Hi,
Got back from goa on tuesday, and we spent the majority of our time in calangute. We found a couple (although we were only there a week!) But it was so strange to walk up and down the beach and not see any of the regular shacks. As we were leaving some of the regular shack owners were putting beds on the beach, but some were charging 50 rupees per bed! even though they were providing food and drinks from the wooden huts. We wondered if this were what would happen in the rest of the season. There are lots of rumours going around, eg. one long road from singquerim to baga, with hotels on one side and the hotel shacks on the beach, which is just one of the rumours. Also about guests houses 250 mitres from the beach being bulldozed down, there is just so much talk going on at the moment. But speaking personally I am expecting to be back on 27th Decmeber and if the beach shacks are not up by then, it is going to be impossible to get a bed on the beach, and that is one of the things I always think of when I am back home, on the bed, on the beach listening to the waters, looking for dolphins and talking to the locals who work in the shack, and who sell their wares on the beach. I often thought that the tourists would ruin goa, but I think the goans are doing a really good job for themselves. I feel so sorry for the locals who rely on us to go, ..
do people travel all the way to goa just to sit at the shacks all day,
not intentionally, but when we get there that is what we do!
we meet friends that we rarely see at home and also friends who live there which seems to fill the days up without venturing afar.
Neither of us have a great desire to travel into the hinterlands nor spend 4-5 days travelling around.
The greatest respect to those who do want to see other parts of Goa but for me the beach and occaisional trips to Panjim and Mapusar just about make up my holiday.
And surely that is the point..... a holiday is a personal thing and should be your own decision without other people trying to impose their preferncess on you nor appearing to ridicule you for your choice.
I know of some people who very rarely leave the hotel pool area during the daytime, I don't understand it but it is their choice.
Anyway if we ALL got on trains to wherever think how crowded they would be
I often thought that the tourists would ruin goa, but I think the goans are doing a really good job for themselves
Very true.
Yes I'd heard of the 250 metres ruling. There are so many 'constructions' on the strip within the 250 metres... imagine if they bulldozed the lot! That along with the River Princess.... carnage!
Getting this back ontopic
I will be very surprised if people can't get sunbeds. I've been there before the season officially starts and even then there were beds to be had. Some from the permanent shacks but all you had to do was to pick where you wanted a sunbed and there was always someone there to get you one. You could also easily get drinks and food. That obviously isn't ideal for everyone but it won't entirely ruin your holiday.
I will be very surprised if people can't get sunbeds. I've been there before the season officially starts and even then there were beds to be had. Some from the permanent shacks but all you had to do was to pick where you wanted a sunbed and there was always someone there to get you one. You could also easily get drinks and food. That obviously isn't ideal for everyone but it won't entirely ruin your holiday.
hi,
I have to disagree with you, when we were there last week on one of the permanent beach shacks they were turning people away as they had no more beds, as this was last week!
I have to disagree with you, when we were there last week on one of the permanent beach shacks they were turning people away as they had no more beds, as this was last week!
So are people walking off the beach because they can't get a sunbed?
Yes, they did walk off, the shack boys said they could wait in the shack until one became available, but they didn't wait. Alot of people are buying their own umbrellas and laying on their towels on the beach. But what I did notice is that alot of russian tourists are on the beds but not buying anything, maybe a drink or two, but no food (eating their own). but I think they were charged for the beds, whereas we eat and drank at the shack, so no charge!
We always go around Christmas time, and a few years ago, we said how different it must be out of season with no beach shacks, just a deserted beach.
Didn't think I'd actually get to see it though!!!
Didn't think I'd actually get to see it though!!!
So are people walking off the beach because they can't get a sunbed?
remarkable!! are we just spoilt?? i remember when a towell was enough..and still is in many resorts around the globe... what to do!? 
having said that just back from the shack we use...ok yes its not on the actual actual baech yet but as near as and had a great evening ....
sat in a chair round a table with friends, eating .... and drinking G&T... 
or was it coffee???chilly
I know many people have their favourite shack, I do use them sometimes, but can just as easily enjoy a quiet beach, with not a sunbed in sight, just me and my towel 
xx lassi
xx lassi
You're a bit less feminine than I imagined Lassigirl!!!
me too!!
Been down the beach today and there seems to be an air of "sod this for a game of soldiers" and the shack owners are starting to build sun shades where the shacks should be - no walls but a roof and some have put a couple of tables and chairs under them. Lots more beds than we have seen before now.
When we came off the beach there were two carriers parked and they were unloading baskets of kitchen equipment and taking them towards the beach so looks like they are going to try and get going without permission. They did this once before and were taken down so will have to wait and see what happens.
When we came off the beach there were two carriers parked and they were unloading baskets of kitchen equipment and taking them towards the beach so looks like they are going to try and get going without permission. They did this once before and were taken down so will have to wait and see what happens.
good luck to them i say 
We hear the saying "it's their way"....well "it's their way" that has just about ruined tourism here and thats the truth of it. How many people are going to book Goa for Oct/Nov or even december next year...many will now think twice.
I know some people say it doesn't matter about the shacks but for the majority of tourists their holliday evloves around it...meeting friends,eating and just chilling out.
Do they want tourists here?....i really don't know,lots of reasons to think they don't.
I know some people say it doesn't matter about the shacks but for the majority of tourists their holliday evloves around it...meeting friends,eating and just chilling out.
Do they want tourists here?....i really don't know,lots of reasons to think they don't.
It would seem that not everyone is missing the shacks
Shackless perfection - http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=30183&cid=13
xx lassi
Shackless perfection - http://oheraldo.in/pagedetails.asp?nid=30183&cid=13
xx lassi
I am sure if things remain like this Goa will attract a better clientele who enjoy peace and space.
Not quite sure I agree with this quote from the article. It seems to suggest that it is an inferior type of clientele that enjoy sitting on a sunbed on a busy beach attached to a beach shack.
I work hard all year so does my OH. We love to lie on a sunbed, outside a shack and do nothing all day but people watch and chat to people we've never met before and may never meet again. That's how we relax. If the shacks didn't exist I'm not sure that we'd keep returning to Goa as shack life is part of our holiday. We don't always want peace and space. The article suggests that because this is what we enjoy we're perhaps an inferior clientele. Not too happy about that.
I work hard all year so does my OH. We love to lie on a sunbed, outside a shack and do nothing all day but people watch and chat to people we've never met before and may never meet again. That's how we relax. If the shacks didn't exist I'm not sure that we'd keep returning to Goa as shack life is part of our holiday.
Could not have said it better myself.However we are all different and all get different things out of our Goan holiday.
Me I say live and let live.I cannot be bothered shopping and doing all the market stuff but if thats your holiday good for you.
As for attracting a better clientele I am not sure if they mean more affluent or better educated.
If they want to attract a more affluent clientele then they will have to.....well sorry the list is too long.If the letter writer means better educated or of a higher social class the she needs to get a life and join the 21st century.
Papa
I also was going to post the same comments but couldn't get the site to work..... seems OK now though
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