Day 9 (Saturday 15th Dec 07)

After sleeping with clothes and light on with a pretty sleepless night in Mumbai woke up to the same noisy chaos we could here all night. Decided it wasn't for us, had a cold shower, checked out and got a taxi back to the airport to see when we could get on the next flight to Goa. Luckily they changed our already booked flight to the next available one. Better flight down to Goa with Jet Airways and we were sat next to an interesting Belgium guy working for Oxfam in India. Walking off the plane the 33 degree heat hit us. Booked our accommodation through Tourist Information and went outside to try and find the taxis. As soon as we walked outside everyone crowded round us and was trying to take our bags trying to get some money and go off in different directions. Managed to make ourselves understood and got a taxi. Em feeling a bit unsafe with the whole situation and both of us still very overwhelmed. After searching for a while finally got to Amigo Plaza as the taxi driver didn't know where he was going. Room was very nice but noisy, decided to stay in the room for the rest of the afternoon, chill out and get a good night sleep. Massive arguement going on outside the hotel and cats fighting all night.

Day 10 (Sunday 16th Dec 07)

Got up and made sure we were covered up and decided we would have to venture outside to find some food as we had not eaten anything since lunch the previous day on the plane. Thought we would stick to the Lonely Planet guide on where to eat as still feeling vunerable and went to Dominick's Beach Shack. Had some good prawns in a garlic butter sauce and went for a walk along the beach to see what was going on. Little kids coming up to us begging and women trying to sell us things all along the beach. Couldn't stand the heat any longer as we had walked quite a way so sat down in another beach shack for a few drinks. Ended up staying there the rest of the afternoon and had some vegeterian food before heading back along to Colva, where we were staying, before the sunset. Had a nice swim at the hotel.

Day 11 (Monday 17th Dec 07)

Decided we would like to venture down and check out Cavelossium as that is were we are staying for Christmas. Walking down to the beach in Colva to find a taxi we came across 2 guys wanting to take us to the Haati Maahl, as part of a promotional thing, which is were we wanted to go anyway. So took the free taxi ride down there to have a look. Won 2 prizes - a river cruise and 7 nights in a hotel which we can hopefully use in Thailand. Had a look around and then asked the same taxi guy to take us down to Palolem. Hadn't realised at all how far away it was. Saw some pretty amazing scenery. Got talking to the taxi driver, Manuel Rodrigues, and made a new friend. When we got there realised what he meant about it being so touristy. Arranged to meet him later and went for a walk along the beach to find some food. Lots of people trying to sell different things all along. Two weird guys stopped us and tried to stick something in Mark's ear, looked like a metal rod. Didn't understand what they were trying to do and Em thought they were trying to pierce Mark's ear so got a bit panicked! Realised they were trying to scam us into thinking there was something in Mark's ear cos they wanted us to pay them to clean it. Managed to fend them off and carried on along the beach. Got to the end of the beach and found a shack up on the rocks to eat. After something to eat and a beer headed back to meet Manuel. Took a different route back and saw some more amazing scenery. Went for something to eat at Dominick's once we were back, watched the sunset and went back to the hotel.

Day 12 (Tuesday 18th Dec 07)

Had a lazy day by the pool sunbathing and swimming. Went out to Sea Pearl hotel to get something to eat around lunchtime. Then back by the pool for sunbathing and swimming. Late afternoon wandered down to the internet cafe. Once we were finished there stopped at Tate's to have some food, a few beers and play some cards. On the way back bought a couple of CD's from one stall and from the other a couple of CD's, toe ring, anklet and wallet. The 2 guys had seen us every day and were always trying to get us into there stalls!

Day 13 (Wednesday 19th Dec 07)

Had some breakfast at the hotel and then as it was cloudy sat out on the balcony and played some cards. After the clouds had passed went out by the pool for another lazy day of sunbathing and swimming. Walked down to the beach around sunset time for something to eat at Dominick's. Very good meal. Walked back to the hotel. All you hear over here when you walk anywhere is people from their stalls shouting "I give you could price" and from people on the streets saying "Taxi? maybe tomorrow?" We also arranged with Manuel to hire him from the next day.

Day 14 (Thursday 20th Dec 07)

Got up and went for some breakfast at Sea Pearl Hotel and then back to the hotel to meet Manuel. We first went up to Old Goa to see 2 of the big old churches and a museum. We probably didn't plan the timing very well as it was now the heat of the day and was a bit of a struggle especially with people coming up to you every 2 seconds trying to sell you different things. Was interesting to see the old buildings and got some good pictures. Met back up with Manuel and he took us onto Panjim. He took us to a nice place to have some lunch called the Delhi Daboor where they give you a rose after like in Da Nellos. Had a walk around to see what was going on and bought a couple of souvenirs. Manuel then took us to this amazing viewpoint. Got some good pictures from the top. Paid to use the toilets which it said goes towards to up keep of the toliets but think it just went to their pockets judging by the state of them! We then went on the where we were going to take our river cruise from. Wasn't exactly what we thought it would be but was still good. Started with our boat and the nextdoor boat having a sound-off with the music. Some very nice scenery but more of a dancing cruise than to see the sights. Had our only rain so far so most people went under cover downstairs. Manuel took us back to Colva and stopped at Tate's for something to eat before heading back to the hotel.

Day 15 (Friday 21st Dec 07)

Got up late and went for Lunch at Sea Pearl. This is becoming our local lunch time gastro hang out. Funnily enough lazed by the pool again sunbathing and swimming. Hard work all this chilling out! Decided had enough of the sun so went out to a new shack that started up further along the beach called Lukes Place. We had a mixed seafood grill which wasn't very nice at all. Also a powercut while we were there. It really didn't agree with Mark. Not somewhere we will be going back to!! Two guys walking a fighting water buffalo along the beach about 20 metres from where we were sat!

Day 16 (Saturday 22nd Dec 07)

Lazed by the pool again. Went to Tate's for Lunch and then went back by the pool. Tried to teach one of the hotel staff how to play UNO. It was quite difficult as he only spoke Hindi and not a word of English. Went to the internet cafe to upload some more photos. Dissapointed Skype didn't work after spending ages trying to get it to work. Met up with Ravi who is one of the stall owners along the road from our hotel. Very nice guy. Went for something to eat which was cool. We learnt a lot about the culture over here. Interesting to hear about how the only thing that matters to him is that his parents are happy. Instead of choosing his own wife he turned her down as his parents wanted him to marry this other women. Ravi certainly likes his beer as he kept ordering it all night. We paid for the meal which wasn't much to us but meant a lot to him. Got back to the hotel and found the guy waiting for us. He then went to sleep on the sofa in the reception. Doesn't look very comfortable. Apparently he sleeps there every night, very sad.