The concept of having a small home overlooking the sea in Goa is a dream of many. I was lucky to find a site that could accommodate a few houses on a hillside close to the sea. The plan of these houses is simple and based on an army barrack design that had a set of rooms alongside with a verandah in front and the services at the back. The flat roof was deliberate as it offered the possibility of sleeping under the stars. From the top house, watching the onset of the monsoon is particularly magical, especially as the black clouds advance with their inherent fury.

Goa provides the appeal of a rural existence, yet has most of the comforts of a city close by. Clean air and a variety of birdlife including the occasional peacock, makes the place enjoyable.