So here we are… in Goa at last!

After managing about 3 hours sleep on Sunday night, we left for Manchester, as planned, at 3am Monday morning… it was pouring with rain!

Approximately 20 hours later, we arrived at our accommodation in Goa after all car journeys, flights, transit (in Doha) and transfers went as planned… love it when everything you have organised works out!

Goa is 5.5 hours ahead of the UK time wise so when we reached our accommodation, which is in a small villagey place called Fatrade, is was 5am. Jane & Dave – Percy was waiting for us as planned when we got to Mopa – thanks for the contact!

After another 3.5 hour flight, we flew into the new international airport in Goa which is at Mopa in the North – having only opened around a year ago, it is more modern than the old Dabolim airport (which was more central) & a lot less “military” which we think meant things are the airport were a lot quicker… That said, if we hadn’t got to passport control as one of the first people, it might have taken us a bit longer to proceed as the checking of passports / visas and taking of finger prints (usual procedure – they scan them so it’s pretty easy! Although they seemed to forget to take Pete’s! Maybe he is already on their records?! 🤣) does take a while!

The journey from the airport took about 1.5 hours and guess what?? Yep, it was pouring with rain here too! Although it was 27 degrees… 🥵

Apparently, there was a tropical cyclone (named Fengal) on the other side of the country (in the Bay of Bengal) which has impacted on the weather here in Goa and has resulted in them having unseasonal rainfall! It might also have been the reason why the landing in Goa was a little bumpier than I remember?? Ever wondered what the difference between a cyclone, Hurricane or Tornado is? Here’s what the National Ocean Service (think it’s American? Visit: HOME) says:

“Once a tropical cyclone reaches maximum sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher, it is then classified as a hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone, depending upon where the storm originates in the world.  In the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific, the term hurricane is used. The same type of disturbance in the Northwest Pacific is called a typhoon. Meanwhile, in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean, the generic term tropical cyclone is used, regardless of the strength of the wind associated with the weather system.

When we arrived at our accommodation, Percy (our taxi man) told us not to worry about the fare and that we could pay him another time before we go home – he also stopped on the way to where we are staying and bought a bottle of water which, unknown to us, he actually bought for us… nice huh? We have always found the people we meet in Goa to be very kind and extremely trusting… for instance, not only did Percy say “pay me later” before leaving us (note, we only met him for the first time at the airport!), but so did Joe, who we got our bike off – he said we could pay him anytime before we leave too! I’m not sure you’d get that at home! 🤔

After unpacking a few bits and, having not slept much on the plane, we managed to sleep until early afternoon – around 6 hours – and, once we were fully unpacked, we went for a little stroll through Fatrade (it doesn’t take long) to get our bearings and have a spot of lunch. Having wiped out the lady in the local supermarket (think small corner shop) with changing up a £100 into Indian Rupees (R/S) we decided to get a cab to Cavelossim which is a bigger “resort” about 4km away (about 10 mins by car) to get some more money changed and visit a bigger supermarket for supplies.

Having sufficient money changed, we sat in a bar outside the place where I originally stayed for 4 weeks when I first came to Goa – Gaffinos – back in the early 90s – you would not recognise the place compared to what it was like then… 1000 times more busy and built up! From the bar, we were able to get onto WiFi and contact Percy to let him know we had his money for our transfer & also ask if he could drop us back to Fatrade… as we waited for him, the heavens opened again and it chucked it down! Luckily, we didn’t get too wet as Percy sent his brother to get us and drop us back in Fatrade…

In the evening we ventured down the road and intended to go to the bar where we had our late brunch… however, that looked really busy so we crossed the road to another bar which, in the afternoon, we thought was derelict and not open! 🤣 With the lights on at night, it looked pretty good – so we had our first curry in India and it did not disappoint… butter chicken for me, masala chicken for Pete, Mixed fried rice & a nan bread to share, a coke , beer & bottle of water – all for about £11.50 (1250 R/s) – so the prices haven’t really changed and remain a lot different to the £30-40 we usually spend when at the Indian in Silsden!🤣

Today (4th December), having slept really well last night, we have got our new India SIM which allows us to use all the data we want whilst we are here for a few pennies (much cheaper than using my usual network provider) and our Scooter after Joe (who we’ve used before) came and picked Pete us so he could go and collect it! After the bike arrived, we went out for a ride primarily to fill the tank (about £3) and collect some supplies… later on, we decided to go for a walk and check out the beach shacks local to us (which we’ve visited before but a good few years ago…) – here’s some of the birds and bits we’ve managed to capture today!

And the beach…

Life is definitely good 😊 Enjoy the snow Yorkshire dwellers!! 😘