Goa chill out day

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We decided to take a walk along the beach, left goes to Colva. Checked at reception how much a taxi back should be in case we wanted to get one. 300 rupees. Best to know proper price as Goan taxi drivers have, it seems, a bad reputation for overcharging.

Idea was to walk before the full heat of the sun so we set off at about 10 am after I had liberally slathered myself in suntan lotion.



Lovely walk along the beach, nothing better for getting a bit of exercise and also an even tan. Note no suntan has hit my skin so far despite having been in India for 10 days.



We stopped quite a lot really to look at things most especially the fishermen and their boats. We’ve seen similar boats in Sri Lanka. Bulbous hulls and a ‘float arm’ out on side. We watched one boat arrive and cast its nets, must have been in quite shallow water. They cast the net in a big circle round the boat and then draw it in with hopefully lots of fish trapped inside.



There are lifeguards dotted along the shore line and people swimming and paddling and just sitting in the water. More people on sunbeds and more at the cafes along the beach.

Then there are beach ‘sweepers’ who collect the debris left behind by all the other people and also the fish ‘bits’ left behind by the fishermen. The crows were collecting the rest of these.



We had a swim but kept a watch on our bag on the beach as felt a little insecure just leaving it there out of our reach.



Colva when we reached it was not the place to be. This is where the coaches drop people off and where the boat excursions go from. All boats directly into the water, there is no jetty here.



Decided to walk back along the beach and watched some herons and more fishermen and then back to the hotel for a peaceful swim in the pool.



Today the building noise round the pool was intolerable. We videoed it all and I went to the room to get earplugs. Changed my mind and went to reception where I complained. Not that it will do any good, Sorry is just not good enough. I asked why the hotel was open when 2/3rds of the site was a building site and the noise levels were so high we would have to wear ear protection in the UK (showing my earplugs at this point !). I also informed them I would be posting the noisy videos to Trip advisor and Agoda. Assistant Manageress went off to speak to someone to get the noise round the pool reduced which was about as good as I was going to get. Think they did stop the worst, the pneumatic hammers, so my wrath had a small beneficial effect for everyone.
Did manage to get wifi at last but totally unable to login on this laptop, only on the phone and Bob’s tablet. Have met several people now who have complained about the ridiculous noise and the fact it continues well into the night. There are a lot of children here so some pretty unhappy parents.



A real shame as we came here for an oasis of peace and quiet in an otherwise loud and hectic trip. It’s anything but. Fortunately down by the beach it is lovely and quiet so we went there after our swim in time to catch the sunset. The sun was big and red and awesome then the sun dipped down the last little bit into haze and vanished.

Oh well there’s always tomorrow.



We, on the recommendation of some Americans we met in the pool, had dinner at the Little Palm café on the beach. We Never eat on the beach for fear of eating something we shouldn’t but they ate there last night and were still alive so we risked it. Owner has been there since 1992 so must be doing something right.

Garlic tiger prawns and barbecued seabass. A feast. And Bob’s beer was only 100 rupees.

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Comments

[D MJ Binkley]

Fishing
Love watching the locals working.