Returned from Goa on Saturday. Overall had a great time. I'm glad to be back and have retuned feeling quite sad. Not because I've come home, but because of some of the attitudes in Goa.

The flight with Monarch was fine. No delays just the usual cramped long flight. Arrived at Goa cleared customes etc quickly and hopped in a taxi. As expected the girls (who have never been before) were completely gob smacked and proceeded to cry at the site of the hotel. They were put in a different one to us as they booked last minute. (IMHO their hotel was fine they just weren't used to Goan standards). We arrived at our hotel (Hotel De Braganza) and I was a little down as it was no where near as nice as the Renton Manor where we stayed last year. We were also not put in the C block that we pre booked (Many thanks for trying anyway Pam). Think we were in S. It was old and dated but the layout was pretty good for our large group. The girls checked out their hotel without even staying a night and came to stay with us. Hotel put extra beds in each living area for 200rs a night. Once this was sorted they cheered up and really started to fall for the chilled out goan way of life. (was a little insulted when the hotel made the girls sign some paper to say the hotel was not responsible if we (as in the lads who they have known for 8years) harmed them in anyway. I'm not going to say anymore on the matter but we were certainly not the people they should have been worrying about!

Once this was sorted and we'd arranged our mopeds we headed strait to Baga beach's Bistro Shack. I was greeted with a lovely warm welcome from all the friends I've made over the past years. Spent the day on the beach chilling out and recovering from the flight. That night we ate at Indian Spice. The food was horrendous and they may as well have had a black and white striped shirts and masks on, the completely robbed us and I still cant work out how they did it (even after finding out tax was added afterwards). I paid 850rs for a Vodka and Coke, Water, and Chicken kebab with rice. Every single person on the table paid at lease 300rs over what their bill should have been. Left feeling like a mug and swore never to make the same mistake again.

I wont report on what we did each day as we crammed in a fair bit for a two week holiday while trying to organise 11 very unorganised people so I'll do paragraphs on the remainder on the holiday.

Baga
Only ate at Bistro's. Love this shack and all the people who work their (along with the long term brits who frequent the shack). Baga seems the safer of the Northern Beaches.

Calangue
Will do my own secton on this as I have a lot to say but will post later. Its is far from good though

Little Vagator
Used to be my favourite beach, now ruined by sellers. For the moment we got their we were surrounded by at least 20 sellers who didn't leave all day. I even climbed on a sun lounger and screamed for them to go away. As they were all females I couldn't physically move them on. Subsequently everyone hated this beach. On the other hand 9bar was great. Had some nice pizza and enjoyed watching the sun set too some goan trance.

Anjuna
Spooky.. As per the news storys very quiet and quite sad place to be. Funny we were offered Coke, E's and Opium the second we got off our bikes???

Arambol
Love this beach. Great trip to get there on the bikes. We head round the cost to the fresh water lake. As per some previous posts no one tried to charge us for swimming in the lake (would have liked to see them try). Friend had his bag stolen though so beware.

Palolem
Went to Palolem for 3 days and 2 nights. Palolem is paradise. I loved it. So much more chilled out than BCC. We stayed at Ciarans Shacks which were expensive but AMAZING! The man who greets you and takes payment was really nice. Helped me work out all the confusing £'s to RS payments for the 13 people as it did get a little confusing. Unfortunately the same can't be said for the bar staff. They weren't very friendly and certainly didn't make me feel welcome.
In the day we spend most our time at café de mar. Again poor service and food wasn't great ether.
First night we went on a fishing trip which was great. Caught my own fish 3 of them to be precise and took them back to Ciarans. I asked them to put it in a Goan fish curry for me. This was a first time experience for me catching and eating my own fish. Really enjoyed it until the bill came. 400rs for a fish curry for which I provided the fish!!! Told them where to go lol.

Spent the day on the beach and body boarding in the waves. That night we went to a silent disco. Very strange but great experience. So funny when you first arrive and everyone in jumping around on the dance floor to no music. Once we'd had a couple of drinks and rented our headphones I really got into it and enjoyed myself. There are two live DJ's. You can switch channels on the headphones to listen to ether. It looks funny as the guy next to you could be dancing to a completely different song than you. There was also a big screen projecting psychedelic images onto it. You can go round the back and dance. To the dance floor you're just silhouette. Had great fun doing the robot and other cheesy dance moves. You can take your headphones off and listen to everyone laughing.

Delly Belly
Was Ill for 3 days this year. (This is down to the group not letting my eat in the places I'm used to). Was very sad to have lost 10pounds (not good when you weigh as much as I do) and your trying to build up.

To follow

Goan Police
Nights Out
Food
The water falls

&

What has probably put me off returning to North Goa