The 5th and final part; JEWELLERY, PROPOSALS & OLD FRIENDS,& WILL WE RETURN?"¦

While in Goa we decided to try and find Hubby's Goan friends he made from 10 years ago. Hubby had lost their contact details. They were quite poor at the time and being such a nice guy he bought them a Maruti to use as a tourist vehicle. Well 2 weeks into our holiday I received a phone call. It was a lady saying she used to know my hubby from years ago and wondered if it was the same one. I asked her name and it was the lady of hubby's friends. It struck home that Goa is not all it seems! How did she know we were there?

We arranged to meet at Johncy's the night we arrived back from the Go Wild Tour. Now I'd never met these people, but had heard loads about them.
How welcoming can you be! They hugged us and cried and said it was fate that brought us back to Goa and they only lived up the road now literally 5 minutes from our Hotel. We were to go to dinner with them on Sunday.

Dinner was fabulous, Pomfret, fragrant rice, tuna dish and Bebinca (traditional Goan dessert of layered cake). Then we women stayed at home and the men (including Son) went off to feed the poor. Apparently our friends do this every Sunday, without fail. They are now doing very well with 2 gorgeous holiday apartments, a flat which they live in and a 400 year old family home in Varca.

I lost my friendship ring that Hubby bought me that night

The next day hubby sneaked off to a Traditional Goan Jeweller recommended by our friends and ordered a ½ carat white diamond set in a S-shaped 18 carat Goan gold ring. We were to pick it up on Saturday.

He casually said to me after 8 years of being together and a child. "I've bought you an engagement ring and we are taking our Goan friends out to celebrate tonight, and before I forget we have to go and pick the ring up".

Hubby explained we shouldn't get a taxi to the Jewellers, because the driver would demand commission from him. We (all four) jumped on our hired scooty and done it "Goan style" (hubby is a seasoned biker, used to biking in India, has an international bike license and insurance and I wouldn't recommend to you folks at home ). Gales of laughter could be heard from the locals as we passed and calls of "You should live here!" heard once or twice.http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/gallery/Miscellaneous-Pictures/DCP_1060We got to Diana Jewellery in Varca, and Ishmail invited us in, gave us a drink and got to work! He had presented the ring in a glass box full of rose petals. The ring could have been presented in a brown paper bag and would have still looked gorgeous, so sparkly. The Jeweller had given Hubby a lesson in Diamond buying, using charts and things. Hubby spent £350; we've just had it valued at £1450. And then gave me my friendship ring back all cleaned and sparkly too, son had nicked it so Dad could get the size right. Talk about conspiracy!

Well, what's a girl's most common problem when you have a special do to go to? Answer: Clothes. I had dropped a dress size in the first 2 weeks I was there, probably due to not eating stodgy food. I had only brought one posh dress with me (for the whole month, I'm one of those "travel light" women). I donned on my dress (a strapless number) and went in hunt of safety pins to secure it properly.

We met our Goan friends at their house where I was presented with a present. "You must open it now" I was told. It was a lovely blue and green Goan outfit. Theresa and her daughters went to work on me dressing me, make-up, a jewelled bindhi and earrings. Hubby was astounded when I came out of the bedroom. All 8 of us jumped in the now 10 year old Maruti, which was never used as a tourist vehicle, as the government denied the licence. We headed to Joecon's Indoor Restaurant (Benaulim).
Joecon's is a 5* Restaurant, it's pricey in comparison to the shacks, about the same cost as a 5* hotel restaurant. It is set in beautifully lit up gardens and there is an indoor section too. Our table was set under a canopy with a good view of the entertainment and dance floor.

We ordered drinks and then our friends presented us with a beautiful bouquet of flowers, a traditional good luck necklace (elephants and all) and a big chocolate with "Congratulations Arlene & Bill" on it.

Bill presented me with the ring and then we were called up to the dance floor to have a first dance (it was so grand it was just like a wedding back here in the UK). One of the Girls got up and sang us "Top of the World". What a night! The waiters at Joecon's were absolutely perfect, they recommended all the right food, and we all shared each others. We had King Prawns in Garlic and Butter, Chicken Tikka, Garlic Mushrooms, Butter Chicken a whole host of other things, drinks galore, I have no idea how much it cost though as the men took care of it.

So I now have a betrothed. We'll name the day 2 years in advance as we are getting married back in Goa, so our friends can save up if they want to. But don't hold your breath as it took 8 years to get here

Our holiday was so fantastic, and memorable, in a way, I don't wish to return as I want to remember Goa as the beautiful, exotic and romantic place it is. I don't think we could have had a better holiday. We met some people who were so genuine and kind and some that wasn't. I hear people say that Goa is becoming spoilt by tourists, but then aren't the people who are complaining about this tourists too? And if they can go why can't other people? What makes them good enough to go and others should stay away?

It doesn't matter how many times you've been there, but to be able to say you've experienced it, the good and the not so good parts is a really enriching experience.

I guess my report is now complete; I've enjoyed documenting our holiday and hope you enjoyed reading it. If you think I can be of help on any questions PM me and I'll do my best. Maybe someone can answer this question for me: Have we broken a world record by getting checked 12 times for passports and visa at Dabolim on the way home?

As a family we will definitely be returning to Goa, in fact we're looking at some land out there, but it's all pipe dreams at the moment. I definitely recommend it as somewhere to visit before you die.

Wowser!!! What a finale!! I'm filling up here, that was fantastic!!!

WOW...................what a magical way to end your holiday!! Congratulations on your engagement.
Just wanted to thank you for your great report, we don't go to Goa until March 2007 but after reading all you've written I know we have made a good choice to there.
Thanks again for taking the time to share your holiday with us.
Cheers
Scruffyish
(PS. do you have any photos of your grand night out that you could upload to the site, I know this might sound cheeky but I honestly love seeing other peoples holiday photos.)

Great reports there Mrs Judith Chalmers , I`m hoping my Mrs will fall in love with Goa too, she has read your reports and just can`t wait to get there now. Lovely finishing story by the way And congrats to you both

well - what can I say? A fabulous report!
Right regulars- you see how its done?? Who's next with their report?

How Fantastic! Congratulation's on your engagement,maybe we can all save and you can have the first HT's wedding with all us as guests

I cant wait to go now, in particular looking forward to picking out my diamond

Thanks Arlene your report has been magical.

How wonderful, many congratulations on your engagement.

I have really enjoyed reading your reports.

As for having your passport checked many times, I would just put it down to the charm of the place (or just a way of keeping twelve or so people in a job).

Congratulations. Perfect ending to a wonderful holiday. All the very best for the future and keep up the writing.
Gail

Im so pleased for you both big hugs and congrats.

Your report has been amazing for first timers and old regulars like me its been a pleasure to share in your experiance thank you so much.

Congratulations! Glad you fell in love with Goa - we did! Only 7 weeks and we will be back..... Looking forward to the next "Diary" - A Wedding in Goa

Jo xx

You really have a talent to tell a story, bought it all back for me, I got engaged here, and also had my wedding here, No where else would do, I have never found any other country that comes close to the hospitality the Goan people will show you.

Arlene what a wonderful report - I felt quite emotional reading the last part.
Congratulations to you and Bill on your engagement.
Really can't wait to go now Feb 2007

Congratulations Arlene and Bill and thank you for a wonderful report made very interesting reading.

Joan123

Arlene, each of your installments have been so descriptive and thought provoking i felt that i was back there; your final installment was like coming to the end of a really good and engrossing book or film, i didn't want it to end .
still i will just have to re-read them all again, monthly for 10 months till i'm back there.
i want to personally thank you for giving me (well every HT'er) something that can be reverted back to, so that i am transported back to Goa.

thanks Jayne

Very nice to read and well done,if there was a book full of travellers stories like that one i would buy it. Will be hard for everyone returning to make a report like that but anything will do !! - keep 'em coming.

Ahhh! thanks peeps, sneaked away while Bill doing the washing up from his dinner he cooked me for Valentine's, speak to you lot soonXXXXX

Oh there might be a forgotten section entered keep watching!!!!!!

Very nice to read and well done,if there was a book full of travellers stories like that one i would buy it. Will be hard for everyone returning to make a report like that but anything will do !! - keep 'em coming.

great idea! We'll produce an HT book on travellers stories! You wouldn't begrudge me a share of the profits now would you- a poor, underpaid teacher- (and even underpaid would be better than nothing for my ht stint )

Arlene
a forgotten part? You're learning! Sure you're not an author?

No work in marketing though , know how to grab interest!!!!!

no it's just some little bits that would make interesting reading!!!

and can I have some of the profits too! It might help towards transporting my big irish family to Goa for the wedding!

only if i get to buy a new hat- after all I am the Cilla of the Goa forum!!