Hotel Solmar Goa

... so high I have difficulty climbing onto it!

This morning we took a long walk inspired by the Lonely Planet Guide book which took us through the leafy Latin Quarter up towards a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. We then followed a winding road which led us to the Archbishop of Goa's Palace. And it was indeed a palace! The Chief Minister lives opposite and his house pales in comparison - poor chap! I guess we know where the ...

... anyone or anything and because it’s a sacred animal, everybody has to go round them. It was a bit surreal to see them on the beach and trotting in to restaurants and bars! Thankfully on our second day there the sun was blazing so we quickly headed down to the beach to make the most of it! While we were down there we were pestered by so many sellers, some of them kept coming back 3 or 4 times and it got to be quite irritating but at the end of the day they are only trying to ...

... halloween costumes couple pastel photoshop brush homemade robber costumes unusual easy homemade ...

... morning we drove to Fort Aguada and Sinquerim beach. We took some photos from the fort but the views were not as good as Chapora fort. It rained for most of the afternoon so we just sat on the balcony relaxing. Then we went for dinner with a different couple from Galway who moved into the room next door to us. Went to the dentist on Tuesday and got my permament veneers. in the afternoon ...

... nearest beaches and hiring mopeds to ride to Palolim (apparantly the new rave scene in Goa) and Patnem bay. If you head off the congested beach , knocking sunbed to sunbed of white glistening flesh, it's actually a really beautiful area. Never having ridden a bike before I had to climb the steepest hill overhung with great big palm trees and small jungle clumps...I feel like im going to run out of petrol soon but I can see the top and the sun is already beginning to ...

... been knocked off the top of the "Most Expensive Meal" list, by last night's grilled fresh kingfish with all the trimmings.) Harsh reality has again perturbed my plans for onwards travel. When last I wrote, I was under the misapprehension that I could catch a train from Panaji (or Panjim), the Goa state capital, to Delhi at the end of the week, giving me the chance to at least glimpse a window-framed sample of so much of the country that I won't get to see ...

... beans on toast for breakfast as well as ham and bacon. A lot of people come from the UK to visit Goa and I was told they feel that they have really seen India after this, I would have to disagree though! I will be here for a few nights and then I head home. We are having our farewell dinner to our team leader Manu tonight. To bring you up to date though on my last few days... We had a great thali meal in Mysore at a restaurant called "RRR ...

... was being filmed for a Goa tourism commercial. So there we go, me in the movies. A little further on I was asked if I wanted to buy some hash. First time I have been offered in Goa, in spite of the reputation it may have. In fact I see it smoked openly more often back in Old Colwyn, North Wales. I'm beginning to worry about Britain. There are loads of Brits here, as there were in Calengute, Baga and Anjuna. I know they are all up the Turkish coast, the Greek islands too. Spain and ...

... to relax by telling the hilarious story of the time when a huge spider had come swinging in the the window on a thread and then swung out again. Apparently it went right in front this woman and the look on her face was a picture. As was mine, I imagine, when she just told the story. The picture in question being one of an arachnophobe wanting to get off the bus really quite urgently. As we were already underway, off was not an option and so we went into the ...