18.2.26

After our somewhat stressful noisy day at Palolem we opted to take the 20 minute stroll to Partnem. It took a fair bit longer with photo and shop browsing stops.

We settled ourselves on the beautiful beach by Nirvana restaurant. I love the way they all provide towels. The staff here were particularly attentive and regularly moved our brollies to keep us in the shade.

Story time. ..

The lady and the toast.

I ordered a larger breakfast, with toast so that I wouldn’t need lunch, and because I love Indian butter.

An elderly lady came by, gesturing that she wanted money for food. I’m always wary of people begging, didn’t want to give money so offered her my toast. I was sure she wouldnt want it.

To my horror she went to take it and I gestured to the restaurant. She went away. The others (quite rightly) we’re all laughing and saying I’d literally offered it and then said she couldn’t have it. We did laugh.

Duly guilt tripped, I asked the restaurant to make her some and put it on my bill. When she was coming back I put my arm round her and took her to the waiter to get toast.Thank you, thank you she was saying.

She told the waiter she wanted biryani. Chicken biryani. Cheeky!

I walked away. Later the waiter brought some toast, butter and jam in a packet in case she came back.

2 hours went by. A street dog came so I opened the packet, tore off a very sunburned piece of toast, it didn’t want it and I put it back in the packet. He obviously wanted chicken biryani too.

Another hour or so went by, the lady came back, signalled to the packet, opened it and took it despite it being dismantled and extra sunburned.

The dog hadn’t licked the toast in case anyone is wondering.

The rest of the day passed peacefully, apart from feeling really bad for not buying l the lady a chicken biryani.

A few sellers came by, but weren’t persistent.

I spoke to our waiter and asked about the old lady. Don’t worry he said, most of the restaurants give her something.

We decided to go to Zest for dinner. We’d had breakfast at the Agenda branch. On the way we stopped at Cow Corner for a drink. It’s number 1 on TripAdvisor. It’s dark and dingy, smelt funny, toilet was minging, cats, walk across the tables and the drinks were overpriced. But at least we’ve seen it.

Zest was nearby, a beautiful ambience like the Agonda branch. It’s vegan and vegetarian, with some very complex combinations. I fancied the mushroom, spinach and ricotta lasagne but was nervous of the spinach.

I needn’t have worried, it was absolutely delicious.

We’d have loved a coffee with Sharon’s left over birthday cake but not been enough electric for the machine.

Concerned about the dark bendy road, we wedged ourselves into a tuk tuk.

Liz and I went to collect her hat. She’s having one embroidered by the extremely talented guy with his 33 year old sewing machine. It wasn’t ready. There’s not been enough electric.

Liz has a broken thumbnail, she’s already tried super glue, but it’s at risk of coming off. We called into the nail shop, a right hook ha with the owner trying to train a younger girl. Thank goodness she was only having one nail done as the guys incessant snot sniffing was making me feel a bit queezy.

Nail repaired and back to our chalets just after 10. Alarm set for 6am, case packed, stripped off ready for a shower…. Liz banging on the door.. She has black bugs in her bed. I told her to go and find the reception guy. Nothing I could do in my current state!

The owner ended up coming and brushed the creatures away. There you go, perfect! Liz said no way and ended up moving rooms.

Off on a big adventure tomorrow.