Namaste,
We set off for Goa on 09/11/09 for some much needed R & R after the non stop hub-hub of Delhi, The weather was hot, sticky and overcast as we arrived in Colva (the major resort of southern Goa ?), To say it looked grim at first impression is a little bit of a understatement, There are 2 roads littered with small shacks all selling sarongs and trinkets, Half a dozen small ( not at all appealing) road side restaurants and grubby little hotels that look as though they have seen better days. ( We looked at each other with a reassuring " this is incredible India")
As we looked deeper, Our hotel (£13 PN) with air- con & TV was clean, a view from the balcony over the shops of the T-junction is more than acceptable, Our first dinner where the restaurant toilet was in the kitchen served great food ( £1.50 for any curry with rice and naan), and then it rained the wind picked up, local fisher men pulled there boats out of the water and we battened down for the arrival of tropical cyclone Pyan ( we always bring the weather,) After a night of heavy rains, winds and power cuts it had passed, We had only been on the fringe thankfully.
By Thursday its all over, Sun shining bright (33degree's) and its off to the beach. Indian men take to the sea in ill fitting underpants & vests their ladies swim in sari's, we share the beach with cows , Wild dogs, Russians and a sprinkling of Europeans, the holidaying Indians stay by the entrance to the beach, all standing by the waters edge (all seam's very Victorian), the non locals (whites) take to the beach shacks further along that supply beds for free as long as you eat or drink there during the day (Tea 10p, banana pancake 30p), All looks so different now the sun out, The locals are very friendly and colourful (my new name is "hello taxi"), Monday 16/11/10 we took to the sky and went parasailing, once around the bay with fantastic views (another tick off Oonagh's wish list)
Its been lovely weather for the last week, although we still have power cuts every time there's a breeze, Colva grows on you, we have excepted "its India," This area asks very little from you and is very uncomplicated and friendly.
Scrabble 1-1
Namaste the Chaffer's