Melanie and Gavin's Travels

Merry Christmas everyone

We are gearing up for Christmas here in Benaulim. At night on the beach there are kids in red and white singing Christmas carols. They do a fast little melody and their leader is of course a very short and thin Santa Claus with a red suit and scary looking mask (I have no idea where he would have picked up around here). Locals are making what seems to be nativity scenes out of sand and spray painting them white. But they aren't quite finished yet so it's hard to envision where their artistic talent is taking them.

Gavin and I aren't getting each other gifts this year, but will be enjoying some yummy seafood instead. Last night we had an awesome dinner at the Palm Resort so we have made reservations there on the 24th Dec, when all the places seem to be planning parties. For dinner I had pomfret, properly grilled with garlic lemon butter and it was devine. We tried a Goan dessert that is coconut based - very good. So for Christmas I guess we will find a place on the beach. On Christmas Eve everyone seems to be promising fireworks and music too!

Today we moved into our new place 'Heaven Goa', the room is gorgeous. There are clean white tiles, a large double bed (they usually push 2 singles together in Nepal and India) with a wooden headboards and closet space. I have 5 hangers!!! This is big news. There is even FREE TOILET PAPER, trust me this is even bigger news. They wash themselves with water here so things you don't leave home without consist of passport, flashlight (for frequent power outages), toilet paper etc...

Gavin is currently lounging in one of the wicker chairs that is on the balcony overlooking the rice paddies. He got a bad sunburn the other day and is avoiding the sun. He looks a bit like a red tomato one might say. We bought suntan lotion in Mumbai and let's just say that "Indian herbal" and "sunscreen" should never be put on the same bottle! We have ditched the stuff and will buy Nivea or something that works.

I'm looking forward to talking to my family on either Christmas Eve or Day. There could be a big line for the phone but i hope the Canadian time change is on my side, as most people here are European. We will be here until at least Jan 5th and maybe one week after that. I think we are leaning on maybe one week somewhere else in Goa, get a night train (NO BUS) up to Mumbai and then hightail out of here! We will have to book a flight to Bangkok and change our flights to Australia first, I think we'll get there late Jan/early Feb and I'm really excited to be in a 1st world country and see some very close girlfriends. In the meantime I will sign off and relax and enjoy the life of riley here in Goa.

Happy Holidays everyone.

posted by melaniewilkes @ 8:20 PM