Here's how Shaalin Zoya discovered the incredible charm of Southern Goa

Young actress Shaalin Zoya is an avid travel lover who wishes to see different places around the globe and experience their unique cultures. She believes that life wouldn’t be fulfilled if she doesn’t travel and see the world. She confesses how journeys have played a major role in shaping her personality. 

Solo Goan trip
Shaalin who has been to almost everywhere in India, however, couldn’t visit Goa for a long time. Even though she had planned fun trips to Goa with her friends, many times, it didn’t happen due to various reasons. Finally, she decided to go to Goa on a solo trip. She was looking forward to visiting a beautiful place where she could relax and unwind. Interestingly, her week-long trip to Goa was during the monsoon season. 

“I have heard many people say that Goa has a unique vibe during the monsoon. I have a close friend in Goa who loves travelling as much as I do. She is Turkish. So, I decided to meet her there. Goa, in fact, has two faces, the South and North. It was in South Goa that I reached first. Compared to the North, this area was serene, peaceful and cleaner too. It is not crowded like North Goa. Moreover, you can enjoy authentic Goan cuisine here,” says Shaalin. 

The actress says that South Goa may not be the place for those who visit to enjoy vibrant parties, bustling clubs and fancy restaurants. South Goa is peaceful where you can enjoy the serene beaches and fabulous nature. 

Unforgettable memories
For Shaalin, her solo Goan trip is special in many ways. She had wished to buy a unique scarf that is used to tie on hair. However, she didn’t know where she could get good-quality scarves. During her trip, Shaalin and her friend had gone to a Turkish restaurant to enjoy some delectable Turkish dishes. There, she saw that a Turkish woman had tied a beautiful scarf, just as Shaalin had wished, on her hair. Her friend spoke to that woman in Turkish about the scarf. Shaalin didn’t understand a thing that they spoke. However, to her surprise, the woman gifted her beautiful scarf to Shaalin. The actress says she felt joyous when she got that unexpected gift. She still cherishes that special gift. 

Wonderland
Shaalin is of the opinion that the real soul of places could be enjoyed and experienced with your eyes and cannot be captured on camera. She always prefers seeing and feeling everything rather than clicking a million pictures. “You should see the places in order to experience its real beauty. You will miss the charm if you are busy clicking pictures with your camera or mobile phone. That is something that I am not interested in,” notes the actress. 

Her friends often say that even though Shaalin had travelled quite a lot, there wouldn’t be any evidence as she doesn’t click too many pictures or videos. Sometimes, she too feels that what they say is right. But, she doesn’t regret that there aren’t too many pictures from her trips. “Those journeys and the memories are my greatest strength. The memories of whatever I have seen and experienced are etched in my heart. You may not be able to enjoy the pure joy of travelling only by looking at the photos that you had taken,” says the actress.

Dream destination
Shaalin feels as if the vast world is constantly beckoning her to enjoy its mesmerizing beauty. She now wishes to visit all the countries where she could go with a Schengen visa. With this visa, one could enter at least 26 European countries including Switzerland, Norway and Iceland that are not part of the European Union.