1.2.26

After losing another very dear friend John said I should jump at the chance to join Sharon Kevin and Liz on a trip to Goa. Life’s too short and too unpredictable.

It was a fast turn around as only 2 weeks after meeting my first Grandson, little Harvie, in Australia. 

It was brilliant to meet him, he is totally gorgeous. It was horrible leaving and I spent the first few days back with zero motivation, jet lag and tears. 

Having something fabulous to look forward to made me unpack my case and pull myself together.

Our flight to Istanbul was straightforward. 

Then the fun began.  Indigo.

Our Indigo boarding passes didnt scan, no matching flight it said. 

Very scary. 

Initially we were told to go back to check in but then some scanned, some didnt…the young lady finally used her powers to get us all through the barriers, then we were through security and had a hike to the international terminal. 

Check in was ok and our 5 hour stopover time flew by. 

As we were boarding they insisted Liz and I left our cabin bags with the staff as there wasnt enough room on the flight. 

I unloaded my back pack from mine and gave them the now almost empty case. All that remained was 2 pairs of sunglasses and some biscuits. 

I had my first trip into Louis Vuitton with Liz, have only been in LC Waikiki before!  Liz is now the proud owner of a new bag. 

Boarding took forever, huge plane, we were row 57.

Interestingly massive cases were being scrunched into the overhead bins. 

Clearly the lack of space issue didn’t apply to everyone. 

We were on the tarmac for an hour because of the weather and had lots of turbulence along the way. The flight was 6 hours, bonus, as I’d thought it was going to be 10.

2.2.25

At Mumbai the real dramas began. None of us had slept, but could have easily become comatose just before landing. 

We didn’t need all the ridiculous jobsworths that followed. 

Passport control took about an hour. I always end up in the wrong queue. Number 54 was processing 2 people to every one by our guy. 

It’s the first time we’ve ever been asked to show the boarding pass from the previous flight – in addition to an arrival form, an e visa, passport and finger prints. 

The cases unfortunately don’t go straight through to Goa. We were shocked to find them still on the luggage belt after our marathon queue. 

The check in area was something else. 

At first I thought I’d wandered into a cargo company, but on closer inspection it was clearly a pushchair and suitcase recycling  centre. 

The desk guy when checking our cases in at Mumbai was annoyed and made a massive hoo ha about us having removed our luggage labels. He finally said it was ok he could print more. A long winded exercise whilst he chatted with his colleagues and on the phone. 

He then insisted I put my cabin back in the hold because 2 bags were on the system from the previous flight. Once again I removed my rucksack, (and a pack of biscuits) 

As I did so I noticed that my poor little empty case that I’ve had for over 20 years had been underneath big cases. It was squished and the metal ring  that holds it together is loose and dangling. 

Liz refused to put hers in the hold again as it was also damaged and only the second time she’s used it. 

Next queue security. They took my tiny nail scissors away. They comply with size rules but were binned regardless. 

Men and women have to go through separate lines. A group of women had pushed in front of us, so we had to wait while they’re heads were uncovered in a small cubicle. 

We also had to go in the cubicle, with all the rigmarole of the curtains being closed whilst she scanned us, fully clothed. 

Meanwhile our bags with all our valuables were left sitting apart. 

Even more ridiculous is that shortly after that men and women all crammed into a lift together after our gate was changed from 86 to 45 at the last minute. 

In theory we had  about 5 hours to kill in Mumbai. I’d planned to sort an esim while at the airport and sort money for the taxi to our hotel.  

In fact I only just about had time to visit the loo. 

Of course our useless boarding passes wouldn’t scan, but a guy sorted that and off we went for our 9.50 flight to North Goa. 

Kevin and Sharon had a bit longer as they were on a later flight to South Goa. 

I’d picked North to be in a tuk tuk and on the way rather than 2 more hours in the airport. In hindsight a brandy and paracetamol for the last hour or so would have been valued. 

I wouldnt recommend anyone transfer via Mumbai without at least 3 spare hours. 

Never seen so much chaos, never again!! 

I said ‘Never again’ after visiting India several years ago too. 

A quick easy flight to North Goa with the bumpiest landing I’ve ever had. 

Collected cases and went to the baggage info area to report Liz’s case. Usual hooha. 

I showed her the state of mine too and said it’s old but we should never have been made to put them in a hold. They’re designed for cabins. They’re cabin bags. 

She offered Liz 1000 rupees. 

About 7 pounds. Liz said no. I left her to the reporting and went and booked a prepaid taxi to Benaulim.

Went back to Liz. The woman wouldn’t budge from 1000.

2000 Liz was saying.

I said look.. I’m being really reasonable and not asking for compensation. 

Ok she said 2500 for both. 

Done. 

We’ll get vouchers at some point. Not sure what Liz can do with them.  

Mines 20 years overdue for being replaced, I’m not heartbroken, it’ll get me home. It is quite sentimental though.

Taxi booking was simple at an assortment of desks. 

We were in it by midday. 24 hours now since leaving Turkiye. 

Kevin and Sharon will probably arrive before us as they had no negotiating to do! 

The drive was about an hour and a half, lovely new roads from the very smart newly opened North Goa. Beautiful landscaping around the area. 

Then we hit the traffic jams for a while as huge flyovers are being constructed. 1 lane became fair game for 3 lanes of traffic, no road rage, weaving fine lines between each other with gentle beeping. 

We arrived at our accomodation in Benaulim, South Goa. 

First impressions of the large green building complex were good. 

We were met by a guy who began carrying our cases up a stairway. 

Liz asked if he had anything on the ground floor. 

Now.. I’m renowned for my accommodation booking skills.. Everyone warned Liz about this. 

However, on a scale of Brett Class travel this place is 5*.

We have a bedroom each, a bathroom each, large lounge, kitchen and even a water filter machine. 

The guy wanted cash. 

I left Liz to warm to her new environment and went to both the 2 banks nearby to get cash, no joy, so jumped into the car with the guy to go to the foreign exchange shop.

Why do we lose our sense of danger in these situations? I’d no more get into a car with a strange man in a non holiday setting. 

Murder, rape and pillage averted, I arrived back safely, paid the guy and found Liz negotiating with the cleaner and some lad for an apartment on a floor down. She said she was trying to get it for the same price. 

I explained that we’d still have to pay the contracted deal with booking. com for cancellation.. 

Anyway, she agreed and said it’s only for a week thank god. 

Meanwhile our guy looked a bit mortified by all this. Liz’s wardrobe only had one hanger. 

At least she had one, my wardrobe is locked! 

Our guy ordered 6 hangers and some toilet rolls. Interestingly I was more concerned about the loo paper than hanging space! 

Hangers and paper arrived. I managed to remain calm, made Liz a coffee. She poured brandy in it and that helped her disappointment. She wants white sheets and hates the bedding, but I’m not contacting the guy again. 

I have to say that to me it’s fab, we even have a washing machine, but the whole place does need a bloody good deep clean. 

As I drew the curtains last night I noticed a big blood stain. 

It could be from the last person who asked for white sheets, so I’m definitely not risking it. 

We walked to the beach. It’s a km away down a road with little clothes shops, supermarkets, electrical shop, the change office, cafes, restaurants and bakeries. 

While Liz explored a little clothes shop I made friends with some local cattle. 

There’s even bin chickens, which are everywhere in Australia. 

The rest of the walk reminded me a lot of Vietnam, all very lush and green. 

The beach is stunning. Feeling exhausted by now we got sunbeds  at the first beach shack, Roger’s. No charge, just have a drink. 

We ordered food.. Chilli chicken, Paneer Masala, garlic and cheese naan and roti. 

It was absolutely delicious. 

I’d order that chilli chicken every day and the naan was fabulous. Forget garlic bread, garlic and cheese naan is definitely the future. 

Having no idea how long the beach was we tried explaining to Sharon where we were. 

They didn’t find us, so later we walked along the never ending sandy paradise and spotted them just ordering their dinner. 

How’s your accomodation they asked…. We had a good laugh about it, I think Liz loves it really. 

We walked back with them and onwards to ours via another shopping and eatery area. There’s plenty of alcohol shops, very low prices, we have Bacardi and Bacardi breezers. 

I’ll get Liz another bottle to drink before she sees my next booking… 

A date with books and sunbeds planned for all of us tomorrow. 

Loving this place so far.