Ho Ho Ho and a bottle of Feni

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I'll admit its a bit of jump in time as you all probably think we're in Laos or Thailand. I'll put my hands up, the blog is a little behind but you're enjoying it right? Anyway, we just thought we'd post a Christmas blog for those of you crunching their feet through the morning frost or wrapping up in your thickest coats.

We didn't think Santa would find us this year but on the morning of Christmas Day 2006 we awoke in the most unfamiliar Christmas surroundings, climbed out of the mosquito net and opened the bamboo shutter out to the beach at Agonda, Goa, India. Our perfect little bungalow had been part decorated by the previous tennants and was the envy of the beach with a prime beach location, hanging textiles coloured lanterns outside.

With a few drapes of tinsel hanging up and our gifts to each other stuffed inside hiking socks we sat on our beach veranda and to our absolute surprise, it actually felt quite Christmassy. There will be more about the Agonda beach in the blog (probably typing when we get home!) but for now we will just say that it was, is the most incredible stretch of deep empty curving sand fringed with palm trees where the water was frequented by dolphins flipping or diving and the beach dotted with nets housing the nests of several Turtles. The waves which rolled in like a heartbeat moved from your left ear to your right every minute, every hour, every day like a permanent and natural surround sound.

We were also lucky enough to meet fantastic new friends in Jamie and Helen who were bizarrely from Brighton and with whom we spent Christmas, New Year and much time either side in the constant and enjoyable company of. Whilst you were pulling a lame Woolworths cracker and gorging on Quality Street which your Uncle Melvin had been sitting on whilst sleeping we were flinging a frisbee around the soft sand and boogie boarding to shore with cheshire grins. For Christmas dinner we sat down at the incredible restaurant at Madhu Cocohuts as the sun dipped below the horizon and Sherkar the ever helpful owner ordered for our Lobster to be placed in the Tandoori oven!

I'd never had Lobster before so it was as good a time as any to try and Claire who generally detests fish of any kind bravely ordered the same and Oh my Santa was it good. Topped off with all manner of side dishes of Palak Paneer, Aloo Gobi, Malai Kofta, Cheese Nans and many many more it was an unforgettable meal. We didn't have a bottle of Feni as it is a ludicrously strong locally made liqour and we may not have survived. Instead we saved that tipple for New Years and drank Kingfishers and Rum until we stumbled around the beach under a slither of moonlight. For Claire and I and Jamie and Helen it was quite fitting that the new moon hung upside down creating the widest of grins in the sky above our Christmas.

But despite all this, don't think we didn't spare a thought for you all back at home. We may have had a fine Christmas of sunshine and decedance but there was a piece of us that wanted to wrap up and go to the pub with friends and eat pigs in blankets whilst watching that only fools and horses re-run.

Festive cheers to one and all and more blogs to come of course. Where were we again ... oh yes, Laos.

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Photos

Improved christmas stocking...
...a hiking sock!

The Agonda Massive
Our new friends Helen and Jamie were wonderful Christmas companions.

Christmas Dinner
We all treated ourselves to tandoori lobster and boy was it tasty.

Hammock time
Lazing in the hammock was fairly high on the agenda

Comments

[Joanna Wilson]

Wow, what a trip!
Oh my God, I have just spent an entire evening reading your blog from the beginning and have cried tears of joy (+ envy!) You guys are so lucky and are such great writers (and photographers) you should be thinking about publishing this when you return. It will put Lonely Planet out of business! The proposal on Machu Piccu, has to be one of the most romantic moments, I have ever heard of. Clare, I don't know you, but you are a very lucky woman and I hope you have a fantastic future together. You have already made a head start on memories you will cherish forever. Good luck with the rest of the trip and much love from Jo (at energywatch) xxxxxxxxxxxx

[Laura]

Check you out!
You too look great!!! The travelling life is clearly treating you both well...What a great Christmas, know its not the same as being at home but its good doing something different one year and one you'll surely remember. Lots of love to you both, Laura xxxxxxxxxx

[Alice Wong]

New Year Greeting in 2007
Dear Claire Happy New Year in 2007. i have been reading your blog since last yr and seem that you are now near me in Asia, are you coming to HK? Do contact me or Esther if you come. We miss you so much!! keep enjoying your trip and I do wish i can have a yr holiday and go travel too. you and Kevin make a very great blog, reading this blog gives me a motivation that i should work hard and save some money now, in the future, i do need to go travel a yr like you and Kevin. As your trip is so impressive. Keep writing it and i do come to visit. Take care and have fun!! thanks Alice

[Claire & Al]

Hope you both had a lush Xmas and New Year. You both look so happy and chilled x x x

[Anne-Marie Keane]

Just reading the other comments was great. As I sit in work I'm remembering the great time we had travelling around Peru. The proposal was very romantic I bet. I even paid an old lady with a stick to eavesdrop on the whole proposal! Kevin and Claire - ye'll remember that!! Hope you got my email. Ye're photos are making me amazingly jealous. All the best. Anne-Marie