There is a very shady side to goa. Where was the bloke from? This is so sad to hear

OMG I cant imagine how you felt during this time

Frightened witless

So how did things end? How did you get out of prison and were you left out of pocket?

This is a horrible thing to happen. As if you haven't had enough to deal with.

I take it you won't be returning to Goa?

Mardon.
I wrote on this forum almost 12 months ago " goodbye to Goa" this was Lynn had died and I felt I couldn't do it on my own, I went back again in December for the 12th time, I could tell you of the reasons to go again but perhaps thats I think there are a lot off reasons not to go back not Just the one, Goa is nolonger the Goa i fell in love with, the new people who are discovering Goa will feel as I felt in 1999, I cannot tell them what they have missed, the main reason for me not to go at the moment is the physical pain I am in today because of the travelling and the place I rented to stay was uncomfortable enough to make the pain worse, on the last few days of the holiday I could barely walk, Without a groan of pain, sitting and lying down was also painful, not only would I not go back to Goa, I would not go anywere, when I email again I will tell about my stay in prison, how I managed to get out and the rest of my holiday, mostly good, sometimes not.
Danny

OH Danny thats terrible, i hope it was all sorted out quickly or am i being nieve, (i am a newby to goa). cant wait for the next installment. Oviously trying to make some money from you. Gel

I really do feel for you. I'm so sorry this happend.
I'm looking forward (not sure if that is the correct wording ) to your next installement.

he was one of 4 alcoholics that I met on this holiday

I was in Benaulim early November and met a few in their late 50's. Probably the same folk, seemed fine people... Scots, Irish etc. Can't mention names although I can imagine you met them. I heard a lot of strange stories from 'long timers' in Benaulim. It's funny that you never hear much about dodgy goings on in Goa if you are there on a 2 week package, but if you get talking to the long stayers you will hear ALL the scams. Some quite frightening, seems to be on the increase these days especially with the poor season.

I did see certain aspects of it last year and it did put a dampener on my holiday somewhat. My girlfriend who is travelling with me when we go over in feb has read the posts and is now quite scared.

You just have to be aware and on your toes. Dodgy things happen all over the world and in Britain... but when you're away from your own home and country it makes the situation a lot more scary if something does happen. At the end of the day we all know that some of the police aren't exactly on the straight and narrow. You have to be very careful and try not put yourself in a situation where something bad could happen. Lynndan I really am sorry to hear about what happened.

You have to be very careful and try not put yourself in a situation where something bad could happen.

I know through discussion with Danny about what to post that he feels strongly that exactly this point should be made. It can't be easy to relive what happened to him and I think he is brave to do this in order to warn others. I know a lot of you are finding it difficult to know what to say and are probably really worried for him but I do know that he has strong support from his very wise and sensible family.

Danny I can empathise on a couple of points. I too lost my first wife, in my case in my early thirties and with two young children to care for. I had them to go on holiday with but it was hard.The one thing I did find though was the longer you put off doing something the more difficult it became so I think it was a brilliant decision to return to Goa when you did.
The problem is it's very lonely being on your own again so you are more likely to welcome the hand of friendship from a total stranger. There are people out there who are just waiting to pounce on the unwary and the trusting. There is a story on another HT Goa thread about the single traveller who was found dead a couple of years ago after having been encouraged to go to Goa by some complete strangers he had met at a football match. He too had been lulled into a false sense of security and although the people he met might have had different objectives you can see the similarities.
It's not just single females that are vulnerable, everyone is.
Whatever you do though don't loose the confidence you have found. Life is too short as we have found out. Go for it !

oh no Danny, i do hope you are ok now,and of course you are not weak.

I was arrested about 2.30 P.m while manhandling me to there jeep, it was obvious I was in pain, when trying to put my arms behind my back to handcuff me( I have 2 frozen shoulders) The shrieks of pain 2 walking sticks in my room i thought was a give away to me having walking problems, though luck seems to be the answer, when I got to the cells, they kicked me on the thighs and punched my arms, both were designed for maximum pain( it worked) the cell was about 10 feet square but looked smaller, there were 2 other people in the cell with me, the first thing to hit you was the over powering smell of urine, strong enough to make you wretch, the heat in the cell was unbearable, there was ashort conversation between the police and the 2 men in the cell, and I was locked in with them, I said hello and they just smiled, I sat on a form, the only furniture in the cell for about 10 mins then my 2 new friends joined me, had the police told them why I was arrested, had they come by me for the same reason as the guy the night before, these are things that go through your mind and not just in prison, I couldn't tell them to move, 1 there was no common language and 2 I was sitting on the only bench, why are these 2 men in prison, they could be murderers for all I know, one patted my leg, my heart rate jumps, he nodded to opposite corner of the room, my rate jumps again,RATS, it looked like there was about 5 off them crawling in and out of the cell through a small gap in the walls, I am now thinking that this cannot get any worse but on looking around me the place was crawling with cockroaches, truely this must be hell, I sat there a while trying to think how to get out, I had 2 nationwide accounts with me just for holiday money, my cards were in my room, the only people that I know of in Goa and friends of ours were h'ters cocopop but they had moved to another part of Goa and I don't know thier new address, I am up it without a paddle, then the realization that I had no insulin, it would soon be dark, I was sitting in shorts and tee shirt which were now soaking wet with sweat, I felt nausia and I wanted to go to the toilet, I became quite frightened, what the hell am I going to do, they are not going to do anything as british as get me a solicitor, my next plan probably not my best idea, out of fear, anger and frustation I got up and started kicking the door and shouting at the top of my voice, the police came and give me another kick, my cell mates thought I was a nutterand wanted away, the police moved them, I asked for british consul, they said next week maybe, if I pay hospital fees, of course I will pay, just get me out off here, you have to go to Panjim said the cop, O no, can I go to the toilet, no he said closing the door, toilet is in that corner, don't worry he said the rats will eat it, o my god, I cannot tell you my feelings, I was totally distraught,It was 5.30 and I had started to shake uncontrollably, I was now very Frightened, I was thinking of my family and funny enough of my little dog pom, I thought I may die in a Indian prison.
At 6'oclock the door opened, come said the policeman, i followed him with a shuffle more than a walk, when I got to the front of the building I said"Panjim" he said no you can go, you will never know what those 3 words meant in my life, or the 3 hours in that cell have done to my thoughts on life and people, I wanted to ask how and why but didn't incase they changed thier minds, when I went outside there was a couple from sweden that were staying at the opalmar and I had spoken to them at the disco, they told me that they were coming home on the morning that I was assaulted and they had seen every thing, it was 4.30 in the morning when it happened and his cut came from a headbutt, I was asleep for three hours outside, I was lucky as I never carry money or wear jewellery in Goa, but if he had gone indoors there was my wallet with 20,ooo rupees in it, also a small purse full of gold bits that I had bought with me.
This is a holiday forum, the reason I have told this side of my holiday, is to make people aware that although it seems like paradise, it is not, while I was there, I read of 3 sexual assaults against women in the herald, one of the lads who I was socializing with told me someone on a motorbike had drove past and slapped his face, also there was 3 handbags snatched as people walked off Benaulim beach, and sadly the elderly swiss gent who was punched that hard, when he fell he broke his hip, to all my fellow h'ters please be very careful, the wind of change is blowing through Goa.
Danny

Danny,

What a horrifying experience. I may add that you are very right, [quoteI read of 3 sexual assaults against women