in both subject of the original post, and the more recent comments on other matters which have got a bit heated, if one can bear in mind that in ALL matters of decision making, from shack licences to the behaviour of the Justiciary, corruption reigns from top to bottom in all stratas of Goan life. Never be surprised at whatever goes on, just rest assured that at the bottom of whatever decision is being taken, theres an undercurrent of corruption somewhere. However much you love Goa, there is no avoiding this unpalative truth. If you keep this fact uppermost in your mind, it's no use getting upset about things, it's a fact of Goan life that is not about to be changed by any tourists getting upset about it.
Alan

Be realistic, what are your chances of a proper investigation, prosecution and recompense if you end up the victim of crime, whether petty or serious!

Perhaps it's me but that's really not one of my top considerations when choosing a holiday destination-maybe it should be. Reading this thread emphasises the fact that some people see the glass half full and some see it half empty.

If you're going to Goa intending to find things wrong, you're going to have a field day. We know it's dirty (but getting better) and there's corruption and drugs. I've had a moan or two myself about these but there's also lovely people, great food, fantastic climate and an easy, relaxed feel that I love. It's up to each of us which of these sides of Goa we allow to dominate.

I've met people in Goa who seem to want to collect moans and complaints and spend their nights whingeing about how things aren't what they used to be and how they were ripped off 20 rupees by a taxi driver. Sorry - but life's too short to spend it obsessing on things that really don't matter that much. I avoid them like the plague.

You're on holiday - enjoy it. If you don't - don't go back!

roma wrote:

've met people in Goa who seem to want to collect moans and complaints and spend their nights whingeing about how things aren't what they used to be and how they were ripped off 20 rupees by a taxi driver. Sorry - but life's too short to spend it obsessing on things that really don't matter that much. I avoid them like the plague.
You're on holiday - enjoy it. If you don't - don't go back!

What a great way of putting it Roma and i think most of them people you are tallking about are posting on this thread. Think i will be happy wearing rose tinted glasses although nothing has changed its always been like that,its never stopped us from living there for long term and living the good life.

If you dont like, it Dont go back

Totally agree with you Roma & Split.....If you don't like it....don't go back.
Which is exactly what is happening! British arrivals will be well down again this year with more Russians by far. Split if you are in Goa at the moment look how many Russians are in Goa already...i know the UK charters haven't started yet but the numbers are going to be well down yet again.
A group of Russians walked past my house with towels under their arms on the way to the beach the other day....20 mins later they were walking back looking pretty fed up!....No shacks,sunbeds and a very dirty beach.

I love India, Goa, and all things to do with it, but I resent the outlook of some posters, that if you dare to look at the negative side of things the usual retort is "if you dont like it dont come back". Well I've been visiting the Sub-Continent since the late 1950s, when the Portugese were in charge and I'll decide when not to come back, for goodness sake surely even the most avid Goa Lover can see the shortcomings of the place, and many of us who have been visiting for more years than I would care to remember, are of the opinion that these last couple of years or so the situation is getting worse not better. A good many years ago my wife always said that if she were ever left on her own, it was on of the few places in the world (and we've travelled pretty widely) she'd feel quite safe walking about on her own at night, she certainly does'nt feel that way now. and I dont think thats a sign of things improving.
Alan

I wouldn't advise your wife to go out walking alone in the daytime never mind the nightime Alan.
I could write a long list of the good points of Goa.
I could write a very long and probably shocking to some list of bad points of Goa as it is now.
But i won't because i know exactly what would happen.

Hi Split

You say you live in Goa 'long term'. How long's that then? And how many years?

Hi roma

I don't know how you can honestly say 'we know it's dirty (but getting better)'. Maybe you're not wearing rose tinted glasses, more like a very strong blindfold. No offence intended.

Great news to read that an increased number of shacks are to be given licences this year (346 - 240 in the North and 106 in the South, plus the unlicenced ones).

Increases customer choice and if you don't like the shack you're in you only have to stretch your arm across to the one next door for a refreshment. Wall to wall beach beds are a great way to get to know your fellow holidaymakers though the roaming cattle may have to herd themselves along the shoreline this year; hope there's still room for our old friend 'Norman' down Choco Marie Shack, Calangute way.

It's quite alarming seeing the increase in negative posts about Goa over the last 2 years. There was a time when you rarely saw a negative post or if you did it was flamed by the majority. Changed days indeed.

Cannot believe there are going to be over a hundred more shacks this year.

Papa

No Spaldy,not out there until end next week,but the shacks not being up yet will not bother
us, as we have plenty to do for a couple of weeks before going to the shacks,its normal that when the shacks are built the guys clean up there section of the beach and behind the shacks when they open. They probably dont all do that,and if they dont just go some where that does,its not hard to work it out.

As for the Russians they dont seem to use the shacks where we are,so no problems there.

Gramps, Nothing you are saying surprises me and no one is saying its not changing,but for many of us
its still an excellent place to spend 5 months of the year,,what gets me is why certain people ,mostly the same people just keep posting negative threads,that we already heard a hundred times before.
Perhaps for you it is time for a change,so you can enjoy your new found place,like we still enjoy Goa.

Moksha, We are there 5 months of the year for last 10 years and been going for 20 +years.
Its to humid for us after March. time to go home.
How come you have never once been to a HT meet,and why now only just started to post on this forum. If you dont like Goa why are you still there,do you live there,and if you do,you should get out
as you must have seen the things changing over the last 20 years.

Moksha states that she/he is pleased that there are going to be more shacks along the beach on the basis that if you dont like one you can go to the next. Not sure that having more shacks makes economic sense for the Goans. I went twice last season. The popular beaches had wall to wall shacks that were just about doing enough business to survive. As you walked along the beach away from this, the shacks became less and less busy until at the end you found some, possibly unlicensed, that probably had just a handful of customers a day. Fewer tourists are travelling from Europe yet Moksha wants more shacks. For whose benefit??
I must also disagree that wall to wall sunbeds are a great idea, allowing you to easily make friends. Yes, of course some people look forward to plonking down right next other people so they can chat about the Daily Mail and moan about last night's curry. Friendships are made like this. However, an equally determined bunch would hate the idea of doing this, valueing instead a bit of breathing space to enjoy peace and quiet and their own bit of sand to sit on.
Wih regard to the original post, its interesting that someone wrote that hotels are complaining that they dont do enough business during the day with guests staying in. TOUGH. Surely we dont go there to sit around dubiously cleaned pools when there is the ocean, sand and sun just a walk away. A strong tourist authority would know why tourists visit. Its certainly not the hotels where the trick in Goa is to find one that just about middles it.
Interestingly, for my December trip I have been given no option but to come on a fully inclusive deal with Jewel in the Crown. Cant see myself making much use of it as I wont sit around the pool and even more certainly wont eat there. Again suspect this is the hotels idea to encourage people to stay with them, or perhaps not. This will be a way of increasing prices without seeming to as they know guests wont make use of what they charge.

Moksha says

I don't know how you can honestly say 'we know it's dirty (but getting better)'. Maybe you're not wearing rose tinted glasses, more like a very strong blindfold.

It is cleaner than a few years ago. There used to be huge piles of plastic bottles all over the place. Don't mistake that for me saying it's clean! It's certainly not but I really do think it's better than it used to be!

I don't wear rose coloured glasses - just glasses that filter out some of the negatives! We all know there's a pile of stuff wrong with Goa and if you check my posts you'll see I'm not averse a good whinge myself on occasions. It's just when posters allow the negatives to outweigh the positives and then seem to enjoy wallowing in all that is wrong.

Hey, we're all different and I think we could all agree on what's wrong in Goa. Where we differ is in outlook - do you dwell on the negatives and pick at them like a sore or try and look beyond them to enjoy some time in the sun with nice people and good food...and a beer and a Honeybee or two? We ain't long on this planet and I don't want to spend any more time moaning than is absolutely necessary.

As Gramps has said, we won't change it........ so enjoy the good bits!

What's that song?...."You gotta accentuate the positive , eliminate the negative.....!

Lester, Moksha's post was clearly meant to be humorous, you know, like ironic?

Maybe an attempt to defuse a little of the venom that always follows any criticism of that Holy Cow known as Goa?

Good one about the cattle having to herd themselves along the shoreline though!!

Just in case anyone thinking of visiting Goa, gets the impressium that it's all - wall to wall sunbeds - I'd say have a look at the Goa photo gallery. There are still unspoilt areas, theres one I took on Varca beach in the peoples pics No 188, sorry I don't know how to post a link. There are many more, quiet beaches, it's only the Calangute, Baga and Candolim areas that are crowded.
xx lassi

lassigirl wrote:

Just in case anyone thinking of visiting Goa, gets the impressium that it's all - wall to wall sunbeds - I'd say have a look at the Goa photo gallery. There are still unspoilt areas, theres one I took on Varca beach in the peoples pics No 188, sorry I don't know how to post a link. There are many more, quiet beaches, it's only the Calangute, Baga and Candolim areas that are crowded.
xx lassi

Quite true. There certainly are. Actually I was reading this thread thinking 'This isnt the Goa I know and love'

I'm off to Goa for the third time in January. I can't comment on what Goa used to be like and I certainly don't look at the place with rose tinted specs. I look beyond the rubbish on the streets and at the beach something which I wouldn't do at any Med resort. I accept that this is India and not Europe. Myself and partner love the place, the people, the weather, the food. the honeybee. I'm not as well travelled as some on this site but I know that Goa has something that draws me back and hopefully will for years to come. I envy the longstayers and wish I could do the same (perhaps one day). We feel safe in Goa but aren't stupid and know things do happen. I've been watching Bravos series abour Thailand somewhere I've always fancied going to. I don't know how true this portrayal is but it certainly puts me off visiting. Goa is nothing like Pataya and hopefuly never will be, but I digress !! Lets not get involved in the dubious politics of Goa and just enjoy the place warts and all. Roll on January.

What fair minded person would not be concerned about Scarletts death and what looks like the culprits going free.
Before people start shouting - I don't agree with her mother going and leaving her either, but Scarlett did not deserve to die.
We all have children and I pray it would not happen to them. Years ago I would walk through Candolim on my own in the
nights, not anymore. Over the last few years a few of my friends have been mugged and their handbags taken.

Sadly this is not the place we grew to love, although we go back the only thing that has not gone downhill is our Shack.
The owners have never let us down and always been there for us. I sincerely hope they have a good season, I have heard that the shacks will be up by the middle of November.

I have heard that the shacks will be up by the middle of November.

Just a month late this year then, there's progress then!