We met our friend, Mehdi in Palolem, Goa. He found some amazing beach huts made from MDF, rope and tarpooling, surrounded by palm trees and 1 minuite walk from the beach - bliss! We went for a swim in the sea as the sun was setting and at this point we decided we were going to like Palolem :) The sea wa so warm it was like being in the bath so not very refreshing! Everyday at around 11 am the beach was bombarded with Indian women selling 'silver' jewellery and shawls, which we both eventually gave in to - if just to avoid being hassled whilst trying to read! We also had some henna - our names in Hindi...so we got confused when a non hindi speaking man called us Huss and Saba!!

The south of Goa is much more quiet than the north so it was a nice relaxing holiday from a holiday of crazy Indian life! The bars and restaurnts are set along the beach front and are built from scratch every year after the monsoon season. Our favourite bar was Cuba were we made friends with all the staff and an Engligh couple - Nicola and Marios who we played cards with in the evening. The food here was amazing - especially the milkshakes :)

We went shopping for some essentials including sun cream for Sarah. Bananna Boat factor 30 seemed like a safe option....perhaps next time we will check that the tube is sealed as Sarah turned into a Lobster! We must have bought moisturiser! We planned to see more of Goa but the hours turned into days and we did not end up leaving Palolem Beach...on our last day we realised that we had not even walked to the far end of the beach!

Holi Festival (celebrations of India coming into Spring) started on the full moon so there were lots of parties going on and people throw powdered paint at eah other. It was a good thing we were by the sea so we could clean - the paint stains skin and hair so badly and ruined so many blonde locks! In the evening, we met some English LADS from near to where Sarah lives - small world! We went to a headphone party on the beach and stayed up till sunrise - it was so much fun :)

We tried to catch some waves but the sea was insane and the current was so strong - Sarah almost got knocked out and had water coming out of her nose for 2 hours afterwards! Surfing lessons needed! That was the most exercise we did all week - topped of with Baskin Robbins ice cream - not sure how we will cope with Everest!

We miss the beach and could certainly live there for months on end...we loved Goa!