Issue No: 31 by Goa Streets

Fundaรงao Oriente's Short Stories

Reiki Healing in Goa

Froggyland: Goa's Largest Water Park

Lady Bus Conductor

ew N s d ' a i o K G z p Jaz ip Ho H

Saturday, July 4, 2015

JazzGoa’s Hot New Music Open To All Artistes, But Please Be Original! By José Lourenço

leven-year-old Aman Singh is a bright-eyed Goan lad studying at Sharda Mandir school in Panjim. But he is also the composer and singer of ‘Risky Moves’, a hip-hop track that went to Number One on the Internet Hip-Hop charts. The song and video were recorded by jazz aficionado and bass guitarist Colin D’Cruz at his JazzGoa studio in Sangolda, Bardez. Streets has been covering JazzGoa’s new talent for several years, and we caught up with Colin to get an update. “Aman hails from the Dempo business family, but his parents actively supported his love for composing stories, poems and songs,” says Colin. “He has composed four songs so far. The lyrics of Risky Moves will resonate with kids all over. The song is a modern track, but I also used a very old sound – the double bass – and it still sounds very contemporary.” The video opens with Aman playing the tabla and then moves to the headphone-clad kid getting his hip-hop groove on. “This is an Indian hip-hop sound,” Colin smiles, as we hear the tabla jelling with the keyboard and doublebass. The video was shot at Colin’s home studio, the camera being handled by his wife and comradein-music Diana D’Cruz. But this is no amateur production. Professional musicians play on every track recorded by JazzGoa, whether the singers are amateur

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4 Music & Nightlife

latest love, and it stands like a hefty brown man in the corner of his studio. Brown Indian Band, in fact, is the name of one of Colin’s many jazz bands. They recently played at the International Jazz Festival in Russia. Jazz Junction, another jazz ensemble, consists of Jason Quadros, Susan Rocha, Clifford Sequeira and Colin. Yet another outfit ‘Smokin’ Chutney’ features Sancho Menezes, Chrystal Farrell and Clifford. Then there’s Blues Power with Herman Abreu on vocals and guitar and Lennon Pires on drums.

or professionals. The songs and videos are then uploaded to the JazzGoa website and often end up high on the Internet music charts, like SoundCloud, Bandcamp and Reverbnation.com. “I want this messsage to go out strong and clear. My JazzGoa studio offers state-of-the-art song and video recording facilities of original compositions by amateur and pro artistes in Goa. All this is done absolutely free, at no cost to the artiste at all. I want our talented young and old singers and musicians to come to the studio and record their songs. I help them in the arrangement and melodies. We do a really professional job.” What does all this cost him? “I have all the equipment in-house, and I and my band members play on the tracks. So it doesn’t cost me much, except for the time I put in. I do this because music has given me everything that I have today, and I want to give back to the community.” But there is only one strong rule. The song has to be an original composition. “In Goa we have a culture of performing cover versions,” says Colin. “This recording opportunity is an incentive for bands and individual artistes to break this ‘cover culture’.” The song videos are edited by Colin himself. One of the most shared videos at JazzGoa is the Monteiro-sisters-and-mother trio singing the Portuguese classic ‘ABC de Coração’. But that’s not an original song, I say to Colin. “We do make an exception for classic songs of the land, particularly in Konkani and Portuguese. We want to preserve these old songs and we also want to rework and present these songs in new ways.” The Monteiro family music video is stunning in its simplicity, allowing the viewer to enjoy the mellifluous harmony of the voices of Sylvia, Shanice and Sherize Monteiro, who live in Donapaula. “The Monteiro sisters have been singing since childhood, so their voices are in absolute sync,” enthuses Colin. “There was barely any need for editing them, they are like one voice.” Colin is a softspoken man, preferring to let his music speak for him. His most eloquent voice is his bass guitar, with its deep resonating thrum often breaking into melodies, which bring this often ignored instrument into the forefront. The double bass is his

From jazz and blues, Colin also grooves with Latin Connection, starring guitarist Zezinho Fernandes. That’s a life full of music for Colin D’Cruz, to be precise, forty years of music so far. The JazzGoa website now hosts over a hundred artistes, with as many original compositions. What are his recent favourites on JazzGoa, I ask. “Domingos Sousa from Panjim is an excellent Brazilian style guitarist,” Colin recollects. “He has recorded a beautiful bossanova track ‘Sem Asas’ (Without Wings). Then we have Brenda Menezes, an Indian jazz icon who has recorded an album

July 4

On-going

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Music & Nightlife 5

Saturday, July 4, 2015

of jazz standards. Joshua Costa has recorded an album of contemporary jazz originals. And 14-year-old Sanger Serrao has played the saxophone for us on some major concerts. Then we’ve had young singers like Minelli Pinto and Aileen Carneiro.” What about the flurry of home recorded cover versions that Goan teenagers are putting up on Youtube? “Amateur singers and musicians need to be guided,” says Colin. “I have a lot of experience in music arrangement and production, and I can help them improve

and then present them to the world.” But is this a gateway for every bathroom-singing Tom, Dick and Jane? Does every starry-eyed Belieber get their 7 minutes of fame? “No,” says Colin, “I have had to reject many singers, as they could not even carry a tune properly. But that does not mean the end of the music dream for them. They can be songwriters, arrangers,

musicians, technicians, etc. The music and entertainment industry is so vast, there are many opportunities.” So what are you waiting for? Call Colin on 9657574480, log on to jazzgoa.tripod. com and visit him with your original composition at the Sangolda studio. Sing and play your heart out and you could be featured in the next Streets JazzGoa update! 

8 food & drink 3

music & nightlife

make your own hummus

7 enquiry jazzgoa's new talent

10 explore goa's largest water park

Who's in Charge?

sensitive approach to drug users

what's On

things to do in goa & 16 arts entertainment

14 lifestyle migrant influx

15 empower lady bus conductor

caring for your artworks

Publisher Marisha Dutt Chief Mentor Steven Gutkin Correspondents/Writers: Ethel Da Costa, Sheela Jaywant,

Charlane Pereira e Rebello, Bina Datwani, Karan Bhagat, Perin Ilavia, Dielle D’Souza, Anzil Fernandes, Crespo D’Souza, Sanket Sharma, Richa Narvekar, Vivian Maverick Martins, Claron Mazarello, Kanchi Mehta, Sapna Shahani, Jeena Jose, Skyla Janice Pereira

Acting Editor José Lourenço Marketing Co-ordinator Radhika Naik Marketing & Event Co-ordinator Rahul Rivonkar Marketing Executive Alvira Rodrigues Circulation & Accounts Co-ordinator Nilesh Shetgaonkar Circulation Vijay Gadekar, Sarfaraz Beig

literature

fundacao oriente's story contest

Enquiry 7

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Teaching Cops The Truth About Drugs By Claron Fidelis Mazarello

uring a police raid, sex workers who form a part of a high risk group for HIV are held as ‘victims’ of human trafficking. However, when a drug addict, also at high risk for HIV, is caught in a raid, he is a criminal as per Indian law. But is this distinction between victim and criminal a fair one? Might the addict also be a victim? “We need to remove this criminal tag and use a more compassionate approach to make an effective change to lives in society,” argues Peter Borges, founder of the non-governmental organisation Human Touch, which works with addicts. Now his group, working in conjunction with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, or UNODC, is holding workshops in Goa to sensitise police offers about the realities of addiction. A draconian approach featuring arrest and punishment is destined to fail without a strong element of compassion, treatment and prevention, the officers are told in this first-of-a-kind programme in Goa.

“Reducing the demand for drugs through treatment and rehabilitation and creation of a supportive environment ... is a prerequisite before tackling illicit trafficking,” says Borges, and the cops seem to agree. It’s not that Goa is expected to adopt a Netherlands-style liberal approach to drug use any time soon. Trafficking is a serious offense in the state, and is expected to remain so in the foreseeable future. “Decriminalization can be restricted to soft drug users, but harsh punishments for hard drug usage must be upheld so it acts as a deterrent to the user,” states Jos Peter D’Souza, the senior-most advocate in North Goa tackling NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) cases and thus easily an authority on the subject. He is also concerned about the under-utilization of Section 64A of the NDPS act where addicts volunteering for treatment get immunity from prosecution. One of the first things to keep in mind as Goa attempts to develop a more nuanced drug policy is that not all drugs are created equal. “Drugs are legal as well

as illegal,” clarifies the UNODC. It must be noted that caffeine, alcohol and tobacco are also drugs. And to speak of marijuana in the same breath as heroin or cocaine is a bit like lumping jaywalking with firstdegree murder. “If the law is to be a deterrent, why not use this on alcohol, followed by tobacco users given that these are the biggest killers in Goa today?” argues senior psychiatrist Dr. Rajesh Dhume, who runs a detoxification and rehabilitation centre for drug addicts in Mapusa. Marijuana has been legalised in many parts of the world, including recently in several U.S. states. And even India has a tradition of acceptable drug use. “Bhang, for instance, which is Cannabis, is looked at from a cultural and traditional point of view for in India, especially on the occasion of Holi,” notes Dr. Dhume. Adds one particularly candid official from the Goa Police who requested that his name not be used: “Just like crime, drugs too will always be a part of the society.” Borges of Human Touch explains a vicious circle of intravenous drug users getting arrested, released on bail, and then re-arrested, forcing them to “go further underground and remain untraceable.” “This hinders NGOs working with them trying to supply them needles and alternative drugs to get them off the syringes to stop AIDS from spreading further,” he adds. However, Superintendent of Police for Narcotics Karthik Kashyap and other officers will only play by the book, at least till the book officially changes. “The NDPS act has its draconian aspects possibly, but it is also well thought out for everyone in my opinion. Users with small quantities get bail. But ones caught with large quantities as the classification in the NDPS prescribes, get heavy sentences as they are peddlers and in the business of trafficking drugs and making money on innocent lives,” he says. “In cases where my team has apprehended users, they have been merely used as informants to find the source of the illegal substances. The law provides bail to users after reviewing the case and quantity. We want the source, not the users anyways. For users, there is the option of rehabilitation and when prescribed by the courts, the person is sent accordingly to the IPHB (Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour) for rehabilitation,” he informs. However, according to insiders, intimidation techniques are used by the police to get information from users who get caught. This also includes violence, a reality worsened by the stigma of

criminality the law currently attaches to the user. This is another reason why sensitising police to the realities of addiction is so important. “I couldn’t agree more with Peter Borges from Human Touch. Drug addiction is like a disease and the drug addict is hence a patient, not a criminal,” says Dhume. Borges has been conducting the workshops with police personally and, so far, the results are quite positive. “The workshop helps the police force to know more about this aspect of compassion towards the drug addict, who needs help to get his or her life back on track,” says SP Kashyap, who plans more such sessions with coastal police stations as well as Narcotic cell officers. Among the topics covered by the workshops are rehabilitation methods and oral substitution therapies used to wean users off hard drugs such as heroin. Above all, however, Borges and his team want to send the message that drug raids alone will not solve the problem. “Raids are conducted within a system where such activity is a means of promotion professionally,” he points out. But this often occurs at the expense of the big picture, which is another reason why sensitisation is needed. “Priority should be given to compulsive heroin or cocaine users. Involving them in treatment programmes would reduce the demand for these drugs and allow supply reduction efforts to be more successful, since the compulsive drug users consume far more drugs than experimenters. Secondly, the issue of prevention should not lose out to market forces, which are politically and commercially stronger,” Borges explains. He is also hoping the workshop will be extended to primary health care systems, noting that specialised resource persons are few and that the drug menace is creeping from the coastal belt into rural areas. The drug scenario in Goa has undergone major paradigm shifts, from the types of narcotics being consumed to a more liberal attitude regarding soft drugs. Experts and officials are calling for a three-pronged approach, consisting of awareness, curb-and-control by the police force and rehabilitation – none of which can be carried out independently of each other. “Drug users need a bridge to treatment,” explains Borges. Research around the world reveals that access to drug treatment reduces crime. And a key element of all this is a degree of compassion which only comes from knowledge. So while the law takes its time to adjust to Goa’s paradigm shifts as all stakeholders involved agree, what’s most needed to bring about change is a ‘human touch.’ 

Saturday, July 4, 2015

By Kornelia Santoro

he other day I received an email with a link to 32 different chickpea recipes ‘to dig me out of my hummus hole’. So far, I had been unaware of the existence of such a hole. I love hummus and serve it regularly at dinner parties. Often I eat it as a healthy lunch with a little salad and some whole wheat crackers – very refreshing, especially during the current heat wave in India. Although hummus has lost its exotic factor in the country where we live, many people still ask me for the recipe. Although it is as simple as can be, some manage to get it wrong. I think, the biggest mistake commonly made is to add too much tahini, the sesame paste from Middle East. Although tahini is wonderfully healthy, it has a strange texture. When

you eat it by itself, it feels very sticky and tastes slightly bitter. Too much tahini can ruin your hummus. Of course, you can also add to much lemon and too much garlic, although this is largely a matter of personal taste. One time, I dropped too much pepper powder in my blender. There was no way I could get rid of it, so this one time we had a very peppery hummus – my guests liked it though. In general, I think we should eat as many legumes as possible. They provide cheap protein in combination with fibre, complex carbohydrates (the good ones) and many minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients. Legumes are great to keep slim and fit and hummus is the perfect recipe. You can keep it up to one week in the fridge and you can even freeze it. When you open the door of my freezer,

you will always find a container with hummus, next to some pasta sauces and homemade pâtés. Wishing you happy cooking, always!

Ingredients: (for 8 servings)  1 cup dried chickpeas  2 tablespoons tahini  4 tablespoons lemon juice  3 tablespoons olive oil  2 cloves garlic  salt  pepper  ½ cup cooking liquid

Method: Spread out the beans and check them for small stones, debris and damaged beans. Wash the

chickpeas and soak them in plenty of water overnight. The next day, drain the soaked chickpeas, put them into a pot, cover with two litres salt water and boil them until soft. If you use a pressure cooker, add only one litre of water with the chickpeas and cook for 30 minutes after the first whistle. The chickpeas need to become really soft. Drain the chickpeas, but save half a cup of the liquid. You can prepare humus either with a blender stick or in a blender. With a blender stick, mash the chickpeas first, and then add the tahini, the lemon juice, the olive oil and the crushed garlic. Combine with some cooking liquid to obtain a smooth paste. If you use a blender, throw in all the ingredients and blend away. It is better to crush the garlic before adding it. Kornelia is a German food writer living in Goa, India, with her Italian husband and her son. She has published two cookbooks, Kornelia’s Kitchen - Mediterranean Cooking for India and Kornelia’s Kitchen 2 - Cooking for Allergies. Both have won the Gourmand World Cookbook Award. All her recipes are easy, fast and delicious - the right kind of food to keep your family healthy and happy without spending too much time in the kitchen.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

July 4 Cloudburst of Deliciousness, with a chance of Tasty Surprises An exclusive first look at our new menu for the monsoon season, Come prepared to be showered with some delectable treats. At The Park, Calangute 7.30 pm onwards +91 8805028194

June 5 to July 5 A culinary Journey from Burma to Japan Experience the Original & Authentic flavour of the Orient! At Goenchin, The Mandovi, Panjim +91 832 2227614

Every Saturday Cheese and Wine @ Grand Hyatt Enjoy Grand Hyatt Goa's finest selection of wines and cheeses every Saturday at The Verandah. Treat yourself to an exclusive wine tasting and exotic cheese table, carefully crafted by our very talented Executive Chef Mark Long. At The Verandah, Grand Hyatt, Bambolim 7 pm to 11:30 pm +91 832 301 1234 Barbeque Nights - With Caroline Treat yourself to assorted grilled delights from the live barbeque station while listening to some lovely music. Caroline on the saxophone. Rs 1500++ per person At Alila Diwa Goa, Majorda +91 832 2746800 diwagoa@alilahotels.com www.alilahotels.com/diwagoa

Brunches Every Sunday The Waterfront Sunday BBQ Soak up the summer sun as you splash about in our infinity pool & unwind to the smooth tunes of our live band. Rs. 1200 per person At Acron Waterfront Resort, Baga 11.30 am to 4 pm 77220 16888 Sunday Brunch Relish a sumptuous meal over five interactive food counters along with free flowing beverages and live music by Goa's singing sensation - Chrystal. Enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi and access to our outdoor swimming pool while the little ones are looked after at Camp Hyatt - the kids club. At The Dining Room, Grand Hyatt, Bambolim 1 pm to 4 pm +91 832 301 1234 Sunday Brunches@ 899/- per head Burger, Pizzas, Beer, Salads, Cocktails, Desserts, House – Spirits Beverages At Cheenos, Baga 12 pm to 4 pm. +91 8806564991

Sunday Brunch Highlights: Free Use of Swimming Pool, Rain Dance with DJ, Lavish Buffet with live counters, unlimited house brands alcohol & cocktails & games & Activities Cost: Rs. 1500/- inclusive of all Taxes (with alcohol); Rs. 1100/- inclusive of all Taxes (without alcohol) At Resort Rio, Tambudki, Arpora 12 noon to 3 pm +91 8322267300 / +91 8322267302 Brunch at Cantina Bodega This is one of the more interesting spots in town to have a meal. Under the supervision of Vandana Naik, a former top chef in New York City and easily one of Goa’s most notable culinary experts, there’s a wide variety of delights on offer, including pizzas, soups, salads, hummus and meat balls, plus an eclectic mix of Indian, Mediterranean and other world cuisines. That’s not to mention the desserts, another top draw here. Noon to 4 pm At Cantina Bodega, Sunaparanta, Panjim. +91 832 2421315 info@sgcfa.org  www.sgcfa.org Bikini Brunch Sunday BBQ Brunch @ Rs. 950 ++ with unlimited drinks Enjoy Live Karaoke with Emmanuel At The Park, Calangute 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm. +91 8805028194/ +91 832 2267600 resv.goa@theparkhotels.com www.theparkhotels.com

South Goa Restaurants Da Luigi Experience flavours from the streets of Rome, Venice or Milan at this surprisingly authentic Italian fine-dining restaurant. At Park Hyatt Goa Resot and Spa, Cansaulim +91 832 2721234 Portofino Coffee Shop Multi-Cuisine This all day dining restaurant is an ideal place to head for a midnight snack or after party munchies. At Kenilworth Resort & Spa, Utorda Open 24x7 +91 832 6698888 Ruta's World Café World Cuisine Located on a quiet street near the city’s Latin Quarter, Ruta’s offers some of the most delectable fares in Margao. Dr Miranda Rd, Behind Nanutel, Margao 9 am to 6 pm +91 832 2710757 Peppers Gourmet Cuisine Seafood, Tandoor Indulge in innovative desserts and local flavours at this exciting food joint. Near Child Care School, Margao +91 832 2711125. +91 9822133506

Alcoves Goan, Indian, Chinese Some excellent choices to be tried here would be Chinese Crispy Chicken, Cafreal, Veg Kolhapuri, Veg Crispy, and Chicken Vindaloo. Near Cine Vishant, Aquem, Margao 8.30 am to 11 pm +91 83 22735062, +91 832 2730536 Allegria Goan, Portuguese This fine-dining restaurant at the Taj Exotica serves mouth watering food. On offer are all the classic Goan dishes like Chicken Cafreal, Pork Sorpotel, and Kullanche Mass Kottnim, which is crab meat in a shell, and of course, the all time favourite, Fish Curry Rice. At Taj Exotica, Calwaddo, Benaulim, Salcete 7.30 pm to 10.45 pm +91 832 6683333 A Tartaruga Multi – Cuisine This eating space is a great venue for weddings and parties with sprawling beach front lawns that can accommodate up to 1000 pax. At Colva Beach, Salcete 7 am to 11 pm +91 832 2788068/69 Casa Sarita For truly outstanding authentic Goan Food. Open only for dinner, this classy fine dining restaurant is a delightful place to explore Goan and Portuguese cuisine. At Park Hyatt Goa, Cansaulim +91 832 2721234 Tato’s Fine Dining Goan, Indian, Chinese Tato’s fine dining makes its presence felt in the culinary circles in Margao. Opp. New Collectorate, Margao 12 pm to 3 pm and 6.30 pm to 11 pm +91 832 2758590

North Goa Restaurants Aunty Maria This quaint little café in Hotel Fidalgo is an upscale coffee shop and bakery offering fresh home-made bread, cakes, cookies, chocolates and quick bites that could make for a wonderful breakfast or tea time snack. At Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim +91 832 2226291 secgoa@fidalgogroup.com www.fidalgogroup.com Barrels & Bones BBQ - Steakhouse - Pizzeria Meal For Two: Rs.1000 At Fontainhas, close to the Maruti/ Hanuman Temple, Panjim 9673994064/7774078276 promobnb@gmail.com Goenchin Chinese, Pan Asian Yes the Chinese food here is Indianized. But is that necessarily a bad thing? It depends on your taste. At Mandovi Apartment, Dr Dada Vaidya Road, Panjim Noon to 3 pm, 7 pm to 11 pm +91 8322227614 reservations@hotelmandovigoa.com www.hotelmandovigoa.com

Chicken Man The trademark dish here is their rotisserie Chicken. At Off 18th June Road, Panjim +91 832 2423333 Casabela Continental, European A cozy place to hang around with your folks, it has been around since the 70’s and has mouth watering hand tossed pizzas. Off Chogm Rd, Porvorim 7 am to 11 pm. +91832241558 mail@casabelagoa.com www.casabelagoa.com Mum’s Kitchen Goan Among the best upscale Goan kitchens in Panjim, this restaurant draws foodies from all religions and walks of life. At Panjim-Miramar Rd 11 am to 11pm. +91 9822175556 Marbela Beach Italian, Seafood One of the finest beach resorts in the state, Marbela Beach is the ultimate destination to party or to unwind during the sunset with refreshing cocktails and decent food to hog on to. At Morjim –Ashvem Road, Morjim 7 am to midnight +91 832 8450599 Hotel Sanskruti Chinese, Goan, Indian, Oriental It’s a pure vegetarian restaurant which is packed during lunch time. It’s really good for South Indian food, Thali, and chaat. At Near HDFC Bank, Porvorim 8 am to 11 pm +91 832 2414400/ +91 94233323822

George Bar and Restaurant This tiny little joint may seem tacky from outside but it is clean and hygienic, serving delectable Goan food. Near Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim 10 am to 3.30 pm, 6.30 pm to 10.30 pm +918322426820 O’Asia Pan Asian This is the ultimate destination for your pan Asian culinary fix. At The O Hotel, Dando, Candolim Noon to 3 pm, 7.30 pm to 11 pm +918323047000 House of Lloyds Continental, seafood, and hearty Goan cuisine. The restaurant recommends the Goan roast pork, apple salad with tender greens, crispy sardines, stuffed crab, and steaks. At Saipem Road, Candolim 7 pm to 3 am +91 9823032273 Bombay Darbar Take Away and Catering Services A family restaurant, replete with surprisingly scrumptious Indian fare. At Sairam Residency, Shop no 1, Alto St.Cruz Road, St.Cruz, Tiswadi +91 832-2458877 / +91 832 2458588 A Lua Chinese, European, Goan, North Indian, Seafood 11 am to 11 pm At, Bella vista, Sangolda +91 832 2416671/ 73 At Porie Bhatt, Verna Contact: +91 832 2782760/ +91 9881272080 At Bhueem Bhatt, St Cruz, Merces +91 832 2448172/ +91 2448757

Casa Bhonsle Indian & Goan All meals here are prepared in the authentic Hindu Goan Style. Above Café Bhonsle, Near Cine National, Panjim Noon to 3.30 pm & 7 pm to 11 pm +91 832 2222260/ +91 9822100684

A Pastelaria Bakery An ideal place for pastries, cakes, cookies and other baked offerings. 9 am to 9 pm At Hotel Mandovi, Panjim +91 832 2426270/ 73

Chat Streets For a pop spicy and crunchy snack or fresh juice, this is the place to be. On Sunday open only till 4 pm Near Don Bosco High School, MG Road, Panjim 11 am to 9 pm. +91 832 9922480076

Anandashram Hotel Chinese, Goan and Seafood This is one of the oldest eateries in Goa and is something of an institution for its affordable and delicious Goan Fare. At 31st January Road, Panjim 1 pm to 10.30 pm +91 9823195245

Peep Kitchen Indian, Continental, Goan, Chinese A family restaurant with a bar run by a Goan family serves food with an authentic Goan and homely touch. At Caranzalem, Near Petrol Pump, Panjim Noon to 2.30 pm and 7 pm to 10.30 pm +91 832 6454474

Avanti Bar & Restaurant Indian, Goan & Seafood Serves Goan specialties like Rawa fried prawns, stuffed squid, and gratinated stuffed crab masala among other Goan delights. Near Patto Bridge, Panjim 11 am to 3 .30 pm, 7 pm to 11.30 pm +91 832 2435884/ +91 832 2427179 hotelavanti@yahoo.com

Forrest Veg Food Court Continental, Chinese, Indian Serves a wide range of fast food including chaat, noodles, pav bhaji, sandwiches, burgers et cetera. At Bhagwan Mahavir BAL Vihar, Panjim 11 am – 11 pm +91 832 6454353/9225903392

Edu’s Restaurant Indian, Chinese, International and Goan Pizzas are one of their specialties. There’s nothing fancy about it but it has the vibe of a street café. Next to Magson’s on the main DB Road in Panjim, Miramar. +91 832 2463777, +91 832 2463888. / +91 9822122085

10 Explore

By José Lourenço

cheerful group of young and old folk are making merry on a sandy beach. Peals of delight are heard as foamy waves wash over them. Children splash at the water, waiting for the next waves to crash on to the shore. A scene at Colva or Calangute? Nope. Believe it or not, the holidayers are actually at an abandoned stone quarry in the hills of Nuvem! Froggy Land is Goa’s newest and largest water park, sprawling across 35,000 sq.m. of barren hilly land. This massive water world is the brainchild of entrepreneur Cancio Mascarenhas, who also hails from Nuvem. The park features varied slides and rides for children and adults, a Children’s Play Pen, Wave Pool, Lazy River and an enclosed rain-dance hall among its attractions. There’s a separate pool for bumper boats and zorbing – where one can get inside a transparent inflatable wheel and have fun getting it to roll across the water.

Talk About Making A Splash! The water park is located two kilometres off the National Highway 17, right next to the Village, an event venue also owned by Cansio. Both of these projects have been sited within an abandoned stone quarry, with minimal changes made to the terrain. Massive walls of reddish-brown laterite loom over the park, giving it a fantasy world look. “We opened on 21st June and then hosted a São João party on the 24th of June,” says Charlotte Mascarenhas, Cancio’s wife, who assists in operating the water park. “We had over 300 people that day. Now we keep the park open on Saturdays and Sundays only. We will be open for six days of the week from the 1st of August.

The park will be closed on Mondays for maintenance.” A crew of over 45 attends to the operations, including 16 lifeguards, security guards, cleaning and parking staff, and technicians. The park is open from 10 am to 6 pm. Its entrance fee is Rs 450 for adults and Rs 250 for children, the distinguishing criteria being a height of 4 feet. According to Cancio, the park can accommodate up to 1000 visitors. The essential ingredient in a water park is, surprise surprise, water. So where does Cancio get the two lakh liters of water that his park needs? “We have a groundwater spring at our site,” he informs us. “In the summer months we also procure water tankers to replenish 30,000 litres that are lost via evaporation, irrigation, washing and filtration every day.” I look around and see that the water park project has added numerous trees to the originally barren land. The lawns on the grounds add to the green, verdant look. “We have also built facilities for a range of adventure activities, including rock climbing, rappelling, river crossing, zip-lines, a mechanical bull and a bungee trampoline,” adds Cancio. He shows me around the adventure circuit, which also features a miniature obstacle-golf course.

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Saturday, July 4, 2015

Great Goan Experiences

Museum Of Christian Art Open all days of the week Located at the Convent of Santa Monica, you may pray if you wish to, else just soak in the ambience of peace. At Old Goa From 9:30 am – 5 pm +91 832 2285299

Monsoon Fun Park Open for public 10 am to 6 pm At Resort Marinha Dourade, Arpora +91 9921604457 Wildernest Crocodile Safaris Offers boat safaris starting from Britona Jetty(Near Panjim) through the backwaters and mangrovelined canals, which are home to fresh water crocodile locally called ‘Muggers’. At Kamat Centre, D.B Marg, Panjim +91 9595553799/ +91 9341112721 Seaeaglecruises.com Canopy Eco – Tours Offers a wide variety of experiences including nature-treks, butterfly tours, dragonfly & damselfly tours, boat safaris on the Zuari River as well as their original bird watching tour. At Housing Board Colony, Margao +91 9764261711, +91 9764052225 Canopygoa.com Goa Butterfly Park & Conservatory A small park on a hill that’s a great place to spot stunningly beautiful butterflies. Near Tropical Spice Plantation, Ponda +91 832 2985174, +91 9822125474 Bcogoa.org Off the Grid Offers a unique home stay experience in a secluded village in the Western Ghats At Western Ghats John +91 9623451758 Sylvia +91 9049081097 The Bushmasters Owner Rahul Alvares is one of our state’s most experienced snake rescuers. Snake Watch programmes costs Rs. 1600 per person inclusive of transport and breakfast. At Almeida Vaddo, Parra 6.30 am to 9.30 am +91 9881961071 Rahulalvares.com

Notable Forts Aguada Fort Fort Aguada and its lighthouse is a well-preserved seventeenthcentury Portuguese fort Daily 10 am to 5.30 pm At Candolim

Naval Aviation Museum Displaying a number of vintage aircraft and armaments used at different stages by Naval Aviation dating back to the 1950`s and a vast number of memorabilia related to Naval Aviation history. Near Bogmalo Beach 10 am to 5 pm +91 832 2538668

Reis Magos Fort This Fort, surrounded by sturdy laterite walls studded with typically Portuguese turrets, was erected in 1551 to protect the narrowest point at the mouth of the Mandovi estuary. The fort stands on the north bank of the Mandovi River at Reis Magos, and is visible from the Panjim side of the Mandovi River. At Verem 10.30 am to 5.30 pm +91 832 2410711/ +91 832 2410715 Tiracol Fort The fort was originally built by Maharaja Khem Sawant Bhonsle, the Raja of Sawantwadi, in the 17th century. Now, in a state of ruins, Fort Tiracol has been converted into a luxury hotel, the Fort Tiracol Heritage. Well worth a visit At Tiracol, Keri Cabo de Rama Fort Interesting fort named after Lord Rama. Inside the fort, check out the church of Santo Antonio, still used by devotees. At Cola Beach Chapora Fort One of the most loved forts of Goa, it was built in place of an older fort on the same location after the Maratha-Portuguese war. At Vagator

Museums Goa Chitra With a collection of over 4,000 artefacts, Goa Chitra is an ethnographic museum that focuses on Goa’s traditional agrarian lifestyle and technology. At Mondo Waddo, Benaulim 9 am to 5 pm +91 832 6570877 Email: goachitra@gmail.com

Wax World Museum A brainchild of Mr. Shreeji Bhaskaran, the man behind India’s first wax museum at Ooty, here’s Goa’s very own Madame Tussaud’s. With over 30 lifelike wax statues of the who’s who of India, including the most eminent personalities from culture, religion, politics, heritage and more, it’s a huge attraction. At Gandhi Circle, Old Goa 9.30 am to 7.30 pm +91 9970126202

Goa Science Centre The Centre has a science park with interactive exhibits, 3D shows, galleries on oceanic science, explaining mysteries of the underwater world. At Miramar 10 am to 6 pm +91 832 2463426 Naval Aviation Museum Displaying a number of vintage aircraft and armaments used at different stages by Naval Aviation dating back to the 1950`s and a vast number of memorabilia related to Naval Aviation history. Near Bogmalo Beach 10 am to 5 pm +91 832 2538668 Archaeological Museum Check out the sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses, antiques from the Hindu period and currencies leftover by the Portuguese. At Old Goa 9 am to 5 pm +91 832 2285333

What’s all this fuss about ‘same-sex’ marriage? We've had the same sex for 30 years and I have never complained.

Explore 13

Saturday, July 4, 2015 FROM page 10

What are the crowd favourites, I ask him. “The Lazy River, Wave Pool and Rain-Dance floor,” he replies. “The Lazy River is a water channel where one can float along 230 metres of meandering curves. The Wave Pool is a man-made sandy beach where our wave generator gives you the feeling of beach waves of up to one metre height. The wave maker is turned on four times a day.” The Wave Pool’s sandy shore even has some canoes and an outrigger lying around, giving off a natural vibe. A wall in the silhouette of a chapel façade stands atop a rocky outcrop, echoing the lonely little chapels that grace Goa’s lonely heights. The Rain-dance floor is a cavernous space with dance lights and a sprinkler system that offers rain on demand, a welcome treat in Goa’s hot summer months. The décor inside the Raindance cave features a kingly octopus and psychedelic colours that simulate an underwater look. Cancio’s 13-year-old daughter Shania Tasha pitches in as the in-house DJ.

By Sapna Shahani

hen illness arrives, when the body is out of balance, when modern medicine fails to heal, many people turn to alternative treatments that take into account our entire being, melding mind, body and soul into one. Held up to strict scientific scrutiny, these practices may fall short. However, the faithful swear by them, and at the individual level, many tell stories of

merrymakers flock to waves at a water park when the original thing can be found on the famous beaches of Goa? For one thing, this is a relatively safer environment with lifeguards swarming everywhere, and there’s loads of rides and slides and adventure events, all at one cool place. And frogs? If we look under the rocks and trees at Froggy Land, we might find those croakers chilling out there too. 

“We designed the layout of the park ourselves,” beams Cancio, “with some technical help from an expert. The fiberglass art installations and the murals are all done by a firm called Red Box, headed by Allwyn Vaz, who

also hails from Nuvem.” A lot of attention has been given to activities for little kids, with special

miraculous recovery. Goa, in particular, is fast becoming a centre of alternative healing. And nowadays it’s not just for the hippies and wanderers on the palm-fringed beach belts. Panjim in particular has been embracing New Age energy-based therapies, with the newest addition being Reiki, a Japanese healing practice based on the concept of “universal energy.” Darpan Kaur, a Reiki Master and Hypnotherapist from CHII (California Hypnosis Institute of India), recently shifted to Dona Paula. She is also a certified Angel Card reader and teacher, from Hay House. A truly unique experience is getting a chakra reading, which she does with a crystal pendulum that reveals areas of energy blockage in your body. “We all know how to heal ourselves, our body knows it and deep inside our soul knows it, but we sometimes need help, someone to guide us through the process and maybe show us a different perspective,” Darpan explains. What do therapies like Reiki really do? Reiki is an alternative medicine practice that originated in Japan in the 1920s. It is based on qi,

small pools with ‘Lily Pads’, ‘Mushroom Bath’ and kidsize bumper boats. A coffee shop provides snacks and refreshments. Outside food is not allowed, and alcohol is a strict no-no. “The government has been quite helpful,” says Cancio. “The former Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was very supportive of this venture. Goa Tourism’s Nilesh Cabral has assured me that they will promote Froggy Land on their tourism packages.” Why would Goan

which practitioners say is universal life force energy. Sometimes called palm healing or hands-on-healing Reiki, ‘universal energy’ is transferred through the palms of the practitioner. Ex VJ and now actor Yudi from films like ‘Break ke Baad’ shares his personal experience. “My Reiki experience was and is a life altering one. It infuses your being with the endless flow of the universal energy without judgment or prejudice. All you need is faith and belief and an open heart. Darpan has been generous and kind as a healer, guide and master, by taking me on an incredible journey of healing, gratitude and self-realisation.” Reiki attracts people who are contending with physical ailments, emotional issues, relationships and other areas of life that could do with a little boost. And it can also be given from a distance. Darpan runs a website called ‘OnBoardTheReikiBus.com’ which has an even more unique way of sending Distance Reiki. Known as a ‘Reiki Shower,’ five empanelled healers get together and provide Reiki showers for a specific problem, no matter which part of the world you are in. As energy flows through you it gently clears energetic obstacles that stand in the way of healing. The energy of the Reiki Shower works to reduce stress, induces relaxation and opens the blocked

chakras and energy, which in turn triggers the body’s natural abilities to heal itself. “Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. It means one is happy with the imperfections,” Darpan says. She started her spiritual journey after a very successful stint in the corporate world, heading a famous international brand for the Asia Pacific region. After practicing in Mumbai, she decided to move to Goa, where she now works as an independent consultant. Traya, a unique platform for natural medicine and healing, has also signed her up as a consultant. Rakhee Salgaonkar, owner of Traya says, “Traya is an effort to introduce nature and natural healing back into our daily lives. It’s our endeavour to introduce ageold wisdom and medicine to combat lifestyle disorders of today.” 

Editor’s Note: It must be noted that the scientific community generally considers Reiki to be a pseudoscience, and that the proposed mechanism for its effectiveness – qi – has not been established. Organisations such as the American Cancer Society and Cancer Research UK warn that Reiki should not replace clinically proven treatments for serious illnesses such as cancer, though it may be used as a supplement to conventional medical treatments.

14 Lifestyle

For Better Or Worse, It’s Part Of Who We Are

By Jeena Jose

oa cannot be considered a victim of migration. It’s a mutual deal. Just as Goans move out to various other places, others find their solace in Goa. Goa has been the target area for migration even before the Portuguese era. The scenic natural beauty, tourism, work and education opportunities, and liberal crisis-free ambience make this place highly attractive for many people who choose to move here. From migrant construction workers to top-level professionals, India’s richest and (arguably) most beautiful state is a magnet for many thousands of people seeking a better, more peaceful, quieter, or more prosperous life. Many locals bemoan the presence of so many “outsiders,” but this reality – the Republic of Goa – is an integral part of our state’s identity. Priya Singh, a second year student at NIT-Goa, originally hails from Bihar. “Somehow Goa turned out to be my second home,” she says. She has been in Goa since her fifth standard schooling. Her father, a chemical engineer, would travel on work a lot. He knew that she was good at studies. To ensure that his moving around did not hamper her studies, he decided to settle in Goa with his family. And that was a good decision. Priya stood first in her school for the board exams with a stellar performance of 94 percent in her marks. The main factor that concerns many Goans is—How will the increased in-migration affect the heritage and traditions of Goa. But then, aren’t Goans moving out? For a better job and better living, migrating becomes essential. There have also been points made by the locals that the Goa Medical College caters to an abundant number of outsiders and that it is mostly patients from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and other places who prominently avail of the facilities there.

About 40 percent of Goa’s population, which is about 15 lakhs today, comprises migrants coming in from different parts of the world. There are different types of migrants: The labour class and middle class, those who settled in Goa decades ago, people from places such as Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujrat, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, the north eastern states and also from Russia, Nigeria, the U.S., and other foreign lands. Those who have travelled to and stayed in Goa for long periods of time. Migration happens in every part of the world. It is an age-old human behaviour, and many people of today’s generation live in regions away from their ancestral homes. A civil contractor based in south Goa stated that most of the laborers come from states outside Goa. When asked if Goans could replace migrants, he said that “If we require a minimum of 100 laborers, then we would only have about 40 of them and it’s definitely not enough.” Local labour is scarce in some work trades. Contractors in Goa depend on external labour that largely comes in from Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Orissa. This issue recently came into focus when government reports showed the possibility of migrants outnumbering locals in Goa by the year 2021, threatening to make Goans a minority in their own land. Vishal Naik, a second year student of V. M. Salgaonkar College of law has schooled with kids who were not all Goans. He says, “Kids never discriminate with each other based on where they originate from.” Our educational system has also been a main reason behind people migrating to Goa. The blend of different cultures seen among kids right from their childhood has broadened their perspective. A healthy migrant-to-local ratio in the population is a pragmatic necessity for the state. It is an inevitable part of our lives now. 

Empower 15

Saturday, July 4, 2015

By Dr. Charlane Pereira e Rebello

We haven’t conducted a thorough survey of every bus in Goa, but it seems fair to say that 44-year-old Angela Coutinho may well be our state’s only lady conductor, or at least one of the very few in existence. Psychologist Charlane Pereira e Rebello caught up with her at her home in Telaulim, and it turns out this steadfast woman is quite the inspiration.

ressed in a khaki top and skirt, Angela Coutinho stands at the door of her pink bus calling out to eagerly waiting passengers. Though this bus has a bell to signal a stop, Angela lets out a shrill whistle and the stout driver Jacinto expertly maneuvers the bus to a halt. Born and brought up in Mumbai, Angela passed her eighth standard from Canossa High School in Mahim. She gave tuitions for children in the mornings, and attended classes from 4 to 7.30 pm at night school. She eventually moved to Goa in 1994, where she married Peter, a government employee, in 1997. And then she joined the family business of plying buses on the Telaulim – Navelim – Margao route. With trips starting at 7.15 am and winding up at 7.30 in the evening, the ‘Mount Carmel’ bus makes 21 rounds in a day. Having ten years of service in this field, this gutsy woman manages her work and family smoothly. Positive comments such as ‘Valor tuka’ (Hats off to you) and ‘Tum kalzidar’ (you are courageous) have encouraged Angela to continue in this male-dominated profession. She quips, “At times, it is challenging to handle drunkards and rowdy passengers. There are seats reserved specially for women, senior citizens and disabled. The bus accommodates 23 sitting passengers and

9 standing.” Her compassionate nature also shows. “There’s a poor old lady who clambers on to the bus everyday, I don’t charge her.” “It is annoying when the bus breaks down. The passengers too feel irritated. The roads are bumpy and the ride is not too smooth,” adds Angela. “For about seven years, I wore pants and a shirt,” she explains her work attire. “It has been four years now that I have shifted to this khaki blouse and skirt.” With maintenance work handled by a mechanic, Angela and Peter clean the bus regularly every Sunday. Angela is an early bird, waking as early as 5 am, preparing breakfast for her two school going daughters, Pearl and Avila. “Earlier, I had no time for my children,” she admits. “They were very disappointed with me. But now, they are quite happy with the type of work I do.” “More women should take up this job,” she asserts. “Many may hesitate to join as they have to deal with unruly crowds and hear filthy language. Others might think that a conductor’s job is a dirty job. There are still other women who prefer to get married and don’t feel the need to work.” With a busy domestic schedule of cooking and household chores, Angela is a hardworking woman managing her life quite well. I asked her to compare the BEST buses of Mumbai and Goan buses. Angela says, “The BEST buses have an entry and exit door, an advantage especially in a fastpaced metropolitan city. However, our Goan buses are much better. We make sure that the aged climb safely.” “Although there are few lady conductors here in Goa, both male and female conductors can handle the passengers equally well. The government should encourage us with incentives and awards.” What about her future business plans? She smiles. “One bus is enough to be happy.” She has some words of advice for the youth: “Do not feel ashamed to do any kind of work. Youngsters should study well and work hard. Believe in yourself. Be courageous. Do not lose hope.” This gutsy lady has indeed conducted herself nobly in a rugged profession. Bravo Angela! 

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Framing and Caring for Paintings Great Works of Art Deserve TLC

By Perin Ilavia

f you think it’s just the picture that counts, and not the frame, think again. The art of framing a painting is centuries old. Royalty and noblemen had their portraits adorned with ornate frames. Painters from the Gothic period to modern day have paid close attention to framing as it can make or break an illustration. Frames should not dominate the painting. When the viewer’s attention diverts to the frame, the essence of the art work diminishes, and it is important to choose frames which will enhance the illustration. The colours and movement of the art work should direct the choice of a frame. Large paintings can accommodate a broad frame, those in a smaller format need a delicate frame, but even small works can be window mounted and enhanced with decorative frames. Framing has become more technically varied now. Previously frames were hand made in ebony, rosewood, teak, many had gold gilding and engraving. Now we have frames made with various synthetic materials, such as plastic, PVC, etc. You can get frames in a variety of colours, which are also engraved and gilded.

You find frames which are simulated to look like wood. Though real wood is still the best, acrylic and metal frames are popular because of durability. A professional framer should be able to advise you on the choice of the frame. It is not only the framing that will help in preserving your artwork. Several environmental factors contribute to the preservation of art. You must consider the chemical reaction of pigments and inks, paper quality and effects of sunlight and artificial lighting. The matte board acts as a barrier between the image and the glass, preventing condensation. If the board is made with unrefined ground wood pulp, it may contain acids which may erode the work, especially works on paper. Using acid free boards treated for termites is essential, whether it’s canvas or paper. The canvas should not stick to the frame, nor should it touch the glass, hence window mounting is most suitable, to ensure longevity. Paintings on canvas don’t always require framing, and most oil paintings do not have glass on them. It’s the

paintings on paper that require attention. Non reflective glass and plexi-glass are protective measures which go a long way into preserving the colours of paintings. Do pay attention to maintaining your art especially in our humid climate during the monsoon. It is also important not to expose paintings for prolonged periods to sunlight. Sunlight plays havoc with the canvas and pigments. Even indirect ultra violet rays are damaging. Paints also react to artificial light. A spot light closer than seven inches should be avoided. Place a light at a distance to ensure homogeneity to the illustrations as heat affects and damages the paper or canvas and also fades the pigments in the paint. The location of your painting should be chosen with care. Moisture and fungus can damage the art irrevocably. Display it on a wall which is moisture free, as moisture encourages fungus. Never use a damp cloth or detergents to clean your oil paintings. Brush them with a soft cloth. Aerosol cans remove dust from the corners of the frame, but don’t use

Arts & Entertainment 17

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Every Saturday

Expressions By Artist Vaishali Lall, with a focus on exploring the skills of embroidery and mix media in painting. At The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula +91 9420820890

Galleries of Note

The Cube Gallery Every architect, since the beginning of time, has secretly tried to create a vision of paradise in the buildings they design. Discover one such paradise and much more. At The Cube Gallery, Calizor Vaddo, Moira. 11 am to 7 pm +91 832 2470415/ +91 9422806748 thecubegallerygoa@gmail.com Surya Art Gallery This gallery is situated in a quiet location where contemporary works of canvas paintings from Goa and artifacts are displayed. At Bandawal Wada, Pernem 10 am to 6 pm +91 9404149764/ +91 9422064754

Monsoon Heritage Studio Treat yourself to some amazing collection of mirrored mosaic art and handpicked artefacts at this upscale studio by Yahel Chirinian. At Mainath Batti, Arpora 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM +91 9822122771 Off The Wall Discover a collection of deeply astounding works of art displayed on a daily basis at this thoughtful art cafe. Fort Aguada Road, Sinquerim, Candolim 10:30 am to 11:30 pm +91 9820083497 +91 9823289123 Panjim Art Gallery Get a dose of the local culture with figurative works of Goan artists. Near Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Panjim 9:00 am to 8:00 pm +91 9822168703

Galleria Esperance Retrospective Art in oils, watercolours, crayons, still life photographs etc. on display Near Our Lady of Merces Church, Merces 4 pm to 7 pm +91 9922509704

Mario Art Gallery Discover the original paintings and other memorabilia of the great Goan artist/cartoonist Mario Miranda. Here you can buy “The Life of Mario”, as well as prints, mounted prints, frames, tiles, mugs, card sets and other books. At ‘Houses of Goa’, Salvador-doMundo, Porvorim area 9:00 am to 5:30 pm +91 832 2410711 archauto@gmail.com www.mariodemiranda.com

Kerkar Art Gallery Exhibition of recent works of Subodh Kerkar “The Pepper Cross” & “Indigo”. Besides a new series of Laterite Stone Sculptures on display. At Gaura Vaddo, Calangute 10 am to 7 pm +91 9326119324

Gallery Gitanjali An elegant art gallery in Panjim’s Latin Quarter is worth hopping into when you’re in the area. Fontainhas, Panjim 9:00 am to 9:00 pm +91 9823572035 gallerygitanjali@gmail.com www.gallerygitanjali.com

Art Chamber: Galleria de Belas Artes One of the more interesting and pleasant art centres in the state featuring confident acrylic strokes that are somewhat three dimensional, put across the canvas by Yolanda De Souza and others. The musical acts here are worth looking out for too.  Gaura Vaddo, Calangute 10:00 am to 1:00 pm & 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm +91 832 2277144 artchamber@gmail.com www.goa-art.com Moksa Art Gallery Here you will find some immensely conceptual paintings by Salvadoran Fernandez and others. Naik Waddo, Calangute 9:30 am to 8:30 pm +91 832 2281121 +91 9326717386 mokshart@gmail.com www.mokshartgallery.com Sunaparanta- Goa Centre for the Arts The centre houses several exhibition galleries, a large multi-functional space for workshops and lectures, an in-house film club, sketch club, open air amphitheatre, pottery studio and an open courtyard that houses the al fresco café, Bodega. The red velvet cupcakes at Bodega are a must try! At Altinho, Panjim 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. +91 832 2421311 info@sgcfa.org www.sgcfa.org

them directly on the painting. If the painting gets wet, blot it gently with an absorbent cloth, for rubbing it will damage it. Do not varnish your painting. Spraying acrylic and pastels with a colourless fixative spray prevents fading. If paintings are travelling long distances ensure there is no pressure on the stretched surface during transportation, which causes permanent damage. Don’t transport them on the frame. It is best to roll them and put them in a PVC pipe. When it reaches the destination, you will have to stretch the canvas. Too much tension can tear the canvas, too little will cause ridges. And that’s when the professional stretcher steps in. If your painting is damaged, don’t neglect it. Don’t try to touch it up yourself, even if you are versatile with painting. Get it restored by a professional restorer. Many art connoisseurs and collectors have several paintings, and may not have space to display them all at one time. Anyway it’s best not to crowd the walls. Change the display periodically, and when you want to store works for longer periods, wrap the work in non acidic cloth, roll it over a pipe and store it in sealed PVC containers. Ensure that the room you store it in is not humid. De-humidifiers used in the room where you store the works help to a great extent, and yet that’s no guarantee that the works will not get damaged. Every great work of art has two faces, one toward its own time and one toward the future, toward eternity. So preserve your artworks well. They have a great life ahead! 

Arts & Crafts for a creative and relaxed life

tsy Bitsy is India’s No.1 Hobby, Arts and Craft Megastore and we provide total solution in the supply of art and craft materials. We take pride in being 100% INDIAN owned. The vast majority of our products are handmade thereby supporting hundreds of rural women in India. We are the only company with such a unique concept in Indian market. We at Itsy Bitsy carry a comprehensive range of Art & Craft supplies suitable for all ages! We specialize in DIY products (DO IT YOURSELF). We offer more than 15000 products to facilitate creativity; we adore and worship creativity and endeavour to bring the best from the crafting world to craft lovers in India. Our core categories are Scrapbooking, Card making, Quilling, Jewellery making, Kids crafts, Paper Craft, Punch Craft, Needle crafting and Art supplies. ITSY BITSY also carries a very large range of craft materials suitable for school projects all under one roof. Top brands like American Crafts, We R Memory keepers, DCWV (Die cuts with a

Inauguration ceremony of ITSY BITSY, standing from left to right Mr. Bhanu Prakash - Area Manager of Itsy Bitsy & Chief Guest Mrs. Kunda Chodankar - Chairman of Balbhavan, Panaji

view), Kaisercraft, Sizzix, Cuttlebug, Portacraft, etc. have partnered with Itsy Bitsy to promote Scrapbooking and Paper crafting in India and you can look forward to many more brands in the near future! If you wish to shop for the top imported craft brands in India, then Itsy Bitsy is

the place to visit! Arts and crafts are now an integral part of the curriculum. Arts and craft activites offer huge benefits to children and adults - they help in Sensory Stimulation, Spatial Relations and Visual Thinking Skills, Eye-hand coordination, Stress Management. Arts and crafts are a great way to

engage your children creatively, as such hobbies help one to de-stress and relax. One can also spend lot of qualitative time with one's family by engaging in craft activity. Itsy Bitsy now has a branch at Goa. We earnestly request you to inform your guests to visit Itsy Bitsy and make the best of this opportunity. We also have our E-commerce site - www.itsybitsy.in

18 Literature

The Fundaçao Stories

A Contest Showcases The Literary Talent Of Goa By Sheela Jaywant

hen I participated in the Fundaçao Oriente Short Story Competition in 2011, I shared the third prize with Konkani writer Ramnath Gawde. An email informed me that I had won a prize and I was thrilled to bits. Some months later the story was published in the anthology, Shell Windows, along with 24 other stories from the competition. The interesting aspect of this competition was that it was held in multiple languages for the same set of prizes. Which meant writing in the vernacular was no longer a disadvantage as some writers believed. I read the story that shared the place with mine in the original and found that its translation worked as well. Good translators, like good editors, are rare. Two years later, as a Marathi-English translator and a lover of Konkani, I got a multi-lingual treat when I was a member of the Jury for the same competition. My fellow evaluators were Maria Ceu de Barreto, Gajanan Jog and Narayan Dhargalkar. Besides discussing the stories (plot, idea, concept, ending), we often went offtrack and debated about an odd word, our own experiences with local literature, contemporary descriptions, humour, pathos and whatnot. We spent many hours in choosing the 25 stories for the second anthology, Coconut Fronds. As much time or more went into editing, proof-reading and layout. Hours of re-reading, adjusting sentences, moving paragraphs and making changes meant I had to improve my concentration and typing skills. Dealing with the authors was another matter. Some were convinced their story was to be kept as it was. One author withdrew her entry as soon as the results were out. Another did the same citing dissatisfaction with the editorial process. But mostly, the writers were open to minor changes and didn’t mind ‘adjusting’, to polish up and fine tune their creations. I asked Augusto Pinto, the Chairperson of the Jury for this year’s competition, what he thought of the contest, which attracted over 90 entries in 2013. He said: “I've read both Shell Windows and Coconut Fronds and I think they helped

bring to the fore new talent like Cordelia Francis, Sharon Soares, Fatima M Noronha who at the time were not so well known. Their stories got juxtaposed with well-known names like Manohar Shetty, Ahmed Bunglowallah, Prashanti Talpankar, Alexandre Moniz Barboza and so on, which must have been a big encouragement.” He believed “it also allowed established writers in Marathi and Konkani who were not known or at least read

outside their own circles like Nayana Adarkar, Ramnath Gawde, and Necio D'Souza to get highlighted through the translations.” Although the ages of the writers were not indicated, he got the impression that many young people participated. He opined that people would write mainly in the language they are already comfortable in writing. That, perhaps, was why the stories written in Portuguese fell flat. The number of those who speak good Portuguese and read its literature has significantly dropped today. This biannual contest was the brainchild of Eduardo Kol de Carvalho, the erstwhile delegate of Fundaçao Oriente. The contest owes much to writer Maria Aurora Couto who sponsors the

first prize of Rs 20,000 instituted in the memory of the late Alban Couto, not just for the money but for her gentle stewardship. Semana de Cultura Portuguesa and Fundaçao Oriente pitch in with the second and third prizes. Augusto adds: “This year’s competition cycle has just started, but the jury has made a point of ensuring that the competition is made more attractive and have dug into their own pockets to do so. Anita Pinto of Goa Writers has sponsored a prize of Rs 10,000 in memory of her mother Nur Coelho who was herself a writer; Meena Kakodkar of Konkani Bhasha Mandal has sponsored a prize of Rs 5000/ in honour of her mother, late Hirabai Durga Gaitonde and so that Marathi didn't get left out I sponsored a consolation prize of Rs 5000/ although I don't really read Marathi much. There is also a prize for Portuguese prizes given by the Goa Portuguese Teachers Association. So this year the prize fund is the richest so far-Rs 70,000.” A bonus to the contest is the precompetition writing workshop which teaches aspirants to connect mind with pen. This year, theatre person Isabel Santa Rita Vas conducted it, in June. The idea of publishing an anthology of

the best stories came from Jose Lourenco, one of the jury members of the first edition of the contest in 2011. “How did you get into this Fundaçao event?” I asked him. “I represented Goa Writers group, who were associated with the Contest.” “What were your impressions of the work sent in?” “Many of them were very good, 25 of which we eventually published as the Shell Windows. The stories reflected the diverse emotional, intellectual and cultural landscape of Goa. My fellow jury-members in 2011, Damodar Mauzo, Isabel Santa Rita Vas and Vishram Gupte are very distinguished literary figures and yet very modest. It was a treat and a learning experience to attend the jury meetings with them. After the prizewinning stories had been chosen, I felt it would be a waste to allow the other stories to sink into oblivion, as they were eminently readable and the authors had worked hard on them. So we proposed an anthology. Dr Carvalho got the project approved from his headquarters, we got the stories edited and published the book in collaboration with Broadway Book Store.” I probe Jose: “Have you taken part? Will you?” He said: “I have had some modest success with getting my short stories published in some anthologies and periodicals. So I would rather encourage newer writers to send in their stories and help them in whatever way I can. The most significant achievement of this contest has been to showcase fresh talent.” This Fundaçao Short Story Competition is definitely an event that has made its mark on Goa’s literary calendar. Read-o-maniacs like me look forward to whatever comes fresh from the mind and the pen every year. I’m going to have every anthology of this contest on my shelf. I’m very proud to have been a part of it. Entries are invited from residents of Goa (18 years and above) to send short stories in Konkani (Romi/Devanagri scripts), Marathi, Portuguese and English by September 30, 2015. While there is no particular theme, the story should feature Goa or Goans prominently through Place or People or Predicament. Story length to be 1000 to 3000 words. Send in your entries to Fundação Oriente Delegation in India, 175 Filipe Neri Xavier Road, Fontainhas, Behind People’s High School, Panjim, Goa. 403001.Tel : 2230728 / 2436108 