Issue 32 by Goa Streets

Art Escape’s music • pg 3 Fab Goa websites • pg 10 Misusing explosives • pg 11

The Art of Massage Goa’s spa culture goes world-class

s Plu ete pl / com event d/ e foo ghtlif ni ide gu

Goa meets China 15 • Chess prodigies 19 • Learn to sculpt 22

whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hot this

June 13 to June 19 Pickled Mango

June 15 Photography Exhibition

A Goan rendez-Vius by Nolan Mascarenha At The Alliance Francaise, Panjim +918322420049

week

Multi Cuisine serving culinary delights from around the world. @ Resort Rio, Arpora @ 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm Mon: music fever Tue: in-house music Wed: karaoke burning Thur: in-house music Fri: one man band by Joe Sat: karaoke burning Sun: in-house music +918322267300

June 19 Cosmopolitan Ladies Nite

June 15 to June 16 Tortoise Candle Stands Workshop With Mayank Jain At Sunaparanta, Panjim @ 10.30 am to 12.30 pm +918322421311

Also introducing a pay for 1 JAGERBOMB and shoot another for absolutely FREE, along With free COSMOPOLITANS for the ladies all night long. At Butter, Panjim @ 8 pm +918308838888

June 16 Diwa Brunch

Kids Eat Free promotion with Pan Asian and Coastal cuisine coupled with delectable desserts At Alila Diwa, Majorda village Salcette @ 12 pm to 4 pm +918322746800

June 14 Ladies Night and Hoteliers Special

At Radisson Blu Resort Cavelossim @ 9 pm +918326726666/ +918888061199

June 14 Symposium on Goan Cuisine

At Ravindra Bhavan, Margao @ 4 pm +918805397385

Thursday, June 13, 2013 Photographs by Ananda Krishna

Art Escape brings live music to a new level Clubs/Bars/Lounges/ Live Music Jam session at Sweet Chilli

Retro décor, good food and music to the tunes of veteran Goan performer Zezinho, a ‘musical adventure’ is what’s in store at Sweet Chilli every Wednesday. You can even jam up with him. Zezinho, in keeping with his signature style, will belt out popular, yesteryear hits and lend a Goan tinge to the evening through his singing and music, replete with the gumot (a local earthen percussion instrument). Sweet Chilli is a well carved out restaurant and night-spot at the foot of the Aguada hill, a few hundred meters from the iconic Taj property in Sinquerim. It’s owned by Francisco Martins (Fanquito) known better as Goa’s ‘entertainment king’. At Sweet Chilli, Sinquerim @ 7.30 pm +91 9820820254

Funky Saturdays at Butter

It’s a night club most youngsters prefer to hangout at on Saturday nights. Now in a new locale at the EDC Patto Plazza complex in Panjim after a few successful seasons in the coastal belt of North Goa, Butter is hosting its funky nights on Saturdays again. The music, your dress code, hair style and whatever you want to do got to be funky at Butters every Saturday night, here on. At Butter, Gera Emporium, EDC Patto Plazza, Panjim @ 8 pm onwards

Raissa’s Sheesh Mahal Lounge

Delicious food and lovely music At Margao @ 10 am to 11.45 pm +918322712899

Club IANOS

Club & Global Cuisine Calangute, Baga Road 0832 6528283

By Jonathan Rodrigues

ot all laundry is about washing clothes. Sometimes it can be about rejuvenating your soul. Laundry Effect is a blues-funk jazz band that loves to jam and experiment, drawing their influences from Indian, Middle-Eastern and World music. They played at the Art Escape venue at Benaulim on Saturday 8th June. Jonathan Rodrigues got some candid views from Douglas Gracias (21), the bass guitarist of Laundry Effect.

JR: Why is your band called ‘Laundry Effect’? DG: When we began playing together, we were all newbies. All we had was a basic knowledge of our instruments. But more importantly, it was the motive that held us―of playing the blues, and trying to develop ourselves not as a cover band, but on all lines of experimentation with rock, funk, jazz, fusion―the music we love. We want to play it, and play it good. It was about playing to the people who have had a long hard working day, and about delivering a cleanser to their moods... hence ‘Laundry Effect’. JR: What is special about performing live? Do you perceive both positive and negative vibes from an assorted audience? DG: If the vibe from the music is good, the audience will enjoy it, however

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June 22

music & nightlife | 03 Art Escape’s live music

Sao Joan Rain Dance

At CRCC, Chinchinim Ground, Salcete @ 1 pm +919890630049/+919822180049

1st Sao Joan Rain Dance

Music Promoters Charitable Society presents this Sao Joao Rain Dance. Electrifying music by Tidal Wave, Forefront, Lynx, etc.. At Blueberry Hill, Verna @ 12 pm +918322714801

lowdown | 06

June 23

feature | 07 O’Goa - shack in the city

Agua De Vida

At Palmarinha Resort, Calangute @ 12 am to 3 am +918322275059

San Joao Shuffle 2013 At Resort Rio, Arpora +918322267300

Ohhh Reee Sao Joao

Presented by the Benaulim Sports & Cultural Club At Fisheries Complex, Benaulim beach @ 11 am

explore | 10 10 useful Goa websites

Pool Party

At Woodbourne Country Club, Nuvem @ 12 pm +918390097909

feature | 11 Explosives for wrong uses

June 24

Siolim Sao Jaon

At opp.St.Anthony’s Church, Siolim @ 2 pm

June 13 to June 30 Smoking Chutney live

cover story | 12

Fort Aguada Beach Resort At Sinquerim, Candolim @ 7.30 pm +918326645858 Mon: Estella pinto Tue: Mac Dorado Wed: Estella Pinto Thur: Savio Fri: darryll Sat: Natasha

Night By Night Every Monday Karaoke Night

Live Filipino Band performance At O’ Goa, Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim @ 7.30 pm 2226291

Every Tuesday

Retro & all Time Hits

Retro hits played by DJ Aggie At Radisson Blu Resort, Cavelossim @ 9 pm onwards +918326726677 / +91 8888061199

Every Wednesday

Tuesday – Country Rock

At Café Mojo @ 10 am to 11.30 pm +91 9850980091/ +91 9860010061

Cosmopolitan Ladies Nite

Also introducing a pay for 1 JAGERBOMB and shoot another for absolutely FREE, along with free COSMOPOLITANS for the ladies all night long. At Butter, Panjim @ 8 pm +918308838888

Ladies Night

At Soul Souffle, Uddear, Verna @ 8 pm +918322782100/ +919404312100

At Malts N Wines, Baga @ 9 pm +917875242960

Massage in Goa goes world class

Russian Ecstasy Nights

At Radisson blu resort, Cavelossim beach @ 9 pm +918326726666/ +918888061199

On-going

Pickled Mango

arts & entertainment | 15 Goa meets China

what’s on | 17 The latest buzz

Souza Lobo

sports | 19 Chess kids of Goa

Oldest restaurant on Calangute beach With live music in the evenings. At Calangute Beach @ 8 pm +918322281234 Mon: Nelson & Leo Tue: Nezz and neka Wed: Lui one man band Thur: Nelson and Leo Fri: Just Leo Sat: Victor & Sol Sun: Valentino

Martin’s Corner

sex | 21 Back rub dilemma

give back | 22 Sculpture school

Authentic seafood and Goan cuisine Along with entertainment with Live music every week. At Betalbatim @ 8 pm. +918322880061 Mon: Shane Tue: Karaoke by Jonny Wed: karaoke Francis Paul Thur: Ashley Fri: Karaoke by Johnny Sat: Shane. Sun: Kenny 9822131676 bonny 9822166996

Jam Session

A musical adventure with Goa’s one & Only Zezhinio At Sweet Chilli, Sinquerim @ 7.30 pm +91 9820820254

Retro, Rock n Roll & Old School With DJ Saby Fernandes spinning Retro, Rock n Roll At Resort Rio, Tambudki, Arpora From 8 pm to 10.30 pm +919552538203/ +919011015959

Wednesday Nights

Featuring DJs David and Ashley At Kamaki, Baga @ 7.30 pm +91 9923093408/ +918322276520

Retro, Rock n Roll & Old School At Resort Rio, Arpora @ 8 pm to 10.30 pm +918322267300/ +919552538203

Every Thursday Salsa Night

At L’Orange Marquis Vaddo, Candolim @ 8 pm to 11 pm +919970173606/+919823291413

Thursday Grill and Games

Music, games & barbeque At Soul Souffle, Verna @ 7 pm to 10 pm 2782100, +91 9764694321

Every Friday

Ladies Night and Hoteliers Special At Radisson Blu Resort Cavelossim @ 9 pm +918326726666/ +918888061199

Thursday, June 13, 2013

from page 3

Vinesh, Sandra and Darryl of Art Escape

assorted. It’s nice when during a performance, people try catching your eye to share an appreciative, sometimes naughty smile and these vibes count in improving the performance. The difference in the positive and negative vibe is simple. There is no audience in Goa that would boo musicians into playing something else, but if what is being played isn’t up to the mark, they obviously would make it clear with their resounding silence. JR: Bands in Goa today often use sequenced tracks and pre-recorded music. How difficult is it for a sincere effort to survive in the music industry? DG: Well, that’s where the importance of the equation lies, in how sincere an artist is in trying to instill some kind of a change in the mindset. For a band to be successful, they need to be together for the better part of the day where they can share activities, get to know each other better, and most importantly, not take life for granted. Without practice, nothing great is going to happen, it’s just playing gigs for the buck. It turns into just another gig. There’s no edge. Lip-syncing and using sequenced tracks for a live band performance is a sham. They can

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Simon Hewitt of Laundry Effect

Onshore

Offshore

Experience the Real fun of International Gaming only At Crown casino WMS BLUEBIRDS Slots just installed: “ Rs. 20 Lakhs Possible Jackpot ” At 1st floor the crown goa, behind old secretarial, Panjim @ 12 noon to 6 am +918322222822 / 33 info@crowncasino.in rewards@crowncasino.in

Entry Rs.1500/ Enjoy free unlimited snacks, Veg & Non-veg Buffet-dinner, alchoholic & nonalcholic beverages And loads of live entertainment. At Panaji, Goa. Open 24 Hrs. +918888807256

The Crown Lounge & Casino

Chances Casino

At Vainguinim Valley Resorts +918322456683/4/5/6 Email: sales@chancescasinoresort.com

Gold finger Casino

At Vainguinim beach, Dona Paula +918322454545

Casinos Treasures

At Majorda beach resort, Majorda +918322881111

Casino Paradise

At Neo Majestic, Porvorim +918326710101

Casino Carnival

Casino Royale

Among the 6 offshore live casino gaming licenses issued by the Government of Goa, Delta owns and operates 3 licenses. Delta Corp has acquired 51% stake in an existing operation in Daman which will offer 1,000 gaming positions (100 table games and 300 slot machines). Call us to know more.. 24 Hours At Opp. Panjim Residency, Panjim @ +918326519471

Casino Pride

Captain of Ports Jetty, Panjim +918326710101/111/ +91-832-6519641 www.casinopridegoa.com

6 The Lowdown from page 5 be grouped into any category of fraud, because not only do they cheat the organizers and audience, but they are yet to realize that they’ve just been cheating themselves, and ultimately the entire musical community as well. JR: Many International artists have been visiting Goa on the EDM scene. Do you feel that there is not enough done to promote other genres of music in Goa? DG: The EDM scene has gradually been killing live music. The thing is kids today don’t listen to good music. My dad introduced me to the Doors and Pink Floyd when I was a toddler. Music cannot be easily embraced, it needs to be imbibed. Parents play a critical role in inculcating this factor in the minds of the kids, and steps must be taken at a ripe young age when the brain is still innocently porous, like a sponge. EDM is popular, commercial music that youth relate to very easily because they love a monotonous beat and they are all thriving on this energy created by

The Lowdown The monsoons are a good time to focus on things you can do indoors. In this edition, we bring you what we think is one of the best activities that takes place out of the driving rain – a relaxing massage. The most interesting point here is not that all kinds of massages are available in Goa. We knew that already. But that Goa is now joining the ranks of the premier spa destinations of Asia – in the same league as Bali, Thailand and Kerala. Our state is going spa crazy, and in these pages we lay out the whole story for you.

the sexual delivery that EDM has. Boys and girls today want to listen to EDM, drink alcohol, and go hump each other. That is their motive. It isn’t about creating music to them. They don’t understand the technicalities that go into learning instruments and stuff like that. They prefer some fellow mixing somebody else’s tunes on his deck, and it has all boiled down to this mega pseudo-ism in our lifestyle, where EDM parties are taking over like madness. 

A lack of boundaries, a sense of limitlessness, the free flow of creative juices. That’s what Art Escape has been about since setting up as an alternate art and cultural platform in Goa four years ago. It’s a hub for creative activities like art, sculpture, music, theatre, dance, yoga, recycling and design, to name a few. And since 2010, Vinesh Iyer and Darryl Noronha, the brains and brawn behind Art Escape, have been enthusiastically driving their labour-of-love The Live Music Project’. True to their credo, the Live Music Project has taken the highly unusual step of imposing no limits to what music genres can participate. It’s an open canvas for all musicians/performing artists to play whatever they wish. “Right now is the time for live music and original content as the audience is quite tired & bored of the cover scene,” says Vinesh. “Audiences, promoters, festivals, venues etc are all looking for new interesting content as that’s what the audience needs, which is a great sign for live music and artists.” Art Escape also works at identifying interesting venues such as forts, gardens, open public spaces, old heritage homes around Goa and across the country to organize shows. Artists like guitarists Elvis Lobo and Derek Julian, sitar player Yograj Naik, flautist Vivek Sonar, rock musician Elvis Rumion and a host of musicians from overseas have performed at Art Escape’s sessions over the last three years. Combining travel and music is also on the cards. “The larger idea of ‘Gypsy on the move’ or ‘Band on the Bus’ is where we take a bunch of musicians from Goa working together, travel in a minibus designed and branded with art work and graphics ‘Goa Sound & Feel’ with sound equipment, etc. It starts from Goa, heads to Pune, Bombay, Bangalore and other major cities,” informs Vinesh.

Also, don’t miss our piece on how Art Escape in South Goa is redefining the concept of live music, or our quirky story on Goa’s extraordinarily large number of young chess prodigies, or our story on popular Goan websites, or our troubling look at the use of illegal explosives to kill animals. We also give you an inside look into the little known fact that while India and China face off against each other on the international stage, an artistic exchange right here in Goa is actually bringing the two countries closer together. And speaking of art, we also tell you the story of a spectacularly creative sculptor in South Goa who is setting up a school to share his vision with all of us. All this is in addition to our weekly, comprehensive events, food, party and nightlife listings on everything you need to know to enjoy Goa to the fullest – even in the driving rain. Happy reading! The Goa Streets Team

Chief Advisor - Steven Gutkin Publisher - Marisha Dutt Editor - José Lourenço Senior Correspondent - Ashley Do Rosario Business Manager - Praveen P Sales Executive - Kedar Prabhugaonkar Sales Executive - Vincent Kola Data Entry Operator - Radhika Naik Photographer - Ananda Krishna Administrative Assistant - Nilesh Shetgaonkar

June 13 to June 30

Diwa Brunch - Every Sunday

Brunches on a Sunday at any of the five-star properties is a concept that’s slowly but surely catching up with middle and upper-middle class families in Goa. Especially in the wet monsoon months, it provides an opportunity to nullify the effect of the rain by getting into the pool. When the skies do relent, a favourite beverage or the offerings of the hotels’ in-house chefs could come in handy by the poolside. This season, Alila Diwa Goa takes the concept a step further with a ‘Kids Eat Free’ promotion and a Pan Asian and Coastal cuisine menu. The Sunday brunch at the hotel comes at Rs 1199 per adult and kids under the age of 12 aren’t charged. At Alila Diwa, Majorda village Salcette @ 12 pm to 4 pm +918322746800

Photographs by Ananda Krishna

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Chef Abishek Bhagat of O’Goa with Nalliwala Roganjosh

June 13 to August 31

Grand Hyatt goes Mangoes

Goa’s traditional mango season may have ended for you and me, but not for the chefs at the Grand Hyatt. On the mango menu for the upcoming Mango Fiesta is a wide variety of mango recipes and culinary creations including mango milk shakes, aam panna (an Indian mango recipe), spicy prawns garnished with spicy papaya and mango salad, Goan prawn mango curry, plus mango–inspired desserts and mango mojitos and other liquid concoctions. So, if your taste buds yearn for a mango, even past the season for the ‘king of fruit’, you’ll find it at the Grand Hyatt at Bambolim. The Mango Fiesta starts June 13 and will last until the end of August. Rs. 2200 + taxes (includes buffet, champagne, wines and select drinks) At Grand Hyatt Goa, Bambolim @ 1 pm to 4 pm +91-832-3011125

June 14

Symposium on Goan Cuisine At Ravindra Bhavan, Margao @ 4 pm +918805397385

O’ Goa

Who says you need the beach for a beach shack? By Goa Streets

Time 11am-12 midniht non stop food service, open everyday. Home delivery: 0832-2411959 & 9764159686 Caterin Service Contact: Mr. Roland Rodrigues @ 9890422440

magine the scene. You’re looking out over a body of water, while sipping a cocktail and eating some well-prepared Goan delicacies beneath a thatched roof – the wind blowing in your face, the Goan sun shining bright. Sounds like a typical Goan beach shack? Not exactly. This scene plays out daily right in the heart of downtown Panjim, at the O’ Goa restaurant at the Hotel Fidalgo. The thatched roof is actually an extension of the hotel building that has been one of the most recognizable Panjim landmarks since 1974. And the body of water we’re talking about is the hotel pool, alongside which are the tables, open kitchen and funky bar of O’

Goa. Clearly the creators of O’ Goa are out to re-create the ambience of a beach shack right in the middle of the capital city. They have succeeded. This is essentially a Goan restaurant, although serving up hearty fare from throughout India. On a recent afternoon (when the sun was NOT in fact shining), we weren’t sure what to order but were clearly in the mood for something substantial. We settled on the lamb dish Nalli Roganjosh. To call it substantial would be a terrific understatement. There was more lamb on those three bones than we had ever been served at any restaurant in Goa. That the dish’s quality lived up to its quantity was an added bonus. Next came a dish that we ordered simply

because it seemed like an out-of-the-box choice: the Portuguese Pork. Despite its name, the curry tasted like the traditional Goan coconut-based sauce used in your typical fish curry rice – except in this case with Goan sausage rather than fish. Truly, we didn’t perceive anything particularly Portuguese about it – but in the end that didn’t matter, as it was a satisfying dish. We also had the nicely prepared and highly tender Chicken Tandoori, and a portion of Naan Makhani that was as extraordinarily soft as the Nalli Roganjosh was extraordinarily large. A little bird told us that other noteworthy dishes at O’ Goa include the

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8 Food June 13 to July 16 Pizza Feast

At Mia Cucina, Nerul @ 8 pm to 11.30 pm +918326714141

Uptill June 30

Monday to Friday

Step out with girl-gang for the special kitty Party offer! Meow time @ Cafe Mangii Enjoy a Veg meal at Rs 499 while a Non-Veg meal is priced at Rs. 599. Weekdays only @ Lunch Hours Only At Cafe Mangii, M.G. Rd, Panjim +91-832-2230771/73

June 13 to June 30

Happy Hous on select brands

At SFX, Fort Aguada beach resort, Candolim @ 12.30 pm +918326645858

Lunch & Dinner Buffet

With Multi Cuisine At The Stone House, Fort Aguada Rd, Candolim @ 12.30 pm to 11.30 pm +918322479909

Lunch Buffet

With German Cuisine At Lila Cafe, Calangute @ 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm +919822150533

Multi Cuisine lunch and dinner buffet At Cidade de Goa, Dona Paula @ 12.30 pm +919822130743

June 16 to June 30 Lazy Sunday Brunch Featuring Music Fever Live At Sweet Chilli, Candolim @ 12 pm

Up to 31 July

Take away offers

Above Rs. 300 = gulab jamun. Above Rs. 600 = gulab jamun + 500ml Soft drink. Above Rs. 900 = 500ml Soft Drink + 1 starter of Rs. 150 At Global Shore Restaurant, Porvorim +91 9373113205

Everyday

Happy Hours

At Capiz Bar, Grand Hyatt Goa @ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM, Enjoy 25% discount on all beverages. Happy hours, happier moments! +91-832-3011125

Every Sunday

Champagne Sunday Brunch

Enjoy brunch with French champagne with food from five interactive and live stations dishing out Asian, Italian, Middle Eastern, Indian Cuisine and desserts. Rs. 2200 + taxes (includes buffet, champagne, wines and select drinks) At Grand Hyatt, Bambolim @ 1 pm to 4 pm +91-832-3011125

Sunday family brunches

“Rejuvenating cocktails, soul warming gourmet cuisine from around the world, activities to Keep the kids entertained and specially get in rhythm with Ashley. At Latitude, Vivanta by Taj – Panaji @ 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm +918326633636

Strawberry splash

Sunday Live Brunch

Enjoy a Sunday Live brunch with live stations, a live band, best of live entertainment and an unlimited flow of wines! There’s live entertainment for kids too, including magicians, balloon sculpting and face painting, etc. From 12:30pm to 03:30pm At Waterfront Terrace & Bar, Goa Marriott Resort & Spa +918322463333

Baga, Calangute & around Coba

Specialising in Indian, Grills, Seafood At Double Tree by Hilton, Arpora @ 10 am to 11 pm +9183266556672

Eat Street

It’s a place to dine, drink and dance the night away, specialising in Multi- Cuisine At Calangute @ 24 hrs a day +918326636000

Fish Tales

Specialising in Seafood At The Glitz, Calangute @ 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm & 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm +918322281800

Casa Portuguesa

Housed in an 18th Century colonial house, it offers Portuguese cuisine along with some dishes reflecting Goan influences, complete with the pleasant ambience of Fado Music At Baga Rd @ 7 pm to 11 pm +91 9822122960

Flame

Multi- Cuisine Restaurant At Double tree by Hilton, Arpora, Baga @ 7 am to 11 pm +9183266556672

Ciao Bella

Specialised in Italian Food At Assagao, Badem Rd @ 7 pm to 11 pm +919767557673

Artjuna

Set up in an Old Portuguese house surrounded by a beautiful garden. The café serves up chilled café au lait, milkshakes, sandwiches, juices and baked goodies, homemade dips, iced lattes, blended coffees and more. At Monteiro Waddo, Anjuna @ 9 am to 6 pm +918322274794

Anjuna & around

Dandey’s Grill House

Specialising in Grills At 181 Bella Vista, Chogm Rd, Sangolda @ Noon to 3 pm & 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm +919890315172

Mamma Mia

Italian cuisine with a blend of Italian imported ingredients and local organic produce. At Resort Rio, Arpora @ 12.30 pm to 10.30 pm +918322267300

Alcove Restaurant and bar Specialising in Multi-Cuisine At Alcove Resort, Ozran beach, small Vagator, Anjuna @ 8 am to midnight +918322274491

Biryani Palace

At Anjuna beach road, Anjuna @ 11 am to midnight +918323257586

Blue Tao

Specialised in Italian, Seafood, Organic Food At Anjuna beach Rd, Anjuna From 9 am to 11 pm +918975061435

Candolim O’Asia

Specialising in Pan Asian At The O Hotel, Dando, Candolim @ Noon to 3 pm, 7.30 pm to 11 pm +918323047000

Chilihip

Specialised in Thai At Fort Aguada Road, Candolim @ Noon to 3 pm, 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm +918888610500

Flambé e

Coros Velvet

A multi cuisine fine dining restaurant specialised in ravioli, steaks and pasta At Miramar, Panjim @ Noon to 3 pm to 7 pm to 11 pm +918605020020

Giardini

Live Music on most nights, Specialising in Multi-cuisine At Curca, Bambolim @ 11.30 am to 11 pm +918805873335

Specialised in Chinese, European, French, Goan, Indian At Souzawaddo, Candolim @ 9 am to 11 pm +919326114271

Forrest Veg Food Court

Beach House

A’tona Bar and Restaurant

Panaji & around

City Pride

Specialised in Goan, Portuguese, Seafood At Vivanta Holiday Village, Sinquerim @ 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm +918326645858

City Pride

Specialising in Seafood At Vivanta by Taj, Panjim @ 11 am to 11 pm

Habour Café

At The Crown, Panjim +918322400000

Docaria

At Cidade de Goa, Dona Paula @ 8 am to 11 pm +918322454545

Confeitaria

Serves fresh bakeries, Pastries, Chocalates, and speciality Coffees and teas At Grand Hyatt, Goa @ 8 am to 8 pm +918323011200

Specialising in Chinese, Indian, Italian At Bhagwan Mahavir BAL Vihar, Panjim @ 11 am to 11 pm +918326454353 Specialised in Goan and Portuguese food At Carina Desa, Betim From 7 pm to 11 pm +919823129239 Specialised in Seafood At Opp. Vivanta by Taj, Panjim From 11 am to 11 pm

George Bar and Restaurant

Specialising in Goan, Seafood At near Mary Immaculate Conception church, Panjim @ 10 am to 3.30 pm, 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm +918322426820

Baba’s Wood Cafe

An Italian wine bar and restaurant with pizza oven and homemade gelato. Wide choice of pure Italian Dishes with beef fillet and fish always on the menu. 12 pm to 3 pm & @ 6 pm Monday to Sunday. Closed on Tuesday At Mala, Fontainhas, Panaji +918323256213/ +919923414098

Food 9 Alfama

Well known for fado evenings At Cidade de Goa, Vainguinim Beach @ 7.30 pm to 11 pm +918322454545

Chilli ‘n’ spice

a carnival fusion cuisine, a bar to enlighten your spirits, Specialised in multiCuisine At Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim @ 7 pm to 2 am +918322226291

Tamari

“A Pan Asian restaurant serving Chinese, Thai & Japanese cuisine. Specialty to try is the fine style Sushi. At Vivanta by Taj – Panaji Lunch @ 12.30 pm to 03.00 pm and dinner @ 07.30 pm to 11.30 pm +918326633636.

Courtyard

Specialised in world cuisine, fusion At Hotel Campal, Panjim @ 11 am to 3 pm, 7 pm to 11 pm +919822384084

Cantina Bodega

Pizzeria, bakery & cafe. Owner Vandana utilizes her expertise earned from her years as a top pastry chef in New York City. At Sunaparanta Centre for the Arts, Altinho, Panjim @ 10 am to 7 pm +91 9011662233

A Pastelaria

O’ Coqueiro

Goan Cuisine in Porvorim, made famous not just by its tasty food but also as the place where international criminal Charles Sobhraj was arrested. At NH 17 Rd, Porvorim @ 12 pm to 11 pm +918322417806/ +918322417271/ +918322417344

Pan Asian Bowl

Chinese, Malaysian & Thai cuisine. Some of the finest Asian food in Goa. At Miramar, Panjim @ 12.30 pm to 11 pm +91 9923499429/ +918326455547/ +918326455548

Cafe Mangii

Popular Dishes Risotto Champagne, Fusilli Mama Rosa, Baked Lasagna, Stuffed Chicken, Lobster Tail, Grilled Pork Rib, New Zealand Beef and Lamb and many more At Madhav Ashram Building, Panjim +919370898848/+918322230773

Barista Lavazza Outlet

Barista Lavazza’s famous beverages like Flavoured Hot Coffee, Cold Coffee, Hot Tea, Ice Tea, Mojito, Smoothie, Ice Cream Shakes, Juices. In bites section we offer Sandwiches, Calzones, Muffins and Cakes. At Shop No. 15, 16, & 18, First Floor, Navelcar Trade Center, Opp. Azad Maidan, M G Road, Panjim +918322422130

Upper House

Goan and continental cuisine. One of the tastier and more elegant restaurants of the capital. Good bar, too. At Panjim @ 12 pm to 11 pm +918322426475

Café Azul

All day dining restaurant offering buffet combo option. At Cidade de Goa, Vainguinim Beach @ 7 pm to 11 pm +918322454545

Cafe Mojo

Arguably Panjim’s best pub. Innovative, fun and lively. At Salida Del Sol Hotel, Panjim All day. +91 9850980091

Margao & around

Upper Deck

Coffee shop offerings traditional coffee along with light snacks and drinks. At Radisson Blu Resort Goa, Cavelossim Beach @ all day +918326726666

Bistro

At Alila Diwa Goa, Majorda @ 7 am to 10.30 pm +918322746800

Bakery & Confectionery Gateaux, Pastries and Cookies. Chocolate and strawberry flavoured the mousses are soft and melting, a treat for the kids. Its maska all the way At Hotel Mandovi, Panaji From 9 am to 9 pm +918322426270/+918322426273

The Verandah

Is the signature grill restaurant, serving fresh market produce of seafood, meat and vegetables. At Grand Hyatt, Bambolim @ 7 pm to 12 am +918323011658

Global Shore Restaurant

Global Shore Restaurant is a multi-cuisine restaurant and we specialize in Goan Seafood/Chinese/Thai/Indian & Tandoor. At Hotel Chandrageet, Porvorim +91832 2414125/+9193731113205

Viva Panjim

Goan cuisine & seafood. Linda and Michael’s place has long been a favourite for those in search of very tasty Goan food. At Fontainhas, Panjim @ 12 pm to 11 pm +918322422405/ +91 9850471363

Ritz Classic

Known for Goan fish curry rice and seafood. Very popular for lunch, especially with the Panaji office crowd. At 18th June Rd, Panaji @ 11 am to 11 pm +918326644796

Chulha

Indian Street food and Tandoor At Grand Hyatt Goa, Bambolim @ 3 pm to 11 pm +91832-3011125

Tea Cafe

Cakes, Coffee and other goodies. A newcomer to the Panjim cafe scene. At Fontainhas, Panjim @ 11 am to 7 pm +918322223050

Chef Abishek Bhagat relaxes by the pool

Boat Quay Grill

Specialising in World Cuisine, European, Grills At Royal Orchid beach resort, Uttorda @ 7 pm to midnight +918805013553

Fig & Olive

Flavours of the Mediterranean, Arabian & Italian. At Holiday Inn Resort, Cavelossim @ 9 am to 11 pm +918322871303

Spice Studio

Goan dinner. Elegant outdoor restaurant in a well-appointed resort in the South. At Alila Diwa, Majorda @ 7 pm to 10.30 pm +918322746800

Betty’s Place

Specialising European, Goan, Indian, Seafood At opp. Holiday inn Resort, Mobor, Cavelossim @ 6.30 pm to 11 pm +918322871038/+918322871456

Cafe Mardi Gras

24 hrs cafe serving seafood, Goan, North Indian, Coffee & snacks At Holiday Inn Resort, Cavelossim @ All day +918322871303

Shandong

Asian-cuisine restaurant with fine dining ambiance At Radisson Blu Resort Goa, Cavelossim Beach @ 11 am to 11 pm 6726666

from page 7 Sorpotel, the Mutton Vindaloo and the Prawn Curry – in addition to some very good and very Goan Sanaas and Bebinca. O’ Goa is one of six restaurants located on the grounds of the Hotel Fidalgo. The others are Aunty Maria, Mirch Masala, Chilli ‘n’ Spice, Legacy of Bombay and Bhojan. O’ Goa is the most Goan of the lot. When the mood and season are right, this poolside restaurant also features live entertainment. And yes, it does feel like a beach shack. Only without the beach. 

THE FOOD: Competentlyprepared, tasty Goan cuisine THE AMBIENCE: A beach shack without the beach THE SERVICE: Highly attentive THE PRICES: Moderate WHERE: Poolside at Hotel Fidalgo, 18th June Road, Tel: +91 832 222 6291

10 Explore

10 Useful Goa Websites By Goa Streets

oa clearly still has a long way to go before it truly takes advantage of the power of the Internet. “For a state which started its first website way back in 1994, there are shocking few good initiatives today,” comments journalistpublisher Frederick Noronha. Still, slowly but surely our little state is coming into its own, web-wise. We rumbled through cyberspace to bring you 10 websites we hope you will find useful. All of these, of course, are in addition to our favourite website on the planet – goastreets.com (OK, we admit to a certain level of bias!) Happy browsing!

Goanet

Okay, so this is a mailing list, not exactly a website. But it is one of the earliest ventures by Goans into cyberspace and deserves to be here for that reason, as well as for its buzzing activity. This vast mailing list is now 19 years old. According to Frederick Noronha, who has been associated with Goanet almost since its inception, says, “The age-old strategy of putting out the news, comments and links via the humble old email still works.” Goanet was launched in 1994 by Herman Carneiro, the first Goa-based mailing list. Members post news articles, opinion, humor and questions related to Goa here. By the way, Goanet is also a popular group on Facebook.

Goa-world.com

about Goa. Eddie Fernandes, a retired librarian, puts in a lot of effort, along with other volunteers.

Edskantaram.blogspot.in

Edward ‘Eddie’ Verdes, a self professed fan of Konkani music, hosts a vast collection of Konkani song lyrics on this blog. Lyrics of songs from Alfred Rose to Ulhas Buyao feature here, providing a valuable resource for professional singers and party revellers alike. Many old Konkani songs on vinyl records and tape cassettes are vanishing from radio play, though All India Radio still has a good collection. Edward appeals to listeners to add lyrics of such vintage hits to the collection on the blog.

Goanarchitecture.blogspot.in

Goa-World is the personal home page, owned and maintained by Ulysses Menezes of Bastora, Goa, presently residing in Kuwait. It hosts some excellent essays on tiatr, music, places of interest, literature, cartoons and more.

Goanvoice.org.uk

The focus of this website is largely on expat Goans, with news from and

Though not updated regularly, this website on Goan Architecture by engineer-writer José Lourenço has around 37 posts at last count, covering houses, churches, temples and other edifices in Goa. There’s a lot of photographs on the pages, accompanied by some description, history and commentary.

featuring news as well as columns by notable personalities like Prabhaker Timble and Rajdeep Sardessai. Of late the website also hosts Konkani literature in the Devanagari script. Netizens can record their comments in the ‘Balcao’ interface.

Goa-cap.com

Goa Center for Alternative Photography (Goa-CAP) led by alternative photo enthusiasts Edson Dias and P Madhavan offers residencies and work space for innovative efforts in image making.

Fredericknoronha. wordpress.com

Goanews.com

‘Bringing Goa to the Web since 1996’ says the line at this news website run by journalist Sandesh Prabhudesai. It is the oldest online news portal in Goa,

One of the first journalists to exploit the power of the Internet, Frederick Noronha blogs about Goa and books, and issues that concern both. The books

that he publishes under Goa 1556 are profiled here, along with vintage Goa photos, videos of events in Goa, lists of useful links on Goa and loads of photos of everything under the Goan sun.

Goanfoodrecipes.com

This is a collection of recipes from a Goan family, which would help vouch for the authencity of its cuisine. “Our Goan recipes are derived from a cookbook handed over to me by my mother Yvette Oliveira Fernandes,” says Clyde Fernandes. He also runs a tech blog Techrooted.com. The Goan Recipe pages have blow by blow photographs of a dish being cooked, which is great, compared to the usual cookbook sites that just have one photograph and the text instructions.

Targetgoa.com

“This website is not a news portal. Targetgoa.com is an attempt to take news items and link them to issues that affect the whole bunch of us in this loveliest of all states – Goa,” says Bevinda Collaco, the owner and editor of Target Goa. The site has a Goa Buzz section with news and commentary, an entertainment section, a Goa directory and some interesting videos.

Feature 11

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Killing Animals with Bombs

Use of illegal explosives for hunting and fishing persists By Ashley Do Rosario

ou don’t have to be an expert sharpshooter to kill wild game in Goa. In fact, you don’t have to be a shooter at all, especially if you’re willing to break the law and use crude bombs to hunt down wild animals such as boars and deer. Balls of explosive are rolled together with pressure sensitive detonation mechanisms. These lethal round-shaped balls are then coated with herbs or other vegetation which these animals are attracted to - and randomly placed around the paths along which they normally traverse. The balls explode the moment an animal bites into one of them. The ball bearings inside these contraptions cut and tear through the vital parts, lethally wounding the beasts. All the poacher has to do then is get a skinning knife and cut out the best portions of meat to be sold at a contraband premium. Goa’s forested countryside is full of stories of such wild game hunts – no guns, no adventure or risk, only game. There have been times when these explosive traps have claimed the wrong victims – humans. There’s the case a few years back of Rukhmini Naik of Batim village, southeast of Panjim. Busy clearing a patch of land on the Curca-Bambolim plateau of dry grass and wild bushes to prepare the field

for cultivation, Rukhmini lost her forearm when one such crude bomb exploded when her sickle stroke hit it. “When the incident occurred, I at once knew what it was. I cursed those bad hunters,” she told Streets. The police could not do much, she said, because it is impossible to identify who had placed the bomb in that field. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Umesh Gaonkar, there have been cases where a group of tribal folk from neighbouring Karnataka state come for the specific reason of hunting wild game using such explosive balls. “They stay here for three-four days and leave with their prize (whatever game they get using this modus operandi),” Gaonkar told Streets. Gaonkar also admitted that some Goans too use this method for hunting wild game, but it is restricted to the remote forest areas where human habitation is rare. The manufacture, possession, use, sale, transport, import and export of explosives is regulated by the 130-year-

old Explosives Act of 1884. Under this law, the Collector (district magistrate) permits trade and possession of explosives for legal use in Goa’s mining operations, including in granite and basalt (road metal) quarries. But a significant part of this explosive material does get diverted for illegal use, including in mines and quarries, Gaonkar admits. He however insists that supplies of explosives to Goa have obviously dwindled since the Supreme Court imposed a ban on iron ore mining last year. “It (use or misuse of explosives) is not as widespread as in the past although it still exists in some places in Goa,” Gaonkar said of the unchecked misuse of explosives. It is illegal to use explosives for hunting or fishing. Apart from hunting wild game, the use of explosives to catch fish is also well known and employed to kill fish by those who don’t understand the virtues of patient fishing. Special water resistant dynamite sticks with similarly waterproofed wicks are tossed into the water where shoals of fish are known to park themselves. On exploding, the fish in the proximity die or are left temporarily motionless due to concussion. All one needs to do is take a net hooped on a long handle and scoop

out the dead and stunned fish. This method of fishing is generally used in river basins upstream in Goa’s eastern hinterlands, according to Ramesh Gaonkar, a resident of Surla in remote Sattari taluka in north-east Goa. It’s normally done on a non-commercial basis in the summer months of March, April and May pre-ceding the monsoons when fish are known to retreat to the upper reaches of rivers. “The catch is then distributed across the village and consumed,” Gaonkar added. According to Amrut Singh who heads the Animal Rescue Squad, an NGO working in conjunction with the state Forest Department, fishing in rivers using explosives is illegal although it has traditionally been followed here in Goa for many years. Last year, Amrut found around a kilogram of explosives, including detonators on the bank of the Vathadev river in Bicholim sub-district of North Goa. He lodged a complaint then, but the youth who had fled - leaving the material behind when Amrut appeared on the scene - were never brought to book. Amrut says the state government machinery should proactively bring this practice to an end because it causes irreparable damage to the ecology and fish populations in the rivers. 

12 Cover Story

Bali, Thailand, Kerala…Now Goa Massage Goes World-Class

By Pedro Menezes

alk of Goa, and the seasoned traveller thinks of sea, sand and feni―and beyond that―churches, temples and forts. But massage? Sure, that too, but not on the level of Asia’s great spa destinations, most notably Bali, Thailand and, closer to home, Kerala, with its famous ayurvedic massages, well known for their potent oils. But perceptions often lag behind realities. And here’s a reality that’s only beginning to be widely known: Goa has quietly joined the list of Asian destinations with a truly thriving spa culture, one that today handily holds its own among international holiday hotpots. It’s not just because of the ubiquitous massage and spa outlets dotting every corner of the state’s myriad beach belts, in addition to all the major cities and many of the villages. It’s also because of the quality of the top spas, which today rival the world’s best. And because more and more folks – both Goans and visitors to Goa – are placing massages and spa treatments at the center of their Goan experience. Going by the number of massage parlours―or spas as they’re known―opening up in the Calangute area

and elsewhere in Goa, massage is the new buzzword on the scene, with everybody from the budget tourists to the glitterati flocking to spas. Increasingly, fivestar hotels in the state are re-branding themselves as ‘resorts & spas.’ Goa is already India’s “beach capital,” and it’s on its way to becoming the “spa capital” as well. These spas have nothing to do with the sleazy massage parlours which also function in certain parts of the state and which are in essence fronts for prostitution – or at least outlets for what’s popularly known as the “happy ending” massage. What we’re talking about here are professional outfits operated by well-heeled and well-travelled professionals and entrepreneurs with highly trained masseurs. (Though let’s face it, it’s no secret that when it comes to massages and the small private rooms in which they usually take place, rules can be quietly broken, no matter how fancy the establishment. But beware. Goan police are cracking down.) With Goa’s burgeoning spa culture comes some highly unusual massages. An ayurvedic offering might include medicated Navara rice wrapped in cotton bags. Or a therapist might place hot basalt stones soaked in oils on your body. Or long strings and feet

turn to page 14

14 Cover Story from page 12 might be used in sweeping strokes over your back. Massage treatments are the answer to tired, overworked and weary bodies which need rest and pampering, says the staff at Tatva Spa, an upscale massage spa in Calangute (with an outlet in Panjim as well). Southeast Asian and European massage therapies are becoming popular with many people who don’t like being slathered in medicinal oils as often happens with Ayurvedic massages. The award-winning Sukho Thai has trained masseurs from Thailand, while others have staff from Bali and other southeast Asian destinations. Almost all the five-star resorts in Goa also have their own spas featuring everything from Thai, Swedish, Balinese and, of course, Ayurvedic massage therapies. Yes, they’re known as therapies because they are believed to cure diseases of the mind and body without using medicines, solely through touch and by using certain oils and other substances. Sukho Thai is one of the more prominent new names dotting the Calangute landscape, offering Thai-style foot massages. They have three branches in Calangute itself, one more in neighbouring Sangolda, with more on the way. Ashwin D’Costa, the Margao-based marketing manager for Sukho Thai in Goa says, “We’re catering to a very niche market because we only have foot massages. We don’t offer full-body massages. Our clients are all from the elite section of society, we cater to the luxury segment, we’re priced at a premium. Our customers are people who have travelled and are aware of foot massage, so they come especially for that.” Sukho Thai―named after the Sukho Thai era in Thailand eight centuries ago―has branches all over India. Judging from customer reactions, they’re doing very well. Jessica Sobhani, a tourist from the US, who had a massage at Sukho Thai, said, “It’s the most amazing massage I have ever had.” (We didn’t ask how many massages she’s had, but you get the point.) Another tourist from Sweden, Caille, said, “The entire ambience and atmosphere is excellent.” And a fellow from Delhi who just finished a massage at Tatva Spa in Calangute had this to say: ““It’s very rejuvenating, healthy and restful.” Tatva spa offers a mix of Ayurvedic, Thai and modern European massages, with oils, fragrant waters, wax, milk, chocolate and other substances. There are many other ingredients which go into making your massage memorable at the various spas, some exotic, others not so exotic. The ‘Samudra’ treatment at one five-star resort uses seaweed. Jacuzzis, steam and body wraps are common massage features in Goa, not to forget the good old hands and feet of the masseur. And, yes, some of them have couples rooms where you and your beloved can enjoy

simultaneous massages and even bond together by, say, dipping your feet in the same rose-petal strewn tub while sipping champagne. (Yes, the best massage experiences are decadent!) For super luxury massages, you might want to head to one of the five-star spas, like the Vivanta By Taj Fort Aguada or the Grand Hyatt Resort & Spa (yes, it’s a resort and a spa) at Bambolim. The Shamana spa at the Grand Hyatt offers both traditional Indian ayurvedic treatments and chic modern massages with powdered diamonds, pearls and other exotic substances, all for a few thousand rupees. The Jiva spa at Fort Aguada offers the complete range of Ayurvedic treatments and massages for sore bodies and minds, with a basic facial costing Rs 1,000. Besides massages, they also offer health foods and yoga sessions, and you can work out a complete health package for a very restful holiday. Some of the spas in Goa have been rated amongst the best in Asia. The Sereno spa at the Park Hyatt in Arrossim was voted ‘World’s Number One Spa’ and ‘Best Spa in the Asian and Indian Subcontinent’ by readers of Conde Nast Traveller in 2006. Spread over 36,000 square feet, the spa has breathtaking

sea views and offers ‘Ayurvedicinspired’ massages and treatments. They recommend the ‘Synchronised Abhyanga Four Hands Massage’ where two people massage you at the same time, and the ‘Traditional Marma Facial’. There’s Maya at Zuri White Sands and many more all over the coastal tourism areas, while the Devaya resort in Divar has been built as a complete Ayruvedic spa. Even the Goa Marriott in Miramar is now the Goa Marriott & Spa. Their Quan Spa offers massage therapies which are a blend of the ancient and modern. Their signature treatments are Marine Algae Bath, Aroma Fusion Massage and Quan Foot Ritual. Many beauty salon owners have also diversified in the spa business by adding massage services to their portfolio. Snip Salon in Panjim was the pioneer in this business and owners Sumeet and Archana Bhobe, buoyed by their initial success, have opened branches, including one in Calangute. Another highly notable luxury spa on the Calangute-Candolim stretch is Spa Sitara – a new kid on the block but one which is making a splash by combining posh ambience with comfortable pricing. Massages in Goa can range from Rs 800 for a basic one-hour treatment at a no-frills ayurvedic centre to Rs 30,000 for a “couple’s spa package” at the Park Hyatt, which includes a one-night stay, food and a couples massage. A 30-minute foot massage at Sukho Thai will set you back Rs 1,500. A one-hour massage at the

Taj Fort Aguada costs Rs 2,500. Herediana D’Silva, who owns the Glamazon Salon & Spa in Baga, says business is difficult because many tourists think massage parlours are about sleaze. “It’s got totally spoilt because there are so many parlours which are only supplying girls. We get so many customers coming and asking for girls. Very few are interested in the actual massage. We don’t cater to those type of clients, so our business is a bit down,” she says. Calangute BJP MLA Michael Lobo, who after being elected in March 2012, launched a crackdown on sleaze massage parlours in Calangute, shutting down most of them. “Those were fake massage parlours where the main activity was prostitution,” he says. “Those kind of parlours bring a bad name to Goa and Calangute which is why I asked the police to shut them down. The village panchayat revoked the license given to them after their real activities came to be known.” Lobo was the chief guest at the opening of Tatva Spa in Calangute recently, and was all praise for the massages. “I enjoyed a massage after the launch and it was really relaxing. I feel more Goans should also go and enjoy such healthy massages with their families,” he says. Many places today combine massages with hair, nail, facials and other treatments. Of course many of the patrons are well-heeled domestic tourists and foreigners. What’s lesser known is the increasing popularity of spas among Goans themselves. Check out the very popular Sephora Salon & Spa in Panjim on a Friday afternoon, for example, or Dreamz at one of their various outlets, and you’ll know what we’re talking about when we say Goans love it as much as anyone. 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

June 14

The Goa-China

An evening of eclectic music,

A showcase for Goa’s youth with a choir, a string quartet, and several other musicians At Literati bookshop Calangute @ 5 pm onwards. +918322277740

Art Connection

June 15 Noite de Santa Antonia At Clube National, Panjim @ 8 pm +91832225316

Photography Exhibition

A Goan rendez-Vius by Nolan Mascarenha At The Alliance Francaise, Panjim +918322420049

A performance of classical music By Camerata Child’s Play, and by Myra Shroff and her Fun Group At Caritas St. Inez @ 6 pm +918322220496

June 19

Natyageet Contest

At Anant Temple Precincts, Mangueshi @ 6 pm +919527166018

June 23

Leap of Joy

At Santa Monica, Panjim @ 10 am to 4 pm +918322438754/ +918322438754

‘Clouds’ by Sachin Karne

June 26 Essay Writing Contest Good Shepherd Organisation based in Fatorda is organising this essay competition for school children on the occasion of International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. At Fatorda +919850047533

June 13 to June 30

Bharatanatyam Dance Class

At The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula @ 3 pm to 4.30 pm +918322452805

June 13 to June 17

Art Show by Yolanda Sousa At Art Chamber, Calangute @ 11 am to 6 pm +919822160073

June 15 to June 16 Cartoon Contest

By Goa for Kids At Panaji & Margao @ 4 pm to 6 pm +918323045100

June 28 to June 30 Marathi Films Festival At Maquinez Palace, Panjim At Kala Academy, Panjim At Inox, Panjim +919822100567

By José Lourenço

hen it comes to India-China relations, Goa is used to taking a front seat. In recent years, much dust has been raised about tonnes of mining ore being shipped to China from Goa. But few may know that an arts foundation in Goa has been making steady strides in establishing relations between the art fraternities in these two giant countries, with our little state as the hub. The Vice-Versa Foundation, started in 2005, is a nonprofit institute based right here in Goa. According to Theodore Mesquita, Vice-Versa’s founder and curator, the foundation’s purpose is to promote the visual arts globally. Workshops on printmaking and sculpture as well as several scholarly papers and publications have been produced by the Foundation in the last few years. In May 2012, two Chinese artists travelled and worked in Goa on a residency offered by Vice-Versa. And, of course, two Indians went to China that same year. The exchange program continued this year, with two more Chinese artists coming to Goa in January and February. I had the opportunity to interview the two Chinese artists from the first round, and to explore their fine work and fresh perspectives. Zheng Zhiyan, who hails from Anshan, Liaoning Province of China, specializes in oil painting. Zhang Zhigang, who goes by the nickname ‘Will’, is from Jiangxi Province and has graduated in Ceramic Design, with a Masters in Art History. I spoke to both artists, with Will speaking in halting English and translating for Zheng. Will painted a Chinese cartographic image showing the

turn to page 16

An oil painting by Zheng Zhiyan

16 Arts&Entertainment Everyday

Art Chamber

Galleria de Belas Artes At Gauravaddo, Calangute @ 10 am to 1 pm & 4 pm 8 pm +918322277144

Ruchika’s Art Gallery

Ruchika`s Art Gallery displays fine arts, performing arts and new forms of art. Opp. Goa Marriott Resort, Miramar. From 10.30 am to 6 pm. +918322465875/ +919850571283/ +919881836400

Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem, a newly opened art and learning centre in Majorda. At Majorda From 10 am to 6 pm +918888862462

Kerkar Art Gallery

Installations and sculptures and paintings by Dr.Subodh Kerkar. It also showcases works by contemporary artists from all over India. At Gauravaddo, Calangute From 10 am to 7 pm +918322276017

Casa Popular

At Municipal Market, Panaji +918322262135

Xavier centre of historical research

With particular emphasis on contemporary cultural and social issues affecting the State of Goa. At B B Borkar Rd, Porvorim +918322417772

Art Escape

Art Escape Goa is a knowledge sharing our of home experience through learn-by-doing workshops which include painting, Pottery, photography, theatre, dance, films, yoga, recycling & waste Management. At Art Escape, Benaulim +919892286666/ +919881568756/ +919323590051

Gallery Gitanjali

At Opp Panaji Inn, Fontainhas From 9 am to 9 pm. +919823572035

Yemanja Art Gallery Painting Art Gallery At Betim, Reis Magos +918322416930

Surya Art Gallery

Here contemporary works of canvas paintings on Goan subject and art crafts are displayed. At Bandawalwada, Pernem +919404149764

from page 15 places he has visited in Goa. Stylized waves and hills flank the villages and their establishments. Zheng’s oil on canvas shows a girl with a blend of Sino-Indian looks holding up a two flowers, of Chinese and Indian origin. Her bone-like headgear and pose is reminiscent of the Statue of Liberty. As we chat, Facebook and Google come into the conversation. They have a quizzical look on their faces, they have never heard of either. (I suppose this should not have surprised me, since both are among the sites blocked by China’s Great Firewall). What was Mesquita’s perception of these Chinese artists who came to Goa? “They were established artists. Their world view is totally different from ours. It was refreshing to see their point of view and line of work. Will (Zhang Zhigang) transferred his memories of China, through his work, into the Goan topography. He tried to correlate the two cultures by mapping his memories.” “Zheng Zhiyan’s work is very postmodern in character. His striking portraits have Mongoloid features, which again are associated with his part of the world. His works are imbued with his racial memory. In his visual language he has collected images from his travels, especially from his recent residency at the US, which have reflected in his images.” Mesquita is referring to the Statue of Liberty, the handgun from the Wild West and other symbolism in Zheng’s paintings. Vice versa, how was the experience of sending artists from India to China? Two Indian artists Sachin Karne and Prasanta Bandyopadhyay spent September and October of 2012 at a residency at the Beijing Shang Yuan Art Museum. Sachin Karne holds a Diploma in Drawing and Painting from Abhinava Kala Mahavidyalaya, Pune and a Post-Diploma in Creative Painting from the Faculty of Fine Arts, M. S. University, Baroda. Prasanta Bandyopadhyay completed his arts degree in Painting from the University of Burdwan in 2008 and post graduated in Painting from the University of Hyderabad in 2010.

Panaji Art Gallery

Promotes Goan Art Figurative and individual works of artists. At Panaji Art Gallery From 9 am to 8 pm. +919822168703

Exhibition of paintings

The Gallery displays paintings on canvas of original art & international print arts. It also showcases works by contemporary artists from India & abroad. At Arte Douro Art Gallery, Calangute from 9 am to 9 pm +919822147148

Big Foot Art Gallery

Display of works by various artists from India and abroad. At Big Foot Art Gallery, Loutolim From 9 am to 6 pm +918322777034

Zheng Zhiyan and Zhang Zhigang in Goa

A work by Zheng Zhiyan

“The magnitude of art galleries and works is huge,” says Sachin Karne. “Their smallest gallery would be larger than India’s largest gallery. Their artists receive a lot of support from the state. Beijing has many art districts, with exhibitions by artists from all over the world.” Karne did not sense any restraint or censorship in his stay there. “The Chinese people I met have great respect for India. They think we are culturally and economically richer than them. They are rather isolated, they don’t know much about problem issues between China and

India.” Mesquita muses on the selection process to send the artists to China. “Most established artists would not apply for a residency, as they would like to be invited. Contrary to their expectations, ours is an open forum for emerging and established artists of consequence.” “From the 77 applications received, we wanted an established artist of standing to represent the contemporary art practice of India, and chose Sachin Karne. The second artist chosen, Prasanta, impressed the selection committee with the reverence of his images, which fused the modern and the traditional. In his visual language one can see the practice of Indian miniature painting embodied with a contemporary language magnified in scale.” Why did Vice-Versa chose to connect with China in particular? “This was destiny,” says Mesquita. “It was a chance meeting with Cheng Xiaobei, the Director of the Beijing Shang Yuan Art Museum at my residence in Panjim. She was looking for cooperation with Indian artists at large, with her institute in China. She had primarily come to see my work and offer a residency, but I had a larger vision to incorporate the Vice-Versa Foundation, of which this was an area of interest, to promote and propagate the arts of the subcontinent.” January and February of this year saw the second round of Chinese artists on a residency in Goa. Malan Llrui and Zhang Zhaohui, both proficient in oil painting, were in Goa along with Director Cheng Xiaobei. Currently Vice Versa has invited artists from India to apply for a two-month all paid residential fellowship between August and September 2013 at the Beijing Shang Yuan Art Museum. Details can be found at www.viceversa.co.in. This fascinating exchange between India and China is only a part of more ambitious plans by Theodore Mesquita, who plans to establish similar relations with Cuba, Russia, Spain, Poland and other countries. With a name like Vice-Versa, such mutually satisfying artistic intercourse is highly appropriate. 

Thursday, June 13, 2013

June 14

Documentation of old Goan Quilts

or Godris Made in Goa which are at least 40 years old. Carried by the Goa State Museum in Collaboration with Naree Artisans Movement At Goa State Museum, @ 9.30 am to 12.30 pm +918322438006

June 17 to June 21 Five-Day Yoga Course

At Junta House, Panjim @ 10 am to 1 pm & 3 pm to 6 pm +918322224098

June 13

ICG Toastmasters International Club At The International Center, Dona Paula @ 5.45 pm to 7.30 pm +91-832-2452805/10

June 22

Developing a Positive Personality At Ravindra Bhavan, Margao @ 3 pm to 6 pm +918322726980

June 15 to June 16 Tortoise Candle Stands Workshop With Mayank Jain At Sunaparanta, Panjim @ 10.30 am to 12.30 pm +918322421311

June 13 to June 31 Workshop

On the Basics of Handwriting analysis and cookery classes Specializing in grill and roasting methods At Villa Spice Aquarious Kad Developers, Marna, Siolim @ 10 am to 12 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm +919975986938

June 21 to June 22 Literary Workshop

At Institute Menezes Braganza, Panjim +918322224143

August 11 to 18 August Monsoon retreat

The 8 limbs of Yoga At Sushumna Yoga, Morjim @ 12 pm +919923219230

June 15 to July

Language Courses

For the Monsoons Communicare Trust is offering language courses in Portuguese and Konkani in Dona Paula, Margao and Vasco. Also offering German and Spanish in Dona Paula, Spanish in Mapusa and Spoken English and Marathi in Vasco. +919822586058/+918975440381

Every Friday

Free Swimming Guidance Organised by Walter Macarena At International Center Goa, Dona Paula from 5 pm to 7 pm +919822911161

Every Sunday

Tailoring Classes

Near Holy Family School, Porvorim From 3 pm to 6 pm +919765731003

Everyday

Yoga for the Body, Mind & Soul By Ms. Hoor Girglani Monday to Friday At International Centre Goa, Dona Paula @ 8 am to 9.30 am & 5 pm to 6.30 pm +919765404391/ +918322452805-10

Scuba Diving

Attractive corals, coloured and beautiful, shells and fishes all invite exploration. At Scuba Diving India, Alfran Plaza, M.G. Rd, Panjim @ 9 am to 5 pm. +918326711999

Barracuda Diving India

Cooking Classes for foreigners

A dive shop and training centre established by Ajey Patil - marine engineer, naturalist, raconteur and PADI certified dive instructor. At O’ Pescador Resort, Dona Paula, Panjim. +91 9325030110

Dolphin Sighting Trip

Splashdown

Taekwondo Sessions

Martial Arts, Fitness, Health & Self-defence Trainer: Vincent Rosario, Introductory Fee: Rs. 400 per month At The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula @ 5.15 pm to 6.15 pm +919823696138

Spice Farms

Tropical spice plantation Elephant rides, authentic Goan cuisine, mini bird sanctuary and a boat to row or paddle. At Arla Bazar Keri, Ponda For reservation call: +918322340329 or Email: tropicalspice@rediffmail.com

Sahakari Spice Farm

Guests are entertained by folk dances, elephant rides, art of climbing the tall betel nut palms and swinging from one stalk to the other. Lunch in earthen pots and banana leaves. At Ponda Belgaum highway, Curti. Call: +918322312394 or Email: info@sahakarifarms.com

Savoi Plantation

Water Park that boasts of 5 pools, a variety of slides, flumes and other interesting features. At Splashdown Waterpark, Calangute-Anjuna +91 9637424023/024, +918322273008,

Museums Goa Chitra

Ethnographic museum that preserves its universality in its collections of artifacts representing the culture of ancient Goa. At Goa Chitra, Mondo-Waddo, Benaulim @ 9 am to 5 pm +91 9850466165/ +918326570877, Email: goachitra@gmail.com

Museum of Christian Art

All days of the Week At Convent of Santa Monica, Old Goa @ 9.30 am to 5 pm +918322285299

Big Foot Cross Museum

Houses 80 classifications of crosses of around the world. At Big Foot, Loutolim @ 10 am to 5 pm. +918322777034

Ancestral Goa

A center for Preservation & Promotion of Art, Culture & Environment started by Maendra J. A. Alvares. At Big Foot, Loutolim @ 9.30 am to 6 pm +918322777034, info@ancestralgoa.com

Casa Araujo Alvares

Water sports

Courses LANGUAGES

Offers Scuba Diving Equipment retail at competitive international price. At Little Italy, Opp Tarcar Ice Factory, Calangute. +91 9822685025

Theresa’s Cookery Classes Margao +91 9970037242

Detroit Institute +91 9822131835.

Taengs Cookery Classes Margao. +91 9822585944

Fatima Menezes E Moniz

Cooking classes, Raia. +918322776035

Cynthia Dsouza Cooking Classes Verna. +918322783281

Bertha Pereira Cooking Classes +918322734589. Margao

Goa`s first automated sound and light museum. A 250 year old mansion showcasing traditional inheritance. At Loutolim @ 9.30 am to 5.30 pm +918322777034

Alliance Francaise

Learn French courses, Panjim 2420049/ +91 9922813950

Jason and Sylvia Dance Academy Hip/Hop, Bollywood, Latin American, Jazz Ballet for Kids Panjim/Mapusa +919822161652/+919822151614

Snaden Shawn dance and aerobics Learn dancing Mapusa +919890163433/+917798609859

Nritya Sankul

Margao +919823936483/+919689468712

Kalangan

Margao. +918322735191

Asha Shivam

Porvorim. +918322410357

Dance Illusions Panjim +919823014397

Fatima’s Ballroom Dance Classes Margao. +918322786191

Vandana’s Bakery Classes

Maxie’s Guitar and Dance Classes

Meena’s Cooking Classes

Osler Furtado Dance Classes

GESTO Culinary & Hospitality Academy

Simply Ballroom,

Caranzalem. +918322462163 Caranzalem. +918322462163

Margao, +918322730873

Offers traditional Goan Saraswat cuisine served in mud pots and banana leaf plates along with seasonal fruits grown in the plantation. At Ponda For reservation call: +918322340272 or Email: savaiplantation@rediffmail.com

Goa Aquatics

Odxel Beginner’s German language course

Dive Goa

Tuk Tuk

Monday & Friday

Don Bosco Provincial House

COOKING

Presented by Calburn Fitness Solutions in association with the ICG At The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula. +919811511595/ +919823578880 From apparel to jewellery, bags to accessories, everything at Tuk Tuk is handpicked from across India. At A104, Pereira Plaza, Opp.Hospicio, Margao @ 10.30 am 1 pm & 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm +919049017182

Learn French, Mapusa 2293812/ +91 9049018214

Pool parties and underwater celebrations among other water sports activities. At Sun Village Resort, Baga, Arpora & Chalston Beach Resort, Calangute +918322269409/ +91 9822182402

Four to five hours trip includes Bbq, Free beers and soft drinks. Also offers No See – No Pay policy as far as dolphin sighting is concerned. Sinquerim – Baga beach stretch +91 9822182814/ +918326520190 or Email: johnsboattours@gmail.com

Want to be Fit & Healthy

St. Britto

Branca’s Cooking Classes Panjim. +919822131835

David Furtado Dance & Aerobics @ Panjim, Mapusa, Porvorim, Candolim, Aldona and Saligao. Learn Salsa, Jive Waltz for Adults & Bollywood, Hip Hop & Contemporary dance for kids. +919975914195

Fatima Moniz

Cooking courses, Margao. +918322776035/ +919370275702

Dance

Cyrus Da Costa Dance Classes

Monday to Saturday Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha Cha Cha, Jive, Margao. +918322715906/ +919921039537

David Furtado Dance & Aerobics @ Panjim, Mapusa, Porvorim, Candolim, Aldona and Saligao. Learn Salsa, Jive Waltz for Adults & Bollywood, Hip Hop & Contemporary dance for kids. +91 9975914195

Dr. Martin & Dance Illusions Team

@ Panjim, Vasco, Margao Waltz, Jive, Cha ChaCha, Tango, Viennese Waltz, Salsa +91 9823014397

Cyrus Da Costa Dance Classes

Monday to Saturday Viennese Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha Cha Cha, Jive, Margao +918322715906/ +919921039537

Dance for Life Academy Mapusa. +919823765523

Panjim. +918322230178 Porvorim. +919822481695

The Western Dance Academy Vasco. +918322528272

Raeconz

Porvorim. +919923826572

Music

Rhythm House Margao. +918322714299

Binow Zacharia music classes Porvorim. +919822386385

B X Furtado and Sons Margao. +918322715719

Pilar Music School Pilar. +918322218595

Bondo Percussion Porvorim. +918326452492

Brianne Music Classes St. Cruz. +919503968920

Diniz’s Piano Practice Parlour Panjim. +918322430943

Gabriel Music Classes Calangute. +919850463544

Indo-Western Music Academy Margao. +919890942949

Joe Gonsalves Guitar/Piano Panjim

Sports 19

Thursday, June 13, 2013

By Ashley Do Rosario

n laid-back Goa, even an elephant moves swiftly… on a chessboard that is. Goa has thrown up a number of young champions of the likes of Bhakti Kulkarni, Ivana Furtado, Anurag Mhamal, Riya Sawant, Vidula Dempo, Riddhi Zantye, Nitish Beluskar and several others. Over the last decade or so, these Goan youngsters have swiftly moved their rooks to checkmate opponents in India and even overseas. When Ivana, all of seven-something, stunned the global chess fraternity by becoming the world youth champion in 2007 (Yes, you read that right. She was seven!), not many had heard of Goa, the place where she came from. On her jubilant return, having conquered the world and the record for the youngest world champ in Indian history, the question on everyone’s lips in Goa’s chess fraternity was: Will this chess prodigy live up and endure the rigours of training to compete at the senior level and conquer the world again? More than half a decade later, today she is on course. A couple of weeks past her fourteenth birthday, Ivana is the No. 1 ranked player in India and holds the second rank in the world for her age category. Late last year she captured the title at the Asian junior championship, which is a much higher age category (under 20). Her march to glory is not in isolation. It’s just one among at least half-a-dozen other stories scripted by Goan lads and girls on India’s and even the world’s competitive chess arena. It’s a little known fact around the world that this tiny state on the western Indian coast is producing an unusually large amount of chess champions. Take the case of Bhakti Kulkarni, who even before Ivana could break into the chess scene, had in the late 1990s already brought some cheer to a Goa starving for sports champions. She was not available for comment, but in the words of Goa Chess Association’s Arvind Mhamal, she was a “welcome whiff of fresh air” in the late 1990s. “She had some superlative performances then. She’s currently the highest ranked player from Goa and the first to earn the Women’s Grandmaster norm,” Mhamal said. Bhakti is the only Goan with the Women’s GM norm. Ivana is getting there and is currently anointed as Women’s International Master. Other Goans who’ve broken into the FIDE rating charts include Riya Sawant with the Women’s Candidate Master norm and Nitish Beluskar with the Candidate Master norm. Also, Mhamal’s own son Anurag has just last week earned the International

Goa’s chess whizkids Master norm. What is it then, that made Goa take these gigantic, elephant-like strides on the chessboard? “It’s difficult to say what gave Goa this head start. We (the Goa Chess Association) do hold coaching camps once or twice a year. But it’s surely the individual player’s efforts and those of their parents, who sacrifice a lot to provide the financial and moral backing that’s needed,” Arvind Mhamal said. Family backing is undoubtedly a big factor behind the success of most Goan chess achievers. “Ivana saw Keegan (her brother five years older) playing chess and took a liking for it from a very young age,” said her father Eli Furtado. He said she got tremendous support and encouragement at her Our Lady of Rosary School at Dona Paula where she’s currently studying in the ninth standard. “Initially the guidance of the Sports Authority of Goa coach Avinash Malwankar helped, and now, she’s being coached by GM RP Ramesh,” Ivana’s dad told Streets. It would have been impossible, he said,

for a middle-class family like his to bear the financial burden of her career, had it not been for the support received at first from the Sports Authority of Goa, and subsequently from the House of Dempo. Ivana is among a number of young Goan sportspersons who the Dempos support as their ‘brand ambassadors’. “It’s taken a lot of effort to provide her the best training. Either I or my wife had to take a back seat in our own careers so we could be with her on her chess travels. All our efforts are more than worth it and hopefully our girl will rise to greater heights,” Eli said. Mr Bandekar, the secretary of Goa Chess Association says it is their job to spot talent and provide technical support. “People think playing chess does not require any major infrastructure. It does. It is in fact quite a physically demanding sport. Players have to go through intellectually intense four-five hours for each game. That’s no mean feat to achieve and physically extremely draining,” Bandekar said. One world champion and so many others breaking on to the world scene. Goa’s chess universe is doing the state proud. 

20 Movie Review By José Lourenço

“

The closer you look, the less you see.” That’s the constant refrain through Now You See Me, a 2013 American caper film directed by ‘Clash of the Titans’ Louis Leterrier. A team of smooth illusionists calling themselves “The Four Horsemen” pull off a series of outrageous heists that shower their audiences with dollar bills stolen from banks and companies which have a corrupt background. Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco play the tricksters. Their patron is Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), an insurance magnate. Close on their heels are FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol agent Alma Vargas (Mélanie Laurent). But Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), an ex-magician who now makes money debunking the tricks of other magicians,

is even closer on their trail. The film is fast paced, with incredible bank robberies, flashy magic illusions and a great car chase. The Horsemen are young and deliver a good act, especially in establishing their sleight-of-hand credentials at the start of the movie. They are enlisted by a mystery man to commit three spectacular heists, one of which is aimed at Tressler, who is left baffled and a few million dollars poorer. Even after the FBI and Magic Debunker join forces, the magic quartet always seems to be a step ahead. As always in magic, after the trick is explained everything looks ridiculously simple. The director Leterrier appears to have worn the magician’s cloak himself for this film, as he weaves a really

fast yarn full of smoke of mirrors, and we struggle to keep pace, along with the bungling FBI. The finale scene is impressive, with a full blown light and sound show around in New York City, where the 3D illusions created by lighting on apartment block walls are truly mind blowing. Morgan Freeman looks like a watery eyed shaman, but doesn’t quite develop fully. Woody Harrelson as the mentalist is a delight to watch. Mentalism is a careful reading of body language and other cues, well packaged as a magic act. But then that’s what magicians do all the time, don’t they, use our own minds and bodies against us!

Where my mind collapsed was at the rather lame twist in the tale. After all that hype and slick moviemaking, the film’s storyteller simply ran out of magic tricks. Not credible, not acceptable at all. The chemistry between Ruffalo and Laurent does not build up at all, and when they kiss somewhere at the end, we have to turn away in scorn. Why do film producers spend millions of dollars on Hollywood ‘blockbusters’ and not focus on a worthy denouement? Or perhaps some of us viewers are just cynical old rats who can’t be pleased anymore. Like hard core addicts, we want film makers and storytellers to give us that real shocking belly punch finale. “When the magician waves his wand, he is distracting you. The trick is actually happening somewhere else,” says Thaddeus. Well, despite the flashy spectacle, all that this movie’s trick does is― fall flat at the end. 

Creating Ambassadors for Hospitality Excellence

he Goa College of Hospitality and Culinary Education, formerly known as the Academy of Culinary Education (ACE) is a premier Hospitality Institute established in the year 1995. The College today has the unique advantage of offering the only Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (BBA) in Hospitality and Culinary Education affiliated to the Goa University. The course curriculum includes subjects on Front Office Management, Housekeeping, Food and Beverage (service), Food and Beverage (production), Human Resource Management, Organizational Behaviour, Marketing, Strategic Management, Safety and Security, IT skills, Hotel Law, French among others. The college is managed by the Fomento Educational and Charitable Society and shares space with a Five star deluxe hotel, Cidade de Goa, which proves to be of major advantage to the students. The Industry-Alumni interface is a big advantage for the students. The management goes an extra mile by providing practical knowledge to the students by letting them get hands-on experience at the hotel. This, in turn, gives the students the necessary industry exposure and helps them comprehend theoretical knowledge in a better manner. It also makes them prepared in the true sense to perform in the industry after they complete their education at the college. In addition to offering a three year BBA Program, the Institute also offers aPost Graduate Diploma in Culinary Management for those who have completed a three year Degree/ Diploma in Hotel Management studies. Short term Courses, registered with the Human Resource Development Foundation (HRDF), Govt. of Goa, too are offered in Food and Beverage (production), Food and Beverage (s) and Housekeeping. The contribution of the Institute in creating Ambassadors for the industry has been noteworthy with students who have graduated from the alumni finding placements in Organizations such as the Hyatt, Marriott, Radisson, Four Seasons, Oberoi, ITC, Taj, Leela, Jumeirah etc. The college has a success rate of 100% placement, thus ensuring the beginning of the career of the students, right from the moment they graduate from the institute.

Hot Streets 21

Thursday, June 13, 2013

To rub or not to rub

Dear Acaricia May,

am a 35 year old man, happily married. Our intimate life is great. I think one of the best parts of our relationship is the massage that I give my wife at the end of a hard day. I, too, get tired from work, but somehow the joy of giving a massage to my wife refreshes me. She of course enjoys it greatly, and some great sex inevitably follows, though sometimes we just fall asleep after the back rubs. The problem now is that my wife has been bragging about my hand-on prowess within the family. Her elder sister who has been widowed some years back has requested me to give her a massage, something that my wife eagerly recommends. I know she wants to make her sister happy. To complicate matters, the sister is an attractive lady, even in middle age, and I am a bit worried about how the whole thing will go and if the massage leads to other complications. It all feels a bit awkward. Should I refuse, saying that the backrubs are exclusively for the wife? Or perhaps my wife could be

present during the massage? Should I recommend her a good massage therapist? Xavier – Mapusa Dear Xavier,

If your wife has no objections to you giving her sister a massage, neither do I! Many massages are completely nonsexual. Nowadays, professional massages are often performed by members of the opposite sex. Of course, this is all up to you. As the masseur in demand, you are within your rights to choose who to service and who not to! Whatever you decide, keep it light. Keep it fun. And thank your wife (who sounds like a kick!) for complimenting you on your magic hands. Love, Acaricia May

Dear Acaricia May

have a 14-year-old nephew who is quite good at studies and other activities at school. But he comes across as quite delicate and

almost feminine in his behaviour. He is very attached to his male friends and enjoys their company, but doesn’t seem to show much interest in girls. He likes art and loves to do needlework, of all the things. I am not homophobic, I have three acquaintances who are gay, but I am a little worried about tackling this issue within my family. How do I know if my nephew is gay? How do I advise his parents if he is? His mother is rather conservative, his dad shares my liberal approach. I know these are early years, but some advice would be much appreciated. Uday R - Ponda Dear Uday,

At 14 years old, this boy may not know himself whether he is gay or not, let alone divulge it to you. The important point is not to find out whether he is gay at this tender age, but to make sure he is accepted if he turns out to be. Our world has come a long way since the days when homosexuality was considered a mental disorder. Now experts worldwide concur

that homosexuality is not a choice, but a biological mandate. In other words, it’s how we’re born. Therefore, it follows that people who are gay should be treated just like everyone else, as we do not ‘choose’ to be gay any more than one would choose to be Indian or tall or male. The proper approach is to accept and love your nephew no matter what, and to work to make sure that every member of the family does the same. Because of outdated societal attitudes, gays often face rejection and abuse that can be terribly damaging to self esteem and mental health. Make sure that doesn’t happen to your cherished nephew. Love, Acaricia May

If you have questions about sex, relationships or any other matter relating to the heart, please write to Acaricia May at acariciamay@ goastreets.com.

22 Community By Jonathan Rodrigues

“

Can you teach me how to learn?” asked a student, to which the master replied, “Can you learn how to let me teach?” A question very rarely answers a question, but the above banter introduces a curious teacher and an eager pupil. Nuvem-based artist Valentino Gasper discovered this student in a strange way. She was his cook. “I watched the way she would make chapattis. The delicate shapes and continuity spoke volumes of her aesthetic sense,” says Valentino of how he gradually converted his uneducated chef into an assistant at clay molding and sculpting. Now 60-year-old Valentino Gasper is preparing to establish a one-of-a-kind sculpting and 3-D art school in Goa – sharing his highly unique outlook with all those willing to embrace it. It’s going to be a game changer in the world of sculpture in Goa. Valentino has dedicated himself to the realms of nature, deep in the spring village of Nuvem in South Goa, to capture the essence of the abstract. He believes

that nature provides the serenity to imagine, reflect and create, but one’s biggest test is to deliver in the imperfect world. “If you can’t remain calm in the traffic, what is the point of meditating in the Himalayas?” he reflects. “Yes, nature does help you relax and reflect, but these reflections should help you face the real world.” His simple abode is scattered with rough sketches and raw concepts yet to be idealized and crafted. “It is essential to keep art away from business but when it ends up being your source of livelihood it becomes difficult,” he admits, adding that it takes courage to persevere a career in art without formal education. Valentino may not be a certified student of art or architecture but he has valuable teaching experience, having taught painting in the Virgin Islands of America and clay sculpting and glass forming at Provence in France as a guest expert. “There is a huge difference between knowledge and wisdom. Somehow I could not grasp whatever they tried teaching me in science class, so I skipped it.” It is quite evident that he does have a grasp over many aspects of physics and chemistry; testified by the fact that he fabricates his own machinery. Though a native of Siolim, he spent most of his childhood in Pune and schooled at St. Vincent’s. In Pune he got introduced to art and theatre where his group would perform numerous original plays. He got involved in restoration of old bikes and car painting. Valentino gazes at the two gorgeous horses in his backyard. “Horses can see and hear better in the dark and are better friends than dogs,”

he whispers just to make sure his loyal German shepherd sitting nearby hadn’t heard him. “M.F. Hussain may have painted many horses but he has surely not sat with them, talked to them and cleaned their dung.” “The pig is another beautiful pet that can be domesticated. People have given the pig a bad name,” he says, referring to the identity crisis faced by the animal. Valentino has this natural urge to capture an emotion, even if it means pausing to see the fear in the eyes of a young goat crossing the road. “I have been longing to get a close up view of the eyes,” he explains, referring to an incomplete sketch. “I usually paint the eyes last because the eyes bring the picture alive. It is more than just a body part.” He has shared his talent and skills with many young artists who have

approached him but now he plans to make his workshops and classes more structured. Come September, he is planning to establish a school of sculpture and 3-D art under the banner of ‘Centre Punch’. “God is not a boring creator; he always creates everything off-centric and exotic. However, students and teachers of art colleges have a poor perspective of 3-D work. They do not possess hands-on experience, since they hardly practice,” he says, stating the advantages one would have if they decide to register for an apprenticeship at Centre Punch. Valentino labels the course as an apprenticeship. The syllabus would primarily include clay modeling, wood and stone carving, techniques of moulding in bronze metal, fiber glass, metal bending and fabrication of junk sculpture. Students who wish to specialize in a particular field would be recommended to a professional at the end of the course. Besides Valentino, Centre Punch would also host guest professionals. Bombay’s Sandeep Manchekar, an expert in ceramics and glazing sculptors, and Goa’s Sachin Madgale, an expert in fiber glass and other composite materials, have consented to visit and pass on their expertise. Those who scribble abstract squiggles in their school books and twist crumpled balls of paper rather than taking down notes in class will surely find direction at this innovative school of sculpture.  Contact Valentino at: 7507389709.

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A moment in Goa A mother pleads as her child dreams at the Wednesday Market at Anjuna