Kirsty & Bez: Their Story

Hello everyone! Sar and Trig (aka Andrew) asked us to update their blog after spending a week with them in Goa. It was a bit of a last minute trip; after a phonecall from Sarah whilst at work, saying how brilliant Goa was and how much we would love it; we both thought ‘bugger it, let’s put it on the credit card!’ So within the space of 2 weeks we had booked flights; had vaccinations; arranged visas (just about because of the postal strike), packed our bags, and set off for India!

We arrived in Goa at about 5am their time. Sar had arranged to meet us with the legendary driver that is Sandip. It was crazy to think we had flown for 9 hours and then suddenly Sarah came round the corner as if I’d just arranged to meet her back at home! We learnt from her quickly that you have to be quite tough with the locals – as soon as we came out of the airport there were hoards of people trying to carry our bags for us obviously trying to be obliging as possible in the hope that we would give them a tip. Sar shooed them away from us so we could get our bags in the taxi, and then we were on our way to Arpora!

It was lovely to see how adapted Sar and Trig had become to the Goan lifestyle – although as many of us who know them well realise that it wouldn’t take Trig too long to master the art of the laidback culture! As we ventured out for our first breakfast to their local haunt, ‘Honey’s’, everyone we passed said ‘hello’ to them and they both seemed just so at home.

We had hired mopeds for the week as this is the mode of transport that the majority of the population use. I haven’t actually told my mum yet that this was how we got around, as she would probably begin to worry about it now! Our first venture out was actually one of the best times of my life; within about the space of 5 mins we actually came across an elephant on the side of the road!! Sar told me that this was the local elephant, with a pretty painted face. We did actually see him again on numerous occasions throughout the week and always managed to sneak a quick photo and then burn off on the moped before we had to pay anyone any money for the privilege.

So went spent the week drinking, and eating, and visiting amazing beaches, and drinking, and seeing a spice plantation and drinking, and eating, and chilaxing by the pool and drinking some more! Basically just having the ideal holiday with people that I love lots and lots. Although if you were to say this to me and Sar on our first night out, we probably wouldn’t have said that we loved Trig or Bez anymore! (Not going to go into this, but basically it involved those 2 drinking more than half a litre bottle of Southern Comfort between them, straight, and then behaving like 2 teenage boys for the night! Even though I could say that Bez had the excuse of jet lag......!)

We spent a lovely night staying in some beach huts right on Aswem beach. Sar and Trig kindly let us have the hut closest to the beach – which was literally a stone’s throw from the shoreline. It was lovely to go to sleep and to wake up to the sound of the waves lapping up on the beach. We could certainly get used to that lifestyle! Sar and Trig are very lucky to be spending New Year’s Eve there (in our hut!)

The highlight of the holiday though was actually getting to ride on an elephant! Sar and Trig had already been to the spice plantation where this opportunity arose, so we high-jacked Sandip for the day whom kindly took us there. So we got to ride on an elephant called ‘Baboo’ (can still remember its name) and it was incredible! But not long enough! When telling them about it on our return, Sar wrinkled up her nose and we discovered that Trig was going to have a go by himself, but had bottled it because the elephant looked too big and scary!!

Our last night consisted of a marvellous meal at ‘Honey’s’, where we had been advised to have the lobster by Glenys, (thank you for that Glen!) So that is what we had. With the biggest prawns I’ve ever seen. And pomfret fish. And rice. And garlic and cheese naan (We’re missing those by the way you two!) And onion bhaji’s. And about 5 drinks each. And this meal cost us all probably about 13 pound each!! By this stage we had become more accustomed to the pricings in Goa (ie it is very, very cheap) and we had a quick moan about how expensive it was!!!

So for anyone thinking about going to visit those two when they’re back in Goa, or even when they’re not there, we would both say 100% go!! It is a remarkable place. The people are so friendly and the food is gorgeous, we didn’t have a bad meal the whole time we were there (Bez’s favourite being prawn chopsy in a restaurant on the beach in Mandrem). You obviously get to see some poverty in certain areas, and in some places you get piles of rubbish on the roadside; although you don’t see much rubbish elsewhere. And for all the stray dogs that are buzzing around, we didn’t see one piece of dog poo anywhere!

So obviously we’re back at home now and the worst thing is we’re not going to see those two again for some time. They’d been away for about 6 weeks before we went to see them, and I just about managed not seeing Sar for that long. I don’t know what I’m going to do now! With what they’re doing now, it’s most certainly given us two itchy feet, so no doubt we’ll be booking more tickets to see them elsewhere on their travels in the not-too-distant future.

Love
Kirst and Bez xx

The Photos



The night when these two were almost disowned!!








Me and Sar complaring tans













Our ‘expensive’ meal! Was surprised Trig hadn’t tucked in while we were looking at the camera!















Our local elephant! Carrying his food for the day.

















The local mode of transport (plus Sar’s broken flip flop!)


















Miles and miles of gorgeous beaches, with only a man doing yoga to be seen....



















Our elephant ride!!












Our lovely beach hut (but me not feeling too well – bloody malaria tablets!)















The cool dudes from’Honey’s’. Bez wanted this picture included so the good looking waiter can be seen (to the left of Bez - he wants UK wife and LA life so all you girls apply in writing to Honey’s, Arpora, Goa)






















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