I was very surprised when I first went to Goa.

I expected to see a carribean style situation/lifestyle with established hotels, good road systems, a reasonable standard of cleanliness and little evident poverty.

What I found was quite different and surprising. lots of poverty, poor roads, absolutely loads of rubbish everywhere, ramshackle buildings, random bordering on nonsensical town planning/infrastructure.

On the surface of this was a 'vibrant' party culture and lots of lazy beach shacks.

I struggle to see why people rave (forgive the pun) about it. It is a nice place to holiday in but not the Mecca that many describe it as.

I have become more used to it each time I have gone but would say I prefer the likes of Thailand.

Thank you msj5 I'm in Glasgow now, near my daughter and grand kids, only good thing that came from goa was that after a year on my own I met a terrific guy in dec last year who was on a 4 month holiday and when he left in march we realised we missed each other so I moved back to the uk to be with him, who says you can't get a second chance xx

I'll give just a couple of reasons for my views.

Firstly, a "friendly" Goan trying to steal my house. Eleven year court case ongoing.

Secondly, bodged up surgery. Three weeks after a cataracts operation, I told the surgeon my sight wasn't what I expected. Surgery 100%, but there's a tumour in one eye, I'm told. What, in three weeks!!!!
Another surgeon corrected the fault in three minutes with a laser.

Surgeon number one tells me to take him to court.

Want any more?

W.

Not particularly.

Except for the property issue which is zilch compared with my other problem. The support, we had for the locals was fantstic, I cannot thank them enough.

Agree with you noni, my ex has stupidly given our (his ) so he says, away, a guy offered him 36 lach gave him 9 as a deposit, moved oUt, let them move in, they have done it up, a/c etc now renting it out, and he has had no more money from them, out of state guys, so they got a bargain 4 bedroom flat with 40 sam roof terrace facing baga river for 9 lach laughing their socks off ok they won't be able to sell it as the deeds are in exs name but are making money out of it

Few years and they will be in pocket! Missing the sun now it is cold and windy here.

Sure will they knew exactly what they were doing and so does the advocate, they are earning money as its in a prime site, and now my ex has given power of attorney to his advocate, and returning to the uk with zero, he has no money so can not remain out there any longer,
The only thing I miss about goa is the weather, I've been cold since I arrived back in the UK since may and it's freezing cold and very very. Wet and windy here in Glasgow.

"lots of poverty, poor roads, absolutely loads of rubbish everywhere, ramshackle buildings, random bordering on nonsensical town planning/infrastructure."

I think if you plan to live long term in Goa it is wise to visit many times and comprehend your rights (or complete lack of them).I speak of the place from a tourist perspective (been about 12 times over 15 years) for which I imagine the Goan authorities are most interested.

When I first came to Goa I was under no illusions I was coming to a third world country, albeit a refined version compared to the rest of India (maybe with exception to the beautiful but now somewhat exclusive Kerala) sure I was shocked by what I saw but I also witnessed friendliness, warmth, wonderful peace and excitement, spiritual feelings and a sense of a home from home.And of course a place changes in itself and your view of it as you become more familiar with it. To watch a Goan sunset fills you with a sense of timelessness, peace sadness and awe and it makes you feel far away and slightly scared to see the massive expanse of the Arabian sea plunging into darkness. I adore Indian food and that is a major part of my holiday, fresh seafood dishes that taste wonderful twice a day. I hardly ever drink alcohol as the heat and beer does not agree with me and I get ill heatstroke easy.

I found Thailand less interesting culturally compared with India, though to be honest I was in Phuket which is much more touristy. I was not into the open prostitution my partner even less so, it's pretty seedy.

I like things quite ramshackle as it adds a sense of charm and excitement but the traffic is horrendous now and very dangerous indeed. The jetski's completely p** me off, the buildings popping up everywhere is making it less magical. (I used to love those quiet small forest walks behind shacks, shops to the beaches, through a few locals gardens, it felt like you was almost in the garden anyway)

I am sure 1,000's came to Goa expecting a Benidorm experience with curry for lunch but never came back cause fact is it's a rather intense and mildly scary place unless you are somewhat open minded. In fact it's probably more like Benidorm now.

It still has a significant draw for me but it is getting more and more hectic.

If someone could please answer is this season seeming busy or quiet what are the Goans saying ? Many Brits on holiday, locals said there were very few last year and mainly Russian tourists coming in. I am easy as long as people are friendly to me, who's there and is it a busy season ?

Mixed comments on how busy it is from friends living there and friends who have been on holiday, it's always busy new year with domestic tourists, but friends have said its busy. With mainly Russians now, there has been a few incidents of bag snatching and fights on the beach but these have been " covered up" by the press and government as always, theses were common when I lived there so nothing new..
As you quite rightly said a holiday is what you make of it and most of the groans are very friendly, it's usually the out of state people who try their hardest to make money out of you .. But hey hoo they all have a living to make and only 3 months now to do it .

Thanks Poppet, Sure I have seen a few Russian women arguing over a cocktail added to the bill, disturbing the entire beaches peace, I mean come on it's like £3.00 and you are in paradise FFS and these people are hardly rich.

Oh well it remains to be seen whether the price is right and if I can muster the energy. (a telling statement that, it's not your typical relaxing holiday)

I've been in Goa a week and a half now and apart from a trip to Mapusa by bus have not been anywhere, except out to eat locally. Just chilling! reading and cooling off in pool but one thing that is very noticeable is the bump up in prices since last March. The taxi price shown on the board in the airport was the first thing, it had gone up about 200 rupees since last Jan. Restaurant prices are up quite a lot as are the food and drink in the shops. My OH (who does the food shopping here and at home) recons he is spending as much here on fruit and vege as he does at home, mind you he shops very carefully at home. Being charged for something you have not had is worth arguing about even if it is only £3. its the principle rather than the amount. I always check my bills and would always ask for a bill to be corrected, even when it is not in my favor.

Totally agree K800, it's the principle not the amount, and this 'extra drink on the bill' routine happens way too frequently. If we all keep taking the view of "it's only a quid" or whatever the sum, then it will just encourage this deliberate practice further. I also view it that if every customer is charged one extra cocktail or meal or whatever, imagine how much that adds up to in a week, a month, a season.
Ignoring it will just increase opportunities or people to be ripped off

Dread - x

Well there will be no extra drinks on my bills cause I think I am done with Goa definitely not going this year. I think the romance with the place has died off now. Enjoy it whilst it is still possible. Bye

And if you are the type of person to moan over £3.00 in a country the vast majority people have nothing, then there is another reason why I don't want to be there with you. Thats the stinking attitude of the typical tourist with a ridiculous and unfounded superiority complex."I deserve, I deserve" you are owed nothing and you are pretty ignorant in my eyes. You paid £XXX to get there right, Paying an extra £100.00 in fuel price hikes and destroying the environment (No principle there, is there?) with their aircraft and you begrudge a waiter a piddling amount. You paid £3.00 for 2 bottles of water on the plane getting there and their pockets are lined beyond belief. If you eat in restaurants who do that you best find a place where they treat you with some respect, your foolish choice to eat there if you go back again. If someone sh*ts on you you don't go back thats gonna hurt them more than a £3.00 gain. Get real.

Sure you bring it up but ultimately, stressing the whole beach for £3.00 in a third world country as if you are important, those people are scumbags. If you are a poor Indian I could understand the endless negotiation but someone from the West has no valid excuse other than pettiness and delusions of grandeur. The principle is you think your £3.00 is more valuable than the peace of others.

It seems that here in Glasgow I can get cheaper than in goa, 10kg of onions £2.99, spices that you get in the supermarket 2x50p chicken from the halal shop far cheaper than goa, but you have the sunshine I'd pay extra for that, haven't been warm since I returned in may