Although we've travelled far and wide by this point our fellow Brits have been a pretty rare encounter and it would be easy to think Israel was the most populous country on Earth (barring any plans Iran might have) based on who we've met.  The beginning of the "Winter Sun" charter season on the 1st of November was to change all that.  The economic lifeline of flights to Gatwick and Manchester reopened as the yellow jacketed tour reps whisked their clients past the rubbish dumps apologising for the leprosy and malaria shuttling their clients to their purpose built resorts.  The small village of Baga which is still a fishing port underwent a sudden transformation into the Aiya Napa of the East.  It's not just young people though and the easy listening night with Barry from Wakefield on the Casio keyboard was just as popular as the Trance bar playing a Techno version of Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers' duet "Islands in the Stream". 

You might have thought that the death knell of the package industry was sounded years ago when Stelios launched Easyjet and people started buying gites in France.  Not so, turn back the clock through caffee latte and internet shopping past the Lambada and a Cinzano and lemonade and you reach Goa.  Trinny and Suzannah are yet 15 years in the future and stillettos tread the mud paths between stray cows as tatooed bodies which make the Beckhams look sophisticated squeeze by. 

All this of course perplexes the Indians slightly who, as former colonial subjects, are more at home with the image of an Englishman as a gentleman.  The topless bathers are not an unwelcome sight to holidaying men from Mumbai, though the girls barely notice the circuits of guys walking backwards and forwards to oggle their wares.  The odd cafe still advertises "Tiffin" in the window which is no doubt lost on the current visitors who opt instead for a crate of Kingfisher and a vindaloo (mild of course). 

 

NATH -

DAMN! I hate it when tagboards limit characters! So here is what I tried to post there, and what I posted at AIMZ's site. Hope the neck is okay...and you may feel free to delete this comment, without catching any SHITE from me, after you read it ((as it has nothing to do with your article))...
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Aimz, Amy and Nath -

I'm glad that we have all decided to play nice. Nath, I think I am speaking for the three of us when I say that you were completely over the top, especially when you bragged about what you did to Amy's site and planned to do to other like-minded sites. That, plus your Photoshop blunder, was what set me upon you in the first place.

Your comment above sounds sincere -- and for me that is good enough until you prove otherwise. As you know, I like a bit of sarcasm and love to do battle, but there are lines you just don't cross - especially on other people's sites. It doesn't mean "DON'T DISAGREE WITH ME!" ....it means "SAY WHAT YOU FEEL- BUT DON'T DISRESPECT ME, MY SITE, OR MY OWN FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION!" Fair enough, mate?
:-?