01 September 2026

Karhandla Farm and Resort.

 Karhandla Farm and Resort.

As you proceed from the car park to the Reception Office, you are greeted by a flock of 3-4 turkeys and a gaggle of Geese. A little further on, lots of ducks. An entertaining and amusing sight. A medium-sized pond explains the presence of these aquatic birds.
Checking in was normal. A two-sided open Verandah serves as a lobby. Antique-looking heavy teak furniture, which I was told was procured from Rajasthan.
Rooms were very spacious and very well furnished, again with some of the furniture which was old and antique in looks. The usual electric kettle and sachets of tea, coffee, milk and sugar were provided. More about it later. The bathroom was also spacious. However, the stay exposed insufficient care in maintenance. The flexible head of the shower was leaking badly, affecting the spray. In another room occupied by one of our group, water from the air conditioner had leaked and formed puddles on the floor, making it slippery. Could have caused an accident and injuries to the occupants.
I am an early riser and love my morning coffee/ tea. Milk sachets were totally insufficient and had finished. There was no response on the phone. I had to go and wake up a person from housekeeping, who informed me that milk sachets had finished and were not available. He promised that he would bring milk, as milk sachets were not available. Even after more than half an hour, there was no sign of milk. This time, when I went to enquire, I was told that the kitchen staff were sleeping and he had no access to the milk. For a resort charging Rs 8500/night, running out of various sachets and such poor service is pathetic and unacceptable.
Of the meals we had there, generally the food was satisfactory. At least on two occasions, there was excessive salt in two different dishes. Again indicative of poor supervision and/or careless attitude. 
Arrangements made for our evening get-together were nice. Except that the management should have considered before laying out the charpoys that, at our age, sitting cross-legged or without back support is avoided by all of us. So, the charpoys were replaced by chairs.  
There were 12 of us and about a similar number of items in the breakfast menu. People got an omelette but not the toast or bread. They got the cornflakes but not the milk or sugar. Puri but not the subjee; I could go on and on. There was total chaos.
The staff did apologise, but apologies are no substitute for poor service and not providing satisfaction to the customers even after charging a hefty amount.
Nice property. A disappointing stay. 
As you proceed from the car park to the Reception Office, you are greeted by a flock of 3-4 turkeys and a gaggle of Geese. A little further on, lots of ducks. An entertaining and amusing sight. A medium-sized pond explains the presence of these aquatic birds.

As you proceed from the car park to the Reception Office, you are greeted by a flock of 3-4 turkeys and a gaggle of Geese. A little further on, lots of ducks. An entertaining and amusing sight. A medium-sized pond explains the presence of these aquatic birds.

Reception.


The Lobby.
Furnished with antique-looking heavy teak furniture, which I was told was procured from Rajasthan.

The reception.

Bed. Again, heavy teak wood and antique looks.

The furniture in the well-furnished room. room.

Almirah with a weathered look, a mini fridge, and tea/coffee materials. 

The bed. Nice and comfortable.

The rooms. First-floor rooms are called machans. 

Room no 5 & 6.

Gaggle og Geese and the ducks.

General view of the property.

Chandeliers of Deer look like antlers; these were made of wood. Looked almost real. 

Dining hall.

The dinner. One of the dishes had excess salt. Sheer carelessness.

Decor. The dining hall.

Decor. The dining hall.

The lunch.

Arrangements made for our evening get-together were nice. However, charpoys had to be replaced with chairs.

Arrangements made for our evening get-together were nice. However, charpoys had to be replaced with chairs.

The calm and the serenity of morning near the small lake.

Approach road to the rooms through the bamboo tunnel. 

Approach road to the rooms through the bamboo tunnel. 

 Th lobby.

 One of the road signs.

The reception.

At Krhandla Farm and Resort.


At Krhandla Farm and Resort.


22 August 2026

Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro, Panaji, Goa.

 Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro is part of and is located in Fontainhas.

Fontainhas is the oldest Latin Quarter in Panjim, the capital of Goa. It has the unique distinction of being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Zone for preserving 350 years of Portuguese architectural style and traditions. The houses in the narrow street are painted bright shades of blue, yellow, green and red, with red-tiled roofs. As per law, the house structure has to be maintained in its original form, and they have to be repainted after every monsoon to preserve their distinct brightness.

The Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro was established and started as a bakery turning out its bakery products on wood-burning ovens in 1930. Almost matching Fontainhas in its ancestry. Being part of the UNESCO World Heritage Zone, 31 De Janeiro benefits from its fame and increased footfall from a very large number of tourists, taking pride that even today the products and the bakery savouries are still being made on a wood-fired oven for their distinct flavours. At the same time, it suffers from the fact that as a modern-day restaurant it has to operate in a building constructed, most probably as a residence and totally unsuitable to serve as proper accommodation for a restaurant. This becomes most obvious when most of the visitors in a group as small as four are unable to find seats where they can sit as a group. A sort of solution has been found by creating additional seats by placing iron chairs and ‘mario-tile’ weatherproof tables in the lane outside the cafeteria. However, a notice warns the patrons, “ This is a public lane. Please do not move the chairs and tables, resulting in obstruction of the public lane…….”

We visited this place twice, at different times, and both times we could not find a table/place where five of us could sit at one place. If one wants to enjoy the visit to Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro, one must find a time when it is less crowded. Positively avoid weekends, holidays and tourist ‘season’.

The exterior is painted white. This came as a bit of a surprise as I thought that in Fontainhas, white colour was meant only for religious structures, such as churches, chapels, and convents. 

Plenty of artificial roses against the brilliant white of walls present a colourful and pleasant visual.

We tried almost all the popular dishes. For a bakery that has been operating since 1930, for the last seventy-five years plus, the products are average, and not a single item leaves a lasting taste or impression on your palate. In fact, their cold coffee was not room temperature, but definitely was not 'cold'. Pastes de nata must have been "blistered under high heat because it was quite hot, causing discomfort when I got to eat it! 

I feel Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro should be visited as a tourist attraction, which it seems to have become, and not as a visit to a cafe where you go to enjoy Goan sweets & savouries.

At the Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro. Goa.
Weatherproof "Mario Tiles" table, Artful light and plentyful artificial roses.

The offerings at Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro.

The proud legacies since the foundation in 1930.

The proud memories since the foundation in 1930.

Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro best sellers.
 We tried Pasteis de nata, Serradura, Bebinca and Bolo de Laranja.
he proud memories since the foundation in 1930.

Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro. 


Details of another weatherproof "Mario Tiles" table,

Details of another weatherproof "Mario Tiles" table,

D
Part of our order.

At the Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro. Goa.

At the Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro, Goa.
The counter and the display hall.



The menu card, the Confeitaria 31 De Janeiro.

02 August 2026

MOCHA. Cafe and Bar

 

MOCHA. Cafe and Bar.

Went there in the afternoon on “Friendship Day” with, of course, friends- whoelse!
Seating is spread over three distinct areas.
One. Outside the building under a covered roof, Sort of sitting out. 
Two. As soon as you enter. In this area, seating is on tables and chairs; 
The third is in the alcove where the seating is on sofa sets. Here, the table and chairs are quite low. My advice to senior citizens and those with knee problems is to avoid sitting in this area. This area also has engraved circular brass  'gyan' plates put up as decor.
Lighting, temperature control, and the ambiance is uite nice.
I would request the management to do something for the better appearance/ face lift of Suparman and Wonder Woman facilities. At the very least, a touch of paint for the doors!
The idea was to have lunch.
While going through the menu, some starters appeared quite tempting. All of us being senior citizens, we have now reached a stage where either we have starters, or we have lunch. Decided on the starters!
We had one plate of Chilli  Cheese Dragon Cigar; Served in a cigar box. Nice touch. It was crispy, and the taste was nice, but the stringy cabbage spoiled the experience. I just could not bite it off and had to suck in the rest of the cabbage string.
Other starters were also one plate each of Dahi ke Kebab(Sorry no photo), Nataraj Ki Aloo tikki Chat, Crispy Palak Patta Chat, and to round off Chocolate nd Vanila Ice cream. 
The starters were good, crisp and tasty.
We all are light eaters, and these starters were just sufficient for the six of us. Hopefully this may give you some idea of what to order
Also had a King Fisher Premium 330 ml bottle each for myself and my friend. The beer, as well as the beer mug, were nicely chilled. Really enjoyed the cool beer going down.
Good place for another visit.  
MOCHA MOCHA. Cafe and Bar.

MOCHA MOCHA. Cafe and Bar.

Sitting area with sofa sets.

The Bar at Mocha.

Sitting area with sofa sets.

Sitting area with sofa sets.

Superman and Wonder Woman Area.
This photo was not intentional, just happened.

Chilli  Cheese Dragon Cigar;

 Nataraj Ki Aloo tikki Chat, 


Crispy Palak Patta Chat, 

At MOCHA. Cafe and Bar.

A glass of chilled beer was nice.

Couple of Pages from the menu.

Drinks Menu. 

The Gyan Plate- Decor.

The Gyan Plate- Decor.

The Gyan Plate- Decor.