The Night Market

Earlier in the day, I ordered fish with rice, thinking that being by the sea would guarantee fresh seafood. It didn’t. Lesson learned: proximity to the ocean does not automatically equal freshness.

But the real highlight of the day came in the evening.

On Saturday night, a large night market took place near Anjuna — and it turned out to be far more vibrant than the daytime flea market. As darkness fell, the area filled with lights, music, food stalls, and an eclectic mix of travelers and locals.

The atmosphere was lively but relaxed. Stalls sold everything from handmade jewelry and clothes to musical instruments and street food. Interestingly, many of the vendors were foreigners who had settled in Goa long-term. One German guy was selling jaw harps, enthusiastically demonstrating how to play them.

Kingfisher — the iconic Indian beer, named after the “kingfisher” bird — was everywhere. It seemed to be the default drink of the night.

Scattered throughout the market were live performances and musicians, adding to the festival-like feel. It wasn’t just shopping — it was an experience.

At some point, I ended up chatting with two Indian girls: Anna, a third-year economics student, and Gannis, who studied anthropology. Conversations drifted easily — studies, life plans, cultural differences. The night market, in that sense, became more than just a place of commerce. It was a meeting point of worlds.