy but hardly any fat on them (although I didn’t like the sauce that was on the side). Usually, pork here is fatty or dry and not worth getting, so this is pretty exciting. They do not have a liquor license yet but hope to by January so definitely something to keep in mind! This is a really good seafood place, but it’s not cheap so while I’d love to eat here a lot – when I want some butter garlic prawns, I’ll still go to my local place for a quick bite and save this for a nice dinner spot. PS the people who run this also own Barrel & Bones in Panjim. There is a big parking lot here.

3. Botanique Bistrot, Assagao

This new place is near Gunpowder in Assagao on Anjuna-Mapusa road (same road as Crab & Co) and it’s a villa with rooms as well as a restaurant. Their menu was small when I went as they were only open 10 days but they will be adding more to it. I had a Kingfish sandwich with tartar sauce and Ben got the beef with some mash and carrots – it was really tasty. It’s kind of got a fancy feel because it’s French but the space is laid back and you can use the pool for 150 Rs. I think this will be a great place to go for brunch with friends and use the pool for a couple of hours. It’s such a relaxing garden. There are not many places that have good food and pools in Goa so this will probably take off and I can see myself having some hungover mornings here with coffee by the pool :) There is off-road parking here, just pull down the driveway and turn left.

4. Burger Bar & Bakery, Siolim

If you like TGIF, pub food, fried food (aka are like me) then you’ll like this place. It is before the bridge in Siolim, above a shop and you would probably miss it if you didn’t know about it. The things I loved here were the mozzarella sticks, chicken wings (super crispy), golden fried prawns, and the fries were like you get at a fish n chips shop in England (big and chunky and crispy). The only thing I didn’t love was the nachos only because they didn’t have enough stuff on them, haha. The burger was good; I got the Mexican one but will try a regular one next time. They do 5 types of veggie burgers. Right now, I think they don’t have a liquor license as there is no alcohol on the menu. The cakes were soo good. My friend who came with lives right next to it was saying she’d be stopping in to get them take away every day. The triple chocolate cake and banoffee pie were my favorite. They have their own bakery. Parking is out front of the restaurant.

5. Lazy Goose, Nerul

I was meant to go check this out with my friend, Jules (who I tried a couple other places on this list with, because she loves food as much as I do!), but something came up last minute. Jules still went and said it was “soooo good”. I wasn’t sure if I should mention it since I haven’t tried, but I trust her opinion and thought you’d want to know about it. Nerul is a very beautiful part of Goa as well. According to Jules, the crab was nice and she doesn’t even like crab – the risotto balls were nice and the fish is the best. She runs a luxury villa here and said she’ll be telling her guests this is a great place to visit.

6. Alchemy & La Casita, Mandrem

The two fashion brands I love most in Goa, FARA and Tia have combined and made one shop together called Alchemy. It’s just down from Vaayu on the beach road in Mandrem. They have a nice rooftop + the shop + they have a “casita” which is a two bedroom for up to four guests. This is on Airbnb and it’s SO cute ($56 per night when I checked, but rates change based on dates). I highly recommend this. You can find it on Airbnb here and if you don’t already have an Airbnb account, set one up with this link and get $40 off your first booking of over $75.

7. Villa Vaayu, Mandrem

Vaayu Waterman’s Village is one of m favorite places to hang out. They have everything from the best tacos at their cafe, Prana, to surfboard and SUP rentals. They always had rooms at Vaayu Village but now just a couple of houses down, there is Villa Vaayu which is a whole home you can rent. It’s a 3 bedroom house with is on Airbnb (with this link) for $235 per night. Again, you can get $40 off if you make an account with this link. The price sounds high, but once you split it by 6 and take in the pretty unbeatable views and locations, it’s well worth it.

8. Mermaid’s Boutique, Anjuna (now with food)

Katja’s shop Mermaids has moved a couple of times and is now having its second season next to the Gelato place in Anjuna, near Orchard. I’ve not mentioned this spot before, so that’s why I’ve added it even though it’s not totally new. She did, however, add food this year: sandwiches, coffee, and stuff for vegans and veggies which is great to grab when you pass through. Her stuff, Dadablui, is really colorful and I’ve written about it here. She is no longer at the Wednesday flea market, so this shop is it! I’m going to pass through this week to see what food she has and I’ll post it on Facebook.

9. Rangeela, Morjim (new location)

Love love love Rangeela who I think is the only shop in Goa selling a lot of stuff not just from India but Bali, too. So, you’ll find some really unique things in here plus they stock some other cool local brands. After 16 years in Calangute, they have moved to this new location in Siolim (just put it in Google maps and you’ll find it). They have housewares like hand-picked rugs and lampshades, jewelry, clothing, and little cute knick-knacks for all budgets.

10. LOLA by Suman B., Panjim

One more fashion brand to mention, LOLA. I went to this shop opening in Panjim at the end of the monsoon and thought the shop was beautiful enough to be in London – definitely the best-designed shop in Panjim! Here clothes are very fancy and Bollywood people wear them so the price tag does match that. It’s modern styles mixed with Indian but mostly conservative fits.

11. Hopping Frog Hostel, Assagao

This hostel isn’t new (it’s two seasons old) but this past monsoon became a cool place to go for live music and a party. You can follow their Facebook page to see when they have events. I’ve been just once but friends of mine go a lot. Check and see when they have live music, don’t just go on a random night.

12. GOAT festival, Ashwem (sort of new)

image courtesy of GOAT

Last season was the first GOAT festival in Goa. I didn’t go to it but many friends did and said it was amazing – the best festival in India after Magnetic fields in Rajasthan, and the best one in Goa. This year, I expect it will be even bigger and more popular. You can get tickets online. This is definitely something to work into your travel plans.

13. Copperleaf, Porvorim

I can’t get enough of this place! It opened last season sometime and I started to hear from my Indian friends that it was the bomb.com. I finally went over the monsoon and loved every single thing I ate. It is SO tasty. I actually wrote a blog post about it because I wanted to show what Goan food was – so you can see all the details about that here.

14. Saffron & Shireen’s Art Gallery, Arpora (coming soon)

Mother/Daughter artists Saffron Wiehl and Shireen Mody have a new gallery in Arpora which has Saffron’s beautiful illustrations and her mom’s detailed paintings. It’s not open yet and that’s not the name, lol but I didn’t want to forget to update this once they open! I’ll put the location once it’s ready. You should definitely check it out – they are both famous in Goa. Saffron was born and raised here, and her mom and her both take a lot of inspiration from Goa so buying a piece from them is like taking a bit of Goa home with you.

15. Kuku-Nana, Vagator

Kuka-Nana is a jewelry brand designed by Ahana Ghai. You can find her pieces at Thalassa, Hugs & Mugs, Gunpowder, and more. She’s at her Thalassa shop most nights. Her pieces are bright, colorful, and bold – they totally match her bubbly personality and are a great souvenir from India that isn’t “souvenir-looking” but something you’ll actually wear a lot. Some Bollywood people have been spotted in them! I have a really beautiful brass bracelet from her shop I wore on Christmas.

16. Eva Cafe

This is actually a couple of years old now but more and more people are starting to take notice of it. When it comes to beach shacks, this is BY FAR the cutest little restaurant on the Anjuna beach. You have to park up by the top of the hill, though and walk down there, and there aren’t too many tables so I’ve actually only been once. They are known for their shakshuka, the sandwiches were really good, they have lots of salads on the menu, and we had some falafel balls that were nice. It’s veg food (plus tuna/egg) and kind of similar to Artjuna’s food but on the beach! The way it’s decorated is just the cutest; I love it.

17. Goa Grill, Siolim (not that new…)

This again, isn’t that new – but it’s new to me so I’m throwing it on here. They opened last season I think or maybe even the season before. This is in Siolim and they have whole grilled chicken, rotisserie-style. We used to always get chicken at the Saturday Night Market but they shut up their shop, this is is now where we go for whole chicken. No sides come with it – and you can do takeaway but you have to order it there, not over the phone.

18. Hice Cream, Assagao (delivery)

Want some boozy ice cream delivered to your door? This new place makes yummy flavors half of which have alcohol in them like Whiskey in a Jar which has Baileys and chocolate chips or Werewolves of London which is vegan with Bacardi white rum, coconut cream, and fresh pineapple. Of course, I had to try the mint chocolate chip (my favorite) and it’s so tasty. I can see a lot of ordering ice cream in my future! According to their Facebook page, they are based in Assagao and deliver around there. It’s around 600 Rs for an alcoholic one and 400 Rs for a non-alcohol ice cream. Jars are 350 ml. You can call them at 9867691483 and enjoy your own!

19. Beach Box Hotel & Cafe, Baga

Super into shipping container designs? Cuz Ben is, lol. He wants to build a house from shipping containers someday, so when we heard a really unique hotel with restaurant and pool all from shipping containers opened up in Goa, we had to check it out. The food is mostly Indian but with some Western grills like burgers. I loved my malai chicken tikka. I would say this is great for a group coming here that wants to party and likes trance, as they had a DJ when we were there on a Sunday night. It’s dark with red lighting, so it has that trance/psy vibe there. The rooms are cool – I’ve never seen a shipping container hotel before! They have A/C and are pretty cheap for Baga. This is located just by the bridge where you’d turn to go to Go With the Flow. Parking is on the road.

20. Goa State of Mind (GSOM), Vagator

The Goa State of Mind is inside the old Primrose in Vagator. This is a place for community vibes and trance parties. There are sometimes entrance covers, depending on who is playing. I haven’t visited yet, but my friend Faiz runs this place and he always does everything hardcore and over the top, so I’m sure it’s amazing!

21. Village Studio, Parra

You might have seen on my Instagram stories some clips from my first night at Village Studio in Parra when none other than a favorite of mine, Prateek Kuhad, played! We had such a blast and it’s got really cool vibes here. They have food, hands-on projects to get involved in during the day, and lots of events at night, like live music. This is a really cool space.

As you can see there are SO many awesome new places this season in Goa. While I love my old favorites, I definitely love it even more that Goa has such a variety of food opening up all the time! There are even more new places than this that I want to check out. I’m going to list below some of the other new places that are still on my list. I’ll get to these eventually and add them if they’re yummy but wanted to get this blog post up since it’s already so late in the season.

Tierra Y Mar, Sangolda
Rock Bar, Siolim
Cafe de Pereira, Vagator
Gusto Cafe, Inside Literati, Calangute
El Porto, In Marine Bay in Chapora
La Cucina, Morjim
Uddo Life, Siolim
Project Cafe, Assagao
Le Detour, Anjuna
The Rice Mill, Morjim

If you want to check out my Goa ebook, you can use the code “welovelgoa” to get 30% off the price. Click here to read more about it.

The post Best New Restaurants in Goa in 2018 + New Shops & Hotels This Season appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Traveling in Goa India With Kids – Everything You Need to Know From an Expat Mom

Rachel Jones — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 13:01:52 +0000

The following post is from my friend, Rachel Stone, who has been traveling in Goa India with kids for years and is based here most of the year. She has traveled with her cuties all over India as well and is going to share her top tips for other moms traveling in Goa India with kids. It is possible and can be a lot of fun! Rachel is a fashion designer (for kids and adults clothes) and has a shop in Mandrem called Alchemy. She’ll tell you a bit about herself and why she’s in Goa with kids, then share all her tips!

Don’t forget to pick up my Insider Guide to Goa and my Guide to India

General Goa Travel Tips

Traveling in Goa India with Kids – Your Essential Guide!

Rewind back even just to the beginning of the nineties and you didn’t see many children on the beach here in Goa – but now traveling has become so much easier and hotels and restaurants welcome families with open arms. Sunset time and you see babes-in-arms and teenagers enjoying the beach and the waves.

How did I find myself traveling in Goa India with kids? In 2009, I had left my life in London as a fashion buyer for Urban Outfitters and started designing my own range with my friend, Fumie. We had a stall at the fantastic Saturday Night Market. In 2012, I was pregnant with my first child Ruby and so happy to be bringing up my family in Goa. Later, I had my son, Max. Both Fumie and I were pregnant at the same time and started designing our raw silk square tops to make breastfeeding in public easier.

In December, we launch our first children’s collection inspired by our girls and (our love for) natural fabrics. This first kids collection is mini versions of four of our favorite styles in the FARA collection. My daughter Ruby’s favorite piece was the kimono as her chosen name is ‘Ruby Sparkly Rainbow Princess Kung Fu Master’, while Fumie’s little girl Shion was in love with the more girly Frill Dress.

the diamond tunic

fringe mini dress & kids kimono

Over the years with my kids in Goa, I have naturally learned a few things along the way about traveling with kids in Goa and have hosted friends who have brought their children over on holiday. Luckily there is also a conscious ex-pat scene and some amazingly innovative schools and friendly local doctors and dentists.

With a few conscious adjustments and compromises, bringing up children or traveling with kids in India is simple and rewarding.

It’s a kid friendly place and over the past few years, I have gotten to appreciate even more the abundance of nature that the children get to experience each day… not only the beach and rock pools but the banyan trees, the jungle, the wandering cows, clucking chickens and chatty monkeys – Nature’s playground.

Also Read: 14 fun and affordable things to do in Goa with kids

What to Pack for Kids Traveling in Goa

Traveling with Kids in India: Medical items to bring with you

Bring the tried-and-tested medicine from home that you know works for your child, rather than playing roulette with new brands. For my kids, I always bought baby Nurofen and Calpol for fevers; Savlon (the dry spray is good for little cuts on tiny toes if they are in and out of the water) and gripe water for Max when he had colic – although alternatives in India are available.

There is a fantastic ayurvedic (Indian holistic medicine) and homeopathic pharmacy called Union in Mapusa (any taxi driver will know this place); this is a great place to stock up on homeopathic treatments and creams.

My friend Alexandra, who is an acupuncturist with a 10-year-old daughter, here swears by the Apis Meluca cream and globules for insect bites; arnica cream is great for bruises and they have a good homeopathic starter kit which is a great travel set.

Naveena who worked as a midwife here in Goa for many years recommends a travel kit including Nux Vomica (sickness), hypericum (cuts), arnica (bruises) and aconite (for onset of colds).

For stressed out mums, there is always Rescue Remedy! My all-timee favourite solution is Kailash Jeevan – an ointment for every cut, scratch, pimple, unidentified sore or rash! It’s available in most general stores as well as pharmacies. People buy it by the armload to take home with them. Calendula powder is also available at the pharmacy for prickly heat or other rashes.

Baby wipes and nappies are horrible for the environment, especially in India where the garbage is such an issue… but I know as a traveller it’s very hard to not use them unless staying put for a while. I used washable nappies with Ruby, but I did have my own washing machine. But the holy bum spray (spray gun in almost all bathrooms here) also is a godsend for horrible poo situations!

Rehydration salts (or diarolites) are essential for keeping your kids hydrated – there are some orange flavoured ones here but I found the blackcurrent flavour ones from the UK went down much better with both my kids.

Toys & Other Bits

Naturally you are not going to leave the front door without your child’s favourite teddy, car or blanket – certainly bring your kids favourite stuff. You can get plastic beach toys, buckets and cheap boogie boards in many of the general stores. And for longer stays or Christmas vacations amazon.in is fantastic.

Sunscreen

It might sound obvious to say buy sunscreen – but although we used to be able to buy known-brands in Goa, often the sunscreen available these days is not of the same quality as it is at home, so stock up on creams and lotions for the kids and your self.

Traveling with Kids in Goa – Getting around & Safety

Got little ones? Taxis will very rarely have access to a car seat so if you are planning to do a lot of travelling you might want to invest in one – you can order on Amazon India if you don’t want to bring one long haul. Roads are lumpy so push chairs can be an issue, although it’s great for sunset beach walks; probably best to invest in a comfortable baby sling.

You’ll probably be bringing extra luggage if you are travelling with small children! Don’t worry every train station has a porter… and hotels will always help you with your luggage. It costs roughly 100rs for a porter at the station.

Before you fly – book a bassinet well in advance of flying long haul. Few flights go direct to Goa, so you will probably be flying into Bombay (or Delhi first) – consider breaking the journey and staying over night near the airport to avoid too long a day.

Jet Airways have a very luggage friendly allowance of 46kg per peson; however most Indian airlines do not provide great kid friendly food, I always pack a lunch and treats for my kids when we’re flying. If you are transferring from International to an Indian domestic line though check the baggage allowance as a lot of the domestic carriers have a stingey allowance and you might need to pay for extra luggage.

Taking a train ride in India

Traveling with Kids in Goa – What to Expect from Local People

Child friendly waiters!

This is not like Starbucks, waiters here will occasionally take your child off your hands (if you approve) to show them how chapattis are made in the kitchen, or teach them to make pizza, or simply walk them around the restaurant if they are crying.

Cheek pinching… the locals have no qualms with getting physical with kids cheeks – but if you (or more importantly your child) is not up for this… just let them know.

People here are super friendly and tend to ask a lot of questions, but you are not obliged to answer them all. Practice the same kind of awareness at the beach as you would whererver you take your kids – it’s a really safe place but you always need to keep your wits about you.

Breastfeeding in India

We designed our large scarves and square tops for exactly this purpose while we were pregnant! It is totally OK to breastfeed in public here, but wear a shawl or scarf.

Traveling with Kids in Goa – my kids’ favorite things to do

Goa is a full Nature immersion and I’m not just talking about frogs in the bathroom or geckos on the walls! My kids are at their happiest when they are in the sand or in the jungle.

The best beaches for kids in Goa

For little kids, the beach is the best playground. There are lifeguards and in the beaches of Mandrem and Aswem – a wide beach with shallow sea (only just after monsoon should you be aware of riptides).

Also be aware that as lovely as Keri beach in the north and Agonda beach in the south are – the shelf falls away very quickly and is not so safe for little paddlers. There are starfish and rock pools and you can go out dolphin watching.

Over the last few years, a Grassroots beach market has grown across the beach in Arambol, selling all types of things like Macramé bracelets, paintings, and handmade clothes. The kids love going there as many foreigners make yummy treats inspired by their countries and there is a big drum circle where people dance and the kids love to join in.

On the beach, all dogs with a clip in their ear have been sterilized and vaccinated against rabies by International Animal Rescue or WAGS). Maybe best to give other dogs a wide berth, just to be safe.

Beach adventures for kids in Goa

For bigger kids, Pink Orange Events run surf camps for kids – with yoga, beach clean-ups, and surf lessons. Vaayu in Aswem offers kayaks which is a great family outing on the river.

We also always love to relax at Palm Grove beach resort in Ashwem and drink fresh juices, a great place for the grandparents to stay when they come, quiet and serene.

Jungle, forts, and wildlife adventures for kids in Goa

Going inland, my favourite places to take my two kids are the beautiful Redi Fort where the jungle has reclaimed an old fort – it’s a great place to explore. What kid doesn’t love a fort?

In Arambol you can do a short jungle walk to a beautiful Banyan Tree via the sweetwater lake and mud bath. And in Mandrem, there is a banyan tree so large that you’ll often find a cricket match going on beneath its branches.

Rahul Alvarez offers bird and wildlife walks or you can go into the Western Ghats and stay a few nights at the beautiful Wildernest eco-resort. There are morning wildlife walks, a stunning infinity pool, and amazing local food. (Check availability, rates, and book Wildernest).

For less jungley wildlife, head to the petting zoo at Goa’s Ark in Anjuna. There is a lovely play area and many animals to meet. They also have a kid-friendly menu.

If your kids want a rest from all that wildlife and nature and they love to dance and sing– there are ballet classes, capoeira and thai boxing classes at Tito’s White House in Anjuna. You can also look into lovely music classes with Ranjit at Shala 142 in Assagao.

There’s swimming lessons at Jungle Dance in Arambol – and you can stay there for lunch or evening performances and support the childrens charity that also operates out of here.

Also in Arambol (if you are thinking to come for the long haul) is the Yoga Arts Centre – kindergarten and school – a sanctuary for our children using arts, yoga theory and nature to bring up the kids. Built by the expat community in a small coffee shop and now a fully operational education centre.

I love watching my children grow up here – inspired by nature and plugged into an international community. It’s a great playground and education alike.

Thank you, Rachel, for sharing these amazing tips! If you want more tips or have questions about traveling with your kiddos in Goa or the rest of India, join my Facebook group India travel tips where Rachel is a member as well as other mom’s in Goa. If you want to buy some cute kid’s clothing, check out Rachel’s shops or online here. She has 4: Ashwem beach shop called DUST, at Alchemy in Mandrem next to Vaayu, and Alchemy the tent outside Natti’s Naturals (who also has a children’s menu), and at the Saturday Night Market in Arpora.

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What to Pack for Tulum & Other Trendy Coastal Towns in Mexico

Rachel Jones — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 12:56:33 +0000

Are you taking your next beach getaway to one of Mexico’s beautiful seaside destinations? You’re in for a treat! You may have heard of Cancun but there are many more beaches to explore and these have recently become ultra-chic hotspots. From Tulum on the East to Sayulita on the West, here are some chic beach style ideas to match the boho vibes of these Mexico coastal towns. Here’s what to pack for Tulum and other hotsposts in Mexico so you can look trendy but feel comfortable.

What to Pack for Tulum & More in Mexico!

Stylish Bikinis

Swimwear is where a beach lover gets her opportunity to make a serious fashion statement. If your goal is to pack light, a good guideline is to bring one or two bikinis and a fun one-piece.

Tip: a one piece can double up as a top and a bikini top can double up as a bra!

An Airy Dress

Dresses that breath are a must as the heat and humidity climb especially during the summer months of July-August. Choose a selection of summer dresses such as a short piece with long flowly sleeves or a dreamy maxi with spaghetti straps.

Cute Sunglasses

Your skin isn’t the only thing you should be protected from the sun; your eyes are just as important. A good pair of sunglasses are not only easy to pack, but can protect your eyes while also adding a fun addition to your outfit. There are lots of different ones to choose from but we love the classic aviator style. (in gold/ blue gradient)

A Tote For Day And Night

Great for the beach, a lunch out or a shopping trip in town, a stylish straw tote is a must for summer vacation. As a plus they’re perfectly neutral so they can easily mix and match with all your outfits.

Gold Jewelry

If you have warmer skin tones, then gold jewelry will stand out nicely against your tanned skin and will add a little extra ‘wow’ to your already awesome outfit. If you’re one with cooler skin tones, then silver jewelry (bonus points if it has turquoise) is the way to go.

A Nighttime Clutch

If you don’t want to walk around with your tote all the time especially when going out at night, bring a fun clutch as well. Tip: maximize suitcase space by using it to store items like makeup while you’re traveling then bring it out on your trip to add style to your favorite outfits!

A Fun Beach Towel

Beach towels are a must especially if you’re not planning to stay at a resort. Have fun with it and take one like this round fringe-trim beach towel. Not only is it stylish but it can even double up as home decor as well.

Eye Catching Sandals

Sandals are a staple on Mexico’s shoreline but skip the boring shower shoes and opt for some Sol Sana sandals instead. These add a little more excitement to your outfit all while offering comfort for days of exploration.

Flashy, Yet Comfortable Rompers

Rompers are the perfect option summer adventures. They’re easy to wear, ultra-cute, and make it so easy to plan your outfits. Choose a colorful romper and pair it with your tote and sandals and you’re all set for a day on the town.

Cut Off Shorts & A Crop Top

Cut off shorts are perfect for the heat and can be worn with pretty much anything. Pair them with your one piece swimsuit or a nicely fitted crop top. You can also go for one that’s more on the flowly side as well.

Pin what to pack for Tulum for later:

Alexandra Jimenez teaches women how to pack light in a stylish, efficient way with Travel Fashion Girl’s carryon packing list guides. Originally from LA, she quit her corporate job in 2008 and has since traveled and scuba dived her way around 45 countries. Feature image by Esparta Palma & other image from Mindaugas Danys.

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How to Dress in Jordan & Look Cute

Rachel Jones — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 11:30:00 +0000

Okay, I’m not saying I looked cute… but I did have some cute outfits because I am basically a professional shopper ;) haha! Jordan is an Arabic country with a Muslim culture and you have to be dressed appropriate, aka cover up a LOT, but it’s also a very hot desert state. Here are my tips on how to dress in Jordan and look half-way decent as well as a few packing tips for Jordan.

This post will be pretty short and sweet with mostly images because as they say, pictures speak louder than words!

How to Dress in Jordan

This outfit was from my first day in Amman. I actually put on jewelry. It only went downhill from here, lol. I tend to be so excited at first I actually try and even put on lipstick but by day 3 I’m struggling to give two shits! I can’t be the only one like this. But, this outfit was fun and perfect for the city. The silk pants are TIA (a shop I love in Goa) and are wrap around so I actually used the sewing kit (or swing kit as they had it labeled) at the hotel to makes stitches near the knees so they didn’t fly open. The top is a linen wrap top I had made here in Goa, which was a copy of a cute Urban Outfitters one I had. I have a crop top under it.

These sunnies are Sunday Somewhere and the shoes are Sol Sana. I am in love with these shoes by the way and put them in my top 5 items this year to travel with. They made the perfect sandal for this trip. They were dressy enough and nice leather that formed to my feet. Full disclosure: both the sandal and sunnies were gifted to me by the brands but I love them for real! The bag is from Bali and is a leather fringe bag… perfect size for this trip.

This outfit is from FARA, another Goa brand. You can buy FARA on Etsy and TIA on Etsy. The pants are silk harem pants and I love these because they are kind of fancy and I felt good I them. The top is a raw silk top that should not have been put in the washing machine but was so now these photos are what I have to remember it by…. RIP.

It’s so black on black it’s hard to tell, but I’m wearing black leggings, a black tank top, and a silk black kaftan that had slits to the thigh. This was my second favorite outfit here and was SO comfortable and easy.

A bit of a recycled outfit, this is the same FARA trousers with an urban outfitters top. Other than the black Sol Sana sandals and simple leather Reef flip flops, the only other shoes I took were Tom’s. I wore them for adventures like camel riding in Wadi Rum and even wore them trekking at Petra. It was fine.

This was a fun outfit too. These are green wrap around silk trousers from TIA as well but thicker than the ones in the first photo and I didn’t have to stitch them. The breeze on my legs was great in the hot desert. The kaftan, surprise surprise, is TIA as well and is cotton. It was perfect even at the airport on the way in with leggings. I wore a crop top under. It wasn’t see-through.

This is the same kaftan which I wore as a swimsuit cover up at the Dead Sea. You can dress how you like at the 5-star hotels. People were all in bikinis. I wore a one piece but it was lace-up so I mean… not exactly swim team material. I wore the Reef flip flops here and the Ma’in spa but they weren’t totally necessary and I could have skipped packing them.

This is a Top Shop silk dress which was spaghetti strap. I wore leggings under and this fringe sweater over. Not my cutest look, but did the trick.

This is us at Petra. I wore the silk harem pants with Toms and a black tank top with a kaftan over it. It’s Top Shop I think and had slit under the armpit for a breeze and I could take my arms out and have it be sleeveless. Not totally appropriate but people at Petra were in jeans shorts and mini dresses, so I was kinda like err eff it at some points…

So there we go. I was there more days than this but didn’t always take photos of my outfits, and also can’t remember what I wore!

I did pack another pair of legging which I didn’t need, Helen Jon pants for the plane one way, and leggings the other way, 4 T-shirts for the plane rides each way and sleeping, and a lungi (sarong) for the Dead Sea. I packed my leather jacket which I did wear at night in the forest areas. I only took the one purse.

I took a [easyazon_link identifier=”B005X1Y7I2″ locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]portable charger[/easyazon_link], laptop (thank god for movies!), [easyazon_link identifier=”B00OQVZDJM” locale=”US” tag=”Hipinhee-20″]Kindle[/easyazon_link], no makeup this time, a few rings and necklaces, and my toiletries. I actually thought this packing one out the most because it was conservative and did pretty well!

You should plan your outfits exactly when you come here because it just makes it so much easier and you know you’ll have to cover up before you go so actually lay out what you will wear each day or you’ll end up taking stuff you don’t need. I hope this can help you know how to dress in Jordan!

I have SO many blog posts on Jordan – here are some that will get you started in planning

Check out my list of 5 favorite things I did in Jordan
Follow along with my 10-day itinerary and map. Cut out things to make it fit your time frame.
Check out the best hotels in Jordan and book ahead.

Share how to dress in Jordan on Pinterest

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Shopping in India | What to Buy in India by Region

Rachel Jones — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 11:29:38 +0000

For some people (aka me), a huge perk of traveling is that it comes with the opportunity to shop and shopping in India takes the cake – it beats Istanbul, Marrakesh, and Milan hands down. India has amazing food, friendly people, unique culture… and fabulous shopping as you’ll come to find out! There are so many things to buy in India and shopping in India is part of the experience, with the markets always in guidebooks as a “top attraction”. This is a peek at what to buy in India and which are the best souvenirs in India based on region – so you know what to buy where to get the best price. There are uncountable markets to explore and you can even pick out your own fabric and get a dress or shirt made perfect for you at costs you won’t believe.

Shopping in India: What to Buy in India By Region

I haven’t seen all of India, but I’ve been around (haha, over 6 years!). I’m going to share the “it” things to buy in India: each area and/or the state of India but admit it isn’t even close to the number of things that are specific to each area- I couldn’t possibly go into that much detail. If you have a place you want to know about just email me and I might have been to that city and be able to tell you the best souvenirs.

You simply MUST buy a Ganesh for you car at home! This is mine :)

I even bought fabric in India for my wedding in Ohio – what I needed was $30 muslin rather than the $900 it would have cost in the USA.

When Shopping in India, Haggling is Key.

Remember when you shop to HAGGLE! They will quote prices sometimes, I kid you not, 100x more than the value. The rule of thumb is to offer back 1/4 of what they say and go from there. Here is a whole article on how to haggle in India. Do not let your rickshaw driver take you to any shops. He’s just trying to make commission and force sales on you. Be firm. People will call “come look my shop!” Just walk past if you don’t want to or you’ll end up in there for ages while they pull down every pashmina they own from the wall.

Read More: How to Ship Souvenirs Home From India

What to buy in India based on region

Shopping in India: What to buy in Rajasthan

I’m starting with Rajasthan because it’s the EPITOME of shopping in India. I’m not exaggerating when I say you’ll see identical things here that you’d seen in Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Free People, and more. When interior designers get to work, many source from Rajasthan, particularly Jaipur. Giant warehouses will have someone guide you around to see everything- it’s insane.

The main things to buy in Rajasthan are wooden furniture, silver and gemstone jewelry, fabrics, wholesale clothing, leather shoes, jackets, purses, notebooks, and mirror work traditional fabrics, as well as wooden trinkets & Hindu statues. Another big thing to buys is quilted Rajasthani wall hangings, blankets, pillow covers, and cushions. You can get the duvet fillers they sell at Fab India much cheaper here.

Jaipur is the king of shopping and sourcing. Every designer in Goa, and even Singapore, and Bali goes to Jaipur to collect their supplies for the year. You will get these things elsewhere like Goa but at much higher prices and oftentimes, inauthentic.

Check out these three articles for specific shops to go.

15 places to shop in Jaipur(I’ve been three times just for shopping, this post has my favorite places to buy rugs and more)
My guide to Jaipur
My tips on buying Rajasthani wall hangings

Shopping in India: What to buy in Goa

I am not about buying Indian things in Goa. It’s all sourced out from Rajasthan, in my opinion, it’s not great quality. For example, the wall hangings here clearly come from a factory and are not hand done.

Both are outfits are from Goa, actually made by Tia who is in this photo, the tops and pants

For shopping in Goa, I stick to foreigners who are making a living as up and coming designers here. They make gorgeous stuff and often times source the best silks and cotton from around India. Some of my favorite designers are FARA, La Vie Boheme, TIA, Cheshire Cat, Shoop Doop, Nani Ki, and Alekai.

Goa shopping guide

Shopping in India: What to buy in Delhi

Similar to Jaipur, people go here for massive shopping and sourcing trips. Personally, I don’t have luck here because I don’t know where to go. There are famous marketplaces like Chandni Chowk and you can get lucky with wholesale clothing. I’m not sure how it works; I think it’s pieces that didn’t make the cut, or are taken from the factory but you can find Free People, H&M, etc here at super cheap prices if you’re willing to dig.

Shopping in India: What to buy in Karnataka

Mysore is an amazing place to shop. I loved meeting the local artisans and watching them work in the back alleys. It’s known for “Mysore Silk” which is expensive and actually has gold strands going through it. You can tour the factory. It’s also known for Sandalwood, so you might want to buy Sandalwood incense. You can even make it yourself in the famous Devaraja Market. They are famous for wooden inlay here as well.

I bought Khaddi outside Mysore in a rural town, and you may see this around the state. It’s very cheap (think $3 per meter) and is hand-woven. I got clothing made from the fabric I bought. I wrote a guide to shopping in Mysore you might find helpful which goes into more detail.

Guide to shopping in Mysore

what I got made in Goa from the Karnataka Khadi

Shopping in India: What to buy in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Just like Msyore they are famous for their silk sarees. Probably more of a shopping destination for the Indian woman although you could buy the silk and make something else. Make sure to go to an approved shop.

Shopping in India: What to buy in Mumbai & Pune

Shoes! Shoes galore! You can buy sandals or “chappels” all over town and Pune is kind of known for it, near the Osho center. I didn’t get a pair myself, but they could be a nice cheap souvenir for people back home. When my parents visited Mumbai, I took them to Chor Bazaar, the “thieves market”. Unless you are buying for a home, you probably will just look- there is amazing antique furniture which is expensive but cheap considering how old and special it is. Of course Mumbai like Delhi has loads of markets and malls, and you could shop for days.

from the luxury guide to mumbai on the blog

Shopping in India: What to buy in Manali or all of Himachal Pradesh

Here you can get cold weather clothes and more specifically, Pashmina, wool, and cashmere. Be careful where you shop because the vast majority is fake. No one would sell a REAL pashmina for 500 Rs. so if they are, it’s not real. FYI: shop owners get really angry when you accuse them of being fake so just walk away rather than argue. You can buy amazing gems. I got great deals on raw rubies, turquoise, and rose quartz. Be careful they aren’t selling fakes or colored glass. I bought my Grandma the most amazing pashmina from a Government shop in Manali.

You’ll also find Nepalese stuff here. That would be colorful shawls, yak wool capes, and fuzzy caps and mittens. I bought my fair share of these things while I was there. I even bought my dad a traditional “kullu” cap. I couldn’t help myself! Kullu was a cool little stopover in the area.

Shopping in India: What to buy in Punjab

I spend very little time in this region, but see their flower embroidered flower (Phulkari) blankets all over India. I think the ones I see are definitely fake copies. I would love to see the real thing for myself. Sadly I didn’t see these while I was in Amritsar so you’ll want to prepare ahead of time. You can read more about the art here:

Phulkari traditional Punjab art

Shopping in India: What to buy in Darjeeling & Munnar

Tea! Not a hard one. These are hugely popular tourist destinations. Munnar being inland Kerala and Darjeeling up North near Calcutta side. It’s fun to tour a tea plantation and buy tea while you’re there! You can get the tea in markets all over India though, so don’t fret if you don’t make it here.

Shopping in India: Kashmir

I haven’t been up this far North yet, but they are famous for shawls and carpets/rugs. One day I’ll shop here!

Shopping in India: What to buy in West Bengal

This is the area which holds Calcutta. The big thing people buy here is terracotta dishes. The capitol Calcutta is a shopping destination on its own and one that I sadly have not yet discovered. Check out this article for information on where to shop in the city

top 5 places to shop in Calcutta

Shopping in India: Northeast India

I just got back from here and didn’t do a crazy amount of shopping but I did buy about $100 worth of fabrics to get clothing made back in Goa. There are government owned “artisan” shops where you can see the fabric being hand-woven and buy it there at amazing rates. I love what I bought and will share photos once I make the clothes! You can also buy fun things made from Bamboo & the famous striped bags that every woman in the area carries.

I made the skirt in the image above, right, from local textiles from the Apatani tribe

I made this dress too from the tribe’s beautiful textiles!

For more unique tips like this, check out my India Guide which will make sure you see the BEST of India from my perspective and 6 years of exploring here. Read reviews and buy it here.
Don’t forget you need a visa for India. I am a fan of iVisa to get a quick 60-day visa. If you need a guide to getting a visa longer than 60 days, here are my posts for US Citizens and for UK Citizens who want to stay in India longer.
You need travel insurance in India. World Nomads is recommended by Lonely Planet, Nat Geo, and me! I’ve used it for years. You can get a quick quote here. Check out what exactly it covers and doesn’t.
Backpackers might want this hostel guide to India which has top chain hostel brands. Otherwise, I love using Agoda in India.
Those of you who want a tour around India, check out G Adventures.

Pin this little shopping in India guide & what to buy in India by region for later:

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50 Things to Do in Goa (Original Post by Rachel from 2016)

Hippie in Heels — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 10:25:33 +0000

This is an old post Rachel wrote in 2016. If you’d like to read an updated version, click here.

I’ve got a handful of articles on my blog about Goa. I still get a handful of emails a day from people saying they’ve read them all but want to know if there is anything else I can recommend. I usually just reply whatever random thing I’m thinking of right then. So, I am going to list here 50 things to do in Goa some of which I’ve probably said at some time before – but now they are all in one place!

While I have 50 fun things to do here, I have SO much more detailed advice in my ebook, Insider’s Guide to Goa. It’s 170 pages filled with the most up to date, comprehensive information about Goa plus it has all my secret places to go that I’ve found after living here almost five years. Click here to buy it now.

General Goa Travel Tips

50 Things to Do in Goa You Don’t Want to Miss

Classic Things to Do

1. Watch the sunset from Thalassa Restaurant.

This is the best sunset spot! It is Greek food and it’s a bit of a splurge for backpackers but so worth it.

2. Visit the Spice Plantation.

I don’t think the elephants in Goa are treated well and don’t think you should ride them. You can learn a lot on the Spice tour and you can have lunch there. There are two in Ponda.

3. Celebrate Holi in Goa.

It’s a lot of fun. You can see the local celebrations in Mapusa or you can go to Hilltop for a trance-type party.

4. Buy some spices and tea as souvenirs.

You’ll see them so much that it’s hard not to. They make great gifts. See what else to buy in my India souvenir guide.

5. Check out the old churches in “Old Goa“.

It’s best to do this the same day you do Panjim as taxis, like I mentioned, can be expensive. The churches don’t take long to see and usually in the heat you won’t want to stay long.

6. Try SUP (stand up paddle board) at Vaayu.

You can also rent surf boards from them or try kite surfing classes. Their cafe, Prana, serves up delicious breakfast burritos and they have chilled out music and art nights.

7. Enjoy the lounge chairs at Antares in Little Vagator Beach.

I can’t believe I’m telling this secret! It’s not a secret exactly, but no one seems to use these and they are great. You have to buy food and drink to stay there.

8. Take the long drive up to Keri Beach.

It means you’ll have an empty beach all to yourself.

9. Lastly, go to the “secret” beach.

I won’t name it here, but please check out my article and review for the hidden beach resort or you can skip and just use this link to book and see where this resort is ;)

10. You can go white water rafting with the Goa crew.

11. Let yourself have a foot massage on the beach.

They come around asking to massage and thread you… just let yourself be pampered! You can also buy sarongs and such. But be warned, you will get bothered after as you will seem like an ATM so you need to be firm. Say you want a massage but you don’t want to talk.

12. Take some classes at Tito’s Whitehouse or Artjuna.

You can do kickboxing, yoga, pilates, and more. Classes are affordable and fun. It’s a great way to meet people.

13. Get a photo of the cows on the beach…

…and make sure they don’t eat right off your plate!

14. Rent a scooter or a car if you need to save money.

Taxis here really add up and they don’t use a meter.

15. Hit up the carnival in Arambol.

Arambol is kind of the hippiest place in Goa although it wasn’t back in the day (Anjuna was). It’s a cool place to stay for some time, but personally, I like Ashwem and Vagator best.

16. In Arambol, check out the sweet water lake.

It’s just near the beach and is pretty cool to take a dip and some photos. Here’s a little guide to Arambol.

17. If you’re here in September, watch Dahi Handi festival in Mapusa.

18. Visit the Mapusa Market

In fact, if you’re only visiting Goa (and nowhere else in India) make a trip to Mapusa market just to see the “real India” as they say.

19. Go to Snips for a massage.

It’s much cheaper than back home and is fantastic. Their mani/pedis are not as good unless you take your own polish (in my opinion).

What & Where to Eat in Goa

20. Make sure you’re here on a Saturday for the Saturday Night Market.

It’s incredible and you can eat and drink there. The Market usually opens end of November through March. It’s in Arpora near the go-karts.

21. Eat the famous chicken at the Saturday Night Market.

It’s crazy good – I don’t know how someone can make chicken that good.

22. If you must stay in for dinner, order pizza from Roma in Chapora/Vagator.

There aren’t many delivery options in Goa.

23. Eat the tuna sandwich at Artjuna….

Not sure why, but it’s my favorite sandwich in Goa along with their iced tea.

24. Have a Goan curry at Starlight.

You can go for a Xacuti but know that it might be a little spicy. They usually make them less spicy for foreigners.

25. Chill out and have a juice at the famous Scarlet’s juice center in Chapora.

26. Have a big burger at Baba Au Rhum!

I love this french bakery in Anjuna. It’s the perfect place to have a chill lunch over the paddy fields. There is free WiFi if you need to check a few emails from home.

27. Eat at Anand Bar.

When friends visit they love this place and can never believe how cheap it is. It’s located near Bobby Bar and you can find it on Google maps. I go for the butter garlic prawns and the tandoori.

28. For traditional Goan Food…

Try Bhatti Village in Nerul or Mum’s Kitchen in Panjim.

29. Try “rava fry fish” and squeeze lime all over it.

You can get it pretty much anywhere in Goa and it’s a don’t miss.

30. Pineapple chicken salad at Villa Blanche.

It’s the bomb, so are their German sausages.

31. Taste a bite of South Goa at Gunpowder in Assagao.

Their veg curry and chili pork ribs are my go-to but the chicken curries are what most go for. Definitely get a couple greasy heavenly parathas!

32. Have a nice dinner at Go With the Flow near the Baga Bridge.

This is my favorite restaurant in Goa. It’s fine dining Brazilian… and the pork belly is SO GOOD. The steaks are great and the cocktails are the best.

33. Eat Goan sausage, street style corn on the cob, and sweet lime soda.

If you’re really branching out you can try the local liquor: cashew feni. It’s rough.

34. Take time for a long lunch at La Plage.

I always go for the prawns and saffron risotto. Their Bloody Mary’s are very unique with a bit of curry and are a huge local favorite.

Fun Places to Stay in Goa

35. Stay at Jamboree Creek!

If you want a cute jungle hut and swimming pool at decent prices, this is it. Jamboree is listed on Airbnb (use my referral code and get $25 off your booking if you haven’t signed up before.)

36. If you want to be in Anjuna, with a pool, party scene, and lots of people then look at Laguna Anjuna.

It’s got cool unique rooms and is better than a hostel. Click here to book.

37. If you want to splurge out in the North…

I love Shanti Morada. Click here to book!

38. For a “splurging out” stay in South Goa…

Go for the Alila Diwa in South. It’s my favorite 5 star hotel in all of Goa.

Where to Shop in Goa

39. You better be here on a Wednesday too!

The Wednesday Flea market is one of the most famous hippie markets in the world. It’s located on Anjuna beach and goes until sunset.

40. Buy an “India” scarf for the perfect souvenir from Fara.

They are hand drawn onto silk and focus on places and gods of India.

41. Make sure you negotiate with the vendors when you shop.

They really put the prices high on the beach. Most of the scarves and jewelry are bad quality so ask yourself if you really want it in the first place.

42. Explore the shopping in Panjim.

There are cute little Portuguese lanes and it’s an adventure going through them. Here’ s a little shopping guide.

43. For more shopping, hit up Alchemy in Ashwem.

Fara (from above) and Studio TIA opened up a shop together called Alchemy, and it’s located in Ashwem. You can see some of her outfits here and check out her shop on Etsy too!

44. Get some clothing tailored and make your own fun designs at great prices.

Here’s how to get clothing made in India.

Goa Nightlife

45. (Update 2020: Sadly Club Cabana’s is now closed!) Girls can drink for free at Club Cubana’s ladies night on Wednesdays.

It’s the night they are the most crowded I think.

46. Friday party night at Waters.

It could change but for now it’s the place people go on Fridays. It’s on Vagator Cliff and is pretty cool.

47. Hit up Fort Aguada Taj Hotel for drinks.

It is an amazing view over an old Fort and will give you that 5 star feel!

48. Definitely try a trance party at Hilltop or Curlies OR Shiva Valley OR 9 Bar…

My point is there are a lot and you really can’t miss them. Goa is so known for this way of life that you really should check out the scene. Check wug.com for the party dates and these posts for more night life:

For if You Stay in Goa for a While

49. Volunteer with the animals!

I wrote a few options here and once you see their struggles you might want to spend some time (or some money) on this cause.

50. If you’re here for long enough consider renting a house.

You can look on Airbnb or you can just stay in a guesthouse until you find somewhere to rent. Here’s a guide to renting in Goa.

The post 50 Things to Do in Goa (Original Post by Rachel from 2016) appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

Luxury Guide to Nice

Rachel Jones — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 12:28:12 +0000

Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

Feature Image via Flickr: Federico Grechi, edited by me.

A Luxury Guide to Nice

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Nice and the South of France.

Hi, I’m Namrata. I was born in India but have lived most of my adult life traveling and exploring the world. I run my own clothing label, Doe Designs, initially a stylist and still do it when I find the time, I love traveling and sharing m experiences with everybody! I am also currently enrolled at the London College of Fashion for an MBA program in Fashion.

As enchanting as India seems to people from the outside, I am a terrible case of the grass is always greener on the other side. I love Europe and Australia I studied my under graduation in Melbourne and fell in love with the city that I still consider one of my top places to live and visit.

Today, however I am writing about one of my favorite holidays in the South of France, I wouldn’t say I am exactly an expert of the region but having spent a considerable time over the summer a couple of years ago I would love to share my insights and thoughts on one of the most spectacular places in the world. It’s the perfect blend of beauty, European charm and classic French style vacationing.

What makes Nice a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Nice is definitely one of the most glamorous places to visit amongst the other beautiful cities along the coast of the South Of France, Monte Carlo, Cannes, Antibes and St. Tropez are a must visit on this trip. I would recommend making Nice the base of the vacation with its ultra chic vacationers, and gorgeous hotels to stay at, not to mention the absolutely breathtaking ocean. Although they have pebble beaches once you turn on your music lay back take a dip in the pristine water and soak up the sun you’ve long forgotten about the pebbly terrain.

I have to mention the absolutely fabulous food and restaurants in the city, at the top of the list is the two Michelin starred restaurant Le Chantecler at the famous Hotel Negresco. Located right on the famous Promenade des Anglais overlooking the breathtaking ocean, it’s an absolute gastronomical delight!

The beauty of Nice however doesn’t quite only lie in visiting high-end restaurant or strutting the high-end shopping streets, there’s a plethora of cute and delectable restaurants throughout the city, one such gem is a classic French restaurant, Bistrot d’Antoine in the Old town Nice. It’s extremely popular amongst the locals and why wouldn’t it be with its delicious Mediterranean cuisine and reasonable prices.

What 5 star hotel is the best in Nice?

Located right on the famous Bay of angles Hotel Negresco would definitely be my pick for when you are in Nice. The hotel boasts some of the most spectacular views of the city and each room has been tastefully designed by the owners themselves who are self-confessed art connoisseur. As a family owned hotel for more than 50 years, the striking white and pink building complete with its gorgeous domed tower is a National historic Monument. You can be rest assured that your breakfast views from the gorgeous balconies overlooking the sparkling Mediterranean sea will leave you breathless and what better way to start your day! The service is exceptional as expected and for art lovers it’s an absolute treat. Click here for rates and availability.

photo via flickr:Román Emin

What about boutique hotels in Nice, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

There are so many gorgeous little boutique hotels to choose from in Nice, mostly to fit in any budget. People have this misconception that the south of France is extremely expensive and overpriced but honesty barring Monte Carlo and perhaps Cannes during the film festival in May, my sister and I ended up spending so much time at the beach that we didn’t overshoot our budgets at all (not that we had one in mind).

Some of the places to stay that I would personally recommend would be Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée: gorgeous views and the if you can get yourselves to book the Sea Side Suite with its insane sea view and floor-to-ceiling windows that open up to your private terrace, marble bathrooms –basically you get my drift – THE WORKS! For something perhaps a little bit more pocket friendly NH Nice and Hotel la villa Nice Promenade are great options as well !

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler in Nice?

Nice has heaps of options for the adventurous traveler, I would be kidding myself and my readers if I said I was conventionally adventurous, but one can be adventurous in different ways right? My sister and I hired bicycles for our time in Nice and did a lot of cycling in and around the city, went up to the famous Castle hill, rode across the beach, went towards the outskirts of the city and found it super fun and a great way to burn those extra calories we were adding up eating all the delicious food.

Besides this, one can parasail, snorkel, paddle board, go out and dive and I am pretty sure there are areas around the south of France to sky dive and bungee jump. A few travelers we spoke to during our breakfast at the hotel were on their way to sky dive one morning!

Where are the best hang outs during the day in Nice?

I’m an absolute sucker for a day at the beach, so if I’m a in a city where there’s an ocean then that’s where you’re gonna find me. People often complain about the pebble beach in Nice and although being very bias to Australian beaches and soft sand, the water is so immensely stunning and the temperatures and tides just perfect for a lazy swim and hours of sunbathing!

You can choose between the public beach or the private beach, sometimes if you eat lunch at one the restaurants on the beach, the allow you sit on the private beach. We did both and both were equally fun.

If you’re looking for something more stimulating you could always stroll around the many alleys of this enchanting city, some parts of it aren’t as modern and have been preserved, as a symbol of “Old Nice”, when you head inland from the sea front you start to notice these row of low cottages (Ponchettes), some renovated partly that have been converted into quaint cafes and gorgeous art galleries.

You can also browse around one of the most famous markets in France which is normally set up behind these cottages.

images via flickr: Luca Nebuloni

People watching is one of my favourite ways to pass time in a new city, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and just soak in sights and sounds of a different culture, understand what makes its heart beat: children playing in a park, couples falling in love some arguing their ways in and out of a situation haha….its a wonderful thing to be able to absorb things raw and untouched.

Check here if you’re looking for some lovely Nice day trips.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Nice and what are their best dishes?

People have this misconception of Nice being a very expensive holiday destination, and as a regular traveler I can assure you, it could be and it doesn’t HAVE to be. You can make it work just wonderfully within your budget-high, low or medium!

So yes, there are a ton of restaurants, some even Michelin star, that could be a perfect date night dinner serving up exotic French delicacies but you could also grab a picnic basket, chose a spot in one of the many beautiful parks and have a lovely night under the stars enjoying local favorites such as “SOCCA” local crepes made from chickpea flour with a million toppings to choose from.

Ratatouille is another specialty of the region and available at many restaurants, With Italy being such a close neighbors it’s not surprising that pastas and pizzas find itself on many menus in restaurants in nice and they DO NOT disappoint!

Let’s talk desserts in Nice- what place makes the best?

I can’t really say what’s the BEST place and the BEST dessert. I have an extremely sweet tooth (I am gorging on chocolate as I’m writing this blog) so yeah…my recommendation would be to walk down the street Rue de France and discover all the little desserts offered by different patisseries and boulangeries. The displays are so colorful tempting and very promising. Definitely eat some Macaroons, try the chocolate and almond stuffed croissant, I will mention the crepes again, my favourites are the strawberry with butter lemon and sugar but there are lots to try from and honestly I don’t remember where I ate them because every place was really really good!

At restaurants, I usually order a crème brulee, and try not eating too heavy a main haha!

Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designers in Nice?

I’m not sure why, being a designer and a stylist, shopping wasn’t at the top of my list when I first arrived in nice, it never actually is once I see the ocean BUT we did shop towards the end of our trip. Nice is a lovely place to shop both high-end designer stuff, local trendy boutiques and markets and the regular high street brands. Its got everything! A good place to start would be the old town and the markets that we spoke about earlier for little collectibles, souvenirs and jewellery. To find regular stores, like Zara, Bershka , Pimki you should head straight to avenue Medecin which runs the north-south length of the modern city centre.

The famous French department store Galeries Lafayette is definitely worth a browse. I always try to buy something local from the place I am in, a painting, a hand-made souvenir or a local brand. I did find very interesting stuff at the local evening markets that get set up in the summer and remember buying a gorgeous leather bracelet/band.

Time for a great sunset view in Nice… where would you go?

Negresco would be a great place to go for a sunset view I would imagine and it is highly recommended, but we took this little train that runs from the end of Promenade des Anglais costs approx 10 euros and takes you through the flower market, the Maseena Square and the Castle hill and a couple of other spots, it stops for ten mins at the Castle and that’s pretty much where our ride ended since we were so mesmerized by the views, the sunset and the beauty of that place that we had long forgotten how we got there haha! It was a wonderful walk/trek down the hill but I think we saw more that way.

Jean-Pierre Dalbéra via Flickr

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

Bar De Oiseaux is a great little spot in the old town, although it may be a little difficult to find it has great live jazz music, sometimes a comedy act amongst other entertainers, named for the birds that inhabit the area for 5 bucks on entertainment nights it’s a great little spot to start the night and mingle with some locals in a relaxed atmosphere!

Often people gather around promenade des anglais for live music events that take place over the summer months and make for a fun and entertaining way to start a night

If you end the night at a fancy club, which one do you head towards?

Voulez vous danser avec moi? Haha I had to throw in a bit of my French here, well there are plenty a fancy clubs to choose from and although I am not a party/clubbing person I do have a few recommendations for those who would like to go !

Le Trois Diables which translates to the three devils has been a popular spot with locals and tourists for years, happy hours run from 5pm -9pm. Another one that’s popular is Le Ghost: comfortable and interesting interiors create an excellent atmosphere for the skilled in-house DJ’s, who play at this small speakeasy kinda vibe club, great energy and great music cover up for a small dance floor ;) if you’re looking for something fancy and classy, to mingle with the high-end nice locals , L’ambassade is probably the best place to go and splurge!

Namrata Puri is a Delhi girl who’s lived abroad and has a taste for all things fabulous from fashion to food. Other than being an extreme foodie, she’s a stylist, fashion consultant AND has her own line as head designer for the very popular Doe Designs where she whips up modern neon saris and long silky maxi skirts. Check out her designs on the Doe Designs Facebook page, Doe Designs Instagram, and to follow her personal instagram for more food pics click here.

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You’re Invited! Tia’s Shop Opening, Anjuna

Rachel Jones — Tue, 19 Jan 2016 04:32:47 +0000

If you’ve read this blog for a while or follow my Instagram, by now you’ve probably seen mentions of Tia’s shop. When I moved here almost 3 years ago, hers was the first local brand I heard about and I have been shopping in Goa from her ever since.

Yup… that’s all TIA! crazy.

She moved this year from Ashwem to Anjuna (closer to me, ha ha!) and is having an opening party Tuesday 26th at her new shop. Other than mingling with cool people, there is going to be free booze, free food, and someone is going to win a one of a kind bag which I’ve seen and it’s super cute- she’s having a raffle. Everything in the shop will be at a discount as well, tonight only.

It’s going to be at Natti’s Naturals and Natti herself is doing the food (I’ve written about her restaurant and shop here). There will be mini smoothies, juices, canapes, and desserts. Some famous local DJs will be playing house music.

If you’ve just moved to Goa or are looking for a new place to shop- she doesn’t just carry her own designs but also the brands Fara (who I’ve written about here, but she has their new line), Betta Goa who makes clothes for all ages out out mostly amazing cottons, Alekai who does one off, hand-made unique pieces that are hard to explain, but I love, and lastly, Nana Ki & the Bohemian Project which is the most popular shop in Ashwem behind La Plage.

The easiest way to find it is to google “Nattis Naturals”. It’s near the Saturday Night Market before Splashdown waterpark, across from a big temple.

Shopping in Goa: What’s new this year at Tia’s Shop

BIKINIS! I am so bikini obsessed and stoked that Tia has been busy in Bali making bikinis that are a little Brazilian style and really flattering. Her last collection of blues and tie-dyes has nearly sold out, and you’ll see lots of girls on Vagator and Ashwem beach wearing them, but she’s got a brand new collection and it’s going to be ready by the opening- I am obviously going to have to snatch one ahead of time so you guys don’t all buy them ;)

the gorgeous Saffron, I’ve written about her amazing artist skillz over here.“tiakinis”

Because she’s got a lot of space now, she carrying other designers clothes but also jewelry, rugs, bags, scarves, pillows & pillow covers, and all kinds of other stuff.

If you came to Goa and only had a couple days to try and shop you’d want to hit up the markets and Tia’s Shop… she is carrying so many cute brands and of course her own line is great too. Here’s some photos from her newest collection.

FARA India inspired pillow covers.. I love them!

Everyone is invited & I hope to see you all there! If you can’t come for the opening it’s open every day all season- check it out whenever you do have time for some shopping in Goa. If you’re shopping online you can buy it all on Etsy.

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

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International Boho-Chic Designers: Varuna Iyer // India

Rachel Jones — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 05:00:58 +0000

Welcome back to the series “International Boho-Chic Designers“. I meet so many fashion designers and artists on my travels and as a shopaholic, I love having unique items from abroad. I want to share them with you! The designers featured here are those I really shop from and adore.

I have known Varuna for some time; she’s been friends with Ben since before I moved to Goa. I’m so happy to feature her on the blog today! She’s a very talented artist and does work for a lot of the popular companies in Goa so you’ve probably seen some of her designs without realizing it.

She’s a bubbly surfing beach girl, always smiling and positive and I have recommended her to a handful of friends when they need design work done, like when she did some prints for fabric for the brand TIA I love. Also, she is basically a model for her photographer friends… the images that pop up on FB are stunning. Did I mention she’s helping WWF save the dolphins? She basically does it all.

logo examples from Varuna

The chick behind Veelicious & Code Designs

It’s hard to narrow down what Varuna Iyer is… visual artist, philosopher, traveler, explorer and a lover of life. Her quirky designs tell a story. With an education in design, it’s really framed the way she sees the world. She started out with a small set up in Goa, but with all her clients raving about her she built her brand up to be the hugely successful and popular name it is today.

“I believe that creativity has the power to transcend limitations of daily life and bring meaningful change to the world. My designs are a symphony of aesthetics and visual story telling.” -Varuna

Varuna’s World… the Brands:

Varuna actually has two brands but we’ll start with Veelicious. This 3-year-old company of Varuna’s caters to visual branding and storytelling for startups and companies so that could mean a huge variety of things like: illustrations, artwork, invites, packaging, menus, making company brochures, drawing murals, helping with branding, even fashion with digital prints on fabric, and designing brand spaces, like daawat.

Her brand is equally as funky as it is functional and you can get a feel of that when you first see her illustrations. I like that when you work with Varuna she doesn’t just see it as a job, but is interested in your vision, in the complete project coming together, and finding new and innovative ways to put onto paper what you’re thinking.

examples of her digital paintings

“I like to capture the essence of person and translate it into art.”

Her other newer company, Code Designs… sounds a little more computer based huh? It is! The multitalented girl can build websites, create apps, emailers, and help with social media management.

While she draws her inspiration for work from places, I always ask what people inspire designers in their field. Varuna mentioned graphic designers Stephan Sagmiester & Kriti Monga. She also gets inspired from Jason Silva and “entertainment philosopher”. I hadn’t heard of him but he’s incredibly interesting if you want to check out his website.

examples of her branding work

“My design solution focuses on capturing the crux of human emotion, and building brand personalities catering to the needs of the Audience. They are also fun and quirky with a hint of humor usually hidden in them.”

She joined the Dream In movement by Spread in collaboration with Idiom when she first started design. She traveled 15,000 km to Agra, Lucknow, and Delhi over 15 days with the mission to ask the average person what their dreams were. She was struck by these dreams, like the woman whose dream was simply to work. She had no legs, no family, and hated she was a beggar. Another with polio dreamed of opening a phone booth. She wanted to create design to inspire change and do things that made a difference.

Map of Goa (you can purchase prints of this!)

Map of Bangalore

So what’s next for Varuna? She’ll be coming out with an illustration set. She’s working with WWF on a conversation campaign to save the dolphins (amazing!) and working with OwlIntel creating an app that helps people understand themselves and become better human beings. It is not surprising at all Varuna would be working on projects like these!

Like I said, she’s not your typical “graphic designer”. She’s one of those authentic artists, who are true to themselves, they make movies about later. She told me herself, “I believe in creating value”.

illustrations by Varuna

How can you work with Varuna Iyer?

First off, check out her website, VarunaIyer , and take a look around. You can go ahead and shoot her an email at vee@codedesigns.net if you’re ready to start chatting about a project or you want to buy a Goa map or any of her illustrations. And if you want to stay up to date, please follow along by liking her Facebook page Veelicious!

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

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International Boho-Chic Designers: Shoop Doop // London & a giveaway!

Rachel Jones — Mon, 05 Oct 2015 08:55:09 +0000

Welcome back to the series “International Boho-Chic Designers”. I meet so many fashion designers and artists on my travels and as a shopaholic, I love having unique items from abroad. I want to share them with you! The designers featured here are those I really shop from and adore.

Shoop Doop hasn’t been around long, but it’s what all the guys in Goa are wearing, and the shirts are unique but at the same time you can tell where they bought it from. They all have a touch of his funky style. It’s quickly becoming the go-to shop for guys here in Goa, and taking off in London as well. As you can imagine, lots of the shopping is done by girls buying for their family or boyfriend.

Sean offered to give away THREE shirts! Girls, enter the giveaway so you can gift this to someone. I’m really resisting entering the giveaway myself so I can get one for Ben ha, but that would be breaking the rules.. I’ll let you guys win ;)

The guy behind Shoop Doop

He has such an interesting background, which is probably why his shirts are so inspired and full of color. Sean Barr moved to London from Scotland in the 80’s with a desire to sing and after lots of work, he landed a job through Mute records singing backing with Erasure and a session with Boy George’s band, Culture Club.

During his travel, he was buying nice shirts in (a then undiscovered by tourists) Turkey and selling them in Greece. His love of fashion and travel was born! He started traveling in Australia, USA, North Africa, India, more of Asia.. and doesn’t seem to be stopping even now. He played music along the way in a variety of huge name brands in the UK and Ibiza, becoming quite famous from what I gather, or “infamous possibly!” as he says.

Parties with Brit Winner, Paloma Faith in Thailand

He realized that on stage, everyone was in boring H&M shirts and wanted to make a change. He started making funky pants and shirts and people were noticing. He ended up taking his samples to London, and bam now he’s got a whole new career!

Shoop Doop, the brand.

“I decided I didn’t want to make a safe collection of shirts which sat together nicely neatly and blandly. That’s not me, and it wouldn’t work if I went down that road.”

He appreciates everyone having different tastes and styles but didn’t want to stop from using color just because Brit’s typically shy away from it. Indian of course love color. They’ve been on Goa’s Fashion week and Fashion TV here.

“I love color, I always have done in all it’s forms, which was definitely a hugely inspirational aspect of being in India and an obvious choice for me to work in creating.”

He started bold with shirts covered in flamingos, burgers, fries, and lobsters! But not everyone is into that, so he did some funky retro shirts, some vintage, and some sophisticated and meant to look more sexy. Most are for men, but he does have a range for women and even kids.

“Each shirt belongs to someone is what I have found. Sometimes, I look at what I created and wonder if I got it wrong, only for someone to come in first thing of opening and buy that particular shirt!”

This brand is very unique for dudes & girls traveling. These have been worn by LA rockers like
Cat Power & Icarus Line to the Bollywood star Kim Sharma. Something for everyone. Plus, most of his shirts are cotton, so they wear well and will look better than a t-shirt. You can go from the beach to the club and be dressed appropriately. Plus, they are affordable at 30 pounds each (2,200 Rs. or 47 USD)

Malik, the Shoop Doop tailor

Where can you buy Shoop Doop?

Online at ASOS is available for you all over the world.

If you’re in England, check out The White Horse in Brixton South London, POP Brixton at Make Do & Mend, Fashion Klicks in Norwood, and Woo Woo Boutique in the trendy Brixton Village Market.

Their main shop is located in Goa, on Ashwem, Morjim beach next to La Plage & Jade Jagger. They are stocked in other shops in Goa like Anjuna Flea Market, behind Sea Breeze, at the Arpora Saturday Night Market, near gate 1, at Cheshire Cat & Villa Blanche in Assagao, Mermaids in Anjuna, and Lamuela in both Arambol and Mandrem, and Fara Boutique in Arambol.

Night Market, Arpora

You can also find them in Delhi on the second floor Studio 417 Shapur Jat (Near Dada Jungi house). If you’re none of those places, shop online on the Shoop Doop Website (they ship internationally).

To connect, follow along their journey on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter, email at shoopdooplondon@gmail.com or ring them at +44-208-671-6397 or in Goa +91-8888-564-234.

Shoop Doop 3 Winner giveaway!!!

For this giveaway there will be THREE winners! As usual, I am running this giveaway through rafflecopter so the machine can choose the winner. These are the shirts up for grabs, which are his most sold shirts:

you get the shirt, not the guy ;)

All you have to do is follow the instructions below which include liking both Shoop Doop London and I on social media as linked below. You have 7 days to enter. This giveaway is open to people from all countries. You will win the 1 of 3 shirts (first pick gets first choice). which is a £30 value (about 47 bucks). These are my favorite of the whole collection. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

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Moving to India Packing List Part 3: Clothing

Rachel Jones — Tue, 28 Jul 2015 09:42:10 +0000

With so many people wanting to move to India (seriously, I get a couple e-mails a week), I’ve been adding a couple more posts about what to pack and know before you come here. In the first two segments I focused on Americans moving to India as the beauty and hair products and random things like candles, some are very American-specific- but clothes are pretty much international, right?

Check out the first two installments:

American Moving to India Packing List Part 1: Beauty & Hair

American Moving to India Packing List Part 2: Everything Else

Plus an extra two that you might find helpful.

luggage expats need to bring abroad

Where I shop for my cute travel clothes

Moving to India Packing List: Clothes

I guess most emails I get are from girls, so this list will be more focused on that. Let’s be real; guys have it so easy. Jeans, t-shirts, button-up shirt, jacket, done. Girls have it a little harder. I mean India is the yoga capital but can we wear yoga pants? We want to rock climb, but Indian politicians say we must wear long skirts and dress? None of it makes sense. Here’s some tips.

1. Just to get it out of the way: bring ALL YOUR FAVORITE PIECES of clothing. Yes, even if they are revealing. First of all, you’re moving to India but will be traveling more places. You’ll want these things. You can wear anything you want in Goa and really the clubs in Bombay and Delhi. My leather skirt from Express? Wear it all the time!

2. Beach things if you’re moving to Goa. Basically, shopping in Goa is hell. There are great designers here that are quite expensive and great for a splurge but there’s no mall. The markets are full of touristy clothes. You need to bring beach, summer, cute clothes. In Goa anything goes. Don’t over-think it.

Pack like you’re on your way to California- so don’t forget jean shorts and crop tops. Some will say that’s bad and going against Indian culture, but I’ve been here years and am telling you, for Indians and Westerners anything goes, in fact, most of my most fashionable and scantily dressed friends are Indian, and particularly Goan.

Goa’s beach style

My favorite jean shorts are from Urban, recycled Levis.

My favorite layered top of all time

My favorite dress, but really every dress from Free People is perfect.

3. Appropriate clothes. Whether you’ll be in strict Delhi or even Goa, you’ll travel to places that you need clothes that cover you. That can be maxi skirts, maxi dresses, loose pants, jeans, even skinny jeans, t shirts, tank tops can be ok with a scarf, loose long sleeve shirts. Here’s a list of how to dress and how not to dress in India so you get an idea of what’s appropriate.

BELOW IS FOR TROUSERS, not whole outfits.

ok not the bra top on the far left- this photo is to show you the TROUSERS that are ok as stated above – check at ASOS, Forever 21, H&M. The crops are okay, but take a scarf if you’re in public.

These are great for India! They don’t show anymore than a saree does. As mentioned take a scarf to cover shoulders.

4. Winter clothes. Delhi gets cold in the winter! Even Goa in December is cold on a bike. Don’t forget a nice leather jacket ( I wear mine every night in Goa). Also, pack some boots. In Goa, combat boots are in rather than knee high trendy boots in the US. I have the cutest pair from Lucky Brand. Here’s a packing list for Finland which you can see for the best cold weather stuff and think of what might work from that list.

I wouldn’t bother bringing more than one pair of “trendy” boots unless you think you’ll be traveling to Europe a lot. Bombay style is a lot like Goa (or NYC), but Delhi girls are more like L.A. girls so you can wear your trendy boots there. Well you can do anything you want, but I’m just tryin’ to help a girl out!

5. Heels. Sadly, no one in Goa wears them except some Europeans on vacay and Indian girls in clubs in Calangute and Baga. Seriously, it’s rare to see an expat in heels. I wear them more than most people I know; sometimes just to dinner. For a night out in Bombay, I wore them and I was the only girl at Blue Frog in heels! In Delhi, it’s more common. Take your favorites anyways because you’ll travel.

These are my favorite heels for India because they are so simple and don’t stand out

6. Layers. I think my most important thing to pack are items to layer over inappropriate things. For example a baggy cape over a little black dress, or a fringe kimono over a skirt and crop top. That way while in transit you are covered and look damn cute, but at the club or restaurant you can take off the top layer. I have a few kimonos from ASOS, some baggy grungey button-ups, my leather jacket which I sometimes tie around my waist, and a few sweaters.

Love this sweater from Urban Outfitters, and FYI this skirt is only okay in Goa.

In conclusion, if you aren’t a shopoholic like me you probably can bring basically all your clothes from home and find use for them. I had SO many clothes back in Ohio, I really had to make sacrifices (ok, not sacrifices, but it was hard).

When I go home, I tell myself “stock up on Delhi appropriate clothes” and buy a couple maxi dresses (that AREN’T tight) but then go right back to shopping for things I love and don’t worry about where I’ll wear it.

Scarfs are a lifesaver because women in India are supposed to pretend like they don’t have boobs. Yes, that’s what the dupatta is for (the scarf looking cloth worn backwards); draped over the boobs to hide them. Absolute nonsense but if you show cleavage you’ll get trouble! I’m lucky that I have none so I can wear tank tops without worry. If you’re a C or bigger, I wouldn’t try it.

typical for Goa, not me pictured, photo from FARA.

If you’re coming to India, don’t over think it.

Worst case if you wear jeans, a t-shirt, and a scarf, you’ll be fine. If you don’t feel fine, head to Fab India and pick something up. Some women don’t feel safe in India unless they are dressed in Indian garb, and that’s okay too.

I think the longer I stay here the more lax I get about what I wear in Goa ONLY.

When in big cities and when outside Goa, I have to really put aside my personal thoughts of freedom to dress how I like and follow their tradition. I’m a guest in India and dress India appropriate while I travel because it is the right thing to do- do I dress perfect all the time? No, I mean, I live in India ALL year long, I’m bound to make mistakes, under pack, and end up with only yoga pants and a t shirt to go to the Kerala airport. Shit happens, but at least you should try to blend in. I would say 90% of the time I do a good job, and the other 10% I either forgot to pack enough or had an “I don’t give a fuck attitude” while out with friends in Bombay during the day.

If you dress in Indian garb will you have NO problems? Umm no. Will you have less? Maybe! Probably! I can’t recall where I saw these, but one foreign blogger in India writes about how her mother in law won’t let her take off her duppatta even at home so her father in law won’t look at her in the kitchen, and another was masterbated over in public while dressed in Indian garb ( I know, yuck, but many bloggers who came to India have written that this has happened).

So, even if you cover up it may not be enough to stop stares. Actually, I know it’s not enough to stop stares as I get stared at a lot in other parts of India while fully covered in baggy pants, tops, and scarves. If wearing Fab India (popular appropriate Indian garb) and waiting to buy it in India, or picking up baggy “ali baba” tourist pants makes you feel safe, do it, but don’t think it’s a shield against unwanted stares AND if you’re staying in India long term (moving here) you’re going to want to dress how YOU want to dress instead of baggy pants with elephant prints or an outfit that’s foreign to you.

I must wrap up this blog post because I can tell I’m rambling ;) Just remember some Indian people are very chilled about what you have on and other more traditional people are not cool with even jeans… in fact, even if you wore a snow suit there could be someone you offend ;) Just try to dress modest and cute, except for hedonistic Goa (jk, kinda). Oh man, this post is probably gonna get me mean comments! AHH! I will risk it because this is meant to be for girls to read who are thinking about moving to India… and you guys are worth it.

Remember, most foreigners choose to live in Goa because they LOVE India, but need some freedom like their past lives. That’s why we all say, “It’s better in Goa!” .

Dadablui’s pillows with Goa catchphrase

The post Moving to India Packing List Part 3: Clothing appeared first on Hippie In Heels.

9 New Beachy Things I’m Obsessed With Lately!

Rachel Jones — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 09:13:21 +0000

Everyone knows what you need to take to the beach, but every year more new things come out and I end up replacing everything with newer trendier versions. Of course, you need your towel, books, bag, phone, kindle, and earbuds. So, here are some of the new beachy things I’m obsessed with this summer!

9 New Trendy Items to Pack in a Beach Bag

1. Flash Tattoos

These are the cutest! They are metallic temporary tattoos and are all the craze in California and Hawaii. My girl Saffron had some in Goa last year, and I loved all her Instagram photos then saw these in every boutique in Maui. In fact, my friend Ash who I wrote about (she owns Seiba) partnered with Flash Tattoos a few years ago before they were huge! They are perfect with a bikini. Photos below are from the Flash Tat IG. Even Beyonce and Nicki can’t resist the trend. Click here to check some out.

2. Sun Bum

I am so obsessed with Sun Bum Sunscreen! I had heard of it before but bought some while I was in Hawaii. The regular lotion is great, but the face stick is where it’s at. Next, I want to get the lip stuff. It smells like a banana! I break out with oily sunscreen and hate thick ones like Clinique City Block because you stay pale as a ghost if you use it. This still lets you get a tan, but my nose didn’t burn at all with the stick (which is a feat because I get like Rudolph easily. Photos from Sun Bum Instagram

3. John Frieda BLONDE

I love blonde hair. Once, I dyed my hair brown, cried, lightened it again, and swore to never ever not have blonde hair. As a kid, I had white hair until it turned more yellow at about age 17 so I’m always wishing I still had that hair. I started highlighting and using blonde products, and John Frieda is my absolute fave for shampoo and conditioner. The shampoo is called John Frieda Sheer Blonde highlight activating shampoo. I know being at the beach makes your hair look wavy and cute, but you really should wash out that salt so you don’t dry your hair. PS there are highlight enhancers and “go lighter”; the “go lighter” actually bleaches you out and dyes your towels so I don’t recommend it. The enhancer isn’t actually noticeable color change, it just stops you from going yellow. My girl, Gigi Hadid also swears by it.

Occasionally, I’ll spray in Surf Spray either Bumble and Bumble or Beach Blonde Sea Waves which is drying so only 1x per week. I love the look, but you shouldn’t do it every day even though the products say you can.

4. Sunny OPI colors

Bright colorful nail polishes! At the beach you aren’t wearing much, so someone may actually notice your nails. I really love the ones that look one color then the suns hits like the ones in the new new Hawaii collection – especially the color “This Color’s Making Waves” which is the one that looks like Tay Swifts dress in pic below, and “Kermit Me To Speak” which goes from purple to green which is what I got done in Maui at the salon. These seem to go in an out of style, but all the way in Hawaii and home in Goa, these colors are in, so it must be the case everywhere right? Brights look good with a tan. I always travel with mini’s but when I find a color I love, I get the full size.

5. Brazilian Bikinis

It seems like all my favorite brands are only making really tiny bikinis these days & the most popular brands are Brazilian style, lots straight from there or Hawaii like Moana, Midori, San Lorenzo, Agua Bendita, and lots more… I follow about 25 swimwear brands on IG and all I see are the Brazilian options! In Maui, every shop I went into ONLY had Brazilian options. I buy crochet bikinis on Etsy and love them, but the new suits this wear are SO cute!

6. Tanning Oil

I knowwww, it’s bad for you right? But I love a tan! The best of the best is Maui Babe,which has a lotion you use while you tan and one to use after. This stuff will make you brown! If you want something a little cheaper, I love the scent of Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil and it works like a charm. If you want something natural, try carrot oil- we use it in India sometimes. Photos from Maui Babe Instagram

7. Sheer and Tinted Makeup

I just LOVE this stuff. I have a couple colors. YSL Sheer Candy is silky smooth… not quite a lipstick because it’s barely any colors, but not a gloss because it’s not sticky. I guess it’s like a chapstick or chubby stick, but wetter if that makes sense. It’s pricey but lasts forever and doesn’t melt in the sun. If you care about packaging, the tube is so cute and it’s quite heavy so feels really fancy. BECCA Beach Tint is fabulous too. I have it in grapefruit. Actually, when it comes to tints I also really really like Josie Josie Maran Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelée, which I’ve mentioned here before it can go on cheeks or lips. Tints work great for the beach so you look and feel dewy, not dry like a powder would make you. Plus, you don’t need makeup on a beach so if you want a little something this is nice.

8. Beach Sarong & Kimono

I’m really into the Indian ones, but I know you can’t get them everywhere. It’s like a lungi you wrap around but you can use any sarong. Instead of folding it criss-cross and wearing it tied on the side, fold it into a long piece then wrap it around and twist/tuck it in. You can wear it high waisted and it’s super cute. I also love a good thin cotton Kimono which I get from TIA in like every color, the type pictured and the ones that are open like a cape. The other amazing cover up is a Turkish beach towel – love them! They are so thin.

9. The trendiest Ray-Ban’s…

These Ray-Ban aviator flash sunnies are just being worn by every fashion blogger and celeb. I feel like every photo that pops up on IG has these glasses in it but they are pretty damn cute! I want a pair but haven’t splurged yet. I like the gold/green, then there’s the blue, and there are purple ones. There may be more! I am not a Ray-Ban pro. I’m also really into Le Spec sunnies, like these.

(image source)

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Siolim House, the Perfect Village Getaway in North Goa

Rachel Jones — Wed, 22 Apr 2015 09:05:45 +0000

Tucked away in the village of Siolim is a quite famous old mansion called Siolim House. It dates back to the 17^th century and is one of the last surviving houses in Goa from that time. The landmark Siolim church everyone in Goa knows was built by the family of this home as a testament of their power and importance. Now, it’s a cute heritage hotel and you can come stay the night here!

It’s not a secret… this hotel has been mentioned in literally every important magazine and travel website. It’s kind of a North Goa staple. As I run around North Goa with season coming to a close, I’m reviewing hotels so that finally I can answer the question I get asked most, “where should I stay in North Goa?” I’ve got you covered. So, here’s a look at Siolim House.

For more tips on Goa check out my 170-page e-book, Insider’s Guide to Goa. After five years of living in Goa, I am confident this book is the most comprehensive, up-to-date guide to Goa plus it has all my secrets inside. Click here to buy it now.

General Goa Travel Tips

The house has 7 rooms, 2 of which are suites upstairs. It has an open floor plan with rooms on the outside, facing an open air courtyard, which I’ve grown to love. I am determined to build a house like it one day. When restoring the Siolim House, they kept everything authentic from the limestone to the tiles.

My favorite bit about the house is looking at all the décor. I loved the giant table books they have lying around (I have a collection of my own travel ones back in Ohio). The copper cups and pitcher next to the bed was a cute touch- they say drinking out of them is incredible for you, and I see these very often at homestays in India. Every unique table, lamp, artwork, and pillowcase has been thought out to bring the place together as a whole without looking overdone.

Rooms are all huge which is why there aren’t that many of them. The bathroom is really cool with stairs, something I have never seen but love! The windows of the home have the oyster shells still in place rather than glass, which is a very Portuguese-Goan style. You can’t do it to new homes as it’s become illegal to take shells.

The hotel has a restaurant, pool, A/C in rooms, WiFi, chill out area up top with couches, TV, and massive bookshelves. Siolim House can also hook you up with adventure activities or you can stay in for a cooking class, morning yoga, or massage set up outside by the pool. You can order whole cakes from their partner and popular dessert restaurant, Delicieux.

I spend my day by the pool drinking pineapple juice and cold coffee and reading Last Man in Tower, by the author of one of my favorite books The White Tiger. I got quite a nice tan! My friend Tia came later, probably to avoid my poolside music of great hits by the likes of Hall & Oates, Michael Jackson, and even Rihanna. I never have quite fit into that Goa music scene!

Tia had me prance around in some of her clothes from her fashion label I’ve told you about before and we spent our time doing our nails, drinking wine, doing exactly 25 squats, late night swims, and watching our downloaded TV shows. It was quite the girly day at Siolim House! And did I mention lots of wine?

With all hotels, there are always a few areas to improve. For me, the WiFi wasn’t strong enough although they use G Wave, a great company even I use at home. I got service near the reception office and later they switched out the router, but it won’t reach into the rooms. Also, lunch isn’t served (only breakfast, dinner, and snacks) so if you plan on being a hermit, you’ll at least have to leave the hotel for lunch.

For dinner you get an option of fish, chicken, or veg. I went for fish, and Tia went for the veg! It was delicious, but the photos just don’t do it justice (flash photos at night of food are NEVER any good, are they?) There was rice with fried onions, okra coconut curry, fish curry, fried fish, tamarind vegetables, and cream caramel for dessert. It was so tasty! The chef is really famous in the village and is the woman who will teach you at the cooking classes. I need to go back for that.

There was much more on offer for breakfast, but I wasn’t that hungry. You could get fruit, curd, tea, toast, and more. They have really tasty ham, so I got a ham and cheese omelet. That’s not something that is usually on offer in Indian hotels, as cold cuts are really pricey. It made my morning!

I live only 10 minutes from the hotel, so didn’t go exploring but you easily can. It’s in the middle of Ashwem and Anjuna, which are the two popular areas in Goa. It’s great to stay in places like Siolim to avoid crowds and experience the beauty of village life. Most expats choose to stay in the villages. Siolim House does stay open in monsoon and will soon have a bakery inside to stop in, so perhaps they’ll serve lunch soon as well.

Siolim House Contact Info:

check out their website
book a room
follow them on Facebook

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

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Goa Designers Van Andel & Peace and FARA (huge giveaway!)

Rachel Jones — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 07:28:29 +0000

Last month I did a giveaway for a silk scarf from FARA, and you guys wanted it so badly that I had more than double the usual amount of entrants for the giveaway. So Merry Christmas early, because I asked them if we could do it again with their new line of scarves! They did a collaboration with a huge jewelry brand in Goa called Van Andel & Peace (sold at Cheshire Cat Gallery), and the scarf that came from that is just perfect for one of you!

BUT on top of that, Van Andel and Peace wanted to give away a Mala necklace with 108 fresh water pearls and 108 pink tourmalines ($150 USD value) alone with FARA’s Saraswati Silk scarf ($135 USD value). For this giveaway we’ll have ONE winner getting both luxury items. You lucky girl you ;)

You remember FARA was Fumie and Rachel’s Adventures, two chicks with major fashion backgrounds who live and work between Goa and London. They traveled India and put what they saw into hand-illustrated scarves painted by Fumie with traditional Japanese watercolor. You can read more about them in this post: FARA | India

Their new line for the season is available, and it doesn’t disappoint. So before I show you the scarves I’ll give you a little peak at some of the new clothing. There’s far more to see and they post updated shoots and new items on their Facebook page.

BOLO dress

Ghost dress

KANON dress

twist skirt

Whereas their last scarves were about places in India like the Goa scarf they gave to the lucky winner Amanda, the new ones “O My God & Godess” are all about the Gods. Based on a mixture of Hindu Gods and children’s fairytales, the combined their love of India and the Hindu culture as well as both being mothers to young girls who happen to be best friends (and adorable… on Instagram they post photos of the girls picking their little outfits out for the day, so cute).

Introducing the “O My God and Godess” silk scarf collection from FARA

The first intense scarf is Shiva and the Little Mermaid depicting Shiva, pirate ships, mermaids, jellyfish and an astrological chart.

Ganesh and Dumbo are the focus of the second scarf, and my favorite! Full of circus animals, hard boiled sweets, macaroons, the temple from Keri Beach.

Hanuman and the Jungle Book up next…all the animals from the famous India story, Balu the bear, Bagera the Leopard, the Orangutan, Snake, and Tiger are on this scarf.

The last scarf, Saraswati is where the collaboration comes into play (okay, maybe this one is my favorite!). Saraswati and the Princess and the frog; a pond of carp fish, lily pads and jewels float (Van Andel and Peace jewels), king fishers fly around Saraswati the Goddess of Creativity. This is the scarf you will win.

Find FARA @ FARA Boutique in Arambol, Goa, Saturday market in Arpora, Goa and Second Floow Studios in New Delhi or shop online at their Etsy shop. Be sure to follow FARA on facebook and instagram. For inquiries email rachel@faraboutique.com.

FARA and Van Andel & Peace Collaboration

So how do FARA and Van Andel & Peace come together?

“Rachel came to visit us one day for a design for her engagement ring, and immediately it clicked between us. Later her man came and bought the beautiful ruby lite seaflower design and so started a relationship both personal and professional.”

It was two years ago on Valentines day her boyfriend proposed to her with a Van Andel and Peace Ring made from Rubies (her daughters birth stone). This was the start of the love affair with Cheshire Cat Gallery, and of course, a marriage!

“Since then we have visited the gallery in Assagao and the stall at the Saturday Night Market a few times and treat ourselves with a piece here and there. We both own Malas made by Cheshire Cat Gallery.” -Rachel

When they started drawing the Saraswati scarf, they knew they wanted to incorporate jewelry from the designs of Van Andel & Peace, which were perfect for the scarf design. The stamp of the “royal touch” was given to each piece and they loved that the designs are for “women with a strong sense of individuality and style”.

The Luxury of Van Andel & Peace @ Cheshire Cat Gallery

I live only a short drive from Cheshire Cat Gallery and have known of it even before I moved to Goa. It’s very famous and everyone who comes here on vacation comes to the gallery to buy their jewelry. The Gallery carries their own designs and also some other things like hand-woven clothing, silk shawls, candles, jewelry from other designers, and more.

Kees van Andel and Karen Peace met in the 80’s in Amsterdam, but now live in Goa after traveling India all through the 90’s on spiritual and trekking journey, and falling in love with it. They discovered the wealth of precious stones to be found in dusky bazaars and exciting jewelry alleys in Jaipur. They met gemstones dealers who they still buy their exclusive gems from today. The move to Goa from Jaipur was easy for them as they craved the freedom and nature of the Goa paradise.

“We never looked back. Now we’re employing a team of local women whom we have trained in both sales and design processes, and Kees now works with the same 4 goldsmiths in his atelier who have been with us for last 6 years. All these people have become family to us; now part of the family that we call Cheshire Cat Gallery, evolved into a household name in Goa.” -Karen

They use 22 ct. gold, sterling silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires selected carefully looking at the clarity and and color. As you can see, their designs are detailed and have amazing jewels in them. Kees does the design work with a goldsmith- he studied design at Rotterdam’s College of Fine Arts. Karen works the sales end and runs the gallery- she went to school for marketing and fashion in Amsterdam. Their designs are a mixture of ethnic Indian and classic Victorian.

Kees and Karen are going to be at the International Jewelry Show at Olympia in London in September and are working on a new collection. So, if you’re lucky enough to live in London, you can check them out! If you’re in Goa you can actually work together with them to make a personalized piece like Rachel’s boyfriend did.

Cheshire Cat Gallery is in a cute old Portuguese house in Assagao, just down the road from Villa Blanche, off Anjuna-Mapusa Main road where you can shop in person. You can shop via their website (map with directions and phone numbers there), check out the Van Andel & Peace FB page, and the Cheshire Cat Gallery FB page.

Enter to win the Saraswati scarf & Mala necklace!

The pink tourmaline is the stone for unconditional love and the pearls are for purity.

Like usual, I am doing this giveaway through rafflecopter. Just follow the instructions below and do know that I go and check that you actually “like” or do the activity listed. If you already “like” these girls, then just hit enter and you’re golden.

The giveaway will listed for 7 days, shipping is international, giveaway is open to everyone, the value of the scarf is $135 and the necklace is.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

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International Boho-Chic Designers: FARA // India & a Giveaway!

Rachel Jones — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 09:22:01 +0000

Welcome back to the series “International Boho-Chic Designers”. I meet so many fashion designers and artists on my travels and as a shopoholic, I love having unique items from abroad. I want to share them with you! The designers featured here are those I really shop from and adore.

I’ve seen the FARA booth at the Saturday night market in Arpora for the last two years, just near the Thai place. I always peaked inside and looked at all the silky tie-dye and gorgeous raw silk dresses. They were over my price range last year, but this year I’m hoping to save up a bit a finally buy something from the team at Fara. Their clothes are some of my absolute favorites at the market and they have a new shop in Arambol. To celebrate their Indian silk scarf range they are giving one away to one of you readers!

Stall at Saturday Arpora Market

Varanasi Scarf

Giveaway: The scarves they make are hand-drawn by them and represent different areas of India. They are giving away Goa which is just a perfect match for Hippie in Heels. Scroll to bottom to enter giveaway.

The chicks behind FARA Boutique

Fumie and Rachel are the girls behind the brand. Fumie originally from Japan, studied in London at the London College of Fashion and since has worked for Alexander McQueen and Stella Mcartney! Fumie is a talented pattern cutter seemstress and designer.

Rachel grew up in London and studied at Fine Art at Central Saint Martins. After graduating she worked as a fashion buyer for Urban Outiffitters for 5 years.

Both are mothers to little girls, living in Goa and also London, and spend everyday together on the beach or in their shop, designing and creating.

FARA, the Brand:

FARA stands for Fumie and Rachel’s adventures. They met and became friends through their love of travel. Fara is now in its 2^nd season making simple yet design led clothes for women. Their clothes are easy to wear, yet elegant. They make these incredible hand-drawn (by them!) scarves that are so technical and sophisticated… but really fun and bold at the same time. I asked what FARA is as a brand:

“Designs inspired by our adventures and dreams of those still to come”

examples of the raw silk

the flowy tie-dye silk… I love this skirt!

FARA makes a range of dresses, tops, shorts, trousers, skirts, kaftans, kimonos, scarves, and cushion covers. Their clothes are made from either 100% raw silk which is hand woven in Varanasi, 100% silk Haboti, or silk chiffon. Their stuff is so unique especially because they show India through their clothing and both of them are travelers who have seen vast amounts of the subcontinent.

The scarves which they are famous for are hand drawn illustrations painted with traditional Japanese watercolour. The same illustrations on on the cushion covers. When you look at the detail up close it’s just amazing!

Their four hand-drawn and painted scarves in order clockwise: Varanasi, Rajasthan, Himalaya, Goa

“With Fara, I rediscovered and rekindled a passion for drawing and painting, and with my knowledge of Japanese watercolour painting knew that these silk scarves woudl capture the essence of the love of travel with the love of luxury.” Fumie, FARA

I just love the scarves they have now, but they have even more coming making the decision of which to purchase even harder. While the old scarves represent their favorite places in India: Varanasi, Goa, Himalayas, and Rajasthan, the new scarves are based on Hindu Gods combined with Fairy tales like Shiva and the Little Mermaid or Hanuman and The Jungle Book. I saw the samples and they are stunning and so imaginative. I am so excited they are giving a scarf away to a reader (and also a bit jealous of the winner already!).

The Rajasthan scarf shows colors of pink Jaipur, camels, daffodils, and gypsy jewelry. For Varanasi they depict the smoking grey for the ghats mixed with Sadhus, cows, monkeys, and spicy chai. They even add in the pooja flowers- it’s the detail in these scarves which make them a great souvenir (and since these are also my favorite places in India, makes it so difficult to choose one!). The Himalaya scarf tells the tale of mountain travel with Buddhist prayer wheels, thangkas, and stunning scenery and the Goa scarf (which you can win!) shows our beautiful home: lush green countryside, cows in the market, Enfield bikes, cashew flowers and more.

Himalaya scarf above & all four below

I asked why their brand is the perfect for travelers like you:

“We wanted to convey imagery that was deep and meaningful to our own experiences. We consider these silk scarves as pieces of art as well as accessories and our customers often find they have their own personal attachments and their own memories of these special places in India.” -Rachel, FARA

Where can you buy FARA?

If you’re in India you can see their stock in person at FARA Boutique in Arambol, Goa. Also at the Saturday market in Arpora, Goa and Second Floow Studios in New Delhi. If you’re not in India and want to buy something please do check out their Etsy shop.

If you want to see their amazing photography and gorgeous models pop up on your socia media, be sure to follow FARA on facebook and instagram. You can email them rachel@faraboutique.com.

FARA “GOA” Silk Scarf giveaway!!!

This is the scarf you can win!! How cute!? I want it.

As usual, I am running this giveaway through rafflecopter so the machine can choose the winner. All you have to do is follow the instructions below which include liking both the boutique and I on social media. You have 7 days to enter. This giveaway is open to people from all countries. You will win the “Goa” scarf which is a 7,900 rs value (something like 150 bucks). It’s my favorite of the whole collection. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

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“What do you do all day?” (Expat in Goa)

Rachel Jones — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 08:34:40 +0000

I get asked from friends back home “so… what do you actually DO all day?” and I can see why since neither Ben or I have a 9-5 job. We have a lot of freedom to work when we want and options to travel or just decide to do nothing for the day (although we shouldn’t).

There are times I schedule out posts weeks ahead of time so I can hang with friends and family without having to sit on my computer- which leads them to question even more, “When exactly do you work?”.

Our days usually don’t start until about 10 with some coffee and checking emails; then it’s usually Ben and I asking each other, “so… what do you want to do today?” Him and I share a very similar work ethic which is work on our computers for 12 hours straight like a maniac then take a few days without being so hard on ourselves.

Ben has a “real job” and actual responsibilities, which usually means although he can go to the beach instead of office, he might be on his phone the whole time.

Although I put up about 4-5 blog posts a week, I find myself with a lot of free time. I spend most of it with Ben at long lunches or the beach… other parts, with the dog or by the pool and in the evenings, out to dinner or out partying with friends. I had about a million photos on my camera roll some of which I share on my personal Facebook profile, but not on my blog because they don’t have much to do with travel. Figured I’d just share them in one post.

Expat in Goa

I try to get flowers at Mapusa market every week. I usually take the bouquet apart and remake it myself when I get home. I spend about $5 bucks a week on flowers. They don’t last long here (I don’t know why that is).

This is Scully, a friend’s dog. There are always cute dogs around and puppies that need adopted.

Ben is a terrible influence on my eating habits. At least, I’d like to believe it’s his fault. Thalassa take away, Cafe Nu in Mandrem, pork belly from Go with the Flow, and waffles from a cute place in Kochi, Kerala which I guess shouldn’t be in this post since it’s about Goa ;)

I feel like I spend a LOT of time driving back and forth to the airport and train stations. Goa’s airport is near nothing so it’s a pain in the butt. I spend more time in the car to the airport than the flight is long to Bombay.

Nights out when Britani my friend from the US visited

My cat is a pyromaniac … but seriously. I also make candles which aren’t a super hot selling item (I am going to decrease the price on them before season ends) but they are fun to make and I love having them in the house.

The cat was not the most welcome creature in our house. I always had bad experiences with them (roommates in college that had crazy ones!) and I am allergic. The cat has grown on me.. a lot! We are now best buddies… but my allergies are out of control. Anyone know a good allergist in Goa?

veggies at the market, me in our car- the famous omni, kitkat is his typical hang out spot with the security guards, and two of the security guards of our complex who are really nice and help us with all kinds of stuff.

Rishab is one of my best buds, and Ben’s BFF. He works at Thalassa, one of the many reasons we hang there so much.

MORE FOOD… chicken in mushroom sauce at Villa Blanche, takeaway for my favorite Goan place, steak and risotto at La Plage, and pizza from Basilico in Anjuna

How I ever manage to get anything done with such cute pets is a mystery

Got the yummiest cake for Priyankas birthday from Ivan Stolfi who does catering in Goa! I don’t have his business card on hand to give you the info but email me if you’re interested and I’ll find out.

My dad at the Wednesday Flea Market. I don’t go every week because it does get old, but it’s a nice option. The Saturday one I usually make (just for the chicken!)

My Delhi (but now basically Goan girl) Priyanka

Shanti girl loves the beach since she was a beach dog in Kochi before Ben got her. To bring her to Goa, he had to put her in a cage on the train up with the conductor. He sent some friends to go with her and bring her to the house. The doorbell rang at 5 am and there was Shanti (she was confused, but after a couple days she adjusted to her new home)

So much time just hugging animals…. and napping (which is totally okay since Goa has 1-3 pm siesta)

I got lots of clothes made when I bought khadi in Karnataka and commissioned TIA to make me some dresses and crop tops. Ben sent me this pic of the ducks (random!) and the last photo is celebrating Christmas opening a present my best friend Rachel Schlarb sent me from the US.

This guy was walking his cow through the water, while another cow ate a poor guys lunch. I didn’t interrupt the cow as I have already been head-butted by a cow once – which was one to many times.

My business cards for ISLA candles which I sell them in about 7 shop around Goa. I was pretty stoked by these super cute business cards. I have another card for my massage and blogging with a cute logo Ben made me. You can get cards printed in Panjim for next to nothing so if you’ve ever wanted biz cards you should totally go get them made while here.

Brit literally hated this cat at first, so catching them cuddled up like this was SO cute

Sleeping guard dogs outside of Chesire Cat in Assagao (one place I sell my candles) and Snowy – who is not even our dog but just LOVES napping in our house.

a homemade soup by me (the only thing I cook other than sandwiches) which is a recipe I tweak by Jamie Oliver (the most adorable chef on the plant- love you Jamie!! lol), a pile of Indian food from Starlight, and chocolate fondue from A Reverie

And that’s it! The most recent non-travel pics on my Instagram which pretty accurately show what I do all day.

Ben and I don’t know how long we’ll be in Goa for. I do know I’ve seen a LOT of India and I’m itching to go to some new countries (or continents even) and I really want to go back to Europe and visit Ben’s people in England and Austria this year.

Although I do make money from blogging, which I can do anywhere- my every day spending money from massage is really helpful so if I took a huge backpacking trip for a couple months I wouldn’t have that extra massage income. But, if I could I would totally go to South America which is the next place on my bucket list! For now, Goa is pretty damn great.

PS: For tips on Goa check out my 170-page e-book, Insider’s Guide to Goa. After five years of living in Goa, I am confident this book is the most comprehensive, up-to-date guide to Goa plus it has all my secrets inside. Click here to buy it now.

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This is India! 31

Rachel Jones — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 08:31:37 +0000

Welcome back to This is India! I always have funny/weird stories about India to share with friends or family when I talk to them. This is just meant to be an honest portrayal about my life in India through short anecdotes. I also share here what I’ve been up to online outside Hippie in Heels.

What I was up to other than here:

Woo hoo! Hippie in Heels was ranked in the Top 50 Travel Blogs by Travelocafe based on number of visitors & social media engagement combined. I’m dead last at #50 which has a lot to do with my terrible twitter skills. In the blogging world, they keep track of your engagement on social media- and twitter is like a dark hole I don’t understand. So, I guess I’ll make that a New Year’s resolution?
I have a giveaway running RIGHT NOW! for a fancy silk scarf by TIA a local designer here in Goa. Make sure you click here to enter the giveaway.

Now your story,

I had to wait for this story until my parents left India or else my mom would NOT have come.

This story is about my friend Katja who runs Dadablui, a trendy fashion line in Goa.

She went to bed, but first closed her window and her bedroom door. Her A/C remote was behind her bed and all night she reached back (there was no bedboard) and kept changing the temperature.

In the am she woke up, opened her doors and to her surprise her cats wouldn’t come in the room.

They stood at the door just looking behind her bed… right at the spot she’d been reaching over ALL night.

There was a big black cobra curled up. It must have been there the whole night as there was no way to get in once the window was shut.

She ate her breakfast and watched the snake, not knowing it was a cobra- wondering if she should get a broom and push him out. Her housekeeper got ahold of the snake people who came and immediately said, “It’s a cobra! It’s the third one we’ve found in this house over the years.”

In Assagao, Katja is now “the lady who sleeps with cobra”.

How badass is that!? and terrifying… she lives just across from me in a beautiful old Portuguese house.

This is India!

feature image of clouds from flickr

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin‘.

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International Boho-Chic Designers: TIA // India & a giveaway!

Rachel Jones — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 09:16:58 +0000

Welcome back to the series “International Boho-Chic Designers”. I meet so many fashion designers and artists on my travels and as a shopoholic, love having unique items form abroad. I want to share them with you! The designers featured here are those I really shop from and adore.

The new shop TIA in Morjim / Ashwem is making waves in Goa. It seems TIA is the designer to be wearing this season! As you head to Ashwem Beach, look for this design on life size silhouettes outside her shop. There is a full map in the end of the post.

Shop Tia online at Etsy.

& a fabulous TIA GIVEAWAY!

I usually go into detail about the designer and where they came from, but I’ve done that already with Tia Cherelle with her brand Tia and Tan last year. Take a second to check out that post and learn a little about the ‘growing up Goan’ lifestyle that made Tia the unique designer she is now.

This year she is slowly merging Tia & Tan into TIA after rebranding. Her collections: the original high end silks and an additional affordable cotton beach wear came from some learning curves and adjusting to make sure everyone could afford the brand. She’s also added in a lot of one of a kind pieces and will even make things to order (but I’m next in line… no cuts).

TIA Silks

The new collection shows another journey. She started from scratch having artists draw what she envisioned and getting it printed onto silk, therefore all the fabrics are completely unique and took her awhile to perfect.

The collection is based on the story of Krishna in the jungle, and the bright colors come from the inspiration of India where there is never a dull moment! -Tia

There are multiple prints like Krishna, Leopard, Jungle, and Birds as well as bold colors like peach, purple, emerald green, and whites all in a satin silk. She’s added sequin party pieces, retro 70’s crop tops with matching shorts, and bold embroidered shorts. Ok, now for photos of all these sexy models in her silk line because I know that’s what you all want!

TIA Cottons

The new range of cottons are perfect because they are affordable for everyone. Last year, so many people commented that they loved the brand but just couldn’t afford such high end silk. That was part of Tia’s thought process in re-branding and she added these colorful, easy beach looks starting at only 1,000 rs (20 bucks). Can’t beat that!

TIA Shop in Ashwem, Goa

If you follow my Instagram, you’ll know I wear TIA brand clothes a lot. It’s by far my favorite shop in Goa because they clothes always fit so perfectly. She’s also always made clothes for men as well, in super soft cottons. She’s got a new line for men coming soon. So, boy or girl, if you’re in Ashwem or the Saturday market (where she has a stall) take a second to check out her amazing pieces!

like this scarf? You can win it below!

inside of the Ashwem shop

new shorts & my favorite lungis / scarves… wear one almost every day with a bikini!

men’s shorts & woman’s sequin tops

Saturday night market stall

The main shop is just at the Morjim-Ashwem junction. When you turn right toward Marbella, you’ll see it on your right. Look for the psy black and white sign boards and silhouettes.

Here is the view from outside the shop & below is the map:

All Tia’s contact is on the flier above. Happy shopping! Sad you’re not coming to India to buy TIA? Don’t be, you can shop online on her Etsy.

The TIA giveaway! Win a silk Scarf

I love love love the scarf TIA is giving away, and really just want to keep it for myself but you guys put up with my poor grammar and misspelled words on the regular, so it’s about time I reward you with another giveaway.

This bird print pure satin silk scarf sells in Goa for 3,500 rs. Like all previous giveaways, I am using rafflecopter to select the winner. Just “like” both Tia & I on social media through all these buttons below for multiple entries. TIA will ship world wide so anyone is welcome to enter. You have SEVEN days before the contest closes.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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International Boho-Chic Designers: Dadablui // India

Rachel Jones — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 08:32:16 +0000

[Welcome back to the series “International Boho-Chic Designers”. I have met so many fashion designers and artists on my travels from whom I buy jewelry, swimsuits, tops, etc. I love having unique items and I’m creating this section to share them with you. These people I’ve met and personally shopped from & love, not people perking or paying me.]

DADAblui, well known in her Mermaids Boutique at the Saturday Night Market, is one of the first shops I knew of in Goa. She has a popular line that is “so Goa” I guess you could say. The owner and designer of it all, Katja, happens to live near me in a big old Portuguese house. When I told her I wanted to write about her, she invited me for coffee and we ended up spending our monsoon hanging out in our little village. Her vibe is like her clothes: laid back and cool.

Introducing DADAblui

Katja Grew, 44 was born and raised in picturesque Copenhagen, Denmark. She left at 20 with a serious case of the travel bug to live in Florence for a few years where she “accidently” came to India in 1993. At 23, she knew she’d fallen in love with India- and the rest is history! She’s been here ever since. In 2003 she started DADAblui also sort of on accident while making clothes for herself and realizing how much everyone loved them.

I asked Katja who inspires her and she told me,

“I get inspired by people who dare! People who are not following a trend, but have their own original clothing style: colourful, exotic, and different. I believe style is an attitude.”

You can tell from looking in Katja’s bright home or by the clothes she wears every day that she loves COLOR. India is so full of bright fun patterns on textiles. She also uses the nature and hippies of Goa for more inspiration.

DADAblui makes unique tropical luxury clothing an accessories in Goa. Her fabrics are some of the coolest bits with leather, cotton, and silk mixed in with antique sari borders or vintage mirror work from Rajasthan. When you see one of Katja’s famous leather jackets you can tell it was made by her.

Other than leather jackets, she makes amazing leather bags, dresses, shirts, cotton bags, t-shirts, and cushion covers, many of which have her favorite saying, “It’s Better in Goa”. I love that her clothes are fashionable and trendy but has that colorful Indian vibe mixed in so easily.

DADAblui, The brand:

The name is so strong and has the cutest back story. Katja could not pronounce her name as a child and had a lisp so she called her self Dada instead of Katja. Her 3 younger sisters are still calling her Dada. Blui was because she couldn’t say Grew, her last name. “I chose the name for my label cause it’s original and reflects my inner child, and it sounds like MIUMIU ;)” -Katja

A few years ago DADAblui teamed up with SEWA in Delhi, which is a NGO that helps women in indian rural areas. Katja has been in India long enough to call it home and feels a deep desire to give back to her new beloved community. The women are making stunning bead and sequence work for her which you’ll see in her new bags / small purses this season. The collection is called “Dharma Collection”. They’re also making “Goa” silk cushion covers, which are so beautiful. Katja promises that this season will be even more colorful and daring with all her new ideas.

I asked Katja why her brand is great for travelers like you:

“A lot of the clothes I make, can be used for beach or party, according to how you dress it up or down.”

“My leather jackets and bags are ethnic and cool. When worn in Europe, they just have that understated Indian twist.”

Where can you buy DADAblui?

Year round you can buy from DADAblui wholesale or retail from her showroom in Assagao, Goa. It’s near Indian Story and Happy Bar, and will also pop up on Google Maps, but you can contact her first and she’ll help you if you get lost.

During season time (November to April) you can also find her jackets and other tropical luxury designs at “Mermaid’s Boutique” at the Saturday Night Market in Arpora and the Wednesday Anjuna Flea Market. If you’re not going to be in Goa, have no fear- she sells online on the DADAblui website.

Just last week, Dadablui is being stocked in the Goa Shop in Thalassa as well.

If you have questions or want to contact Katja Grew, you can e-mail her at katjagrew (at) hotmail (dot) com or call her in Goa at +91 9822197015. Until then make sure you’re following along on her Facebook page to get that boost of color and hippie vibes to your newsfeed every day: Dadablui Facebook Page.

Did you enjoy this post? Let me know in the comments or by sharing it with the social media links! I’d love to keep giving you travel tricks & tips so feel free to subscribe by e-mail in the big purple box below. Don’t forget you can follow me on facebook, twitter, instagram & bloglovin’.

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