Olaulim Backyards

Olaulim Backyards is a creation of dreams. Much traveled, the hosts set about building the beautiful home by the Olaulim River, careful to keep away from the tempting beaches and its ever-increasing tourists. Conceived as a typical Goan casa, they have carefully melded together the resident foliage and sprawling house, creating an ambiance that showcases an ongoing conversation between them. A perfect instance of the outside meeting the inside.

While at the homestay, you can experience the other side of Goa, being away from the hustle and bustle of the coastal touristic belt, but at the same time, not too far from the beaches, just a half an hour drive and you reach the famous Baga and Calangute beaches. Olaulim, which is a part of Pomburpa village, is surrounded by fields, rivers, and tiny hillocks.

You will find that the life there is sheer poetry, almost Hemingway-esque, urging you to take a chance to connect with the silence of the backyard. Appreciate the indulgent dare of this little piece of heaven.

The guest accommodation consists of three cottages, unique in size and décor, situated in different levels of the foliage in the backyard. They are very rustic, choosing to make best of locally available elements like bamboo, local stone , coconut wood and palm leaves.

The cottages are all air-cooled, the windows are large thus capturing the through breeze, and enabling you to sleep and reside completely in harmony with nature. The bathrooms are tropical style, roof partly open to invite sunlight and offering a vista painted by the Goan sky and towering trees. All the rooms have a safe and a tea/coffee maker.

Cottage types
Sun Bird
Large enough for a family of three, this cottage is built by the edge of the paddy field, the same level as the swimming pool. It boasts a four poster bed, antique furniture and a total wow factor added by the sit-out in front, overlooking the paddies and the river.

Horn Bill
Comfortable and roomy enough for a family with two children. It is built partly in the rock on the slope and has a king-size double bed and a loft in the rock for children to sleep on . To add to the pleasures of the sit-out, there is an expansive balcony opening out to a panoramic view of the coconut grove.

Golden Oriole
Smaller in size and perfect for a couple. Honeymoons, romantic weekends, you name it. The large windows overlook the swimming pool and the lake. There is an outdoor staircase down to the toilet below. It is situated on the highest level and the walk up from the pool to the cottage will surely keep you fit.

Food gains a very epicurean meaning when you have a setting like Olaulim Backyards. It recreates the beauty of cooking with original ingredients and the philosophy is to create maximum with the minimum. Thus you will find sheer poetry in your every meal, served by the poolside, sourced from fresh seafood and locally grown vegetables which is then cooked on a traditional wood-fire. Though the cuisine is predominantly Goan with its fascinating siesta-inducing flavors, they could re-jig a bit, here and there, to accommodate your requests for your favorite dishes. Alcohol and soft-drinks - just let them know and they will do their best to get it for you.

Fruits
Goa is a haven for tropical fruits. In the backyard they grow papaya, banana, chickoo, pomegranate, lime, pomelo, custardapple and cashew. And not to forget the delicious goan mango in the months of April and May, when also freshly roasted cashewnuts, which have a flavour apart, add to the culinary experience. It goes without saying that throughout the year, most of the fruits served at the breakfast will be garden fresh.

During the stay at Olaulim Backyards, for those who want more than just plain pastimes of reading or the lure of an afternoon siesta, there are few outdoor activities that might take the edge off the leisure quotient.

Canoeing/Kayaking
The manos, the water body in front of the property, offers a splendid chance to try out the in-house inventory of canoes/kayaks and a rowing boat and their use is not just limited to those with experience. For the relatively more adventurous, the water body leads on to the Mandovi river and you have the opportunity to visit the famous Chorao Bird Sanctuary enroute or the neighbouring village of Aldona. The interesting aspect of these backwaters is their resident bird species and mangrove forest.

Cycling
The winding roads in the neighbourhood, leading to the village and beyond, are considerably quiet due to negligible traffic and very conducive to exploratory cycling. Not only do you get a dose of aerobic exercise, it's also a wonderful opportunity to watch life go by in a typical Goan village.

Fishing
The local river fish is definitely worth writing home about, in terms of taste. They could arrange a chance to fish with the local enthusiasts, using either a line or fishing net. Don't forget to bring in your catch so that they can prepare it for you a'la Goan style.

Bird Watching
Have a pair of binoculars and you could turn birdwatcher considering the sheer number of avian species that flock the area. You name it - Golden Oreiole, Lapwing, Drongo, several species of Sunbird, Kingfisher and the amazing Hornbill. The water birds that visit the water body up front include Cormorants, Egrets, Ducks and Storks.

Nature Walk
You can walk along the interesting small roads around the village and see the beautiful houses enroute or you can venture out to the nature around on narrow paths. There's a big hill close by from where you get a beautiful view and, especially during the monsoon, see flocks of peacocks dancing.

Children Play Area
There is an adventure area for children, with a tree house accessed with a rope ladder, plenty of rocks to climb, swings, and a climbing frame. In this area, children should be supervised by their parents.

Scuba Discovery
Exciting shipwrecks, exotic, colourful marine life and pretty coral bays, invite you  to climb aboard for a fun filled morning of Discover Scuba Diving and Snorkeling in the sparkling, warm waters of the Arabian sea. Explore the world of Scuba with Barracuda Diving India, Goa's premier PADI 5 Star Dive Centre.

Pottery
Sylvia Kerkar is a studio potter who lives and works in Nachinola, a neighbouring village of Olaulim. Her work is distinctively rustic; the effects of which are determined by her high-temperature wood - fired kiln. Sylvia is open to visitors at her studio with a prior appointment and also conducts classes and workshops at home and at other venues in Goa.

Flea Market Trip
To Anjuna , also called Hippie Market on Wednesday (during the winter season). Nice place to check out trinkets, clothes, footwear, electronics, tattoos and possibly, other like minded tourists getting a hang of it there.

Step back in Time
An ideal tour for those who want to have an insight into traditional Goa. A interesting day out along an innovative track, deep down Goa's hinterland through remote villages. Coming up for close examination are traditional Goan life-styles and, most of all, what life really means to a Goan.

Old Goa, Temples and Spice Plantation
A fascinating tour to see the grandeur of Portuguese architecture, contemporary Goan style Hindu temples and, an opportunity to see how spices are grown in a plantation along with lunch served the traditional way.