Taj Holiday Village Bardez

Stayed at the Taj Holiday Village. It is an amazing property. We hired a Gypsy (4WD) and had a blast exploring Goa on our own.

I arrived into Goa at 4am and was meet by a transfer, which whizzed through the narrow lanes of Goa at an alarming speeding, dodging late night traffic and cows lazing on the road! I was certain that one of the sacred cows wouldn't make it to morning.....I am staying just outside of Candolim, next door to Fort Aguada (which is another Taj Hotel built into the Fort). Waking up early was probably not the best idea after a 4am arrival but I was eager and excited to get out and about.

Afte...

Today was more slow paced, which I was thankful for. Vinay met me again at the hotel and we headed off towards Old Goa. I met our boat at the Divar Ferry wharf and there was only 3 of us doing the "Crocodile Dundee" tour...there is another company called Jake the Snake Tours which seemed a little more touristy and hyped up, however I was glad to do it with a more relaxed feel about it...Boating through the mangroves was peaceful, even though we were on the hunt to spot the sea water crocodile...

Entry containing 14 photos titled: Kingfish kebabs, Red Snapper Masala, Kingfish Fillets, Prawns, Goan Veggie Curry, Pomfret Racheo, Chicken Xacutti and Rice, Tandoor Prawns, Spice Plantation lunch, Rock Lobster, Prawn in Papad, Crab Rechaeo, Prawns in Saffron, Garlic Naan

Departure before sunrise from Udaipur and yes, I am fit for fight again - have to eat very carefully though. Two flights - to Mumbai and Goa go without problem. Finally this is the end of the cold weather. Goa is hot and humid. We arrive at Taj Holiday Village - and it appears to be a dump! The room is fine - everything else is ill-kept and run down. I complain, and fire off e-mails. Promises are made...

I seem to have put the fear of God into the management of this hotel. They are bowing and scraping feet and asking if everything is satisfactory. In fact, you have to ask three times for everything but with some greasing of the palms it is getting better. We get picked up for sight-seeing this morning. The guide asks about the previous guides and I tell him that, thought good, they have all been brahmins (the highest caste). No problem here - this on is chetri - second highest! We inspect all...

Sunny day - I feel 100% again and eat and drink anything - I love penicillin! Never leave home without it. A gorgeous, hot day - we burn a bit. In the evening a spa experience. I get kneaded by a little girl and to bite myself not to kick her because I am so ticklish. Big prawns for dinner.

Another sunny day - the climate is great. We spend the morning under umbrellas trying politely to avoid a ver, very, VERY chatty Canadian couple from Toronto. We alk along the street (in danger of being run down; do I prefer a vehicle or a bull?) We hit a little farmacy and I get all my medical supplies for the next Nepal trip over the counter for less than 20 CAD. Sorry, Pharmasave! A yoga session in the evening. Nice to sit on a lawn next to the sea but otherwise - what a lot of b.s!

The management is hovering around us. Well, they should. We recive an invitation to a cocktail party this evening. It takes place in complete darkness. The men are served first - as it should be!? I haul out my flash-light to see what's on the trays. We talk to some people from Norway and have a good laugh about it all.

An uneventful day. We spend it at a bech shack that has become our regular place. Good food, good service. A trip to Panjim in the afternoon yields mor shopping opportunities and the experience of a totally death taxi driver. Oh boy...