Shopping, eating and getting lost in Panjim

What a lovely day. I went shopping, it was so girlie. Having a raison d’etre put me in a much better position to enjoy Panjim on a walk about. I started off buying an obligatory ankle chain – 70Rs (just under £1). All the prices were marked clearly and I got confirmation from a helpful shop girl so I didn’t enter into any bargaining. Then I tried on an Indian ladies trouser suit which was cream and delicately beaded and I loved but it was 1400Rs (about £20) and I can’t really see myself getting loads of use out of it so I left it. At the next shop I weakened and I am now the proud owner of an alla babba style trouser suit. It is actually quite pretty I think and the colour is mainly cream but the trousers (which are mostly hidden) are striped reds and pinks. It came in at about a tenner which I can live with. I nearly got parted from £60 in my efforts to purchase a short-wave radio so that I can be ready to listen to the BBC world service when we find ourselves in some beach hut without a TV (thanks for this Cathy H – you put the idea in my head and now I can’t shake it :). Anyway, I got one for 300Rs but I can’t seem to find the BBC so if someone can advise that would be great. Monty had to come and find me as I got hopelessly lost and Panjim isn’t exactly huge. We went for a meal the Hotel Aroma (Sher-E-Punjab restaurant) in an air conditioned, clean and friendly restaurant that the guide books describe as the best in Panjim. We were not disappointed and I even had a little glass of white wine - a real treat. I do miss a nice glass of wine here, a fact I’m sure few of you will be surprised by. As for the mozzi net, I am still looking for one that will fit in my rucksack. What with the outbreak of Dengue fever up by Delhi, it would be reassuring to have one. The one that I have been shown here isn’t really very portable... I think myself and Monty are getting used to the endless stream of people coming up to us to offer us taxis (when we are still on the scooter) and various stuff to buy. The interactions are a little less tense and more smiles are being exchanged. I did find Monty an Economist newspaper so he’s happy. For anyone who should be getting phone calls, I am so sorry. Every time I work out how to make calls from here, we move on and things are slightly different. I will get there soon. Once we get to Bangalore we are going to stay in a slightly better hotel so I will be able to call from there.