The sickness that followed...

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Hello all - glad to report that we are well and slowly getting more brown and used to the heat! Since we last wrote we have been to a couple more beaches...

firstly Arambol beach where we found a cute little room with a balcony overlooking the road down to the beach - we enjoyed watching the world go by from above without being asked for a taxi or if we wanted to buy anything! Arambol was not as we thought it would be - think we were expecting quieter beaches but it was just as busy and still several sellers around disturbing the sunbathing! We did go for a little trek on the first day into the jungle behind the beach - there was a freshwater lake and we were told there was some sulphorous mud to bathe in so we went in search.... however after an hour trekking we decided to turn back (after seeing a massive spider and Tanya getting a little freaked...) - we did find some mud on the trek back and Pilch covered himself (it was hardly a bath but it did the trick!) - and then washed it off in the lake after alongside some naked hippies! 😊) This was followed by lunch on the side of the cliff by the sea watching (or trying to see) dolphins that we were assured were swimming about every morning.

We decided to head to Baga Beach on Tuesday after a few relaxing days in Arambol - the plan was to go to Palolem anyway and this was half way so we thought we would check it out - none of us liked it very much however. Its a bit like Benidorm - full of rowdy larger heads and not how we imagined Goa at all. However Pilch and Chloe felt sick the first evening we got there (we worked out this was due to bad eggs in Arambol that morning) and both spent the evening throwing up (Pilch experienced vindaloo coming out of his nose - very painful experience apparently)! Tanya had been ill already for the last two or three nights anyway so it was a quiet/ ill two days in Baga-Poo!

So now we are in Palolem - it is lovely here.. very chilled out and relaxing. We spent yesterday evening on the beach sunbathing and Tanya and Chloe had henna done by a sweet Indian lady who was 8months pregnant - she said Tanya looked like an Indian because of her "dark skin" and that she was lucky Pilch was her boyfriend - "lucky, good colour"!! Whilst Tanya was having her henna painted on her foot three Indian toursist in their white y-fronts came along and started videoing it happening - when they turned around to walk away they noticed Pilch sunbathing on the lounger behind- they became very excited! Pilch sat up took off his hat and said "hello I am Richard from England.. and the hair is natural" they just filmed him for ages and kept staring at the tattoos - think he may become a legend if we stay here much longer!! 😊)

Pilch has bought himself a brass statue of Shiva (photo of the small statue below - his is much bigger but was packed away before we thought to take a photo) and a huge patchwork blanket - which is currently on its way back to England (Nan and Grandad Smith - expect a big package - can you let us know when it arrives?)

Tanya and Chloe were out drinking until the early hours last night so felt a bit rough today but nothing a dip in the cool ocean couldn't solve - found some lovely rocks and lots of crabs. Its so nice here that we think we may stay for a few more days - Chloe is off tomorrow back to the Maldives..... (oh and Hayley if you think speaking in an aussie accent when you are drunk is embarrassing try getting the Indian head wobble! 😊)

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[Nan G/Dad Smith]

To old to come.
What a way to keep in touch with You all on Hol's its as if we are with you. Love Nan G/Dad S.