Flew out on the 18th of March from Gatwick with Qatar, stopping over in Doha for a couple of hours. No complaints here. Wonderfull planes with loads to keep you occupied on the seatback tvs. Free drinks and a choice of menu ! Arrived on time, a bit of a queue to get visa stamped but sailed through baggage reclaim to my awaiting taxi driver Dinesh.
Arrived at the Coqueiral in Candolim around 4.30am to find the place locked up for the night ! After a wee hunt around i found the security guard who after a lengthy chat eventually took us too our room. Well right away i knew the mrs wasnt happy but as it was the middle of the night i said we would have to wait till morning to sort something out. I was shown another larger room but with no A/C . No good to me in March. Very hot. So off i went in search of some where to stay.I viewed 6 0r 7 places and finally settled on the Horizon View at thetop of Whispering Palms road. Paid 1250rps per night but had everything i needed. Large bright room with Digital A/C (freezing ! ) LCD tv,large fridge and the comfiest bed i have ever had in Goa. A ceiling fan aswell but never used much as this coupled with the A/c would have given us bloody frostbite ! Wife was so happy she had agreed to go back next year but on condition we stay here.
Normally its 14 days on the beach at Ganesh shack but this year we had a day at Mandrem beach, using the Sea paradise shack. Good clean beach with a nice set up. The shack and the restraunt working together to cater for your every need. Also spent a night down south in Cavellossim. Stayed at the Sau Domingo which was ok. Pricier than Candolim though. Ate at Mikes place in Cavellossim. Probably the best place i ate in all holiday. The next day we went on Bettys cruise. Out into the sea dolpin spotting before sailing well up the river before stopping for lunch. Large fresh prawns in garlic butter sauce followed by a large portion of Kingfish which was shown to us before being sliced up and cooked ! Drinks included, it was a tenner per head well spent.
so the places i remember visiting were Kim Faa, Baga, chineseand very verygood. Mrs Blunoses favourite.
Ray and Gail (GEC) joined us (very brave) along with new faces, well to me anyway, irish colleen, Gemma, irishnoel and o/hs. Some others too but cant remember names. (coffee !) Will post some pics soon from the meet.
Got escorted home by the resident dog, Simba. No other dog came near us. It was amazing to see.Feeding it titbits all night certainly paid off !
....
Pity we didnt meet up for a beer though.
but Mike did make it along briefly after a phone call to pick up my lovely box of M&S chocs from Gail and Ray (2nd yr running...lush!!) 
and huge box of roses from Gemma33 mmmmmmmmmm friends for life 
) we can make up for it ... 
