I hope you had a great time. I'm looking forward to the report

Well here goes.My second report and to stop you all from getting too bored I will split it up a bit.

We flew from Manchester on 22nd Feb with Mytravel.We had paid for the upgraded seats and were quite impressed with the width and legroom.Plane was a slightly tired airbus A330 with a little bit creaky IFE.Does not bother me as I like to sleep on long journeys but my other half likes the films.I personally like to have a couple of drinks half a sleeping pill and sleep as much as I can.

So much for drinks being complimentary on the upgrade.We found it difficult to get a drink as there was no dedicated cabin crew for premium rather the carts rolled on through to the paying for drinks passengers.The cynics amongst us may say why give the drinks away for free when we can get them in the back to pay.

This however was disproved on the return leg more of which later.The more likely explanation was as this was an evening flight and with so many incidents of drunken behaviour on flights on the forum lately it is more likely the crew were trying to avoid this.

Lucky for me a couple of glasses of wine at the airport had the desired effect and I slept most of the way.Apologies anyone near me who had to suffer my snoring.

We were way ahead of schedule when the captain announced we would have to divert to Abu-Dhabi due to Indian airspace being closed for some military reason.Two hours or so on a parking stand at Abu-Dhabi was not pleasant but lucky me slept a lot.

Eventually got to Dabolim about two and a half hours late and after getting so stressed out last year we were determined not to let the porters get the better of us.So it was we made it to the taxi no problem and Michael Schumacher proceeded to take us to our hotel the Nizmar.

More to follow.Please be patient still got jetlag and arrived home to find the building work still in full flow so we are living in our bedroom.

Regards

Papa

I am the same as you on long haul, wine and a half a sleeping tablet
You take your time with your report- jetlag is awful isn't it?

We arrive at our hotel in Calangute in record time.We were staying at the Nizmar very centrally located.Will post more full report later but we were pleasantly surprised.Shown to a room in the dreaded block 7 but were not at all bothered as it turned out to be very nice.In need of a paint job but we quite liked it.

Headed off to the beach after a quick shower and it felt like coming home.For us Goa is all about the beach.Evening was falling so we strolled along the beach and up into Calangute and ended up having a couple in the public bar.It is many years since we have been to Calangute and I had forgotten the difference to Candolim.Utter mayhem but what a great atmosphere.

A couple of more drinks back at the hotel bar and we had our first meal at Sendras after reading members recommendations.We were not disappointed.The tastiest chicken tikka and butter chicken I have ever had.It was a bit quiet but we did notice it was busier on other nights.By 11.00 we were propping our eyelids up so off to bed.

Our days fell into a familiar pattern.Up for breakfast and then off to the beach.We used NV shack and were well looked after by Ganesh an co.NV shack had their own particular sellers who brought you drinks in return for trying to sell you rubbish.However I ended up having many a good conversation with Camilla.It really makes you realise how lucky we are.Mobile phones cars latest clothes nice houses etc.

One of the great things about the beach is the shops come to you.You can buy just about anything you want it just gets a bit tiring having to bargain the price down.Had to laugh at the little boy who comes along cleaning your sunglasses.He started at 50 rupees I would not budge from 10.Off he trotted in a huff with no sale.

As I have said before we have done all the trips we want to and just spend our days chilling reading sleeping and listening to the mp3 player and basically people watching,just pure heaven.

A couple of things disappointed me, gone are the days of the nicely decorated shacks now they have sponsorship from mobile phone companies and soft drinks manufacturers.Also there is now a Dominos pizza and Subway in town.The price of progress I suppose but how long before the dreaded McDonalds appears.

We were sitting in Bistro one night watching the Arsenal Chelsea game sipping a beer.There were a group of men supposedly watching the game who had obviously been on an all day session.Their conversation consisted of saying whose head they would rip off for dissing them and if that even looks at my missus wrong I will tear him to pieces.It was like listening to a poorly made Brit gangster flick with stereotypical cockney thugs.Pathetic really but another indication of so called progress.

We had friends(more of which later)who ended up at the Dona Tehrzinha all inclusive.And witnessed people at the bar all day on the "free" beer.I mean why bother going all that way?

Gotta go for now but next our favourite restaurants a nice surprise and a near tragedy.Hope you are not too bored.

Great report Papa. More please

Good reporting papa
Looking forward to more

Thanks,Off to the pub in a couple of hours hoping a few beers will finally see of the jet lag.More tomorrow hopefully.

Regards

Papa

were you on the manchester flight papa?

Papa we were on the same flights as you, and the people at the front of the premiar cabin were getting up and helping themselves to so much alcohol that a bloke was sick all down his t shirt and had to sit topless for the rest of the journey.
I was well impresed with the leg room and seat width but didn't feel like we got much better service than in the economy cabin.The stop offa t Abu dhabi terrified my daughter who thought we were going to get shot down when we took off again.I am still really jet lagged so will do a proper holiday report later
ps did you see the three women who were constantly stood up near the front of the cabin?one of them had personal hygeine issues and had her bum in my face for half the journey.some people are so thoughtless

Hi Papa - Enjoying the report - we were on the same flight, routed via Abu Dhabi thanks to Pakistani missile testing.

Agree with you about the yobbo element. I guess every holiday area gets a few but there do seem to be more each year in Goa. It makes me ashamed of being British, especially when the Indian people handle our idiots with such grace.

Two drunken boyos walked out of a bar we were in and just shouted, "pay you tomorrow" and walked off. The waiter looked horrified and scared at the same time but he chased them up the road and got some money off them - brave lad. The yobs then came back arguing and shouting about wanting the right change.....makes you cringe.

It was my 5th time in goa, but the first time for 3 years and i was amazed at the chavvy element who'd seemed to have taken over parts of baga.We actually saw a group of oldish english men having a spitting competition outside one of the bars.

Well that explains the reluctance to serve alcohol.Sometimes it must get really scary for the cabin crew dealing with the dross.For me Its a couple of wines and sleep why some people need to drink until they are sick I just do not know.More later.

Papa

Agree with Papa great post. On the beach in Candolm Bobby's/Spotty's had new "hats" put on their roofs whilst we were there in Jan and now have coca cola roofs - as they got cheaper fridges from Coke for allowing them to do this! Looked so much better with the old fashioned thatch work. Also yes a lot of larger louts turning up - singing, swearing, being obnoxious. Lots of moans about people from a partciular UK city being the worst offenders (no names don't want F telling me off) and on one occassion one of these yobs rode his bike up to the bar in the Bending Bamboos - it was packed at the time. I think unless the Indians/Goans learn to challenge things then this this will get worse and they need to learn to be more assertive and strong when dealing with such issues. I like a drink but that does not mean I have the right to annoy and ruin others enjoyment by behaving like a Waynetta anymore than they do!

Part 3

Well our days settled in to that familiar routine.Breakfast,beach,sun, reading,chilling and people watching.I kept winding my other half up telling her I knew a secret bout a thing or two.She was getting quite agitated until one day into our second week she was lying in the sun just about to fall asleep when a voice exclaimed."I am sure that is Debbie lying there on that sunbed"You could have knocked her down with a feather.Her best friend and sister had turned up unannounced and my secret became apparent.

This of course also impressed the resident sellers whose eyes lit up with rupee signs.Our last four days were spent with our friends eating and drinking just a little bit.Debbies friend kept saying how many mates would fly five thousand miles for a beer with you.Very nice and a really great way to round off our holiday.

To the restaurants now,we went armed with a list but could not possibly get through them all so briefly here are our impressions.When I get time I will post in the restaurant section.

Sendras.Excellent tika and butter chicken and a very friendly owner.

Cactus Sheperds pie.Other half enjoyed the Sheperds pie and I had a curry dish of some description.There was a mix up over the liqueur coffees as they did not understand the concept of a Russian coffee as opposed to an Irish coffee.I ended up with a cocktail of some description which I did not really want but I thought would have been rude to refuse so what the heck.The confusion was then cleared up and I had two Russian coffees.I cannot actually remember getting back to the hotel that night but my other half said that whatever language I was speaking it was not English.On our second visit we were sat at the back with my back facing the roller shutters and my wife facing me.At the end of the meal she noticed two big black rats patrolling the space between the shutters above my head and nearly fainted.I was not bothered as long as they were not going to steal my food.

Inferno:Got to be one of the busiest restaurants in goa and maybe affecting the service and food.Enjoyed it but not as much as last year.

Why not Prayjots.After a few nights of Indian we decided to try this place on members recommendations and really enjoyed fish chips and mushy peas and pie chips and mushy peas.Sadly though made the mistake of thinking one morning to try the full English to break up the monotony of hotel breakfasts.Bad mistake it was truly horrible do not know what made me think I could get decent bacon in Goa.The resident dog seemed to enjoy it though.

Roma.Ate here twice and food and service impeccable on both occasions.Had our last night here with chums splashed out imported wine lots of drinks food liqueurs etc and a bill of only 4400 rupees.Would have cost 200 pound here.

After seven.Again two visits and again not disappointed. Consistently high standards of food and service.

Molly Malones.I know I know,but sometimes you just need a nice bit of braised beef.First time excellent,second time service so bad I nearly walked out.Also the only place I have ever been to in Goa when I was asked to pay for my drinks at the bar as we were served.

Eats Meets West.We had a fantastic night here with our friends well fed watered and entertained by some of the friendliest staff in Goa.

Really apart from the bad breakfast we did not have one bad meal.I put that down to the many hours of research on this forum.Thanks to you all.

Have got a few more little tales to impart nut do not want to bore you so for now that is it.

Regards

Papa

Bore us by all means ejoying every minute. Dont stop now its like being told last orders when you.ve just got the taste

Part 4

For our second week I hired a bike 200 rupees a day and when our friends arrived I took to toddling off for the afternoon for a little ride leaving the girls sunning themselves.I came back one afternoon to find my other half as white as a sheet and everyone very reluctant to tell me what had happened.

Turns out they all decided to go for a swim together.Problem is they got separated and my poor wife who is not a strong swimmer got caught in an undertow and carried out.She was completely powerless to stop herself and could only spot one of the girls at the waters edge.As you all know shouting against the noise of the waves is very unlikely to be heard.Fortunately Caroline spotted her and even more fortunately six stone Caroline was a former swimming champ and lifeguard.

Without any regard for herself she swam out and dragged my wife in.Lucky girl you may say.I say if I had been there the furthest out we ever go is up to our waste knowing full well the dangers of the sea in Goa .Regardless she owes her life to one very brave woman and I just could not imagine having to make that phone call home.She spent the next few days looking out to sea with a very thoughtful look on her face.A very harsh lesson learnt by all.

Overall we found Calangute to be cheaper than Candolim much more manic but we rather liked that and I think we will definitely go back there next year.Dissapointed by some of the behaviour we saw and amazed at the graciousness that the Indians showed despite it.I do wonder how long it will be before they change.

One other thing I remember I must pass on and it regards my own stupidity.I must be the least security conscious person on this planet.Always leaving doors unlocked my mobile lying around money all over the place you get the picture.Anyway needless to say I did not have a safety deposit box at the hotel trusting to the fact it has never happened to me.I took out one night over a hundred pounds to change into rupees.This in itself is strange because I never take much cash to Goa rather use my Nationwide cash card.However due to a manic few days before we left I did not have time to bank the cash I had.

Did not need to change the money that night and coming back to the room after a few beers just put it on the table just inside the door of the room.To compound this stupidity we then got up in the morning and went out for the day without even remembering the money.Needless to say it was not there when we got back.I cannot blame the room boy because all week I had left rupees lying around my watch camera etc.I put it down to the fact that when the room boys clean the room they leave the door open and it would have been so easy for anyone to reach in and take it.

Needless to say I was absolutely furious, not with the Hotel but myself.I did not even bother reporting it because there was only one person to blame and that was me.Even if it was a member of the hotel staff what temptation to leave that sort of money around for someone who earns a hundred rupees a day.Can you imagine how the conversation would have gone if I had reported it."So Sir,you say you left the money right on the table by the door.You do not have a safety deposit box?"

Harsh lesson number two.Anyway that's me for now.Just one more little bit airport and flight home and that will be it.

As long as your wife was ok thats the main thing, but it would give you a right fright.
Regards the money, I agree with you, dont think it would have been one of the room boys, but more likely someone else walking past and seeing the money lying on the table. What a pity tho
Looking forward to hearing the next bit of your holiday.

good report gutted bout the money! u never think things like that wil happen 2 u!

We know the NV shack and Camilla well and have bought many sarongs from her and no doubt she will try and sell us a few more when we go at the end of March. Our reason for going to the shack is to see Sangita who has done our massages for the last 8 years. Can you confirm she is still there please? As the NV shack is quite a walk from our usual shack I would hate to think I have walked all that way and she wasn't there. We originally met her at our usual shack but after 2/3 years she moved to NV.