Vix's Adventures in Goa - Part 1

Patnem beach, South Goa

Ready for some India pictures? 

Don't worry, I've included today's outfit just in case travel photos aren't your bag.

I meant to take this dress away with me but forgot all about it. Today was warm and dry enough to wear it for the first time.

Chilling on Palolem beach

We spent our first week rediscovering blissfully chilled out South Goa, staying in Benaulim and Palolem (better known as the beach Matt Damon jogged along in The Bourne Conspiracy).

This was our accommodation in Palolem, a stone's thrown from the beach and expertly haggled down by Jon to a very reasonable £5 a night room rate.

1960s Bajaj scooter

Both villages get crazy busy in the height of the tourist season but the humid conditions and high temperatures in April are too much for all but the most hardcore of travellers.

I'm a sucker for these hand-painted signs

Benaulim beach was almost deserted by day, this was the approach through the sand dunes from our guest house. That's the Arabian sea in the background and in April it's as warm as a bath.

Rooms in this pretty pink house in a Catholic fishing village cost a piffling £1.50 a night. We would have stayed here longer if it hadn't been for the six foot cobra we encountered on the stairwell one evening. I'm not normally bothered by snakes but that bugger was a bit too close for comfort.

Colom Beach

Despite it attracting thousands of travellers each year the majority of Goa remains virtually untouched by tourism.

Jack fruit growing at the road side.

 We love Goa as much now as we did on our first trip 12 years ago. 

Palolem creek

India's such a ridiculously beautiful place that even a completely untalented snapper like myself can still manage to take one or two decent photographs.

Benaulim Beach

At sunset these sands turn a spectacular shade of pink. This is my kind of beach, no sunbeds, no hawkers, no hassle, just miles and miles of palm trees and powdery white sand.

Contemporary Italian-made maxi dress (£2, Bridging The Gap charity shop), 1970s mohair shawl (20p, jumble sale) 

Still awake? 

Part 2 to follow shortly.

See you soon.