[Closed] Anyone been to goa?

[url= http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/01/goa-banish-brits-backpackers ]risk of being attacked by packs of stray dogs :D[/url]

It's like a dirty Spain!

Was there in 2000, so things will have changed, but it was great. Just do your research (which you seem to be) if you want to avoid the spots that attract all the hippies, ravers and backpackers. Enjoy yourself.

Cows all over the beaches. Cheap seafood, beer and loads of fat ex-pats. Yeah, the dogs are pretty scary if you see your mrs surrounded. I didnt see any that were threatening but i imagine your will be tempted to kick a few!!!

Go to the hippy market.... and hammer the beach bars.

Spectacularly cheap, quite beautiful in places, shocking poverty.

Make sure you check out Old Goa. Palolem was a tourist trap but very lovely too.

It's like a dirty Spain!

Maybe more Algarve, but I get ya.

EDIT: And if the Indians regard the cow as sacred, how come they only seem to feed them plastic bags?

I stuck to the beach resorts and chilled with friends. Eat and drank far too much. I would go back. Stupidly cheap everything is essentially free!

Obviously it depends on where you go. The parents lived there for quite a few years (up in the north), their opinion was that it's now just full of fat tattooed British and Russians on package hols.

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmygrainger/3336979339/ ]Derelict house complete with livestock.[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/jimmygrainger/ ]jimmyg352[/url], on Flickr

[i]It's like a dirty Spain![/i] The only thing it's got in common with Spain is the heat & miles of sandy beaches. Ok, It's a bit scruffy, so are parts of Britain. I've seen parts of the outskirts of Leeds that are worse than I've seen in Goa. It's India FFS. The Goan people are very very friendly & fair enough, theyr'e after your dosh but, If your'e up front & friendly with them but make it known your'e not buying stuff then they'll still be your friend. We've been four times & there's a few locals that we've never spent money with (jewellers/spice merchant/optician) & they still welcome us as old friends & don't mention trade.

The locals enjoy a plodge on a Sunday afternoon..

[url= http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3659/3336979363_08605609c0_z.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3659/3336979363_08605609c0_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmygrainger/3336979363/ ]Sunday afternoon Calangute beach[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/jimmygrainger/ ]jimmyg352[/url], on Flickr

Anjuna market...

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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimmygrainger/3337783352/ ]Anjuna market[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/jimmygrainger/ ]jimmyg352[/url], on Flickr

The vast majority of Russian tourist are pretty unpleasant though, like Brits in Spain only worse. Most Goans hate them but unfortunately theyr'e becoming a big source of income for the economy.

(Ernie will be along shortly wanting facts about this, *sets timer on watch*)

I went in '91, loved it, probably changed, hire a Royal Enfield, sure it was Palolem i ended up in which was beautifully empty with a beach full of tiny red crabs, love to go back.

I went there last year and stayed at Purple Valley yoga for two weeks, really good. Spent the third week at Mandrem beach just down from Arambol and rented a beach hut. I thought Arambol beach was a bit of a dump but Mandrem was nice and chilled out and peaceful with a good choice of restaurants and cafes all along the sand.

I spent a fair bit of time there in the early 90s. I imagine its changed a bit! Even then we took off south to the Karnataka coast to get away from the crowds.

Brilliant place, We went there in 2001 for our last 6weeks of a 6month Enfield trip round western india, stayed in a massive colonial style house just outside Anjuna with a Goan couple we we met whilst up in Kashmir region (another story altogether) and we also took a trip down Palolem for a fortnight.

I want to go back,

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Palolem beach

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Treehouse we discovered in Cotiago wildlife park, south goa, attacked by massive bitey ants as you climbed up the very rickety ladder which made it tricky - we stayed here for a few nights and woke up to find monkeys grooming us in the morning.

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Cow in Mapusa north goa.

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View from beach hut on Palolem towards elephant island.

We never met any Russians when we were their but we did meet lots of Israelis - the most ignorant folk i have had the pleasure of meeting - they treated the locals and bar owners/shop owners like something to be scrapped from the bottom of a shoe, A shame as the Goans are very friendly, i'm still in regular contact with many from our trip.