Goa - Beach Life

Goa, here we come...










[13th Jan 2007]; Following our long day sightseeing in Agra, Claire & I flew into Goa on the south west coast of India for a hotter climate and some relaxation.

We touched down in Vasco de Gama airport around 5:30pm, just as the sun was about to set. Upon descent the pilot informed members of the cabin that the temperature in Goa was 'a cool 30°C'. Music to my ears!

By 6:30pm we were in a taxi to Palolem Beach in Southern Goa, and by 8:30pm we'd checked into a small beach hut resort and were sat in a bar/restaurant next door, beer in hand and awaiting kick-off in the ManU-A.Villa English Premiership game. ManU ran out comfortable 3-1 winners, and I went to bed a happy man. A happy man with a sore thumb mind you.... Oh yes, a useful lesson, for all potential bamboo-hut lodgers - Be careful if standing on your bed fanning out the mosquito net whilst the over head fan is still spinning.

Claire & I both woke around 5:30am after a restless & uncomfortable sleep. I agreed to go and find us both a better home for the week. So around dawn, I set off along Palolem beach, looking...







Palolem Beach, Southern Goa.






After 2hrs scoping our options, I booked us a spot in 'Silver Star Resort'. A friendly looking place about midway along the beach, not too crowded, and with an attached beach-front restaurant - it seemed perfect. Around 10 rooms ran adjacent along a 2 floor concrete building; 5up and 5down. Each were cool in temperature, comprising tiled floors througout, a beautiful bathroom with hot shower, 5-speed ceiling fan, and tv - complete with a 50 channel satellite box. "Sold! To the man in the bermuda shorts & flowery shirt"...Na, not really, but I did take it. We stayed upstairs; the rooms with windows looking on to the restaurant and beach below. At the entrance to the door was an open view out across the north side of the beach and the Ocean - each night providing a beautiful view of the sunset.



















Above Left & Right: Sunset on the beach,
just outside our hotel.

Bottom Left: Sunset from the door of our
Hotel rooms.





The next 6 days were, simply put....bliss! Our days would consist of getting up and showered, downstairs for breakfast, then a 5 metre walk to the beach, towel in hand & the sunnies on. Sunbathing would take anytime between almost all, and all... day. With occassional restbite from the sun, back in the restaurant enjoying a chilled beer and a bite to eat. Our diet for the week consisted of beer and seafood; a delightfully refreshing combination if I do say so. Seafood was completely fresh - caught that morning, and cooked before your eyes. The best I've ever eaten.






Looking out to the beach
where my 'King Snapper'
is being prepared.










My dinner being cooked on
the beach.










Claire visibly delighted with
herself after wolfing down two...
yes two, big fish.







All we really did, outwith the above routine, was take a one hr boat trip out to see the dolphins. We didn't swim with them, or get to touch them, but we got pretty close, got some photos, and we enjoyed ourselves.







On our way to see some
dolphins in the Arabian Sea.
I'm very excited about this.









Trying to actually
spot the little b*%tar$s
is a different matter.






Want to guess what we did after the hour was over?.... You guessed it, back to the beach for more sunbathing.





In a bar/restaurant at
the southern end of
Palolem Beach, Chillin'.








I think I speak for Claire also when I say that I enjoyed every minute of Goa. And it was, quite probably, the laziest week in my life...








So, how does it feel to be leaving Goa?










Farewell Goa...