D DAY has arrived !! We leave in the morning!!
Trip Start
May 02, 2008
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Trip End
Ongoing
Goa, India
Friday, May 2, 2008
its been hectic since I last wrote, we have seemed to just spend all our time... well a lot of our time... running round getting all the last minute things we need .. well to rephrase that 'all the things I think we need' ...and believe me running round here isnt like running down town at home and popping into Tesco's ... or curries etc Oh no!! even the most simple task becomes a major operation, from the chaos on the roads (actually for once very quiet compared to usual but mostly because all the tourists have left as the last charters have gone) to the trying to find a shop that sells anything you want!! I was trying to get a smaller camera as mine is heavy and too large, we tried Mapusa first but that was hopeless .. we got sent to loads of tiny little 'shops' that sold mobiles mostly and did repairs...then were told apparently theres no market for digi camera's 'here' ... I mean we are in Goa...I just cant believe that, (or can I ??) so we got back on the bike and went to the capitol Panjim, after walking around for ages looking for the place we were told had lots of cameras to choose from of different makes, we found it... they had a display of about 5/6 mostly sony, a couple of others, and only one of each in stock, and when I asked to look at one (unchained out of the locked cabinet) they were horrified and the poor lad was scared to let me hold it.... it got worse when i asked to see another one too as I wanted to compare them....we felt all eyes were on us and I even asked did he want to hold my passport, I really wasn't going to run off with it, but I did want to hold it and get a feel for it and explore the buttons etc he seemed to find this quite odd and said 'you can see it there mam' (through the glass) anyway we then found the sony shop a vast improvement about 6 or 8 cameras there but of couurse all sony... so I settled for the smallest the cybershot w120....now i know all you out there are thinking OMG she usually buys online too get it cheap cheap cheap...but 'what to do' this is India and it probably wouldnt arrive!! thats if i could find it online here!!
The packing went quite well really and i (I think!!) I got it down to the bare (ish) minimum but still felt like I was going to collapse when I tried the rucksack on this evening... so when we went out for dinner tonight, I made sure I got lots of small change rupee notes, as I told Mick I dont intend carrying that 'bag' one step more than I absolutely have to!! and will pay a 'coolie' at Delhi and wherever else to carry it for me!! I dread the thought of fighting my way onto the train with it...its like a warzone when the train arrives and we never seem to be anywhere near the right carriage and these trains can be 3 miles long on occassion!!!!!!!!!! Great!! .. cant wait... !! Ii also went and bought one of those little heating elements to ensure i could always have a cuppa on demand!! just in case as i do love my tea!! .... chai is ok but its in a tiny cup and very sweet and not everywhere does 'ordinary' tea!! unlike here...
Goa is really lovely at the moment as all the beaches are empty with barely any shacks left on them and many of the 'touristy' restaurants are closed... we have also been saying our goodbyes to lots of our friends who are leaving till next season .... and the roads were really so quiet going to Panjim I could see places I hadnt seen for years!! in the tourist season the place is full of restaurants and makeshift stalls and goodness knows what else..now it is mostly locals and some 'Indian' tourists... bombay and Delhiwallahs!! its lovely ....so like it used to be years ago,, there are so many little alters and beautiful temples in the most obscure places, like along the side of the road or in the middle of a field..or on some rocks out at sea.... and i took a few pics enroute from the speeding bike.. we have been making the most of the pool as not sure when I will get in another one!! God I shalll miss my daily swim for sure.........
We had a poisonous snake roaming in the garden opposite (see pics in last entry) and would be interested to know if anyone knows what type it is??? also there is a very large cobra on the loose in my neighbours garden!! lovely!!
So I am off to bed now and hope i can find an internet somewhere between trains when we reach Delhi in a couple of days.......I shall no doubt be tired and dirty after 24 hours on the train....(O NO forgot the immodium...!! never needed them yet but you can bet if i ahvent got them I will!! Oh well too late now unless i see a pharmacy in the morning... actually talking of pharmacies.. take a look at the ipic of Boots... its a 'first copy' as they say here cos of course there are no 'Boots the chemist' here in India..Nike (who works in Boots Pharmacy) thought it was hilarious when we passed it going to palolem when her and Tom were here, especially with all the cows wandering about outside!!
but i am sure it will be fun, all the food and drink is free on this train and we have 'beds' ..well bunks.. to sleep in 3 tiers each side of the carriage..and of course I will have my nice feather pillow and cotton pillowcase that belonged to my Gran.. nice and soft!! ahhh ...hope my 'neighbours' dont snore......well they will have to compete with Mick if so ..LOL
... so for now .... byeeee.... got to be up at 6am!! not used to these early starts!!
Gilly x
Comments
fenella
Hi Gilly
Hope you are getting the messages OK - hows it going will keep track of you and Mick via the map - love all the pictures boots & habitit LOL you sure have been busy putting this blog together and i don't think i would have the patience!! and probably would be constantly interupted.
Look forward to some more amazing pictures
LOve Fen xxx