Goa is a beach lover's heaven. But I realized something else as well about Goa after having being there twice in last few years - that it is equally a shopaholic's heaven. Before being here I truly wondered what speciality this destination can have to offer in terms of shopping especially for people like me who come from not very far but the neighboring state of Karnataka. The truth is, there was nothing "new" item on offer for me, but there was a whole "new" and fresh shopping experience on offer that I thoroughly enjoyed.
In terms of type of shopping experience - it has everything to offer from malls and branded shops to the beach side markets and the weekly flea markets. I fell in love with Arpora flea market when I got a chance to visit here this time. There are other flea markets as well as lots of beach side shops flocking the road sides leading to beaches and right on the beaches as well, where you get good deals in dirt cheap prices with a little bargaining skill. We bought a pair of slippers for my 2 years old toddler from one of the street side shops and she loved it so much that she is still not letting it go, after having outgrown it! My friend bought some silver jewelry and I bought a backpack cum handbag at half the initial price. In many of these cases, we could easily figure out if we were landing into a good deal post bargain since I had seen the cost of similar items online and also in shops in Bangalore. Overall, not just the deals, but rather the whole atmosphere, the small stalls under open sky, music and live performances going on in the vicinity, food stalls lined up with delicious street food to charge you up when you start getting tired of shopping - come together to add to the overall shopping experience that is difficult to find elsewhere.
Friday market at mapusa is yet another market to head for. This market also offers fruits and vegetables in addition to the items found at other flea markets, and the prices of the products are quiet reasonable.
The flea markets are also flocked by fortune tellers and tattoo artists.
Items that you can purchase in road side markets and flea markets:
- Tibetean and kashmiri shawls, stoles and woolens
- Bags - handbags, wallets , backpacks
- Spices of all sorts
- Cashews - fried, roasted, salted, plain - in different varieties
- Handicrafts from different parts of India
- Home decor items - idols, miniatures, statues - in clay and bronze
- Fashion jewelry and silver jewelry
- Beach wear
- T-shirts, shorts, pyjamas
- Bed covers and musical instruments
- Hats
- CDs with Goan trance
- Skirts and traditional indian wear
- Wall hangings made of bamboo, wood, metal, clay, silver
- Leather goods
.......... and the list goes own
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