Goa

Palm trees grow like weeds here, sandy beaches, chill out bars, whatever you are into Goa will have a beach for you. There are package holiday beaches, budget traveller beaches, Goa Trance and rave beaches, yoga and alternative health beaches, and simple 'absolutely nothing' beaches. I love this place. It is not India, it is a lovely holiday break, except that if it was beach outside of India, you wouldn't find herds of cows chilling out alongside the travellers on the beach.

I have just finished a 2 week (approx) stint on Anjuna Beach, and have just arrived in Arambol (further north). Anjuna was so much fun, beautiful beaches, not too crowded, and great nights out dancing underneath the stars at Dolce Vita and in the Trance of Paradiso club. Its been let hair down time ! Anjuna is a long picturesque beach. I found a little place with a sunlounger and a very shanti bar, with very sweet Indian folk who would run to the otherside of India to get you something if you asked. Anjuna was clean and the locals could be seen sweeping the beach every morning with complete dedication. There are shop sellers who when I first arrived would be asking me to buy something, and gave up on me after a while(how many sarongs can you own?). My favourite were the fruit sellers with HUGE baskets on there heads selling "pineapple, coconut, melon? I have very sweet melon today!"

Groups of Indian tourists from outside wander the beaches proudly wearing their 'I love Goa' t-shirts (and also fascinated by westerners in Bikinis-understandably as Goa is the only place bikinis are acceptable in India). At the other end of the beach there is the bar 'Curlies' which plays Goa Trance all day (Occasionally is good enough for me!) with all the original 'last hippy standing' hippies with the long hair beards and thongs. Back at the more chilled end, at the infamous Gagarin(Ask Ade about this one-anyone who can) with the very slow'Im so chilled' service, watching the sunset, I saw 2 dolphins playfully jumping in the sea. Anjuna, nothing like it. I had a great time with Eddie and Ade from UK who were here on a two week break(though luckily they returned as I think 2 weeks of Anjuna madness by night is probably enough, and I only had one week of madness !), and after a couple of days alone met up again with Kaya (polish girl I met in Daramasala). Also a couple of others are coming plus the Pete n' Sal from UK for Xmas and New year celebrations...It will be my first xmas away from Europe and alongside palm trees....The only thing that would really make it for me is if I could get the whole family over here!

Well it has been decided after being involved in a bit of an accomodation scam(thought had booked accomodation in Anjuna for everyone arriving), that Kaya and I would head to Arambol(easy to find cheap beach huts), as here is where you find the Yoga and 2 weeks in Anjuna has been great, but time for something different, although we will be heading there for new years eve!

After arriving in our sweet little beach hut, We put our Christmas tree up !! We even have flashy lights and an Angel on top. Also managed to get some xmas music from a local, though the "Im dreaming of a white christmas' is highly unlikely here!

Phrase of the moment; India India India (This is not India, this is Goa!)

Hopefully will be able to get some pics up soon!