GoanTimes February 16, 2018 Issue

10 Leisure
Friday, February 16, 2018 | www.goantimes.titosgoa.com | 12 Pages
Goa ushers in Carnival among pomp
and splendour
Tips for Planning the
Perfect Road Trip
Planes and trains might get you where you want to go, but there’s
just something romantic and alluring behind the idea of a road trip.
Summer is the season for spontaneous getaways, so there’s no better
time to hit the road than right now. Whether you’re planning a quick
weekend escape or a romantic road trip these ten tried-and-true tips
will make your road trip that much better:
Panaji, Feb 10 (IANS) Goa, a former
Portuguese colony ushered in the
Carnival on Saturday, with traditional
float parades led by the caricaturish
icon, King Momo, to packed audiences.
Thousands of revelers dressed in
visibly loud costumes, funny hats
or dyed wigs, thronged the streets of
Panaji as the Carnival parade moved
merrily along the Marine drive near
Miramar beach here."Carnival is one of
the flagship tourism events of Goa. It is
a symbol of our culture and tradition,"
Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar
told reporters on the sidelines of the
festivities.Carnival processions are
symbolic of Goa's colonial Portuguese
legacy and are held here every year
before the holy season of Lent, which
is marked by fasting and an air of
solemnity.The festival, which involves
a public celebration in form of long
continuous parades of gaily coloured
floats, with masqueraded dancers,
is led by King Momo or king of the
carnival, who is a locally chosen
celebrity, who is given a key to the
city.After the inaugural parade in
Panaji, similar float parades will also
be held in other cities namely Margao,
Vasco, Ponda, Morjim and Curchorem.
[thequint.com]
1. Start early
It goes without saying that you will
make the most headway when the least
amount of cars are on the road. But
besides being efficient, beginning your
trip at the crack of dawn or after the sun
sets can be exciting. There’s something
thrilling about exploring the world
when everyone else is still asleep. Just
make sure you’re plenty alert and got
enough sleep the night before.
2. Fill her up
don’t wait until the day you’re hitting
the road to fill up your tank. Plan ahead
and hit the pump midweek instead. And
while you’re at it, have a professional do
a little maintenance check to make sure
your ride is vacation-ready.
3. Pack lots of snacks and drinks
packing snacks is the best way to
maintain your body when there’s
nothing but fast food for miles. Fill
a cooler with some healthy snacks
and drinks that will keep you full and
happy and if your car snacks just aren’t
cutting it, find a grocery store to restock
rather than giving into the nearest
drive-thru. Supermarkets offer plenty of
quick and healthy alternatives.
4. Make a Mix
since you’ll be stuck in the car for a long
time, it’s important to keep yourself and
your passengers entertained. Make a
playlist of upbeat driving songs to help
pass the time. And since it’s practically
guaranteed that you’ll never see the
people driving in the cars next to you
again, now’s the time to sing at the top
of your lungs with your windows rolled
down. Try playing a few car games,
getting time to fill up on all the gossip if
you haven’t see your friends in a while.
5. Plan for spontaneous stops
Road trips are as much about the
excursion as they are about the
destination. Be sure to allow enough
time for stopping at that cute little
roadside diner or kitschy tourist
attraction. Take the scenic route and
embrace unexpected detours. Stop every
couple of hours to soak it all in or take
pictures of the view.
6. Stretch
We’ve already shared the importance of
walking the block when you’re sitting at
a desk all day, and the same philosophy
goes for road trips too. Park as far as
possible from rest stops to make sure
you’re getting in those extra steps.
7. Don’t forget your Sunnies and
SPF
If you are road tripping in the Summer,
keep in mind that it is possible to get
sunburnt through the car windows.
Prevent an embarrassing sunburn on
one side of your body by slathering on
the SPF.
8. Try a Traffic App
Nothing’s more tedious spending 2
hours driving first 10 miles, to avoid
getting stuck in a jam when you’re
leaving or entering the city, download
a traffic and navigation app. It will save
you time and gas money.
9. Invite your friends
Unlike a plane flight where every
passenger needs their own ticket, the
cost of your road trip will be cut down
dramatically by every passenger who
joins you. So pack your car with four of
your besties and enjoy the time spent
together. You can all take turns driving,
playing games and catch up everything
new in your lives.
10. Mind the rules
This one goes without saying, but just
because you’re on the open road doesn’t
mean that traffic rules don’t apply. One
speeding ticket can destroy your road
trip budget and your mood. Drive safely!
Do you have any other tips for
taking a road trip?
[Faye]