| |
|
iaintwoeyes
|
19-04-2008 10:02 PM
|
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2246
My Profile
| Goa March/April 2008
Landing in Goa at 7am after an overnight flight from Manchester wasn't the ideal start for a holiday. But shortly after clearing immigration and evading the luggage boys at the airport, we were on our way to the Marinha Dourada Hotel. The first things that hit me were the smells, woodsmoke and incense. But nothing quite prepared me for the bloke taking his elephant for an early morning stroll along the main road! After checking in we took the long walk around to room 259 at the far end of the second annexe. The room was simple but clean. We even had a bottle of Indian wine welcoming us back! (It was our first time)
We'd missed breakfast but I was desperate for a caffeine hit and so bought some breakfast. This is were we realised that lots of the Goan people are called Michael, Chris, Mark, Anthony and other Saints names as many of them are Catholics.
We went down to Baga beach for our first dip into the warm waters of the Arabian Sea. It wasn't warm, it was hot!! When we were on Baga Beach, we spent most of our time at the Oceanic Shack. The lads were brilliant and really looked after us. Maybe because I had a good looking 16-year old girl with me helped (my daughter)...hehe!
We visited other beaches, Coco, Ashvem and Mandrem. Our favourite was Little Ashvem, so quiet and no beach peddlers.
We went to the Spice Plantation for a day and got to see our first monkeys. The plantation was nothing like i was expecting. It was a brief walk around a garden with lots of spice plants. Don't get me wrong, it was very interesting but it wasn't a plantation.
The food IN Goa is something else. We dined at a top restaurant and had 2/3 drinks, starter, main course (fillet steak) and a sweet plus Irish coffee to finish and it came to less than £10 per person. At the shacks on the beach, we started the day by having breakfast there, lunch and drinks all day. Drinks included beer, milkshakes, 2/3 bottles of water, coffee, lime sodas. All this would come to less that £10 for the day for the two of us!!!
Before I went I was slightly worried about the holiday as the Scarlett Keeling murder had recently happened. I never once felt threatened or in any danger whilst in Goa. The main impact of the case is that the beach shacks all had to close at 11pm. With the exception that 1 in 10 could have a late license until midnight. However as the hotel bar was open until 2am, it wasn't a problem for me. But I did hear others complaining.
Tito's road in Baga is where all the action takes place late at night. I went clubbing to Mambo's till 5am one night. Best night I've had in years!
Taxis are the best way to get around. They usually have a fixed price for journeys between the MD and wherever. But if you're going to a beach for the day then haggle with the driver. We usually spent about 750 rps for a day trip to one of the beaches. The taxi stays with you for the day. The driver gets his lunch and water provided by the shack that he takes you to. We did take Tuk Tuk taxis once or twice and that is an experience not to be missed!
If I had to summarise Goa, it would be the happy smiling faces of the Goans, the smell of woodsmoke and the food.
I am looking to book again next year as I enjoyed that much.....I've got the Goan bug!!
If your interested then all my photos are at......
www.pbase.com/iaintwoeyes/goa_2008
|
My Latest Review: Jun 2008 Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield (7/10)
|
|
