MISCELLANEOUS, Goa

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Favorite thing: Goa is a wonderful place where I felt very safe to wander anywhere. It is incredibly cheap to eat, drink or get a taxi anywhere. For this reason dont go wth the package holiday trips out as they are a real rip off! We stayed at Betalbatim Beach which is in the South and fairly quiet in a lovely small hotel. For instance we took a taxi to a waterfall. It took us an hour and half to get there and it only cost us £10 and thats £ not rupees. And that also included taking us home after we spent about 3 hours there swimming and laying around!

One of the trips included a stay in a mud hut. We were warned they were basic but didnt realise how basic. However, they were very clean, just rather dark with holes in the pillow cases and a mud, cowpat floor, walls etc. I wouldnt have missed it for the world though . One day I'm going back.
Only disappointment , no snorkling as the sea is not that calm and clear.

Fondest memory: Took a 6am walk up through the jungle to another waterfall and to see the sun come up. Washed elephants and did yoga in the open air in the middle of a jungle round one of the oldest temples . Superb.

Also the 9 hour train journey into the centre of india to see Hampi ( and well worth it) . Met some very interesting and lovely people and lots of cockroaches!

Favorite thing: An easy way to keep in touch with friends and family back home is to use your mobile phone. This as you know can be quite expensive and even a simple text message can cost £1. The answer is to get a local "pay as you go" sim package which are widely available in Goa. I got set up on IDEA for about 450rs and this gave me about 200rs of talk time. Top up cards come in various sizes and are readily available. You will need your passport (or a photocopy) when you buy your sim. A text message cost me 5rs and a call to a landline back home was 30 something rs/min. Your phone will need to be open to all networks, you can get it unlocked in Goa cheaper than back home. The phone I used in Feb 2003 was a Nokia 8310 and this year I will be taking a 7250i (the 8310 will be getting donated to a Goan friend)

Favorite thing: 1.Flashlight: Power failures happens daily in all of Goa.
2.Mosquito repellant: Not only do mosquitos disturb you beauty sleep but they can give you malaria.
3.Water subsitute: Stomach trouble is almost mandatory for tourists. For Swedes I recommend "Resorb".
4.Sun lotion. Pink isn't such a lovely colour as one might think.
5. International driver's license. Required if one want to rent a moped or a motorcycle. Useful if you don't want to bribe the local police.

Favorite thing: Baga beach - go dolphin watching and then go to a few beach bars, watch the sunset, have a few drinks and something nice to eat at one of the beach bars (particularly the UB40 one).

We went in Febuary and it was a bit stifling at 35 degrees - particularly stuffy at night. Best time to go would be between November - Jan I believe.

Fondest memory: Relaxing in the shade with a cool bottle of Kingfisher. Its about 30/40p for a lovely big bottle and a pound for a really nice curry!

Favorite thing: You will see wildlife in Goa. During our visit we were driving along when the taxi suddenly stopped..there was a huge snake slithering from one side of the road to the other side. We also saw sea snakes, oxen pulling carts, monkeys in the trees, lots and lots of dogs ( usually sheltering from the heat under your sunbed ) It was delightful to watch the sacred cows roaming on the beach and on the main road - they didn't have a care in the world, not so good though when you are walking in flip flops late at night - squelch !

Favorite thing: The Department of Tourism office provides some good information, free and useful maps, etc. It has zonal Offices in North Goa at Mapusa and in South Goa at Margao.

Their website www.goatourism.org is also quite useful for information

Favorite thing: Carnival in Goa is a non-stop 3-day festival of color, song and music, providing a healthy entertainment for all, young and old. The soothing climate, full of fun- 'n' -frolic, which the Carnival generates, is much longed for. It does not matter whether one enjoys or see others enjoying. There is enthusiasm and happiness all around.

Favorite thing: When in Goa, rent a bike and tour the state! Bike rents are amazingly cheap in Panjim - 100 INR which is less that 3 USD a day. Goa has fantastic roads, almost all the beaches and hills are bike-able, and the kick of the speed with salt and spray is more than one can resist! I remember going up a steep hill side