Love reading trip reports
Really enjoying your report, keep it coming.
Certainly not glazing over.After being back for a while it is so nice to feel like you are back there.Looking forward to more.
Papa
Papa
Thursday morning, and we have decided to visit Panjim. Last year with did this with Daytrippers and excellent value it was too ( seven quid I think, including a tour of Panjim, free time for shopping, and then the sunset cruise which was a huge laugh. The Indian tourists from the interior (or at least the men and boys) certainly know how to let their hair down on the dance floor. This time we were hoping to find an afternoon cruise going up river, with perhaps a meal. First a stop at Rocky's to retrieve our twenty pounds and to put down a rather more realistic deposit by card. Just before we leave he brings out a stunningly beautiful ring and places it on the table in front of us. He says nothing other than to insist we go out into the sunlight and for Jill to try it on. Girls, it was absolutely beautiful, and was the engagement ring I wish I could have afforded thirty two years ago. We went back inside and Rocky fiddled about with his calculator and held up a price ‘for my eyes only'. Well to say I was flabbergasted is no exaggeration, although I think Rocky must have mis-read my expression as he immediately knocked another thirty pounds off stating that this was an end of season special. Well this could have been the biggest dollop of Cow Poo ever but I was already hooked! I knew I wouldn't be able to buy it without Jill knowing the price so I said I would think about and he told his assistant to put it in the safe and mark it ‘for Jill and Kevin'.
We returned to the hotel to put our cards back in the safe then got a taxi to the ferry apposite Panjim, another great bit of fun and worth doing, I don't know how they get so many people and motorcycles on and off without accidents. We walked along to the ‘port' area and were disappointed to find that all trips either left early in the morning or the evening, however there was a Friday all day trip up river past old Goa to a spice plantation so we decided to give up and return to Panjim the following day and do that. Went back to Calungute and sought out our shack from the first day (Aggies) and spent the day there although a scheduled ‘Police visit' meant there were no spare sunbeds. Perhaps it would have been better if we had moved on but we were hot and tired, so stayed put. Alarm bells should have rung when both our first choices were off the menu and they had run out of Kings - I now believe they were ‘winding down' and my prawn dish was perhaps a little past its sell-by date as by the evening I had the beginnings of a major stomach upset - I shall spare you most of the details!
Returned to the hotel and discovered our latest ‘visitor' was a beautifully sculptured butterfly - it was almost a shame to rip its wings off to dry ourselves after our shower.
Our choice for the evening was going to be Sweet Chilli. This wasn't on our original list (compiled of course from HT'ers recommendations) but was from talking to an English family on the beach who advised us that it ‘was just along from Candolim' so took a tuk-tuk and asked him to drop us at the Elephant Shop. This was a new area for us and it nice just to stroll along past various restaurants looking for Sweet Chilli. After about half an hour (pleasantly spent I might add) I asked a few people for directions and found that we were about two kilometres away! I was already feeling a little dickey by this time so changed our plans and headed back the other way. We were almost tempted by Republic of Noodles with its ‘Red Guard' on duty, but were enticed into Floyds which turned out to be another good choice - nice food and very friendly staff.
Well I have to say I spent a very uncomfortable night and next morning felt absolutely dreadful. Jill went down to breakfast on her own and brought back some plain toast which I managed to eat about two mouthfuls of. Like the trooper I am I decided to soldier on and we took a taxi into Panjim with me hoping the driver didn't hit too many bumps. We arrived in plenty of time to catch the boat although our taxi dropped us off on the wrong side of the road leaving us with a scary ten minutes trying to negotiate the badly placed zebra crossing. Luckily there was a Zebra crossing so we just crossed with him.
The boat was not the one advertised in the picture(!) and looked a little tired but we embarked safely and headed up river for our destination. Our guide was very informative and easy to understand, and one of the crew came round with a small snack and a glass of fizzy lemon which is exactly what I needed. Unfortunately they then lost the key to the drinks cabinet!
Old Goa looks fantastic from the river and Jill and I are resolved to go there next visit, however onwards and inwards and it was fascinating to watch the river traffic - it only took a wave to get the crew of boats large and small waving back.
After about two and a half hours the boat pulled into the side and a short walk past a cricket pitch brought us to the road. The locals were playing the Police and as you can imagine I found this quite arresting. A five kilometre car journey brought us to the spice plantation and we joined a highly entertaining (and leisurely!) tour around the plantation during which we learnt a lot. This was followed by a delicious choice of Vegetarian or non-vegetarian buffet served on palm leaves which unfortunately I was only able to pick at (the food, not the palm leaves). After a few fruit juices I managed to drink my first beer for about eighteen hours - a holiday record for me I think!
We returned to Panjim at about five and did a bit of shopping, with me topping up my supply of Goan summer shirts and Jill buying some Pashminas at the department store, another fun thing to do as everybody fusses around you.
Back to the hotel and as we hadn't taken our beach towels with us today the room boy had created a large multi-coloured crab using four towels and the bath mat - Brilliant!
Patience Pop-Pickers, stay tuned"¦
We returned to the hotel to put our cards back in the safe then got a taxi to the ferry apposite Panjim, another great bit of fun and worth doing, I don't know how they get so many people and motorcycles on and off without accidents. We walked along to the ‘port' area and were disappointed to find that all trips either left early in the morning or the evening, however there was a Friday all day trip up river past old Goa to a spice plantation so we decided to give up and return to Panjim the following day and do that. Went back to Calungute and sought out our shack from the first day (Aggies) and spent the day there although a scheduled ‘Police visit' meant there were no spare sunbeds. Perhaps it would have been better if we had moved on but we were hot and tired, so stayed put. Alarm bells should have rung when both our first choices were off the menu and they had run out of Kings - I now believe they were ‘winding down' and my prawn dish was perhaps a little past its sell-by date as by the evening I had the beginnings of a major stomach upset - I shall spare you most of the details!
Returned to the hotel and discovered our latest ‘visitor' was a beautifully sculptured butterfly - it was almost a shame to rip its wings off to dry ourselves after our shower.
Our choice for the evening was going to be Sweet Chilli. This wasn't on our original list (compiled of course from HT'ers recommendations) but was from talking to an English family on the beach who advised us that it ‘was just along from Candolim' so took a tuk-tuk and asked him to drop us at the Elephant Shop. This was a new area for us and it nice just to stroll along past various restaurants looking for Sweet Chilli. After about half an hour (pleasantly spent I might add) I asked a few people for directions and found that we were about two kilometres away! I was already feeling a little dickey by this time so changed our plans and headed back the other way. We were almost tempted by Republic of Noodles with its ‘Red Guard' on duty, but were enticed into Floyds which turned out to be another good choice - nice food and very friendly staff.
Well I have to say I spent a very uncomfortable night and next morning felt absolutely dreadful. Jill went down to breakfast on her own and brought back some plain toast which I managed to eat about two mouthfuls of. Like the trooper I am I decided to soldier on and we took a taxi into Panjim with me hoping the driver didn't hit too many bumps. We arrived in plenty of time to catch the boat although our taxi dropped us off on the wrong side of the road leaving us with a scary ten minutes trying to negotiate the badly placed zebra crossing. Luckily there was a Zebra crossing so we just crossed with him.
The boat was not the one advertised in the picture(!) and looked a little tired but we embarked safely and headed up river for our destination. Our guide was very informative and easy to understand, and one of the crew came round with a small snack and a glass of fizzy lemon which is exactly what I needed. Unfortunately they then lost the key to the drinks cabinet!
Old Goa looks fantastic from the river and Jill and I are resolved to go there next visit, however onwards and inwards and it was fascinating to watch the river traffic - it only took a wave to get the crew of boats large and small waving back.
After about two and a half hours the boat pulled into the side and a short walk past a cricket pitch brought us to the road. The locals were playing the Police and as you can imagine I found this quite arresting. A five kilometre car journey brought us to the spice plantation and we joined a highly entertaining (and leisurely!) tour around the plantation during which we learnt a lot. This was followed by a delicious choice of Vegetarian or non-vegetarian buffet served on palm leaves which unfortunately I was only able to pick at (the food, not the palm leaves). After a few fruit juices I managed to drink my first beer for about eighteen hours - a holiday record for me I think!
We returned to Panjim at about five and did a bit of shopping, with me topping up my supply of Goan summer shirts and Jill buying some Pashminas at the department store, another fun thing to do as everybody fusses around you.
Back to the hotel and as we hadn't taken our beach towels with us today the room boy had created a large multi-coloured crab using four towels and the bath mat - Brilliant!
Patience Pop-Pickers, stay tuned"¦
Keep it comming Kev, looking forward to the next part. 
sounds like a good idea for a day out the next time we go. Great report!
Great report!
I'm enjoying your trip report, I love the way we get a little at the time, keep it coming (hope it was a long holiday!! )
)
Great.. Really enjoying your report..
Our penultimate evening and we had previously decided on East meets West, another restaurant that we had visited last year, however having discovered that the owner was now in Greece sorting out his summer business (Shipping magnate?) we selected another of our favourites from last year - the Italian just along the Baga Road from the head of Tito's Road. Strangely last year we sat down at about eight o'clock on our last Friday and ten minutes after we ordered there was Donner, Blitzen, and about thirty minutes of heavy rain causing the waiters to re-locate us under the canopy of the bar. I say strangely because exactly the same thing happened this time, on both occasions the only rain we had in Goa!
It was very hot & humid, especially as we were now well away from any breeze coming in from the road and out came the electric fans upon which there was another flash of lightening and the power went off! This was followed by a sudden stench of sewage which my delicate stomach started to rebel against. Power having been restored, and the fans back in action blowing the smell away, I was a little mindful of whether it was coming from the kitchen or outside"¦ Feeling a little feverish I was now shivering under the blast of the fan but Jill was as cool as a cucumber - we had to re-position the fan behind her in order to give me some shelter. We had both ordered Brushetta to start and it arrived with one portion being enough for about four people. I managed one piece, and once again picked my way through my main course which was Penne Arrabiatta - probably a bad choice under the circumstances. With Jill's meal somewhat lacking in garlic this was probably our most disappointing meal although not really anyone's fault.
Saturday morning broke bright and clear and we have decided to visit Cocoa Beach after hearing another couple raving about it (eavesdropping again!). I skipped breakfast for the second day running, making do with a couple of fruit juices, and we got a taxi from outside the hotel (400 rupees return - ‘just ask the shack owner to phone and I'll come and pick you up'). Now we don't know what we were expecting but were quite surprised to find the sea up to the edge of the shack and no sunbeds out. Our shack boy ‘Henry' told us that the tide was on the turn and he would be laying out some beds Shorty. I said "don't call me Shorty" (OK, he didn't really - I just though I'd try and slip a joke in).
Henry turned out to be very knowledgeable, with a keen sense of humour, telling us quite a few stories including one about an Indian tourist who asked why he allowed ‘the white people' to sleep outside his shack all day when they clearly could not afford any accommodation. We both kicked of with a Fizzy Lemon which was far too sharp for me and very gritty at the bottom causing me to dispense with the straw and leave a few millimetres in the bottom to prevent sucking up anymore sand. I mentioned this to Jill when she suggested another, and got the reply "Well stir the sugar in you fool!" and sure enough the drink turned out to be mineral water with freshly squeezed Lemon juice and sugar - delicious once you knew. I was hooked and had about five more. Lunch found me feeling better with a renewed appetite and we both opted for what were essentially chicken goujons, and were excellent washed down with my first beer of the day - Hurray!. A nice long afternoon snooze followed and we awoke to find that our taxi driver had returned to the beach and had been waiting for about an hour for us to wake up - he didn't seem to be very concerned though!
Back to the hotel to discover a large Peacock on the bed with Jill exclaiming "the cheeky beggar's taken my skirt out of the wardrobe to make the fantail!" only to quickly realise that it was a hotel sheet strewn with petals. A nice little note accompanied it wishing us a good journey ‘back to the cold'.
On to Rocky's to pick up Jill's ‘tom' (jewellery for you non-Cockney's). It was exactly as promised, and yes, I did buy the ring but you had already guessed that hadn't you!
We had decided to ape last years ‘last night' with a visit to Mackie's Market and an early return to bed due to the 04:45 airport pickup, however we fortuitously bumped into the Rep who had been searching for us to apologetically announce a two and a half hour delay and a new pick-up time of 07:15 - yippee!
Bought a couple of shirts at Mackie's, but we go more for the entertainment and food, and once again were not disappointed. A very good ‘covers' band plus a fire eater and ‘martial arts' show (who we saw last year) kept us well entertained and this with Tikka Masala & rice, Mixed Noodles, and a shared Nan for under 400 rupees made for a cheap night. They also serve Kingfisher Strong with the brown label which I have never seen sold anywhere else other that Mackie's - does anyone know if it's available in England?
Sunday morning and a wild scramble to make the coach followed by a slow drive to the airport. Just before we arrived it was announced that there would be a further three hour delay and that we should check our luggage in and First Choice would provide coaches to a nearby resort where we could wait in more congenial surroundings. Due to our uncomfortable flight out I asked the check -in staff for a window & aisle seat and this was confirmed and boarding cards issued accordingly. After a fairly short journey the coach delivered us to the VERY nice looking Bogmalo Resort and despite being told that we would be issued with just a bottle of water each the plentiful Reps guided us to the breakfast room and afterwards kept us fully informed on the progress of our plane until it was time to return to the airport. Emigration at Diabolical was just as slow as last year with lines crossing backwards and forwards for no earthly reason. A rep for one airline directed all her remaining passengers to a newly opened desk due to the imminent departure of their flight only for the desk to close again. They were still queuing there, and their plane still waiting on the runway, when we got through our final checks! I was looking forward to passing the time by counting the number times we were asked to show our passports but disappointingly this was only nine times instead of last year's thirteen times.
Finally on to the plane to discover that our ‘window seat' was right at the back and didn't have a window at all, furthermore we were soon to find out that the seat reclined by about two inches at maximum. At this point I have to say that First Choice's representatives both on the ground and in the air were excellent and faced with a full plane the stewardess's really couldn't have done anything for us other than a free drink, but we will be complaining to head office now that I've got this report over and done with.
Well that's it (Thank goodness for that, Ed) Hope you enjoyed it, and let's all look forward to next season when we can all return to our favourite place. Thanks for all your kind comments.
Kevin & Jill
It was very hot & humid, especially as we were now well away from any breeze coming in from the road and out came the electric fans upon which there was another flash of lightening and the power went off! This was followed by a sudden stench of sewage which my delicate stomach started to rebel against. Power having been restored, and the fans back in action blowing the smell away, I was a little mindful of whether it was coming from the kitchen or outside"¦ Feeling a little feverish I was now shivering under the blast of the fan but Jill was as cool as a cucumber - we had to re-position the fan behind her in order to give me some shelter. We had both ordered Brushetta to start and it arrived with one portion being enough for about four people. I managed one piece, and once again picked my way through my main course which was Penne Arrabiatta - probably a bad choice under the circumstances. With Jill's meal somewhat lacking in garlic this was probably our most disappointing meal although not really anyone's fault.
Saturday morning broke bright and clear and we have decided to visit Cocoa Beach after hearing another couple raving about it (eavesdropping again!). I skipped breakfast for the second day running, making do with a couple of fruit juices, and we got a taxi from outside the hotel (400 rupees return - ‘just ask the shack owner to phone and I'll come and pick you up'). Now we don't know what we were expecting but were quite surprised to find the sea up to the edge of the shack and no sunbeds out. Our shack boy ‘Henry' told us that the tide was on the turn and he would be laying out some beds Shorty. I said "don't call me Shorty" (OK, he didn't really - I just though I'd try and slip a joke in).
Henry turned out to be very knowledgeable, with a keen sense of humour, telling us quite a few stories including one about an Indian tourist who asked why he allowed ‘the white people' to sleep outside his shack all day when they clearly could not afford any accommodation. We both kicked of with a Fizzy Lemon which was far too sharp for me and very gritty at the bottom causing me to dispense with the straw and leave a few millimetres in the bottom to prevent sucking up anymore sand. I mentioned this to Jill when she suggested another, and got the reply "Well stir the sugar in you fool!" and sure enough the drink turned out to be mineral water with freshly squeezed Lemon juice and sugar - delicious once you knew. I was hooked and had about five more. Lunch found me feeling better with a renewed appetite and we both opted for what were essentially chicken goujons, and were excellent washed down with my first beer of the day - Hurray!. A nice long afternoon snooze followed and we awoke to find that our taxi driver had returned to the beach and had been waiting for about an hour for us to wake up - he didn't seem to be very concerned though!
Back to the hotel to discover a large Peacock on the bed with Jill exclaiming "the cheeky beggar's taken my skirt out of the wardrobe to make the fantail!" only to quickly realise that it was a hotel sheet strewn with petals. A nice little note accompanied it wishing us a good journey ‘back to the cold'.
On to Rocky's to pick up Jill's ‘tom' (jewellery for you non-Cockney's). It was exactly as promised, and yes, I did buy the ring but you had already guessed that hadn't you!
We had decided to ape last years ‘last night' with a visit to Mackie's Market and an early return to bed due to the 04:45 airport pickup, however we fortuitously bumped into the Rep who had been searching for us to apologetically announce a two and a half hour delay and a new pick-up time of 07:15 - yippee!
Bought a couple of shirts at Mackie's, but we go more for the entertainment and food, and once again were not disappointed. A very good ‘covers' band plus a fire eater and ‘martial arts' show (who we saw last year) kept us well entertained and this with Tikka Masala & rice, Mixed Noodles, and a shared Nan for under 400 rupees made for a cheap night. They also serve Kingfisher Strong with the brown label which I have never seen sold anywhere else other that Mackie's - does anyone know if it's available in England?
Sunday morning and a wild scramble to make the coach followed by a slow drive to the airport. Just before we arrived it was announced that there would be a further three hour delay and that we should check our luggage in and First Choice would provide coaches to a nearby resort where we could wait in more congenial surroundings. Due to our uncomfortable flight out I asked the check -in staff for a window & aisle seat and this was confirmed and boarding cards issued accordingly. After a fairly short journey the coach delivered us to the VERY nice looking Bogmalo Resort and despite being told that we would be issued with just a bottle of water each the plentiful Reps guided us to the breakfast room and afterwards kept us fully informed on the progress of our plane until it was time to return to the airport. Emigration at Diabolical was just as slow as last year with lines crossing backwards and forwards for no earthly reason. A rep for one airline directed all her remaining passengers to a newly opened desk due to the imminent departure of their flight only for the desk to close again. They were still queuing there, and their plane still waiting on the runway, when we got through our final checks! I was looking forward to passing the time by counting the number times we were asked to show our passports but disappointingly this was only nine times instead of last year's thirteen times.
Finally on to the plane to discover that our ‘window seat' was right at the back and didn't have a window at all, furthermore we were soon to find out that the seat reclined by about two inches at maximum. At this point I have to say that First Choice's representatives both on the ground and in the air were excellent and faced with a full plane the stewardess's really couldn't have done anything for us other than a free drink, but we will be complaining to head office now that I've got this report over and done with.
Well that's it (Thank goodness for that, Ed) Hope you enjoyed it, and let's all look forward to next season when we can all return to our favourite place. Thanks for all your kind comments.
Kevin & Jill
Great report Kevin, really enjoyed reading it. 
Great report, very enjoyable and humorous. Glad you enjoyed your holiday and were able to keep your sense of humour when things went a bit wrong instead of whinging about it 
Liz
Liz
Hi Kevin and Jill
Loved your report you certainly crammed a lot in,
glad you had a great time.
Did you return on the 9th March,we did and went to the Bogmola Beach for a few hours as well
Pat
Loved your report you certainly crammed a lot in,
glad you had a great time.
Did you return on the 9th March,we did and went to the Bogmola Beach for a few hours as well
Pat
Thank you for a very entertaining report
Great report ! 
Most enjoyable Kevin, thanks a lot.
Its even better reading a report when the season is over, brings back lots of nice memories.
Its even better reading a report when the season is over, brings back lots of nice memories.
Great report. Thanks. It was like reading a good book that you didn't want to put down. Are we getting a sequel? 
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