“Sunburned” in Goa

Sun, Sand, Sea. Come December, and Goa is the place to be!

If there’s one place where time stands still, where music is the only religion, and where you can let go of all your inhibitions and be whoever you want to be…it is here.

December is already here and the sandy shores of Goa are gearing up for a musical extravaganza that enthrals partygoers from across the globe. Running in its 6th consecutive year, the Sunburn Music Festival kicks off on the beaches of Candolim on 27^th, 28^th and 29^th December 2012. With 7 different stages and over 90 artists, this isn’t Asia’s biggest music festival for no reason. This electronic extravaganza has in the past attracted the likes of Paul van Dyk, Richard Durand, BT, Axwell, Ferry Corsten, Nadia Ali and many others. Keeping with tradition, this year’s line-up includes some of the biggest electronic stars including Dutch artist Sander Van Doorn, Fedde Le Grand, Brian Transeau aka BT, house DJ Roger Sanchez, French funk/disco artist Norman Doray and Indian artists such as Jalabee Cartel, Reggae Rajah, DJ Shaan et al.

Aptly described as “a cocktail of dance and music galore”, the Sunburn Festival guarantees wild parties, adrenalin gushing music and an experience of a lifetime. The ambience is of one big open discotheque with artists performing round the clock. Going beyond music, the three-day festival is a synergy of entertainment, sports, food, and shopping and promises unlimited fun. And if you still haven’t had enough, the “After Dark” parties that begin post 10 pm are a culmination of the day’s celebrations and guarantee a 24-hour music hangover. This one is worth attending if nothing else but to brag about later with friends back home!

To add to the excitement, this year Sunburn will stretch from Christmas Eve till New Year’s Day. The opening gig, “Windsong”, will take place on 24^th and 25^th December and includes an eclectic line-up of musical acts from across the country. The closing event on New Year’s Day will see the launch of Percept’s inaugural Superstar New Year’s Eve Gig. What’s more, each of these events is set to create history as they go live on digital platforms to over 80 countries!

A mecca for EDM lovers (electronic dance music) the planning for this annual pilgrimage begins months in advance. Goa’s love for electronic music dates back to the late 1960s and its many beaches have been thronged with tourists whose love for music draws them to this destination year on year. This is your chance to be a part of this exciting music festival; so go ahead and book your flight tickets and holiday packages and prepare to get “Sunburned”!

By Shreya Sachar

Goa-aaah!

There is something mysteriously mesmerizing about the environment of Goa. People find it hard to explore the fact which propels them to party hard here. Inadvertently or rather luckily, the time we landed was post sunset and I could recall the famous tagline associated with Goa "where the sun never sets". The resort we chose to stay at was a magnificent property, surrounded by lush green fields and seemed to be an ideal place for discerning travelers like us who wanted nothing more than being in the lap of fun, excitement and contentment for the next few days. The resort was conveniently located in the heart of South Goa and a few minutes drive would take us to some of the most stunning places known.

Our unplanned itinerary mentioned nothing explicit about the places we needed to cover in a span of three days. Yet, we set ourselves for a fun day ahead and went off on bikes, scooties and whatever two wheeler we could get to lay our hands on (this is one place where you will find vehicles far too easily than even petrol and oil) to some unknown destination and ultimately reached a beach called Candolim. This is a popular beach situated about 14 kms from Panaji which may not be the most happening beach around but yet a traveller's paradise who longs for peace and relaxation amidst cool winds on a beach with an enthralling view.

The next morning was a bit lethargic after the late night joy ride and saw most of us getting up late. Though the welcome to a new day wasn't too encouraging as the early morning charm had given way to a more harsh noon yet we managed to beat that by outsmarting the weather gods and immersed ourselves completely in the hotel swimming pool. Setting ourselves perfectly for a great day ahead, none of us imagined that it would be one of the best days of our lives. We visited the most happening place in Goa - Anjuna Beach which has gained its popularity owing to the night parties at Curlies. This place offers an extremely romantic ambience day and night and can aptly be called "a poet's delight". While the enchanting music sets up the tone up and would get you in a party mode, the cool evening breeze is sufficient to pacify and relax the soul. We placed our tired bodies on the shacks to avail the most pleasurable sight ever. That was our last night in Goa, so we made it a point to make the most of it.

Recollecting all those moments, after the euphoria, I am here, at the airport, stagnant. Can't believe that we have come to an end of a memorable trip, whose memories would remain etched in our minds and hearts forever.