I’ve only been to Goa twice, both times for work. Like many, I had internalised the familiar narrative about North Goa: parties, packed beaches, pulsing nightlife. Peace, I assumed, was something you travelled south for. That assumption was swiftly turned on its head the moment I stepped through the quiet gates of Baale Resort in the sleepy neighbourhood of Arpora.
Tucked away in a lush, residential pocket of North Goa, Baale feels worlds away from the usual clamour. The air is thick with frangipani and calm, and everyone moves at an unhurried, almost meditative pace. It didn’t feel like I’d arrived at a hotel. It felt like I’d been invited to someone’s very beautiful home.