Happy birthday Gemma - isn't York lovely, we tend to go August bank holiday.

Hotxbun the sunbeds were free the times we visited Bono's. Is it maybe cos its the end of the season?

Think we paid and went most days - will check with OH. Still think if you eat there everyday and use their facilities, sunbeds should be free

Yes OAP I agree. If you eat and drink at that particular shack for the whole day it should be free. We definitely didnt pay. Unless they added it to the final bill and we didnt notice?

We got to know a few people who have used Bono's for a few year's. and they have never paid for a bed. And we never paid at all.

Just had a look back to see what day ive stopped the report at, I am getting all confused Not long to go now and I will be finished.

Thursday 26 April - Really liked Bono's shack so we will go back before going home. Spent today at the Oceanic as normal. We usually get to the beach about 11 or 12 and I always go and phone my OH about 12 noon, which is 7.30am at home, and I catch him before he leaves for work. But I am missing him lots and lots Its the only time ive been in Goa and been looking forward to going home. Anyway he had some good news for me today. He has booked the Marinha Dourada for November 2007, so its a little surprise and he thought he would tell me while I am still in Goa. We had been looking for ages cos the prices were so high. But he eventually got a really good deal with First Choice, so thats great news!
We spent the day at the beach, but didnt get up to anything exciting. Lazed about sunbathing and relaxing.
Tonight we are going to Britto's. Quite basic food but they usually have on some form of entertainment (singing, if you could call it that ) Its also very reasonably priced and not far from the hotel.
We were leaving the beach shack today and Raju and Sikander said they were going home on Friday morning 7am (on the bus). We decided to pop into the Oceanic for a drink after Brittos and say goodbye til Novmeber. Got to the shack about 10.30pm only for Jay to tell us they decided to leave on the Thursday night instead so unfortunately we missed them. Had some drinks in the Oceanic and then headed back to the hotel.
Another night comes to an end and we have been sensible and not stayed out too late and we are sober!!!

Friday 27 April - We decided to go some shopping this morning and not bother going to the shack cos later on today we are delivering all the arts and crafts stuff, raincoats, sandals etc to the Mango House. I had phoned Rob earlier in the week to arrange this. We went along to Original Fakes in the Baga/Calangute Road, bought several nice purses and bags. The prices are fantastic! I know the items are fake, but they look great and are such good value. We also done some shopping further along in Calangute. Stopped at Subway in the Baga Road for a sandwich, what an adventure that was! They have lots of similar choices same as at home, but they dont have a clue what they are or how to make them !! Had to ask him to put the sarnie in the micro 3 times but it was still quite cool
Arranged to get picked up at the Lagoa Azul at 2pm and visit Rob and Children Walking Tall. Its lovely to see all the children back at the house and running about playing. When we arrived about 20 of them were in circle with some of the volunteers singing Heads, shoulders, knees and toes
Rob had just started a tour showing some other people round the house, which Emily and I joined onto. At the end of the tour we decided to leave. Ive been to the Mango House before and Rob and the helpers are really busy with the kids, so didnt want to waste too much of their time. Our taxi driver Amigo was waiting outside for us, so we headed back to the hotel. My friend was quite quiet in the Mango House and got a little upset in the taxi on the way back. She was comparing what our kids have in this country (and take for granted), and how little the children have in Goa, but they are still so happy and content with the little they do have. It does make you feel very humble. But it is such a worthwhile experince to see all their little happy smiling faces
We made our way back to the hotel via Vell Wash to collect laundry and visit the chemist. We sat at the pool for a couple of hours til about 6pm. Its so much hotter at the pool, cos there is no sea breeze and its scorching! Makes you realise just how hot it is.
Tonight we decided to try I-95 in Calangute as many other HTers were saying how fab the food was. Our taxi driver, Amigo, didnt know where it was but he eventually found it, and it is very much out the way and quite difficult to find. Anyway we shouldnt have bothered. It was closed for the season and said See you in October!!! So I had to move onto Plan B which was the Exotic Palms. This was also in Calangute and recommended by other HTers. Food was fabulous we both had a chinese dinner and starters with drinks and the bill was about 700 rupees. It was very quiet, only me and Emily, and another Indian family, about 6 of them, but I guess cos its near the end of the season. Food was lovely tho and would definitely return.
Next we headed down to Banana Moon for a few drinks cos we told Chilly on the Wednesday at Lazy Days that we might pop in for a drink and the next day she was heading to Palolem for a few days. Banana Moon was really busy, they had a singer as well, he was quite good. We got speaking to another Scottish and English couple and they were saying they were going to Rabbie Burns Scottish Bar as it was their closing party that night. We didnt know what to do but if it meant having another couple of then why not, we were on holiday after all What a fantastic night. We stayed there til about 3am. There was about 10 of us in the company, quite a few who had made there way down from Banana Moon. So another great night and we met lots of nice new friends at the same time
Another late night, time to head back to the hotel for some shut eye ........ last 2 days to follow shortly.

Lovely report Gemma , can I ask if little Raj was at the Oceanic ?

Is it Raj who works on the beach fetching the drinks? If so, he is still there Shirley

I mean young Raj who is only 10 and he helps with putting sunbeds out etc

Sorry Shirley dont remember him It was Sam and Ashok who helped with the beds when I was there. Maybe Polly will remember him? Some of the lads did move across to St Anthonys shack as well.

Shirley, do you mean Jogie (sp?). He was the little one that everyone seemed to fall in love with. If so, he has gone over to St Anthony's with Deepu and a few of the others. I have some photos of him taken in March if it is the same one pm me and I will send them to you.

Saturday 28 April - After a late night - no hangover fantastic. Head down to the beach to get some breakfast. I dont know if ive already mentioned but we only ever ate at the hotel once for brekkie, but they took about half an hour to bring us some toast. I was surprised the Lagoa Azul isnt self service like the other hotels we've stayed at. The breakfast at the hotel wasnt any worse (or better) than any other hotel, IMO I just dont think its worth going for and I can get a better choice outside or at the shack. Anyway today we called in at Britto's for the "traditional" British breakfast. I guess it was ok by Goan standards, but nothing great. Two eggs with toast, beans (supposedly heinz, but never in a million years ), small sausages (are they Goan?) but I wasnt too keen on them anyway and the bacon is quite fatty so I didnt eat that either. Rob at CWT completely put me off bacon after what he told me
Along to the Oceanic for some more sun rays. Spent the day here til about 5ish and then collected the last of my clean washing from Vell Wash.
Tonight we went to Rustlers for a meal (also recommened on the forum) Food was gorgeous. My friend had a nice steak with trimmings and I opted for some Shepherds Pie which was yummy. Had lots of lovely mashed potato on top and cheddar grated cheese, all melted - gorgeous! They had on a karaoke, but it wasnt too buy, maybe about a dozen folk, but it is the last weekend of the season. It would probably be very busy and much better in peak season. The place itself was quite hard to find. Way down past the Nizmar next to a football pitch. The owner did say they do a nice English sunday lunch, roast beef, bisto gravy and all the trimmings, so might give that a go in November.
We headed back into back into Baga and went into a pub on the Baga Road, but it was quiet so we moved along to another bar, it was opposite Kim Faa, but the name escapes me. We stayed there for a few drinks and headed up the road.

Sunday 29 April - Today we got a taxi along to Candolim again and headed for Bono's shack. Amigo dropped us down the beach road as far as we could then it was only a 5 minute walk to the shack. All the nice carpet that runs from the back of the shack right down to the beach had been lifted and I could only see 6 sunbeds which were all full
We had breakfast. One of the shack boys asked us if we wanted a bed, by this time a few other folk had arrived probably looking for beds as well, so he proceeded to run down the beech with bed on his back It was so hot. Almost unbearable to lie in, and thats not like me! We got picked up at the same spot we got dropped off and headed back to the hotel.
Tonight we are going to Kim Faa. Been here for 2 weeks and still havent been to Kim Faa, my favourite Chinese Restaurant in Goa. Meal was gorgeous as usual. As KatieP mentioned earlier they had stuck labels over the original prices, making it cheaper as it was the end of the season.
After our meal we headed along to Palm Tree, its a bar in Calangute (facing the public bar). We caught up with some people we had met in Banana Moon and Rabbie Burns Scottish Bar. There was a karaoke in Palm Tree which should finish at 10pm cos of the curfew but everyone was still singing about 11ish. My friend Emily was singing and the police drove past so the owner who was doing the karaoke told her to sing quietly so the police wouldnt hear
Time to go back to the hotel for some sleep, tomorrow is our last day ......

Hi Gemma enjoy your last day, make it a good one! I have really enjoyed reading your reports, thanks for sharing them with us. Its nice and warm in UK at the moment, so it shouldnt be too much of a big when you step out of that plane. See you soon, Bye. Lisa.

Hi Gemma, was determined to take our laundry to vell wash after your glowing recommendation plus the prices in the hotel and we were not disappointed, but we did have a bit of trouble finding it until we found out it was called vell vash, was you trying to keep it a secret but it was well worth the hunt

Alan

lovely Gemma keep it coming

Sorry not got round to completing the report (one more day to do!). Will get it done this week sometime and upload some photos

yay photos cant wait

sorry but I thought it was called Vell Wash (still do? ) however I am glad you found it. He is a lovely man, and he is so cheap. We use this laundry all the time now. He was saying he is opened for shorter hours during the monsoon season cos its not as busy and then from October til beginning of May he is verrrrry busy again

Monday 30 April - Last day. Its horrible Didnt seem as bad in November and February cos it was only 8 weeks til we were coming back but now we need to wait til 24 November (think its 167 sleeps seems like forever). The only good thing about this holiday ending is I will get to see my OH, cos I have missed him so much
Our last day at the Oceanic today. The beach is very strange cos there is virtually no sun beds out. Ive never seen Baga Beach so quiet and it looks odd seeing the whole beach covered in Indian tourists and only the odd European scattered about here and there.
Our flight home isnt until 7.30 the next morning, which is a dreadful time, means we need to get collected from the hotel about 3.30am.
We were meeting some friends from Rabbie Burns Scottish Bar for a drink later this evening. As we were meeting them in Calangute we decided to eat in this area as well. Got dropped off in the taxi near the Calangute beach steps. Had a walk about and couldnt decide where to go, eventually decided on Capricorn. Never been here before, but it was very nice, quite a basic looking restaurant, but the food was good nonetheless. After our meal we went next door to Palm Tree Bar for a drink but it was very quiet so we crossed the road to the Public Bar. I couldnt believe the prices it was sooooo cheap. Only 18 rupees for a Kings!!! When we asked for a vodka it came in a little bottle and done you for about 3 drinks, really good value. The public bar would also be a very good place to have our meets, it very central in Calangute and very handy for everyone to get to and the prices are brill. The bar is separate from the restaurant. which I think is also a good idea. Public Bar closed about 11ish so we headed for a night cap to Bubbles on the main Candolim/Calangute Road. A round in here (5 drinks) cost 145 rupees, brilliant value. Its a very small bar, but would definitely go back.
Headed back to the hotel to finish the packing. Had a lie down for an hour then showered and headed for the airport. Amigo was waiting for us and our security man "Mr Calcutta" came to help with the cases.
Check in at the aiport wasnt too bad cos this was the last holiday package flight going back to the UK. Only a small queue outside the airport, checked in and through all the security in less than an hour which was great.
So thats Goa holidays over with for another season. Roll on 24 November Thanks for reading my report, hope I havent bored everyone too much
(Will upload some photos later today)