Another great instalment keep it coming please.

we were desperate for a ciggy when we got off the train,so dragged our bags around the corner and lit up.we were almost jumped on by a station bobby and told we were breaking the law,200 rupps fine.as soon as we got out of the station we were accosted by about 30 rickshaw/taxi drivers,we told them transport was arranged but they would,nt have it,,so i pretended to get on my mobile to the guesthouse,and miracously they all dissapeared lol.we got 2 prepaid rickshaws and they asured us they knew were the g/h was,40 mins later we were still driving around,stopping every few yards to ask people the way,well at least we saw a bit of jaipur before getting to the accom.
we eventually got there and checked in to snehdeep g/h,quite near the pink city,what a lovely family.we met the husband and wife the young daughter and the elderly grandfather and oh how could i forget k2 the waiter,sure thats not how it,s spelt but it ,s how he pronounced it,he was a great laugh. the rooms were basic but very very clean (we had only paid £4.35 a night).we left our bags in the rooms and k2 showed us to the roof top bar/dining area,where needless to say we had a few beers,we quickly found out that jaipur did indeed have bars lol.while we were having a drink k2 produced a menu,we explained that we would eat later,he said yes this ok but order now,so we did.this pattern continued for the rest of our stay,in the evening it was you order breakfast now please,then in the morning it was you order evening meal now please.we tried to explain that we didn,t know at nine in the morning what we wanted to eat at seven in the night,all he could say was i have to prepare. .that evening we visited the so called city,a bit dissapionting just a huge market really.
next day we went to the old city,so much better with people comming out of their shops to speak to us,the buildings were really old and a bit dilapitated but it only added to the charm,we spent a few hours wandering around and found the only bar in the old city,well it wasn,t a bar really,just a counter and we had to sit on the kerb side to drink our beers,funnily enough we enjoyed it here and had a few more beers an chatted to the locals.then it was back to the g/h,on day 3 we visited the palace of winds,an amazing sight and it was quite funny really becauce the shop owners from across the road to the palace kept asking us did we want to go to their roof top to take pictures,we declined,but we often wonder what they would have charged us we were now nearing the end of our stay in jaipur and tomarrow we were going onto new delhi.

good report valleylady, keep it coming, the train ticket scenario is because if they dont have seats available you get a 'waitlisted' (standby) ticket, not a confirmed seat ticket!! which means you join a list of people waiting for seats, ...they can tell you how many in the queue, and your seat will get confirmed when you reach the top of the queue (if you are lucky and there is a seat) this is usually done by the time they make the lists up,if you look on the side of the train and at the station there is a list with all your names ages and seat numbers displayed for all to see obviously your seats were still waitlisted and unconfirmed hence your problem
chilly

i,m confused.i know i reported on jaipur but cant find it

just found it lol
forgot to mention that when we were in jaipur got phone call from brother.we had left the car outside his house,some low life scum had broken into it,used a crow bar to open door and try to hot wire it,when this failed they used crowbar to damage steering colom also busted the key barrel,so we would just like to wish them a belated very unhappy new year,
thanks chilly for train info,i,m still confused becauce on our journry to delhi we confirmed our seats on arriving at the station and had seats 18 to 21 the 2 window and middle 2,the 2 aisle seats were empty until about 3 stops later,when a large family boarded,the seating area for 6 now occupied 10 with children sitting at our feet and the males of the party sitting on the seating above our heads,we now know what it feels like to be sardines lol.they were a lovely family tho.
we got to delhi when one of them explained that this was old delhi and we had to get another train to new delhi,so we said our goodbyes and got off.there were sign posts for everywhere exept new delhi,so we left the station and got a rickshaw,so glad we did the journey was about 20 mins and was amazing.we saw many sights,from familys living on the pavements to ultra modern buildings the contrast was unbelievable.
we got off at new delhi staion,crossed the road into main bazzer and walked about half way up the street,couldnt find the hotel for love nor money.decided to have a beer and entered jems,a great bar and restuarant,they told us the hotel was down the alley across the road,well we traipsed one end of the alley to the other,eventually asked someone the way,it took him all of 2 mins to take us to the door,we gave him 100 rupps but he held his hand out for more,hotel manager duly chucked him out,rooms were basic but clean,and staff very helpfull,we had a great afternoon wandering around the bazzar and winding alleys,later that nightme and o/h went to jems where we met a guy from wales lol and his indian girlfriend.had quite a few honeybees and not sure how we found the hotel again,as we reached our room our friends came out of theirs waving a newspaer.the gouvernment had warned tourists not to go to our next destination as terrorists had set off bombs omg

I keep looking for your next installment can we have it soon please ...loving it so far

well the question was,should we carry on with our travels or not,me and o/h wanted to,friends didnt.we congregated in our room and discussed it,and came to no conclusion,so deciced to sleep on it.when we came down to reception in the morning the manager told us all about it,a bomb had gone off in varannasi,went over to sam,s bakery for brekkie and it was all the talk amongst the backpackers in there,we were in a quandery,returned to the hotel and manager offered to take us to the tourist info to see what they had to say.well thier advise was,dont go,there were a lot of people in there cancelling thier plans,so we went ahead and the guy cancelled the hotel we had booked,then the flight from varannasi to mumbai.what we didnt realise until to late was that because it was part of a multy flight booking we were cancelling also the mumbai/goa/mumbai flights,we had only paid £51 each for the 3 flights.we now had to book a flight delhi to goa,cost £121 each,and of course eventually goa back to mumbai.our friends couldn,t wait to get to goa,but for me and o/h visiting aggra and varannassi was to have been the highlight of our hols,and if i,m honest i cant say i was particularily looking forward to staying in goa for 3 1/2 weeks,i wasn,t to immpreesed with 3 weks in calangute last year,a bit to busy,bit to dirty for me,but we had booked a few days in the south,so here was hoping.well the flight left delhi on time and we arrived in dabolim at 8.30 pm,strangley enough a bus was waiting for us so we all got on and lol it drove around to the other side of the plane,stopped and we all got off,this journey took less than 2 mins .it was great to feel the heat even at this time of night,have to say it gets very cold at night in all the places we had visited,o/h even out his gloves on one night ,was quite impreesed with the work that has been carried out at the airport.as we had booked some rooms at la bens resort colva for the 18th to 22nd we decided to head down there.the drive down was good and we all commented on how clean it was compared to the north.we arrived at la ben and were instantly impressed,the garden approach area [this was also the dining/bar area]looked quite beautiful with all the christmas decorations,we were in luck they had rooms and we booked a couple of nights.we checked in and were shown to our rooms,basic but spotlessly clean,with balcony over looking the garden area,we didnt realise but they also looked over the drying of fish place next door,oddley enough we ended up staying 12 night here and not once did we smell the fish,anyhow we returned to the garden and had a few beers,at about 1,30 in the morning we went back to our room and had a chat about the bombing,we were both still bitterly dissapointed that we had cancelled our plans,eventually fell asleep.we were woken in the morning by one heck of a noise,couldnt work out what it was for a minute until i looked out the window,the noise was the rain banging on the plastic cover over the top of the window,we both looked at each other and said,i don,t bl----y believe it,we wondered if anything was ever going to go right on this trip.

Thanks Valleylady I am really enjoying hearing about your holiday please keep it coming I am dying to find out if you will return this year

so we made our way to reception,to find out where to get brekky,as it was raining the garden area was closed,it was a nice surprise to find there was a covered roof top dining area,so up we went,quite nice it was to,a few pot plants here and there,the best was that it looked out over the main street,great for people watching.afterwards we decided to risk a soaking and go for a look around,we headed for the beach,buying an umbrella on the way,
quite liked colva,we spent the next 12 days here,had a few good nights in goodmans bar,including new year,
can recomend sizzler steak house,the steaks were fab,the fish,chips and mushy peas served only friday nights were also exellent. really nice clean beach and no hassle, went on bettys boat trip,what a great few hours out.3 course dinner and as much to drink as you want,think it was 800 rupps each. caught the local bus to margoa and had a look round and to buy train tickets back to mumbai [original flights back were cancelled].on 18 th dec i emailed the castle house guesthouse calangute to tell them what time we would be arriving on the 22nd,much to our surprise they emailed me back saying the didn,t have a booking for us,we were supposed to be staying over xmas/new year ,i got on the phone and spoke to manager,who said they did have a booking for us but not at the price we had a confirmation from hostalbookers for[£12 a night},they now wanted £19 a night,no way were we going to be ripped off like this,so i mailed hostalbookers,apparently it,s nothing to do with them,the contract is between us and accom, we now started to panic would we be able to get anything from 22nd dec to 3th jan,our friends who had booked only a few weeks before the trip started had a lot of trouble getting somewhere on the net for these dates in north goa,so we got on a bus and headed down to benaulim,forgeting north goa entirley

we got off the bus and got a rik shaw down to the beach,it was quite hot by now ,2pm,so decided to have a kingfisher or 3,met a nice guy we had been travelling around teaching yoga,he was also looking for accomadation,we asked the waiter if he knew of any and his advise was to start walking back towards the village as it was very expensive the nearer the beach you go,we took his advise and started the walk back,the first few places were full or way over our budget,as we entered the village we saw a sigh for paulerinas,she had quite a nice apartment with full kitchen for 700rupps a day,only problem was she wanted us to come back the day before we wanted to check in, incase she got someone to stay long term she said,we didnt want to risk that so carried on,we spied palmiras across the road,well we noticed the garden restuarant first and it was time for another kingfisher,in we went had a beer and asked if they had any rooms,they did,they were basic ,with double bed,table and 2 chairs,coffeet table,large wardrobe,and the usual wet room,what they didn,t have was the aircon,tv,pool and balcony that we had booked with hostal bookers for xmas/new year,but hey ho for 350 ruppess a night who were we to complain,we booked the room for 6 nights over xmas,had a honeybee and made our way back to colva.
the next few days went by in a flash,we did the usual,up in the morning,coffee,down to the beach,read a book,have lunch then time for a beer or 2.couple more beers,back upto goodmans,couple more beers,chat to the longstayers we had met in there,back to room for a snooze,wake,shower then back out,we must have tried all the bars and restuarants in colva [well there arn,t that many really] really enjoyed it.the 22nd dec soon come round and off to benualim we went our friends now departed from us as they were heading for kerry beach as man friend likes his fishing.we arrived in palmiras to a great welcome,and a free beer,that was a first,we met all the family.they were all busy decorating the garden restuarant area,and it looked really lovely.we were quite surprised the effort the goan people but into their xmas deco as we went home just before xmas last year.have to say staying at palmiras was the best time we had in all our journey.

Loving reading your very interesting report, and nice to hear that someone else, likes the Colva / Benaulim area.

xx lassi

ere back in heathrow,got stopped in customs as is usual.got to the coach termainal,boarded and you,ll never believe it,the luggage area wouldn,t lock and we had to wait 2 hours for another coach,they did refund iwent up to margoa on xmas eve by local bus,what a great time we had on the bus,they were playing xmas carols and everyone was sining along,we could have stayed on there all day.had a mooch around and bought a load of spices to bring home.had a great time in the night at al mahal restuarant,they had a live artist on and the owner gave a song or two.as soon as we opened our room door on xmas morning palmira and her daughters came bearing sweets and cake,what a nice touch,we ventured to the restuarant for brekkie and all the staff shook our hands and wished us merry xmas,went down to the mahal beach shack and found they were serving xmas lunch that evening,so we booked.spent the day on the beach had a few beers lunch time at pedros,seems johncies is the place to go but we didnt rate it ourselves,to big and impersonal. had a lovely xmas dinner that night with live band for dancing, spent boxing day on the beach,and as we sat talking it suddenly came to us that we had 8 days left in goa.next day we went up tp colva,we had decided to get some bus tickets fot anjuna market and to do one of bettys boat trips again,got our tickets had a bit of lunch and a chat with people we had met in goodmans.arranged to meet some of them the followimg night at the mahal as they had a traditional indain dance troupe on,spent the following day walking along benualim beach having a drink here and there and met with people to watch the show in the mahal in the night,it was the first time me and other half had shared a meal,we were always sending back half of what we ordered,and you quessed it we woke in the early hours,with violent stomack cramps,it was a fight for the bathroom throughout the day,by late afrternoon palmira came to see if were ok,asking did we want doctor etc,she sent one of the boys the the medical shop for us.next day it was the same so we didnt get to anjuna not the boat trip on thursday,by xmas eve we were worried we wouldnt be well enough to do the train journey to mumbai also afraid the travel agents wouldnt be open on new years day,so we made it to the agents and booked flights to mumbai.managed to go out for an hour or two n/y/e but neither of us enjoyed it,we stayed in palmiras an extra night as we were flying now instead of getting the train,departure day came and off we went to the airport,flight delayed 3 hours.good job there was plenty of time for our flight home.seemed no time we were back in heathrow,got stopped in customs as usual.went throu to the coach station and boarded the coach,you,ll never believe it but the luggage compartment wouldn,t lock and we had to wait 2 hours for another coach,we eventually got home at about 5 pm..so the big ???? is will we be going back next season.

Great report Valleylady really enjoyed reading it, sorry to hear you's were unwell especially just before your journey home. Thanks for taking the time with such a detailed report and the answer is...........will you be returning???

fraid not next season nujlie,11 of us just booked flights for thailand,but thats just becauce we can,t convince the others to try goa,we ourselves though will be back at a future time,it will have to be south goa,we both loved it.

It's nice to hear that you will be back though. Have to agree re the south we had a trip down just after the new year to Agonda and loved it. Though my heart still belongs in Candolim we are going to have a few mini trips down south and check out a few more places.

Have a great time in Thailand

cheers nujulie,i,m sure you,ll like the south we will be going further south next time,it was a different world to the north,cleaner,queiter,and best of all no hawkers on the beaches lol,been to thailand many times so know we will love it,first time for the 9 others thou.

Been a very good read - thanks.