There are certain unavoidables about holidaying in Goa. These include fighting off persistant beach sellers etc, the chance of being ill, the lottery of whether you get a nice room even if you know the hotel from before, the airport being a bit of a pain in the neck especially on the way out etc etc. There always seems to be a dodgy meal somewhere along the line, and that nice ornament or saree that you bought starts to look stupid once you get it home. Some of us have charity shops locally asking about when we are away next, hoping for another box of dodgy knicknacks.
Then there are the people you meet. This problem does not confine itself to Goa, of course. The British can be stunningly sensitive about this, hence the overwhelming feeling that there is something antisocial about the Russians. Get used to it as I have been to Morrocco, Thailand, Canaries, and India in the last twelve months and they were swarming over all of them. To balance this out, good friendships with fellow travellers you meet in hotel or beach shack can often end up making a holiday.
With regard to the beach, although you have no control as to who might plonk themselves down next to you, there is at least a sort of dance that everybody goes through when selecting their sunbeds first thing in the morning.
I have worked out a few golden rules, and things to avoid.
1. As everywhere, avoid groups of young British males, and also anybody who takes their own music player.
2. Groups of young Indians from Mumbai can also be a pain, with the boys preening around their girlfriends.
3. Be wary of the persistent talkers, never letting you get settled with your book, and often anxious to let you know they know far more about Goa than you do.
4. Obviously, babies and toddlers who cry all the time need to be at least 100 yards away, possibly even back in Europe.
5. Any couple who steadily drink throughout the day, slowly getting louder and more obnoxious.
6. Dont get too friendly too soon with the beach sellers. If you do then they will take it upon themselves to plonk themselves down next to you at every opportunity, have Hindi conversations with each other at the foot of your sunbed, and even thrust bundles of stuff at you and run off when the police come along.
7. If you order and get a really really cold beer in a nice clean glass, then a fly will land in it.
8. If you are still clueless about the potential that a couple or group has to ruin your day, then it is often helpful to look at the language of the books and mags they are reading.
9. There is always another beach hut.