I trust you're all well.

10/01

Today was our first full day - made a trip up to Vagator beach just north of Anjuna. After exploring the coast we quickly scrambled up to a 17thC Portuguese Fort - the name of which escapes me...

On the way back from lunch we were approached by a tubby Indian and his older gentlemen friend, riding shotgun on the back of his moped. He opened by asking why western people are so closed down and ignorant. After convincing him otherwise he offered to get a round in so we could continue chatting. After a couple of drinks, some whisky as an antibiotic for a small but bloody cut and a description of how rich said tubby indian was (his name was Baba - sorry for the late introduction) we were delighted to be invited around for beers and tandoori roast chicken. Yes we sound like girls being chatted up.

Alas the plot was to thicken. The following hours involved sinking many a Tuborg and comparing everything; from our cultures, politics and pissing (indian style of course!). After meeting Baba's cousin, an apparently very weathy jewl merchant who showed us pictures of his recent escapades. Which included the procurement of £300,000 worth of columbian emeralds from an infamous guerrilla leader.

After an impressive evening wining and dining with our new friends, it came. A business propostion. That we should be part of an elaborate and of course totally 'foolproof' plan to scam Indian export authorities and smuggle £80,000 worth of diamond rings into the UK. We politely requested time to reach an answer. The meeting is at 10AM sharp tomorrow.

...muppets.

11/01

The business meeting, which included our polite refusal, was suprisingly quick and painless. Looking back it was great to have had all our beers and diner paid for. One nill.

We made a very quick and spontaneous decision to jump on a bus and go explore Panjim. Great shout.

The bus changed at Mapusa and we got our first taste of Indian organised chaos. Absolutely bonkers! Panjim was ok, not too much there aside from some cracking local cuisine. We adapted our plan and proceeded to old Goa.

The once proud capital of Portuguese Goa is now a peaceful and serene heritage site. Complete with an enormous cathedral and basillica.

It took six different buses to get there and back, for the equivalent of 90p!

13/01

After a relaxing beach day and taste of Goan nightlife (...a bit weird really...and I've been Ibiza) yesterday we traveled by bus to Palolem. It took around 4 hours with 3 changes and was suprisingly efficient (we're getting the hang of public transport - nuts). Was struck by the awesome beauty here in Palolem, its literally incredible. Got new from the University of Nottingham that Tom has been accepted to do a pg in economics - we both now have our first choices for next year's post grad study! Excellent!

...just remembered - huge explosion in Anjuna this morning, must have been a dodgy powerline...nobody even batted an eyelid haha.