Harshvardhan Bhatkuly spends a weekend overlooking the crystal clear sea at The Ark Comforts, Colomb village in Canacona – in search of some quiet
It’s a set straight out of a film – a sleepy village, narrow winding streets, fishermen hauling the catch of the day, a few dogs ambling around. I leave Panjim in search of quiet. And I am told that I can find it in an enchanting cove by the seaside tucked in the village of Colomb, just off the Canacona highway.
The two-hour drive is made bearable by the new over-bridges and link roads. For a weekend, the traffic is not so bad. But then one has to trade off some comforts if one is in search of tranquility.
As I park and walk the narrow path, I come to see a picture perfect ensemble of five wooden cottages (9 suites) that look even better than what the website showed me.
Coloured with rainbow hues (blue, green, yellow maroon and purple), the cottages are named after human emotions (calm, peace, faith, hope, joy, happiness, love, affection and kindness) – and trust you me that once you give in to the charms of the nature that abounds The Ark Comforts, you can catch up with various emotions that have been bottled inside you due to the pressures of work and city life. I overhear a much-in-love couple murmur to themselves “we came here for the sunset, na… thank god that it lived up to what we thought.” My first impression about this little resort was pretty much the same – the reason why we all love #Goa… breath taking view from @arkcomforts. There I pushed the pic that I clicked from the room on my Instagram handle. As expected, the likes and comments reinforced my sentiments.
How often do we experience the crashing waves of the Arabian Sea on our feet? How often do we experience sun rise and sun downers in the comforts of a crystal clear sea clad cove? How often do we live the Goa life? All boxes get ticked at The Ark Comforts.
Add to those boxes that you ticked neat rooms with large beds. Some rooms even have a Jacuzzi fit in them. There is also a nice little restaurant that serves exceptional grills and multi-cuisine. The staff is well-trained and extremely courteous.
I grab the phone and dial Caeser Fernandes, the man who dreamed the resort. Caesar is known all over Goa for the signature wooden homes that abound the beach side of the state, designed and crafted by his company. “We have provided hundreds of wooden cottages that have added to the charm of Goa’s tourism map. However, I was looking for the perfect place to start my own resort. When I landed here, I did not need to think twice to make The Ark Comforts happen.”
The neatly designed cottages were up and running in five months flat and the resort opened in October, last. A stream of Goaphiles has been making a steady beeline since then to partake in this extremely authentic experience of sun and sand.
I took a ride on a motorized dinghy to the ‘monkey island’ on the other side of Palolem. The sea was just warming up and the cruise was smooth. But what would catch anybody’s attention are the hundreds of kayaks rowing in the warm waters. The boatman mentioned that these kayaks are a huge hit with travellers (`400 for an hour, he said) who drop their anchor at Palolem – the adjoining beach to Colomb and also the more popular one.
Besides the in-house multi-cuisine delights, there are loads of charming restaurants serving Goan, Indian and international fare in the vicinity of the resort, to make it more appealing for the traveller.
How does Caesar see The Ark? “This is a great place to unwind. Even better for a small group of friends to come and share their happiness for a special occasion or even to catch up. The pandemic has been harsh on people who enjoyed socializing. The Ark Comforts, with all covid protocols and a small team in place, could help you get over your pandemic blues in the company of loved ones.”
After a weekend of lazing and feasting on sea food, I reluctantly leave the resort and find my way 68 kms north – back to the grind, reflecting on the beauty of Goa that we often take for granted
