Spent some time browsing the boards before we went, so thought I'd better post now were back.

Flew Thomson from Man to Goi on 28th feb, and the flight was OK. Had booked a window seat and the legroom seemed slightly better in the window seat than the isle one??
Food was average but unfortunaltley the IFE was ruined by poor quality videos with tracking lines running through the picture.
have read about the pending upgrades and hopefully this will be better shortly. (IFE better on return flight, but food portions were kinda sparse)
Dabolim airport was just as i remembered, organised chaos.
The queues for immigration are the usual nightmare, but was better that a few years ago (where I remember queuing on the stairs near baggage reclaim)
Changed £20 in the airport and got 1500rs - proper rip off. Dont change more than you need here, as rates are much better in resort.
Didnt use the transfer and took a taxi from the stand out front for a fixed fee of 650rs.
The memories came flooding back as the taxi took us on out journey to the Palmarinha resort, Calangute. Absolute culture shock if you have not been before, but for me a sharp reminder of how lucky we actually are.
I was pleasantly surprised with the hotel. Three main blocks forming a U shape around the main pool, with a second pool to the rear of the hotel overlooking paddy fields with the hills towards Arpora in the background.
The room was pleasant, with two sets of table and chairs, balcony and a fridge. I had read about coffee making facilities but this was 250rs per week extra for thomson guests (apparently included for FC guests). As the hotel is in the open, there was a lovely breeze around the pool, which made lounging around more comfortable.
Although the hotel is at the "back" of calangute, it is an interesting walk to calangute beach (30mins or so) but didnt risk walking at night as the roads are full of Goan drivers!!! (Cost around 80 - 100rs to get to the steps at the beach)
Had a wonderful 2 weeks, days spent visiting various shacks on the beach and nights out exploring the different eateries that are abound in the surrounding resorts.
There seemed to be a lot of locals on the beach close to the steps, but a short stroll in either direction (Baga right or Candolin left) and things quietened down a bit.
I mention this because we encountered many Indians who would "sneakily" try and take photos of my GF. They would either walk with the camera by thier side pointing at you, or would point the camera at their mates and take shots over thier shoulder.
This was highlighted by one of the shack owners, who came sprinting over one day and scattered a group of lads with a camera. He told us that the photos were manipulated to remove clothing etc!!!!!

We went on the Jungle book trip, spending a night in a mud hut, and had and absolutley amazing time bathing the elephants.
Booked this from travel inn in calangute rather thatn through the rep. Dont know if it was coincidence, but there were only 10 of us in the camp, so got lots of contact with the elephants. (the following day there were 4 coaches expected)
Also Visited the waterfalls (1500rs with taxi driver then extra for the jeep ride) and went on Jake the Snakes crocodile boat (500rs taxi and 1000rs to Jake) where you get all you can drink and are guaranteed to see crocodiles. We saw 5.

Favourite places to eat were After 7 and East meets West. Superb food and beautiful surroundings.

I dont know what else to say. Having previously spent 1 weel AI in south Goa, we wanted to experience the bustle of the North. As idillic as the south was (we walked for an hour on the beach before meeting anyone else) the north did it for us. Every corner we turned revealed something else and no two days were the same.

We got home and immediatleythought about planning our return.
Hey, theres a couple of months left on our visas, you never know....