Our forth trip to Goa, and after two years of only managing one week, my shifts fell nicely with Jill's Easter weeks and we could book a fortnight - wonderful!
Booked with Jewel in the Crown flying with Monarch and ending up paying a lot less for two weeks than we had last year for one - so that was good too.
There was a delay at Gatwick due to a technical problem with the plane (turned out that someone had spotted a small dent in the leading edge of one of the wings) so we were three hours late in leaving, however after all the scare stories regarding Monarch aircraft's seating arrangements we were quite impressed with the legroom which was more than adequate. The food was OK too, and although we did miss First Choice's entertainment package (screens in the back seats, and games, etc) this was more than made up for by the £300 pounds each saving we'd made.
Perhaps we are getting used to it, but Diabolical airport holds no fears for us now and, after telling the Rep that we would be making our own way to the hotel, we booked a taxi at the booth and were away. The new ‘by-pass' was open and this seemed to shave a good ten minutes off the journey but, oh! is it bumpy!
We reached our hotel (Beira Mar) at about two in the afternoon and were shown our room. Well, this was easily the worst accommodation we have ever had in Goa and I'm afraid I couldn't recommend it to anyone. If you like the location (which we did) then try the Nizri next door - we had a wander around later in our holidays and were mightily impressed!
Our room at the Beira Mar was towards the back, and very quiet, so we decided to make the best of it and stay put - we had two large rooms, both with efficient ceiling fans, and two balconies. However everything had an air of dilapidation and this ‘theme' continued throughout the hotel. We found that the reception closed between six in the evening through to eight the next morning which meant that we always had that faint worry that we might not have enough money with us one evening, and of course this worry deepened in our extra enforced week with the fear of being told "you've got to pack and get to the airport!" with all our documents locked in the safe!
Had a quick lunch across the road at Salt and Pepper and then hit the beach for a few hours. Our first night was always going to be a toss-up between Mayonna Creek and Jambalaya, but with assistance from this forum (thanks guys!) we discovered that Bluesmania's last Jambalaya appearance of the season was that night so the decision was made for us - just the way I like it! An excellent night ensued with good food and entertainment from Tom and his daughter Emily(?) the highlight of course being Dragon07's special birthday dancing girl - I'm sure everyone there was as bedazzled as we were!
Monday morning, and after toast, jam, and coffee (The Beira Mar breakfast), we set off for the beach and one of this seasons recommended shacks the 'Big Banana'. Not bad, but although I like children, I couldn't eat a whole one and we were soon invaded by two families of the little blighters, c'mon people, haven't you heard of Butlins?
The evening was spent at Rising Waves and the fish barby. We shared a Lobster and had a Tiger Prawn each - expensive but very nice, and I even plucked up the courage to Karaoke a couple of Dire Straits numbers earning a verbal pat on the back from Tom - praise indeed!
Tuesday was again spent on the beach although I've forgotten the name of the shack (set back a bit, and about four or five shacks creekside of Bottle Bay) Food excellent and entertainment provided by a fellow tourist pulling catfish out of the sea like there was no tomorrow. Somebody recommended Domingo's off Tito's Lane for dinner and as it was already on my HT compiled list of reasturants we decided to go for it. Very quite with just a few diners there - A rare (in both meanings) steak for me, and Jill went for Chicken Tikka Masala. My steak was tender and succulent but Jill's CTM was far too hot for her and she ended up eating my chips.
Wednesday we walked from the hotel around to Cliff's Shack, which for those who don't know is across Baga creek and around the headland, and spent a very quiet day being the only two there. Very limited menu unsurprisingly, but we both found something that appealed and the food was good. Our evening was pre-planned with a visit to the Carvery for the HT meet, however first we had to drop off a birthday card to an address in Calangute on behalf of a work colleague and this proved a little hard to find ensuring that we arrived at the carvery more than a tiny bit frayed around the edges! We were both a little disappointed to discover that there was actually no carvery on a Wednesday night but this was more than made up for by the company, and we met Chilly and Mike for the first time, and also Richard & Ann, discovering in the process that meagain isn't a poncy way of spelling Megan. Also the very lovely Manx-minx and her ‘younger brother' (or was it Minx-manx, Chilly?) and of course Dragon senior and junior, and Barbie I think?
Another great evening.
On Thursday we decided to walk along the beach from Baga as far as the River Princess, a distance of about four miles. Jill gets regular exercise but Mr Lazy struggled a bit towards the end and was very thankful for that first Kingfisher of the day at Stringfellows. Not to many sellers up this end and we had a quite day before getting a taxi back. The evening was taken care of by a longish walk up the Baga creek to the Mexican restaurant ‘Poco Loco' to see Bluesmania again. I confess I wasn't sure that seeing the same performer twice in such a short space of time was such a good idea, but my fears proved groundless as Tom produced a much Rockier, Bluesier performance to a small audience of about five couples - the highlight for me being a duet with Ann (and a cat) re-creating the very tricky Joe Cocker version of ‘Help from my Friends'. I have a video clip of this which I will upload to You Tube if I can get Ann's permission (As for the cat, I'll see it in court if necessary)
We'd already been warned by Richard and Ann, and sure enough Jill's Fajitas were the strangest we've ever come across being all the usual ingredients with two large pieces of steak draped across the top - delicious though!
For Friday we booked the ‘backwaters' trip through ‘Daytrippers' and after being picked up on time, were taken by coach down towards Margao for our river trip. Personally I wasn't expecting to see any Crocodiles but the experienced crew knew exactly where they were and we ending up seeing six of them at close quarters plus various Eagles, Kingfishers, and other winged things of unknown origin. Along with an ample lunch at a spice plantation, this was a very worthwhile trip to do and we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Once again the beach was the lure for Saturday, and after walking Creekwards down Baga Road for about five minutes we struck seawards through squealing pigs and barking dogs electing to choose the first beach shack we encountered - This proved to be Avvy's Place, named for the owner's little daughter. Bobby the shack boy looked after us very well and we seemed to be less troubled by sellers here.
Saturday night of course is market night, the only question being ‘which one?' Jill's choice was Mackies as we'd already decided to walk it, and a good choice it was too. The entertainment was excellent although I wasn't too sure about the ‘rock-fusion' band - more like 'confusion' to me. We both had Garlic King Prawns with special rice and with Jill on the ‘Breezers and me on the Kingfisher Strong we didn't attempt to walk back"¦
week 2 to follow...
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Edited by
kevin1841
2010-05-05 12:03:48
Makes me want to go back!
have loved both parts so far and eagerly awaiting the sequel 
very good kevin I really like reading your report it makes me want to be there right now cant wait to you add more ..colleen
