Today we were making our long awaiting journey to Goa! We had both been looking forward to getting to a nice beach with a cocktail and beer in each hand for a while. City hopping had definitely been an experience but we were ready for a change!

We got to Jaipur airport early to see if we could exchange our old notes. We were sad to say goodbye to Khan, meeting him was the point at which our trip to a turn for the better. He had really looked after us and we wondered how we were going to cope in India without him. At the money exchange counter, they told us they couldn't exchange the old notes for new which was really frustrating as neither were the banks for tourists. There only solution was that we exchange the old Rupee for dollars then exchange back to the new Rupee. As we were exchanging the money twice, the charge for this would be £15! I was fuming! I couldn't understand how they were getting away with not exchange the old currency for new only for tourists, we had to pay a hefty charge for the pleasure. We refused to pay and decided we would risk it and try a different bank in Goa.

At this point, between us we were down to £4.50 equivalent in money that we could actually use, and also our card. We tried to buy snacks at the airport but they exceeded our amount in cash and they wouldn't take card. We hoped they would on the plane as we were starting to get peckish!

The first flight was to Delhi, everything was going smoothly despite the tourist company spelling both mine and Matt's name wrong on our booking even though they had a photocopy of both our passports. I couldn't believe the airline 'IndiGo' would still let us fly. Usually airlines are really particular about this. We had plenty of time so we chilled in the boarding lounge until we were called to board. We eventually queued up and upon reaching the front of the queue, the ticket man wouldn't let me through to board the plane as my hand luggage hadn't been stamped by security when we went through to our checks! They rushed me all the way back to security to go back through and receive the stamp I should have received the first time round, while the plane full of people waited. I swear nothing here is ever really straight forward and stress free!

With a quick change over time in Delhi, we were back on the plane ready for Goa. By this point, I was beyond hungry and in possibly the worse mood that was getting worse by the minute. Much to my absolute joy, we were the last served for food on the flight. They said they accepted card but after ordering sandwiches, the machine wouldn't accept my card! I put my fingers up to the middle of my forehead and tried my best to stay calm but I could have cried! Luckily we managed to scrape together cash to pay for the food, but that was it, the last of our cash!

We both released a sigh of relief on landing in Goa! We had made it, and luckily nothing had gone wrong. We quickly collected our luggage and made our way to the arrivals area where our transfer to our hotel would be waiting. We saw him straight away which was amazing! Although, he did tell us that he had been told by the tourist company that we would arrive at 16.00 (our flight wasn't scheduled to arrive in Goa until 17.45) so he was 10 minutes off leaving as he thought weren't coming! Thank GOD he didn't! We didn't have any cash to pay another taxi to take us the hour and a half journey!

On arrival at our hotel destination, Palolem Beach, we were dropped off at the RoundCube Guesthouse. It wasn't one of the huts on the beach that I'd imagined but the room was very nice! It was large with a big clean bathroom, a fridge, and a 2 minute walk to the beach. As we were here for 7 nights, this would be perfect! I asked to look at some of their beach huts. The room was nowhere near as nice but when you stepped outside the door, you were instantly on the beach. Matt wasn't keen for beach hut even though they are much more expensive per night, so we compromised and agreed we'd spend our last two nights there!

We went out for dinner in one of the many outdoor restaurants along the beach. I can't even express how happy we were to have made it to Goa! Thankfully, the majority of shops and restaurants in Palolem will accept the old currency until the 24th November! Such a relief for us! We ordered in the cocktails and chinked our glasses to having an amazing, chilled but fun filled week on the beautiful Palolem beach!