Indiahhhhhh (not Windermere!!)

Panaji market. A people watching paradise, and a glorious feast of colour.

When John the posty handed me the visas it was like the weight of the entire Indian High Commission building lifting off my shoulders. We were going. The holiday was on.

And we are here. Visas in our hands, no puking on the plane, no snow...

We're back in the same place as last year. It is hot, the skies are blue and there is the unmistakable smell of India in the air. Spices, incense, woodsmoke.

Since we got here, Eddie has slept a million hours. Whilst the mesh doors keep the mozzies out, all his stresses and worries are escaping as he sleeps. This is what a holiday does to him - especially a holiday in India. He is becoming soooo much more relaxed.

So we aint done an awful lot up to now. Whilst Eddie has given it big Zeds, me and the kids have had a whole swimming pool to ourselves. T has made friends with a gang of lads from an Ashram (which we think is an orphanage) over the wall of the apartment, and has been playing footy and cricket in the shade of the tall green trees.

In the late afternoons, as the heat from the sun subsides, we either make our way down to the beach or the football field and join in the many games of football and cricket with all the local lads we met out here last year. T has been so pleased to find them all again. And L has enjoyed showing off her new Corbridge United footy skills.

We have eaten well. Toast, bananas, and spicy snacks through the day, and big Indian feasts at night in the many lovely restaurants.

Today, we ventured out to Panaji market, drank in the wonderful colours and watched the hustle and bustle in this amazing little place. T even tried his hand at a bit of bargaining with a banana lady. She thought he was lush (but didn't let him get away with a bargain!)

He tried again later with a tuk tuk man....'how much to Candolim?' he asked, '250 rupees' came the reply.
'Yeh that's fine,' he said without hesitation. Eddie cringed. 'Why didn't you say 200?' 'Because 250 is a fair price,' said the 10 year old confidently. (He'd also chosen the old geezer which meant that he must have been a good driver as he was still alive - so I was happy!)

More adventures beckon - Anjuna, Mapusa, elephants, crocodiles...but for now I'm signing out. Hot and sweaty, but completely chilled...:-)