Yep, last few days in goa were fun, chilling on the beach, being asked if I was Russian, a few times, smashed by a few waves in the surf... Lots of fun... With the last of our group...
Police, stopped our scooters and didn't like the fact we had foreign licences, bribe fine 500 rupees $10nzd if I had my own way, we would never pay this extortion, but the rest of the group gave in, nice picture of the guy tho, he tried to delete it too.
Here's a pic of us at the end, before the carnage of the rum drinking party back at the hotel, rum here is 170 rupees for 750ml, so $340 nzd....
We arrived at goa, at around 7am or so, took about an hour, to get to our hotel, southern section I guess of Goa... visited the beaches..... and it was fill of Russians, beaches are not too bad... the hotel we stayed at with Intrepid, was a bit average, but had a pool, the down side to this... it was totally full of kids or younger adults, I didn't venture in... we had our final farewell, the tour ended that night... our leader, was flying out at 4am.... and Lisa at 10am, we went out to dinner, and the place was empty.... it has been a bad session here... due to the lack of Russians....
So far, I've been offered, cocaine, Hash, and lots of other drugs in goa countless times... "you want to get high???" Pfft, I get addicted to things too easy.... so I'm not interested.... most of the day we were trying to find some accommodation for the next few days.... we tried for a villa, but they tended to be along way away... and they wanted some crazy prices, in the end, our guide/leader, said, try the sunflower beach resort, one of his friends was there.... it is a prime location, walking distance from the beach, lots of people and shops around (Indian rather than Russian) the place is a little run down, the owner, just kicked the previous people out, who pretty well wreaked it.... next session, I expect it would be awesome!... so we have new beds/and new sheets....
Other shock here..... has been the tax's at some restaurants, last night... the bill was 5700 rupees $120nzd for 4 people, 2000 rupees was in hidden add on taxes.. kinda puts you off the places.... will not be eating there again...
Most of the time, we have been hitting the beaches.... and the surf.... we have scooters to get around now.... makes it a lot Easier as the taxis here are crazy priced... (no tuk tuk's here)
Ok, I went out to visit the markets... my belly still wasn't 100% but still... we had been warned if you go in... it is very difficult to get out again... the markets seemed to be targeting locals rather than tourists.... I don't think I got to see a single tourist there....
I met a local guy... who wanted to show me around.... he couldn't speak any english at all (period).... but insisted to show me around...we went around the maze of shops and stores... and finally hit a nice place with crafts and souvenirs, some of which were really well made, the old timer, that was running the store... was 85... showed me this wooden carved elephant, one of the best i've seen in India... I was pretty keen to buy it.... it had a price underneath, 1250 rupees seemed about right ($25nz) but NO.... he wanted $1250USD YEAH, I was like are the tusks ivory?? Trying to work out why the price Was so high... but no.... I walked off... is disbelief, that someone would even think of having a crazy price like that.... remember this market targeted Indians.... no tourists...
Anyway had a nice walk around.... gave my "guide" 500 rupee! (Was the smallest note I had).... I think he wanted to take me home for dinner!! But I had to get back to the hotel, to get ready for the night train.... anyway enjoy the pictures...
