Goa

Our final stop in India was to Goa. We were staying in Anjuna and looking forward to a couple of nights out. Unfortunately we realised upon arrival that it was low season which meant the resort was virtually deserted so we had no nights out but plenty of relaxing. We found a nice guest house run by the nicest lady who looked after us like a mum for the next three nights. We weren’t sure whether or not it would be raining as Goa was due to come into its rainy season. However this didn’t happen whilst we were there and it was blisteringly hot each day. The beach was boiling and I couldn’t even step on the sand without burning my feet. As a result, we decided to pay to use a swimming pool the next day and all burnt to crisps. That night we had chosen to go to a restaurant that we had spotted earlier in the day. On our way, however, a dog started following us. This wouldn’t have been an issue except that as soon as we got onto the road packs of dogs began running out at the one that had attached itself to us and going completely mental. We kept walking- I was completely terrified- but more and more dogs were running out and two were attacking the dog that was with us. We were starting to worry about getting to the restaurant when a lady said “Ah this dog bite many people”. This was the final straw and we gave up and went in the opposite direction. The dog still followed us and when more came running out a man came from his shop with a big stick saying “which way do you want to go girls?” He may have been about eighty with a beard but at that moment, when he started swinging his stick and shouting at the dogs, I was in love. We made it away but the stupid dog waited outside the restaurant while we ate- luckily it attached itself to some other people while in the mean time we began walking about a foot behind two locals for ‘protection’.

That was the end of our India experience. The only thing left was our flight- which was cancelled and re-arranged for two hours earlier. Apparently they didn’t feel as though they should email us to explain this but luckily we were very early and didn’t miss it.

       I really enjoyed my time in India but it was definitely a lot more work than the other countries we went to that were more accustomed to backpackers. I don’t think I’ve ever been stared at so much, or held so many babies for pictures before or ever been surrounded by groups of people who would just look at us. India was certainly a different experience.