FERNANDES - DRIVING HIS WAY FROM TRYING TIMES TO HAPPIER TIMES!

By Armaan Malhotra Image by Armaan Malhotra

“This year ' s work looks much better”, shares Fernandes who has been driving a tourist cab for 10 years. Since the time COVID-19 hit India, business has been very slow for all touristrelated work in Goa. The situation has been no different for Fernandes who lives with his wife and son in the Candolim area of Goa

Fernandes was born and brought up in Goa and then he spent a few years of his youth finding ways to make money in the Gulf. Finally, he returned to his motherland and started driving a tourist taxi. He happily took around the tourists coming to Goa from one place to another and saw how Goa evolved over the years. While many people disapprove of the urbanization that Goa has seen over the last decade, Fernandes personally likes it. He thinks a lot has changed and all for the betterment Better infrastructure, better hotels and restaurants, all help get more tourists which in turn helps businesses to do well

Even though Fernandes was out of work for almost a year and a half, he did not give up. He was not just hopeful but also cheerful. He took the free time as an opportunity to spend time with his family and indulge in his hobbies. He spent a lot of time fishing Whenever he felt a little bored, he would just pick up his fishing road and go to the sea and catch some fresh fish for dinner. Fernandes found a sense of calm while fishing and it also helped bring in his family a fresh meal without having to spend any money on those tough days

Now that things are looking up, you will find Fernandes back to his grind, picking up and dropping tourists from the hustling-bustling area of Candolim, enjoying every moment of doing his bit for the hospitality & tourism business of Goa