well everyone, have ben back for a week now and am missing the sun although not the heat. ive done the photos so i thought id reminisced enough to put a trip report on.
we checked in for our monarch flight. got the extra-leg rooms that we had booked, all was well until i decided to upset the apple cart and wanted to upgrade.
a lovely lady helped us out and upgraded us for £60 each...bargain.
flight was good but long and on time and the stop off in bahrain was much needed...the inflight entertainment left much to be desired though, but i didnt go on holiday to watch tv.
we got to dabolim early before sunrise, got through immigration in about 2 mins and as luck would have it, luggage took agaes, but they arrived.
the apparent usual scrum from the porters ensued.....i just kept a tight hold of my bag, but other half let his guard down and was too polite to say no...oh well its only a quid!

on the bus we (and 2 mossies) travelled to the north to our hotel..sun villagae...took some lovely pics of sunrise and saw my first elephant up close. well i could go home happy already!

the hotel...
check in was a nightmare...we had to wait at least an hour and a half to get a room, there was us...2 girls and a young family...god knows how long they waited, but thankfully after that the hotel was great and we couldnt fault them...not even the frequent power cuts...it all added to the fun!!!
but i wouldnt go all inclusive again...we only ate dinner at the hotel twice out of 14 days, although every day at 4pm there was tea and cakes...yummmy except every day a different flavour of cake...everyday it tasted the same...made me giggle.

the trips...
we went with johns in candolim to grande isalnd...ok but the dolphin spotting was the best part, the snorkelling was pointless, but it created memories and some good piccies.
we also went to old goan and panjim in one day, we went on our own with a taxi driver who was happy to take our money but neglected to tell us nowhere was open on a sunday...and tried to take us into his familys shop...tha didnt last long i tell you.
we did mandrem...too quiet. we are people watchers and preferred livlier beaches. but we did see what a cahew looked like on the tree which we were very surprised at...

the beaches...
mandrem...too quiet
candolim....great waves, monicos beach shack...chicken and pineapple and butter chicken..yummy and the two little boys from there, who sold us bananas every day...lol
calangute....just walked along the shore to baga as it was far too busy at night, but the sunset was lovely.
baga...our fave beach...oceanic shack with subbo,raj and robin and the old guy who doesnt do much else was the best shack...sofriendly and lovely...great food too. miss them all now!

the resorts....
wouldnt stay at sun village although the staff are great and friendly as all inclusive was wasted on us. would prefer to go b&b in calangute as it was nice and busy!

the best bits...
dolphin spotting...my first time in the wild
elephant spotting...again only 2 foot away was a sight to behold.
anjuna market...the bartering, the colours, the smells, the fake cockney accents from the ladies on the stall and so funny how they give each other a very english name...we ran into so many sonyas etc....look pout for the young girl on the stall directly in front of the first cafe you come too...hilarious,
our tattoos...we had tattoos done on the last night 5 hours before our flight froma aguy in calangute who works in bolton during the monsoon...great guy and so patient with me when i threw up with the pain...wimp!
the people,,,,enough said.
and my tan.....lovely.
the jewellry we had made from islam and raj..we got my wedding ring made and had some pics taken of it being made which will look lovely in my wedding album.
indian sweets,,,,,,,yummy yummy yummy. i miss them?!
and the cheap and so beautiful shoppig we got...extra case next time too....

the not so great bits...
on arrival into goa i was quite freaked out by the extreme wealth mixed in with the extreme poverty, but it works for them and lets face it a home, no matter what is a good thing.
the rubbish...didnt expect it and wasnt sure what to think to be honest.
the heat...will go again but earlier on i think.

finally the end of the hols came and it was time to go home....i still had to laugh when we got to dabolim and the queue outside the airport was huge...and it took 3 people at least to do one job....
the flight was longer going home and we had extra leg room this time but the seats were too narrow, but as i work for an airline i was expecting this.
didnt get any sleep though as i just watch the world and passengers go by...
back in blighty in the cold..and scouring t'internet wanting to go back....

essentials for hols in goa...
only 1 sarong, a few bikinis, shorts and vest tops....i pair flip flops..everything and i mean everything else can be bought out there,and some good books..i got through 5..no point in bringng them back though....and a big friendly smile.
non-essentials for goa....
make up, trainers for ladies, smart shoes..although mine were flat, travel iron, a big torch...take a small one,hairdryer..pointless hair dries in minutes.....

pointless things i noticed...
why oh why did most people in my hotel stay by the pool all day for 2 weeks, eat in the hotel every damn night and drink drink drink till they cant see straight....go to spain.....please and leave the rest of us in peace.

anyways...had a geat time and loadsa helpful things on here ensured i was ready for the ear cleaning people amongst others.....xxx