its a no goa

first impressions are not everything....... im pretty chilled at the mo and enjoying it, but when i got here yesterday i was almost on the next plane to London, serious - i kept a few notes, and the day pretty much went like this

16th Nov
after 3 quite bumpy flights, an being put on a totally different operator for one of them (kingfisher instead of Indian) i arrived after 24 hours, and with maybe 2 hours sleep, tops

out of the airport im bloody scammed , twice, within 5 mins. Im ushered to a taxi where we agree a price on a pre pay taxi (which do exist, and are a safe way of doing it) only i dont get a voucher from this guy - then when i pay, through slight of hand, he gets another hundread of me, i saw it, but what can you do? it was only a quid and how do i prove it, and he may have a knife! no need for bravery, Anyway, i set off, pretty dissapointed that ive been ripped, but glad to be on my way, and then suddenly the @%#^@#% of a driver turns to me and changes the price. Again im screwed, cos ive already paid most of it. So i was only ripped for 3 quid, but i cant believe after a year travelling i still fall for it. Oh well!

oh yeah, seconds later we drive past a motor cycle accident which turns into a bit of a gang fight - this place is bloody mental, its like central hanoi, but worse, and the size of london! i think this is when i was ready to jump on a plane back home!

so got myself to the apollo guest house, which is a bit grotty, but its big and i felt quite at home in it, so collapsed in bed and poured a nice big glass of the tyrells wine chris and becks got me - wine never tasted so good! (watched a bit of Mr Brown too, with billy connely, quite good)

managed to venture out to ask about trains too, goa trains booked up for a bit, so will try the bus the next day.

Found a mellow bar called Alps, had a beer then, and then some oh so lovely chicken curry with rice and an egg burji (scrambled with chilli and herbs and tomato i think) - it was gorge

had a few more beers and then headed back about 9 oclock, and chanced upon a mini carnival with loads of drummers - only 3 floats but the drumming was excellent

so finished the wine, and a strong bottle of kingfisher whilst watching Being John Malcovich - id forgotton how strange that film was

17th Nov
woke up quite early, and instantly started trying to work out what to do , and i just couldn't bloody decide, wait a few days and train south to goa, bus to goa? or go north

so i went on a almost 20k round trip walk past chowpatty beach, and all the cricket pitches, to the bus station - to be told there are no buses there! bugger

decided to let thomas cook do the work , but they only do flights now

so back to the train station, i could go to goa on the 21st, or head north on 19th - so im heading north, so its a shame to miss goa, but now i can relaxe and take more time on the northern towns which sound quite nice

its an overnight sleeper trip with a bed, and it cost 4 quid! brilliant, and i head to jodphur with its magnificent fort, then jaipur, and then somewhere else

afte that, i went for a late lunch at Katems, i went for the special , the thali, which i think is like set lunch , and i got chapati, rice, and 7 dips and pickles, it was amazing! all for 40 pence!

feel like ive been here a week, but its only 24 hours - its totally f***** mental, but i quite like it now

oh yeah, you can tell theres not many bars here, cos i wouldn;t normally go into that much detail!

see yer