Just back on the 15th after three wonderful weeks in Goa, cant really do much of a trip report as we didnt do much apart from get up eat, lie in the sun, eat, lie in the sun again, shower, eat, drink and sleep!! But after a busy and sometimes stressful year it was the perfect way to end 2009.

As per usual we stayed in a small apartment near to the football field in Candolim, have stayed there the last four years and the price has only increased 100 rups per night over this time. Its fairly basic, large room with 2 beds wardrobe with safe, dining table and chairs, small kitchen and a bathroom, large enough so you dont feel hemmed in.

We flew this year with Air India, via Mumbai on the way there and Dehli on the way back. Flights were fine about an 1 hour late departing both times, dont think I would go via Dehli to get home again it was ok but added an extra few hours on to the journey.

Eating out did all our old favourites plus tried a couple of new ones - Souymens Kitchen - loved the food here, Shivers - I liked it here but it was empty the night we went and seemed a bit lacking in atmosphere. Also tried Bomros for the first time was really looking forward to going here but was a little disapointed with it. I had the crispy pork salad for starters which was fab, but OH decided to try a Tofu dish which was very bland. Main Course we both chose peppered beef - got 5 large medalions of steak which was very tender but far too much meat and quite under done, OH had a fantastic sweet - lemon grass broulie but overall I thought the place was overpriced especially the drinks ( Vodka 70 rups bottle of Code 40 rups ) Nice pleasant staff though.

When we did venture off the beach it was for a trip to another beach Manderim - felt like paradise compared in contrast to the beach end road area of Candolim Beach, while we have always been aware of the rubbish lying around in Goa this year its a lot worse. Theres a pile of rubbish been started off just off the bottom of the road where you would cut off to go to Bobbys or Spottys Shack, by the time we were leaving this was really starting to smell, another pile had also stared up right behind the Arabian Shack. Also the area behind the beach were the sunburn festival was on was left in a right mess, piles of bottles, flyers blowing all over the place etc. And what disapointed me more was the area around our usual shack, at one time there was always a bin put out for rubbish, any litter was cleared each day and the owner and boys seemed to take a pride in keeping the place clean and tidy, this year no bin, the remains of the xmas eve fireworks were there for at least 3 weeks. The shack was really short staffed this year the remaining boys worked so hard but there were times when you were waiting over an hour for lunch or they forgot it completely or you got the wrong order, I didnt complain as I didnt want to get the boys into bother, but we did start moving further up the beach where it was cleaner etc, and next year I am making the break completly we are not going to tie our selves just to using 1 shack, I know I sound a bit cynical but I cant help thinking we are seen as a soft touch with the shack lads they are used to weekly tips on the sly and hang around making sure they get theres, even to the extent of turning up outside our apartment just as we are going out if we hadnt been to the shack that day (payday!!)

One thing I do love about going at the same time every year is meeting up with friends you have made over the years who all still go back each year, although each year there seems to be less and less of them going back for one reason or another. We are quite happy in our own company and its nice to spend time on your own without the day to day stresses you have at home, but its great catching up with old friends too so you have company when you want it.

Overall it was another great holiday, was thinking about trying to get another visit in -in March but the Visa thing has scuppered that ( we got our passports stamped in Dehli beside the exit stamp saying we cant go back within 2 months without permission from the HC ) and reading about those who are trying for the permission its just not going to work for us. Might try for a week at easter if the prices come down as I would have to go by charter if its just for a week ( quicker ) But failing that along as they dont put any more obsticles in our way we will be back next xmas. Rubbish and Dirt aside its still a beautiful place to me.