Coming to the end of the first year after being on the road, exploring the world, with a different perspective, meeting new and old friends, seeing new opportunities, evolving Naudic, evolving myself, creating new realities, capturing as much as possible on film and candid roadie photos, being then be able to stop and wrap it all up with my most trusted and dearest friend, Sharyn in Goa, was more than special, it was the perfect way to end the year and chat about learnings, reality and insights.

Time spent with friends is one of life’s greatest privileges and pleasures. Sharyn is my oldest friend, we have spent over 4 decades together. We’ve shared adventures together and have had completely different paths in life, but we’re always connected. She is a hilarious story teller and we spent the funniest, relaxing and reconnecting time together in this magnificent place, Goa. One day I will make a collection based on our time there.

Dona Paula – Goa – November 2018

I had always thought I’d end up somewhere like this, and then Sharyn reminded me of a conversation we had after I had just split from my business partner, she repeated my words “one day I will probably live in Goa” I vaguely remember this, because I knew that my ultimate destination for a good period of time would be something different, a little bohemian with a mix of cultures, plus history and a vibe, a beach chilled vibe, I still need access to my work, with Indian fresh air and the Arabian Sea, I just love the name of this sea.

So to plant ourselves down for one week and just stop, we really had to focus on just stopping and being in the moment, the Goa story goes like this.

23rd November 2018

Time and space to explore a new part of India, we head off, after a late night tired blunder of booking our Goa flights, when we were both exhausted after a long polluted day in Delhi.

The morning we are leaving, sitting over breakfast I ask Sharyn to check in and she looks at her flight and she has booked the wrong date, she was meant to leave yesterday, opps, so off she runs back to the room, and books herself another ticket to Goa, 2 hours before we are leaving. I accidentally booked my return flight to Delhi, on a 1am flight and then had to rebook it, oh well we got there, still super keen of what’s ahead of us.

My beautiful friend Payal had offered for us to stay at her beach house, we had already booked accommodation which we then cancelled, I’m so glad we did, there are nearly no words to describe Payals beach house.

The history is, Payal’s father bought the block of land for Payal’s mother on their 25 wedding anniversary, oh can you imagine. One of his architectural students designed the house and it took years to build, because of the material used. The flooring is from a demolished church and the broken bricks have been laid within the flooring. It has a healing presence, the minute we walked in we felt it.

The conversations that came out when we were there, were amazing, so natural, but so powerful.

We arrived, settle in and go for dinner at the resort just across the road, unaware that we have to be actual guests at the resort, we were in beach heaven, the breeze, the water, the food, the service, it was perfect, thank you very much for having us, see you tomorrow. It was like paradise island.

In the morning we head off and play tourist, the local cab driver sends his best car, we do all the sights, and get quoted a good price, he takes us home, we rest and then head out again into the Saturday night markets, this place is like a raving dance party, there are people tripping out everywhere. We are exhausted, do some buying and then head home, this taxi driver we never see again.

The word spread there are 2 Australian girls floating around Dona Paula, ask them if they want a taxi for the day. Every morning we woke up and said today we won’t get ripped off by the taxi’s but every day something happened. They got us somehow and this turned into a challenge each day, ok who is going to do the negotiations, it’s your turn now Sharyn.

Day two, we decide it’s time to go back to the resort, hang by the pool, drink beers and chill. We were a little bit obvious and the guards spotted us, from all angles, either coming in from the path or up from the beach. Not to be stopped, because the pool looked so much better that the beach, we play “lets looks like we have a unit here” I say I’m going to the gym and Sharyn says I’m going to breakfast. We’re in! She has breakfast, I go to the gym, we get changed into our swimwear and head straight to the pool and lay all day.

Having a marvellous time, I decide to go for a swim and I felt the whole pool area went silent as I walked from my sunbed to the pool in a bikini, I might have well had been naked the looks I got, anyway, I learnt that and decided to wear a full piece from then on. Now I know the protocol.

Anyway, the guards are onto us, each morning that we wanted to use the pool we had a personal plan of attack on how to get in. Soon the novelty wore off and hanging with locals is so much better, see our beautiful photo at Top View Restaurant, our morning chai and sweet bread time. Perfect, fresh from the oven.

Back at the “Beach House” the day they waved good bye must have been a relief, they were so adorable, the wife and the two kids who were so cute. Listening learning watching us, the kids followed us around when we were home and they were so amazing. By the end of the week, they worked out our routine, especially the tonic water and ice for our afternoon G&T’’s on the deck.

By the end of the week we were eating with the locals, we continued to discover new experiences, sweet breakfast bread, chai tea, auryeric oils, new beaches each day, I particularly loved Fontainhas, the quaint streets, the colourful houses, the rundown mansions turned into guest houses, I just really liked it there, the street life in Panaji. We loved Goa, the vibe, the history, the homes, the mix it had everything, the fresh air.

The taxis rides were always hilarious and we made up new stories every day, the Beach House, was incredible, Dona Paula, we just fitted in, and it was lovely to go out every day exploring, but then to come back to the tranquil peace of the Beach House and the secret garden which had the sprinkler going every afternoon, with butterflies hanging around, I moved a small desk out onto the patio and wrote and just loved it. After 7 days we were ready to head back to Delhi, which was all work for me.

This trip was so special, it was also the place where I got to see the first draft of our Round the Globe films, after one year of filming, I hadn’t seen a hint of footage, so that blew me away. This is a once in a lifetime trip for Sharyn and I, filled our hearts and how good it was to do that together in Goa, I won’t forget these days.

Thank you Mr Prem Jain (Payal’s dad) for building this house, who would have thought we would have ever turned up there. Just like Mr Prem who illuminated light, Goa was the same. I look forward to exploring Goa once again from a different angle.