Monthly Archives: January 2012

Mosquitoes, discuss.

Most people hate them but our staff are indifferent to them. Why? Because they have learnt what all inhabitants of hot, humid places have learnt: you can’t kill them all! And trying to do so is the quickest path to insanity!!

One of the biggest concerns western travellers to India have is malaria. Like any medical issue you can easily spend a week googling and researching and still be none the wiser. Most people in Goa will tell you that there is no malaria, and it is true to say we’ve never heard of anybody having it in Goa, but then we aren’t doctors.

Our advice: consider the probability of catching malaria and weigh that up against the side-effects and cost of taking tablets. There are all sorts of things you can catch when on holiday and perhaps malaria should be a bit further down the worry list.

Being someone who used to always worry about getting bitten (and frequently did), I have now got over my fear and a few simple things have made my life a lot easier, so I can now get on with enjoying India (and writing this blog):

1) A few reassuring facts:
You will almost certainly be visiting North Goa outside of the monsoon season which is when they really get frisky.
Mozzies appear mostly at dawn (when you’re probably sleeping), and dusk. At other times they seem to leave Ashwem Beach, perhaps heading to the market in Anjuna where the tourists are fresher.
This off-season we’ve planted lemongrass, a well-known mozzie deterrent, around all our domes and cottages.
We sometimes burn cowpats as well, this is a great local technique that really works and is not at all unpleasant.
All our beds have mozzie nets, the best protection of all.

2) At Ashvem Beach we benefit from a sea breeze, so if you’re around in the late afternoon try not to have a shower and freshen up your skin for them, instead try having a cocktail and sitting on the dune watching the sunset.

3) If you are in your room just put on the fan, our fans are huge and they work wonders.

4) Cover up –the idea of wearing trousers in 30 degree heat may at first seem horrible, but the right material (linen, cotton) will be comfortable and you’ll get used to it quicker than you think.

5) Use repellent. We really recommend the local brand Odomos. Firstly, it works and secondly we sell it (50 rupees).

6) Finally try not to scratch a bite, it only makes it worse! A few minutes self-control when bitten can stop the bite being persistently itchy.