Sorry been a bit busy this week, will just finish off with a few bits and bobs that I can remember. This year there were another 10 people who I know from home away at the same time this year, it was like Oldham on sea, they had travelled out a few days after us and had been many times before, bar 3 who had never been, glad to report the 2 fellas can`t wait to go back and the lady soon got used to it and enjoyed her holiday and would also go back.
As you can imagine with so many friends around us we were busy meeting up from time to time hence I couldn`t get to the meets again
sorry I missed you all. We hired a Bajaj Avenger for the 2 weeks for 260 rps a day, lovely bike and kinder on Mrs FTV`s backside than the bike we had last year. Didn`t really do much as all we wanted to do was relax. Most days were spent at Bobby`s shack in Calangute along with the rest of the rabble, no sunbed charging as we ate and drank there most of the 2 weeks, the food was pretty good especially the Paneer tikka which I am now missing. Found the sellers a bit of a pain at times, but made friends with the young lads who I found to be very funny and they never bothered me much after that, their stories of police beating them up when they don`t have the money for the day really anger me. Cops would sit plain clothes trying to mingle in with the tourists trying to catch them out, I could spot them a mile off
Went up to Morjim a few times but the wind was sand blasting everyone and it wasn`t very pleasent so we gave up on it and stuck with Bobby`s. Went up to my old haunt of Vagator, wow there is some changes going on up there building wise. Went down on the beach at little Vagator to Shiva place as a change from Sharmila shack I used for the last 10 years, I couldn`t face her after the prawngate scandal of last year, I was still saddened but time to move on I guess. Shiva place was smashed up a few days later after an illegal rave started and police came in and baton charged everyone, a few Brits were injured by all accounts(so much for being allowed to have a good time in Goa). This place is well out of the way at the bottom of a cliff and wouldn`t have disturbed anyone so why they act like this instead of trying to work with the owners is totally baffling.Apparently the police carted off a European fella who they thought was under the influence, yes he was of alcohol as you would expect at a party dohhhhhh !!!! fools.
Right a few restaurant and bars from our travels
Soumyens Kitchen - As mentioned previously
Bernards Place - Driving down CSM road from the beach we looked at the menu as Mrs FTV fancied something different, steak and mushroom pie was on the specials board so we returned that evening.
We both ordered the pie and waited in anticipation as in the past English food cooked in Goa has been a let down at times. Well in it came bursting with steak and mushrooms, chips 2 veg and a teapot with the gravy in
Lordy it tasted good and we both polished the lot off leaving no room fro Manchester tart for afters.
I was impressed with the whole set up, the toilets and kitchen were spotless and the staff and service very quick, the owner came and sat down for a chat (nice guy) and was so pleased friends we had enjoyed the food. I told my other 2 friends about it and they also paid a visit with the same comments. Pitty we didn`t try it early on in our holiday, we did go back and tried something else, cafrael in my case, that too was lovely, the owner came over again and said that our last drinks were on the house for recommending my 2 friends and thanked us.
Plaintan Leaf - Had lunch here one day, big thali between us, very filling and delicious also very cheap.
Jamies place - Baga opposite Kim Faa, food and service good and reasonabley priced, would have enjoyed it better had we got a proper table and not the picnic bench
Kim Faa - Really enjoyed the food again this year, didn`t have to wait for a table at 8.30 pm which is a sign of how quiet it really was
O`Pescador - Ordered Goan sausage chilli fry and to be honest I took one mouthfull and not a chilli in sight( I love my spicy food) I sifted through the whole dish and couldn`t find one or anything that resembled one, the waiter came over and I told him, his offer to get me a couple of chopped green chillis to put on it was met with a shake of the head. Nan bread and chips it was. Everybody else enjoyed their food leaving me to sulk, they put it on the bill too which I soon got taken off. The last straw was our invite to krapaoke on Fridays," yes great, we will be here, I love karaoke me" I said in a very sarcastic voice, " I can sing Tom Jones very badly" and off we went into the night.
Floyds Hut - Candolim, goes without saying really, excellent, Chicken Vindaloo all the way
That covers the restaurants with the exception of Delhi Darber which needs no explanations.
Went up to Vagator one Friday night to meet another lad from my hometown who had been there since January, we ate at
Mango Tree as we have done for the last few years, still top notch and dirt cheap. He told us that there was a night market on at the Hilltop so we went along. Now I`m not one for mooching round stalls full of beach tat but this was ok, not that many stalls and a band playing which were pretty good. More of a chilled out evening with a few drinks type of thing. It had only been running since the Saturday market re opened I believe, so see how it pans out for next year.
Right the bar bit for all you lushes
Eclipse Baga/Calangute rd, Walked in and it was like a time warp, same friendly faces, staff and customers, just like we had never been away, really well run place and very welcoming (hello Karen if your reading)
Red Lion Calangute High St, great little place for a start out drink and meet up with friends, although I do wonder about some folk sat there morning till night getting slowly plastered
Liquid Great for a late drink, Ash and Raj from shooters are there now along with Delboy, lovely lads, however I did notice some very dodgy dealings going on
followed twice to the toilet by a black guy, did I want to buy some coke, errrrrrr no I don`t, also followed my friend a few times who told him were to go. The bar lads seem to know what they were up to as they were coming and going all night, I hope they aren`t involved in any of this, heard there is a gang of them operating in that area and Titto lane so maybe putting pressure on them or threatening them ? apart from that it was ok for a late night beer and you probably wouldn`t notice it.
Shooters Looked a shadow of its former self, didn`t bother going in.
Bobby`s Sport Bar Owned by Bobby from the shack, situated on CSM road, absolutely heaving when football was on, dead when it wasn`t. Fair size place similar to J92 in Candolim but without the rip off prices.
Well that`s it for this year and sadly next year, we are supposed to be going to Cuba for our 20th anniversary. Who knows when we will be back ? I took a different view of Goa this year and had a great time despite all the negatives I experienced last year. Goa definately needs a kick up the arris but I don`t suppose you can replace corrupt police and politicians overnight which is more the shame that Goa will have to suffer for longer, Next year will be a big turning point IMO sh1t or bust time, I honestly see a vast drop in tourism next season from overseas visitors, ah well back to the fishing and rice planting of old
hand through the window I gave him the grand sum of 6 pence from my back pocket.
we got there no problems lol. Well what a great little place, only small with about 25 rooms a pool and a bar area, the rooms had A/C, telly and fridge as standard and were absolutely spotless, great start to the holiday, oh and free deposit boxes, buy your own lock. Rooms were cleaned and towels and bedding changed every day if required. We had a leak problem on the A/C which was patched up and ok till 3 in the morning when all I could hear was drip drip, soon sorted and they moved us to another room till morning then once the engineer came he couldn`t do anything so we moved rooms for the remainder of our stay, very relaxed and not stressful just a slight mishap.
(I must be going soft in my old age). Anyway we decided to pop up the road to Baga to the Aqua lounge to see if any of the boys were in from last year, nope and dead as a dodo, we ate there as we were both pretty hungry, the food was quite good actually but the bill left a rather bitter taste, 100 rps for a large Kingfisher + tax, never saw more than 3 people in the rest of the 2 weeks.
