Hi,
We arrived home back yesterday from our 2 week break in Calengute (near POffice).
I'll jot down my thoughts/restaurants/bars in no particular order.
The flights were great. We travelled with MyTravel from Manchester. When we arrived in Goa around 6-7am, we landed and we were in the taxi (my Dad met us) within 20 minutes!
We ate at:-
Souyemans Kitchen.
Beautiful steak, great attention to detail. E.g. comments book (incidentally noticed a HT member from cramington‘s comments), letter headed receipt, business card, chef giving us the nod etc.
Hot Plate, Baga.
Excellent. Supposedly same guys as over the flames.
Over the flames, Candolim
Changed venues from Baga this year. What a joke this place was.
Waited over an hour for my curry and my wife and sons pasta. Another couple sat down, ordered, ate and paid whilst we were waiting.
I was charged 45 rups for asking for parmesan (cheapy dried too!) for the pasta.
My meal was freezing, and they left out a nan I ordered.
Bill came to 845 I left 800. The manager/captain (Guy with a crossed eye) came leggin it after me and I told him he was lucky to get that.
After 7, Candolim.
Pretty similar to Souyemans kitchen for the obvious reason as he used to work here. Nice setting and once again great food. I ordered the fillet steak to compare to Souyemans and this just pipped him at the post.
Delhi Darbar, panjim
Great food, little pricy but spotless and nice décor.
Our 4 year old son was given dairy milk, the boss took our pic and printed it out instantly and put in a little darbar frame, and my Wife and Mam were given a rose.
Little Italy, Candolim.
Average. Nice if you fancy a change from curry (I did 13 in haha). Large Kingfisher was 100 and then they put 20 on top for tax, 120 !! Greed!
Ticlo Resort, calengute.
Food was ok, nothing to write home about, only went for the Kareoke"¦ooo did I Swear haha.
O'Pescadors, Baga.
Booked a table for 8 and it was right in the front near the Kareoke speakers which spoilt it a bit. Food was average. Not as good as last year.
All Spice, Apora.
Got there for 1930 and got a table for 8. Within an hour this place was chocka!
Very enjoyable. Walked towards Calengute afterwards and met with Anan in his bar after 6 years.
Lazy days, baga
Jnr was babysat by his Grandma and Grandpa so wife and I had a few in Bharat bar, got rained on and grabbed a toastie an chips in lazy days before havin a few in the public bar"¦..what a romantic Valentines night!
Food was great.
The Chippy, Calengute.
Lovely chicken and mushroom pie with chips haha
Pickled Parrot, baga
Had breakfast there twice, lovely and nice venue for keeping cool and watching the road
Cactus shepards pie, Candolim.
Lovely chicken Caffreal, had match on too, bonus.
Casa Sea shell, Candolim.
Had the steak which was wafer thin and the pepper sauce was just a load of soya sauce!
Not bad place though.
Nisha, Baga, Titos road
I think this is what it was called. Quite nice food, and was very busy.
I'll type more later. If you want me to elaborate let me know.
you certainly managed to fit in a fair few restaurants on your holiday 
Keep it coming!
Keep it coming!
Very nice thanks Surf. We also had breakfast in the Pickled Parrot, and its probably the closest youre going to get to a proper cooked breakfast. Very handy for us too as we go to Baga Beach lots of days.
Ive heard quite good reports about the new Over the Flames, but I only ever went to the Baga Over the Flames once and my meal was not nice. Reading your thoughts on the new location Over the Flames I dont know if I fancy the sound of it either.
Ive heard quite good reports about the new Over the Flames, but I only ever went to the Baga Over the Flames once and my meal was not nice. Reading your thoughts on the new location Over the Flames I dont know if I fancy the sound of it either.
More random thoughts.
We checked in at manchester and we had a 15kg case allowance.
I weighed these before I went and were all around the allowance. I weighed myself to check the scales too.
The girl said my cases were 17,17,19 and that excess baggage would be £56!!!
I said well im allowed 5kg hand luggage and we certainly didnt use that could you not just trade it off. NO.
ok then I said I would physically switch stuff from my cases to the hand luggage which would obviously hold the queue up.
OK she says, you can just pay for 3kg, thats £32. My wife was sayin just pay it but I was adamant they wernt gettin it.
My reason being I weigh 88kg, my 4 year old son weighs 18kg, we paid the same for his seat than mine!
She then sent my cases down the conveyor belt so I said canyou get them back so I can take stuff out.
She then snatched the paperwork and ripped it up telling me to watch what I was doing coming back.
Looks like MyTravel check in staff have a target to meet to extract more of our cash.
We checked in at manchester and we had a 15kg case allowance.
I weighed these before I went and were all around the allowance. I weighed myself to check the scales too.
The girl said my cases were 17,17,19 and that excess baggage would be £56!!!
I said well im allowed 5kg hand luggage and we certainly didnt use that could you not just trade it off. NO.
ok then I said I would physically switch stuff from my cases to the hand luggage which would obviously hold the queue up.
OK she says, you can just pay for 3kg, thats £32. My wife was sayin just pay it but I was adamant they wernt gettin it.
My reason being I weigh 88kg, my 4 year old son weighs 18kg, we paid the same for his seat than mine!
She then sent my cases down the conveyor belt so I said canyou get them back so I can take stuff out.
She then snatched the paperwork and ripped it up telling me to watch what I was doing coming back.
Looks like MyTravel check in staff have a target to meet to extract more of our cash.
Greed
One thing I noticed this year was the amount of money expected/charged/revolving in Goa.
Examples being:
Taxi drivers asking for 250 for a 150 rupee fare and then coming down to the correct fare after seconds.
Street sellers asking for 350 rups for a pair of sunglasses only to sell at 100.
Beggers frowning at the amount I gave them (which is few an far between im stingey)
Restaurant staff expecting a better tip.
Kingfisher large bottles ranging from 45 rups to 120.
One thing I also did notice that holiday makers chuck their money around thoughtlessly.
Examples:-
A 350 rup bill, leaving 500 and walkin out.
Handing 50 rups to beggars.
Not haggling.
This has led to the crazy prices we get quoted, I asked how much a watch was... 2800 sir, he then came down to 1100. Obviously some peole just pay the intial 2800.
I was looking through football shorts one day and he was asking for a about 4-5 quid, i said I could get them at home for that, originals and better quality too...his answer was to stuff them back in his sack and say "well get that at home!"
It seemed the want to sell and haggle has diminished as they will be another mug along shortly to pay the full asking price.
Last year sellers struggled to offer change of 500, this year they have a roll of them!
One thing I noticed this year was the amount of money expected/charged/revolving in Goa.
Examples being:
Taxi drivers asking for 250 for a 150 rupee fare and then coming down to the correct fare after seconds.
Street sellers asking for 350 rups for a pair of sunglasses only to sell at 100.
Beggers frowning at the amount I gave them (which is few an far between im stingey)
Restaurant staff expecting a better tip.
Kingfisher large bottles ranging from 45 rups to 120.
One thing I also did notice that holiday makers chuck their money around thoughtlessly.
Examples:-
A 350 rup bill, leaving 500 and walkin out.
Handing 50 rups to beggars.
Not haggling.
This has led to the crazy prices we get quoted, I asked how much a watch was... 2800 sir, he then came down to 1100. Obviously some peole just pay the intial 2800.
I was looking through football shorts one day and he was asking for a about 4-5 quid, i said I could get them at home for that, originals and better quality too...his answer was to stuff them back in his sack and say "well get that at home!"
It seemed the want to sell and haggle has diminished as they will be another mug along shortly to pay the full asking price.
Last year sellers struggled to offer change of 500, this year they have a roll of them!
Groping.
Just thought I would tell this to avoid anyone else experiencing this.
My wife was walking up calengute main street pushing our son in his pushchair around 2230 with me following around 20 metres behind ( I had popped into a shop and was catching up)
Two middle aged indian guys walked towards her and one put his hand past the pushchair and groped the front of her (down below)
My wife was of course shocked and shouted back to me to tell me the tale. The guy was now infront of me so I screamed at him about touching my wife and he said he just nudged past her.
When i eventually spoke to the missus she told me what had happened so I ran back (basically I would have lamped him) but he was gone.
Incidently as my wife spun round to shout to me what had happened another guy groped her backside!
I spoke to a few of my local friends about this and they were disgusted. Indians from out of state come into Goa and just think they have a free for all.
If I had lamped him I was assured that the locals would have joined in and taugth this guy a lesson...in reflection I think it was better no violence happened but if someone assualts your wife I guess anyone would feel the same.
So please be careful ladies of walking alone.
Just thought I would tell this to avoid anyone else experiencing this.
My wife was walking up calengute main street pushing our son in his pushchair around 2230 with me following around 20 metres behind ( I had popped into a shop and was catching up)
Two middle aged indian guys walked towards her and one put his hand past the pushchair and groped the front of her (down below)
My wife was of course shocked and shouted back to me to tell me the tale. The guy was now infront of me so I screamed at him about touching my wife and he said he just nudged past her.
When i eventually spoke to the missus she told me what had happened so I ran back (basically I would have lamped him) but he was gone.
Incidently as my wife spun round to shout to me what had happened another guy groped her backside!
I spoke to a few of my local friends about this and they were disgusted. Indians from out of state come into Goa and just think they have a free for all.
If I had lamped him I was assured that the locals would have joined in and taugth this guy a lesson...in reflection I think it was better no violence happened but if someone assualts your wife I guess anyone would feel the same.
So please be careful ladies of walking alone.
GEE- sus mary it doesnt seem to get any better does it.Every report on this forum recently seems to take an incredibly negative outlook.
Long term forum users and regulars consistantly talk about the rapid decline of the area
Seems to me that we are all in for a VERY good time as long as we are "aware" of the following
MOLESTATION OF HOLIDAY MAKERS
BLATENT GROPING AND BODILY ASSAULT OF FEMALES
UNWANTED ATTENTION AND PHOTOS OF YOUR PARTNER ON THE BEACH
THEFT
BAG SNATCHING
KNIFE ATTACKS IN BOGMELLO
RIP OFF MERCHANTS
BLATENT GREED OF TAXI DRIVERS AND MERCHANTS
POOR ATTITUDE OF TOURIST MINISTERS TOWARDS THE "TOURIST DREGS"
RUBISH AND CR*P ABSOLUTLY EVERYWERE
STENCH
POOR SANITATION
FOOD POISINING
All the above commented on and discussed recently by respected members of the board
Got to say I am really looking forward to our holiday.
Working incredibly long hours to fund it.
Any one got any nice stories to tell before we go on the 6th march
when you lump every negative comment together then it does look scarey but most holidaymakers will not experience most of them.
And most holidaymakers will enjoy their holiday. A lot will see some negatives and still return.
And most holidaymakers will enjoy their holiday. A lot will see some negatives and still return.
taxi your holiday is yours, its there to make it what it is, its all in your hands. theres good and bad everywhere.
stavros wrote:taxi your holiday is yours, its there to make it what it is, its all in your hands. theres good and bad everywhere.
I concur! These things happen in our home towns even.
We had a fantastic time, would and will certainly return!
Fiona I think what you have said is very true.
We will either eventually get fed up going to Goa and change destination or something horrible will happen that will make us not want to return, but I hope the latter never happens.
We will either eventually get fed up going to Goa and change destination or something horrible will happen that will make us not want to return, but I hope the latter never happens.
More negative but interesting comments. At least we all know what to keep an eye out for?
Do you have anymore happy memories to share to maybe balance the scales a little.
Do you have anymore happy memories to share to maybe balance the scales a little.
I got back a week ago after my first holiday there as a single female. I can honestly say that at no time was I molested, groped, photographed or threatened. The taxi drivers took very good care of me and the locals in general were excellent.....most nights I was driven right back to my door by someone from the bar I was in and they waited to see I got in safely. I had no food poisoning and nothing stolen. I also had 14 invitations to go out on Valentines night (none of which I took up) so all in all I can't really complain.......
MOLESTATION OF HOLIDAY MAKERS
BLATENT GROPING AND BODILY ASSAULT OF FEMALES
UNWANTED ATTENTION AND PHOTOS OF YOUR PARTNER ON THE BEACH
THEFT
BAG SNATCHING
KNIFE ATTACKS IN BOGMELLO
RIP OFF MERCHANTS
BLATENT GREED OF TAXI DRIVERS AND MERCHANTS
POOR ATTITUDE OF TOURIST MINISTERS TOWARDS THE "TOURIST DREGS"
RUBISH AND CR*P ABSOLUTLY EVERYWERE
STENCH
POOR SANITATION
FOOD POISINING
It's been like this for as long as I can remember. In fact if anything I think it has improved (particularly the groping) since I first started visiting Goa.
Maybe as everyone is exploring more they are coming across it more but I assure you it's always been this way.
mardon wrote:More negative but interesting comments. At least we all know what to keep an eye out for?
Do you have anymore happy memories to share to maybe balance the scales a little.
You know Mardon I cant give you a particular memory I just love the whole experience.
If I could sum it up I just love walking the streets/markets/beaches with my 4 year old son. The goans love children and you would think I had a the biggest diamond in the world holding my hand. The locals all know his name and havent a clue of mine, they dont care haha.
I love to people watch too, its amazing.
surfstak,
sorry no questioning I would have just decked him and is mate there on the spot...jxk8
sorry no questioning I would have just decked him and is mate there on the spot...jxk8
Seen a girl in Vagator getting similar treatment once, I was about to come to her aid when she let fly very loudly with her tongue, grabbed the mans arm and nearly ripped it from its socket, within seconds about 5 Goan men waded in and gave him a slapping down 
Well done with the luggage, and good report
Well done with the luggage, and good report
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