Goa Streets - Issue 39

Thursday, August 1, 2013 | Vol. No. I | Issue 39 | Price Rs. 10 | Pages 24 | www.goastreets.com

Music of Anjunadeep • pg 5

Thoughtless Development • pg 11

Director: Make Goa Another Cannes • pg 15

Goa’s Hot Young Innovators page 12

Dog Control pg19 • Sex pg20 • Monsoon Footwear pg21

3

Thursday, August 1, 2013 Photograph by Ananda Krishna

streetspicks

International Blues Music Day The Live Music Project will be celebrating the inauguration of the first International Blues Music Day in Goa with a great line-up of blues musicians from the state, India and around the world, including Herman Abreo, BenoyRai, Colin D’Cruz and Lester Godinho. Featured artists for the night are Fabian Jones and Guto from Brazil. Also expect a jam session to happen later in the evening. All you blues artists, get your instruments along!

At TawaResto-Bar, Baywatch Resort, Sernabatim Beach Road, Colva @ 7:30 pm onward +91 9323590051

The Dreamcatcher Programme: A Classical Concert Child’s Play (India) Foundation, which works to bring classical music to underprivileged children in India, will be presenting ‘The DreamcatcherProgramme’, an evening of classical music, in association with Spain’s University of Seville on Saturday, August 3. The concert will feature works of Bach, Mozart and Gershwin, among others. Entry is free for all.

At DinanathMangueshkarIndoor Auditorium, Kala Academy, Panjim @ 6 pm +91 832 243 2528

Club Ianos The newest party hotspot in Baga, Ianos is a particularly noteworthy addition to the northern beach belt’s after-dark scene. The club has various theme nights on different days of the week. Mondays and Tuesdays are for commercial club and house music. Wednesdays are dedicated to the ladies, while Fridays and the weekend are for the hottest hip-hop and EDM tracks.

At Calangute, Baga Road @ 8:30 pm – 3 am +91 832 6528283

Zuperb This newly-opened restaurant at Holiday Street, Calangute, has a range of local artists performing live most nights of the week. Sing and swing with Nelly to jazz, retro & the season’s popular tracks on ‘ZuperbTuesdays’. On Friday nights, the vibrant duo of Jonathan and Nashvinget guests into the weekend mode with the ‘Music Fever’ theme. And if that’s not enough, check out the restaurant’s menu for some authentic Parsi fare like PatraniMachhi and Dhansak.

Gaurovaddo, Holiday Street, Calangute 12 pm – 12 am +91 9869076107/9820134503/9833156510

August 3 – September 28

August 15 – August 17

Underground Party Night

Freedom Express Weekend 2013

Saturdays call for some fun to get rid of all the weariness! Let your hair down as DJs Tanya and Sunil spin the console. Groove all night to the music while enjoying cocktails and sumptuous starters.

At The Park On Holiday Beach Hotel, Calangute @ 9 pm onward +91 832 2267600

The lucky number’s 15 at Freedom Express Weekend 2013! 15 DJs, 15 performers and dancers, 15 artists will be seen performing at this bash.

At Ianos, Calangute Baga Road, Cobravaddo, Calangute @ 4 pm – 4 am +91 8380039910

A saxaphonist cradles his instrument lovingly

music & nightlife | 05 Anjunadeep

lowdown | 06 food | 07 More Twitter recipe winners

August 16

Every Thursday

Off Season Blast Goa 2013

Thursday Grill &Games

Two-day open air festival with music from genres like ambient/chillout/ down-tempo/psy-chill/dub.

At UV Bar, Anjuna @ 12 pm onward +91 9769041905

give back | 11 Goa and garbage

cover story | 12 Young innovators

arts & entertainment | 15 Director speaks out

Everyday Happy Hours

Enjoy 25% discount on all beverages& a buy-one-get-one-free special offer.

Happy hours, happier moments!

At Capiz Bar, Grand Hyatt, Bambolim Beach @ 7 pm – 9 pm +91 832 3011125

Every Tuesday Country Rock Night

feature | 19 Dog control

hot streets | 20 Public kissing

Here is a chance for all music fans to enjoy an evening of country rock musicat Cafe Mojo Pub &Bistro. Get ready for a good time with your buddies and make the evening worth remembering.

At Cafe Mojo Pub &Bistro, Panjim @ 8 pm +91 832 2426666

Every Wednesday Cosmopolitan Ladies Night

feature | 21 Monsoon footwear

explore | 22 Birds

Free Absolut Cosmopolitan cocktails all night long exclusively shaken & stirred for the fairer sex. Ladies Night, the Butter way!

At Butter, Patto, Panjim @ 8 pm onward +91 8308838888

Wednesday Nights

With their frequent gigs, DJs David &Ashley entertained hordes of people with their act. Now they join hands together to make the crowds groove to their songs every Wednesday. The fun begins early here!

At Kamaki, Baga @ 7:30 pm +918322276520/ 9923093408

Music, games & barbeque!

At Soul Souffle, Verna @ 7 pm – 10 pm +91 832 2782100/9764694321

Every Friday Blu Nights

With resident DJs Melroy, Xavier, Ross & guest DJs. At F Cube, Arpora +91 832 2275796

Every Saturday Funky Saturdays At Butter

A lot of youngsters can be seen hanging out at Butter for its Funky Saturdays where everything – from the music to the dress code and even guests’ hairstyles – have to be funky.

At Butter, Gera Emporium,EDC Patto Plazza, Panjim @ 8 pm onward +91 8308838888

Ongoing Pickled Mango

It has a different menu every night where music is concerned! Monday: Karaoke time with Bonny; Tuesay: Music by Jus’ Leo n Zie; Wednesday: Grill Nite with Music fever; Thursday: Rock n Retro by Country Joe; Friday: Dance your blues away with Party Creation; Saturday: Rio Festival with Crossroads Band; Sunday: Live entertainment with Hyden and Natasha. @ Resort Rio, Arpora @ 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm +918322267300

Souza Lobo

Oldest restaurant on Calangute Beach with live music in the evenings.

Nelson & Leo perform on Mondays & Thursdays with Leo performong solo on Tuesdays & Fridays. Wednesdays see one-man band Lui on the mic.

Victor & Sol perform on Saturdays and Valentino on Sundays.

At Calangute Beach @ 8 pm onward +918322281234

Thursday, August 1, 2013

A (Deep) T Affair To Remember

By Puja Roy @AriAsher

he funky Goan beachside village of Anjuna is famous for a lot of reasons – hippies, expats, full-moon parties, after-hours revelry, laid-back shacks. All house fans know that high among this list is also Anjunabeats, the British progressive and deep house label, and its sub-label Anjunadeep – both of which take their name from the much loved north Goan village. The global #TranceFamily fraternity had much to cheer about on July 22 with the release of the season’s mostanticipated soundtrack, Anjunadeep 05. A collection of 30 of the newest tracks to hit the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) scene, this two-disc compilation has been mixed by label head James

Grant and Jody Wisternoff (one half of Bristol-based legendary dance act Way Out West).

Anjunadeep holds a special place in today’s dance music scene for its dedication to deep, soulful and melodic electronic grooves. Its tracks conjure up images of sun-soaked beaches, of relaxed lounge-y evenings and of full-moon nights under swaying palm trees. With five-star reviews from some of the most popular DJ magazines, the London-based record label’s releases feature regularly in the sets of some of the world’s best-known DJs. ‘Deep 05’, the fifth installment from Anjunadeep’s tables, showcases mesmerizing sounds of deep house, ambient

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11th August

3pm Onward Tito’s Courtyard

Onshore

Offshore

Behind Old Secretariat, 1st Floor, The Crown Goa, Bairo Alto Dos Pilotos, Jose Falcao Road, Panaji.

Goa - 403001. INDIA Mob: +91 9158883461 Land Line: 0832 2222822/2222833 Email: reception@crowncasino.in Open: 12:00 noon-06:00am | All days

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

Crown 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

Casino Royale Goa is India’s largest and most luxurious offshore gaming vessel. Anchored in the Mandovi, Casino Royale Goa creates an ambience that is at par with gaming destinations worldwide, with international games such as poker, baccarat, blackjack, and roulette, and serviced by dealers trained to the highest global standards. A family destination, it also has a kids’ room where trained staff look after the little ones. Open 24x7. Entry: Rs 1,500 per person on weekdays (Mon-Thu) and Rs 2,000 on weekends (Fri-Sun).

Boarding Point: Fisheries Department Building (6 pm-6 am only), Opposite Mandovi Hotel, D. BandodkarMarg, Panaji; and Noah’s Ark Jetty, D. BandodkarMarg, Panaji 0832 6519471, 0832 2433289.

Casino Pride

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

6 The Lowdown The Lowdown Where would our world be without innovators? And where would Goa be without bright young minds striving for a better world? This week we chose to highlight hot young Goan innovators as our cover story – to showcase the projects of these talented young people who are making a real difference.

They are our future. And we hope you enjoy reading about the myriad ways they are thinking out of the box!

From page 5 electronica, modern garage & spacey techno. Disc One, mixed by James Grant, begins with the cool vibes of French artist Croquet Club’s ‘Cardigan’. This is followed by 14 other exclusive original material from names such as Vincenzo & Aram, Andrew Bayer, Beckwith, Universal Solution, DAVI, Dusky, Tom Middleton, Matt Lange, The Presets and Solarity.

Each track brings its own special flavour to the compilation. While Vincenzo & Aram impress with the hauntingly beautiful melody of ‘Let Go’, Andrew Bayer and James Grant present a deep-house rendition of synth-pop track ‘It’s Cool’

by Australian indie-electronic outfit The Presets (taken from their gold-selling album Pacifica). Grant and Bayer team up for another brilliant number, ‘Living’, that has all the elements that make for a classic Anjunadeep track – deep, melodic and an emotion-laden breakdown. London duo Dusky, responsible for some of the best house tracks of 2011-12, make an appearance with ‘Mr Man’ and ‘Nobody Else’, both of which are bass-heavy and have a hypnotic touch to them. New kid on the block, Universal Solution (aka Gavin Holland), contributes with ‘Yukon’ and ‘Osheen’ (with its infectious dark bass element). American music producer and DJ Matt Lange (of ‘Rift’ fame) keeps up his good work with ‘Way You Know’. Last, but definitely not the least, is Solarity, (made up of Alfie Granger-Howell and Nick Harriman), who make a return to the label with ‘Symbols’, one of the few tracks in the album that possesses some trance elements and summarises the overall chilled out ambience of the entire mix.

But that’s only Disc One. Jody Wisternoff, with 20 years’ experience behind the decks, handled mixing duties for Disc Two. And boy, what a gem of a compilation Disc Two

is! It starts with the Bristolian’s remix of Germany-based The Peacemaker Project’s ‘Ich Lass´ Dich Nicht Zurück’ (‘I Won’t Leave You Behind’). Jody blends modern beats smoothly with retro melodies and the final product is simply delicious. Next is his take on Above and Beyond’s ‘Alchemy’. This party anthem, featuring Zoë Johnston’s ethereal vocals, gets a classic Wisternoff touch with a deep bass groove and bubbly beats. It is easily one of the top contenders for #1 track of the compilation. Another hot favourite is 20-year-old Joe Cowie, aka Kahwe’s, ‘Driving Me Wild’. Jody adds layers of melodic feel to this garage house tune. The end product is, again, beautiful.

São Paulo-based André Sobota’s ‘Move Into Tokyo Dawn’ has also been blended impeccably. Our verdict for this track?

Simply groovelicious. Matt Lange makes another appearance on Disc Two, this time with another gem in the form of the elegant ‘Only You’. And finally, we have Mr Wisternoff’s remix of London-based Alfred Taylor’s ‘Kuza’. This deep tech house groover is quite the irresistible number with its dreamy, funky sounds – perfect for a day out at the beach.

Anjunadeep 05 is a comprehensive project spanning different sub-genres while still holding on to its main underlying theme – that of deep house. It’s hardly a surprise that the album hit #1 on the iTunes Dance Album chart only a day after its release, beating heavyweights like David Guetta and Calvin Harris. With their combined musical talents, James Grant and Jody Wisternoff have crafted an EDM masterpiece. It is a celebration of good music and talented artists. Highly recommended! For additional information, check out: www.anjunadeep.com www.facebook.com/anjunadeep www.anjunastore.com/

If you’ve ever tried taking a walk through the streets, beaches or villages of Goa, you know what about the problem of stray dogs. They are ubiquitous and often aggressive. Please don’t miss our in-depth coverage of this phenomenon. You may be surprised by some of the conclusions – including the fact that a dedicated group of individuals are working hard to do something about it in a humane fashion.

We’d also like to draw your attention to our interview with Bengali movie maker Kalyan Mukherjee, who believes Goa could be turned into something of another Cannes (for film exhibitions) and who makes an impassioned plea for the restoration of art and beauty in Goa. In our piece on ‘Goa, garbage and the fight against chaos,’ we outline what needs to be done to clean up the garbage and ensure Goa’s infrastructure keeps pace with development.

On a lighter note, don’t miss our pieces on the beautiful birds of Goa, a stunning new release from the British house label Anjunadeep, some useful tips on monsoon footwear and, last but certainly not least, some wonderful recipes from the runners up of the Goa Streets Twitter Recipe contest.

Oh, and by the way… We pay a lot of attention to our weekly listings on everything there is to do, eat and see in the state. We hope you enjoy those, too!

The Goa Streets Team

7

Thursday, August 1, 2013

streetspicks

Leisurely Sunday Monsoon Brunch Goa Marriott Resort & Spa’s reinvented Monsoon Sunday Brunch at the Waterfront Terrace & Bar is all about lazing the weekend away with an interesting array of food from around the world and some live entertainment. Among the offerings are age-old local favourites like Kheema Pao & Kathi Roll, Appam & Stew from Kerala and Madras Kuttu Paratha. From the Pan-Asian selection, there’s Burmese Khao Suey, Dim Sum, Momo and the wholesome Okonomiyaki from Japan. For some Middle Eastern flavours, there’s Shawarma & Falafel. Satiate your sweet cravings with a variety of desserts, including Mississippi Mud Cake, Cranberry & Vodka Jelly, Rustic Apple & Mint Pie and a range of cheesecakes. Goa Marriott Resort & Spa Contact: +91 832 2463333

Goa Streets Twitter Recipe Contest

Goan Sunday Nights If you’re looking for some traditional Goan delicacies this Sunday, head over to Tin Tin Bar & Restaurant in Vagator that’s celebrating Goan Sunday Night on August 4, 11 and 18. Caju Feni will be served on the house along with live performances by popular guitarist Elvis Carvalho.

There’s also a special promo on Kingfisher Ultra Beer: buy 2, get 1 free! Dinner starts at 7:30 pm and will last till 11:30 pm. Call ChefOwner Savio for more information on special discounts.

Tin Tin Bar & Restaurant, Vagator Contact: +91 9623922796/9623973691

Tea Café

By Goa Streets

Nestled in the Latin Quarter of Mala-Fontainhas in the heart of Panjim, Tea Café offers a lot of goodies (along with tea). Everything is made inhouse, including a wide range of pastries, biscotti, quiches, a mezze platter, sandwiches and, of course, its famed Red Velvet Cupcake. There are also many types of tea to choose from, be it Green, Chamomile, Masala or regular. Open Monday to Saturday, visit the Tea Café for a quaint unhurried chai break.

Empresa Dempo, 31st January Road, Fontainhas, Panjim Contact: +91 832 2223050

Carasid

Time 11am-12 midniht non stop food service, open everyday.

Home delivery: 0832-2411959 & 9764159686 Caterin Service Contact: Mr. Roland Rodrigues @ 9890422440

Born out of their passion for food, Carasid is Christabel and Sunil Shrivastava’s brain child and named after their kids Cara & Sid. For quick bites like burgers, sandwiches, wraps, cakes & chocolates, drop in at any of the five outlets through Goa to sample the offerings (designed

by Christabel, who is also a nutrition expert). The cheesecakes here are also quite nice, we hear. So go, enjoy some healthy, tasty bakes at this walletfriendly confectionary.

Ground Floor Chanson Building, Near Hotel Solmar, DB Marg, Miramar +91 832 2465904/9326111476

L

ast week we named Chef Joel D’Souza as winner of the Goa Streets Twitter Recipe Contest for his version of his grandmother’s delightful creation ‘Preserved Lemon Citrus Chicken with Coriander Gremolata’.

There were two runners up in the contest, and we promised we’d share those recipes with you, too.

After the preserved lemon chicken, the sweetness of these dishes should hit the spot. Congratulations to winners Reeva Pinto and Nicole Figueiredo. Both give their recipes in their own words, and then tell a little bit about themselves. (By the way, if you recognize Nicole’s name, that might be because she also won our “Favourite Goan On Twitter” contest – is she on a roll or what?)

Reeva Pinto and her Banoffee Pie

This is a simple Banana, cream and toffee pie, which is a very popular English dessert.

Condensed milk when boiled gives a lovely toffee flavour which forms the most delicious layer of this dish. There are so many ways in which you can make this dish. You can make a pastry base or a biscuit crumble base! Just follow the recipe which is easiest and suits you the best!

• Nestle Milkmaid (1 tin 400 gm - I use Nestle because I like the texture and flavour of its

toffee, as compared to the others) • McVitties Digestive Biscuits (300 gm - or more depending on how thick a base you want.

McVitties taste delicious) • Butter (60gm - or as much required to crumble the biscuit) • Bananas – make sure they’re ripe as green ones don’t give the right flavour; use as many as u need to cover the size of your dish • Cream (200 ml, you get cream in either 200 ml cartons or 1 litre cartons. You can use 2 of the 200 ml cartons if you want more cream. But finish off the cream ) • Sugar (Powdered, 1-2 TBsp) • Coffee (Instant, 1 – 2 TBsp) • Garnish - anything like grated chocolate or sprinkle coffee powder (or just skip) Method: 1. Immerse the can of milkmaid in a saucepan of boiling water and simmer for 2 hours, making sure the can is submerged fully. (Most recipes online say for 3 hours, but I sometimes get the job done in less than 2 hours. When the water becomes less just add some more hot water, you can even turn the milkmaid can so that the side facing up is submerged again).

2. Meanwhile, roughly crumble biscuits in a plastic bag, (do not make fine powder). Mix it with cool butter, not completely melted, and

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8 Food Every Sunday

Photograph by Ananda Krishna

Champagne Sunday Brunch

Enjoy brunch at the Grand Hyatt with French champagne &food from 5 interactive &live stations dishing out Asian, Italian, Middle Eastern, Indian cuisine &desserts.

Rs 2,200 + taxes (includes buffet, champagne, wines &select drinks) At Grand Hyatt, Bambolim @ 1 pm – 4 pm +91 832 3011125

Sunday Family Brunches

Rejuvenating cocktails, soul-warming gourmet cuisine from around the world, activities to keep the kids entertained.

At Latitude, Vivanta by Taj, Panjim @ 12:30 pm – 3:30 pm +91 832 6633636

Anjuna& Around Alcove Restaurant & Bar

Serves Continental, Goan, Portuguese, Indian, Chinese &Thai cuisine. Expect a variety of seafood with a range of barbeque & grills.

At Ozrant Beach, Small Vagator, Anjuna @ 8 am – 12 am +91 832 2274491/2273349

Artjuna

Set in an old Portuguese house surrounded by a beautiful garden, the café serves up chilled café au lait, milkshakes, sandwiches, juices &baked goodies, homemade dips, iced lattes, blended coffees &more!

At MonteiroWaddo, Anjuna @ 9 am – 6 pm +91 832 2274794

Cantare

Cantare is perhaps Saligao’s best kept secret. This traditional mansion-turnedlounge offers a good selection of food & wines and a warm ambience. At Cruzwado, Saligao +91 832 2409461

Curlies

The restaurant serves you everything from charcoal-fired oven pizzas/ bakes to the best of Indian, Chinese & continental dishes, plus fresh seafood (Anjuna-style), with wine & beer.

At Anjuna Beach @ 9 am – 2 am +91 9822168628

Mamma Mia

Italian cuisine with a blend of imported Italian ingredients &local organic produce with a nice view of paddy fields and coconut trees of Baga’s backwaters. At Resort Rio, Arpora @ 12:30 pm – 10:30 pm +918322267300

Baga, Calangute & Around 10 CalanguteBeach Hotel

This boutique hotel located in the heart of Calangute is cradled amongst some of the most famous beaches in the world. Enjoy the offerings of its exclusive bar tucked in a corner and refresh yourself with a drink.

At Gauravaddo, Calangute +91 9960524567

Aquamarine Bistro & Bar

CoBa

Specialising in Indian, European/ Continental cuisine, the seafood at Aquamarine is sought after along with its Mutton Xacutti, Vegetable Moussaka&Risotto Spinach.

At Baga Land’s End, Baga @ 7 am – 10:30 pm +91 832 2276084/2275482

CoBa (short for Coastal Barbeque) is known for its starters, grills & steaks.

The setting is a treat for the eyes, with the pool on one side and saltwater lagoons on the other. At Double Tree by Hilton, Arpora @ 10 am – 11 pm +9183266556672

Fat Fish restaurent & Bar

Addah

authentic Goan Cuisine, speciality Goan Thali, Continental, Tandoor & Seafood Destination.

At Agra Waddo, Calangute - Arpora Rd +91 8806077550/ +91 832 6512288 www.fatfishgoa.com

Café de Goa

Sandwiched between green paddy fields in Calangute, Café de Goa serves a selection of confectionary, fresh salads & sandwiches among other offerings. At The Red Tower, Orchard Villas, Calangute @ 10:30 am – 5:30 pm +91 832 2279961

Cavala

Specialisesin Goan seafood &live music.

The restaurant recommends dishes like Country Captain, Trincomalee Prawns &Chicken Periperi.

At SauntaWaddo, Baga, Calangute @ 7:30 am – 1 am +918322277587/9552551422

Candolim

Addaspecialisesin Indian, seafood, European/Continental cuisine. Popular dishes include Paneer Zafrani Tikka, Dum Aloo Kashmiri, MaanSahari Kebab Platter &BhunaHuaAnjeer.

At O Hotel, Ground Floor, Dando, Candolim @ 7 pm – 10:30 pm +91 9890800073

Banyan Tree

The garden restaurant at the Taj Village specialising in Thai cusuine set under a 300-year-old banyan tree.

At Vivanta Holiday Village, Sinquerim @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm +91 832 6645858

Zuperb

Unlimited breakfast offer between 8 am – 11 am for Rs 180 only. Open all days of the week. One of the few restaurants in Goa that serves Parsi food. At GaurroVaddo, Calangute +91 9869076107

Beach House

This Goan&seafood specialty restaurant has a live kitchen counter of GoanPortuguese fusion food. Signature dishes include GalinhaCafreal, Camarao Tigre Con Cilantro, and Clam Chops With Mango Chilly Sauce.

At VivantaByTaj Fort Aguada, Sinquerim, Candolim @ 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm +918326645858

L’Orange

Tucked away in a cosy corner in Candolim, L’Orange also doubles up as an art gallery. It’s open through the year & features a multi-cuisine menu with homemade Goan delicacies, seafood & pastas.

At Next to Magnum Resort, Candolim Main Road, Candolim @ 12 pm – 3 pm & 6 pm – 1 am +91 9970173606

Wok & Roll

A multi-cuisine restaurant which serves Japanese, Thai, pan-Asian cuisine.

Restaurant recommendations include Honey-glazed Pot Roast, Pork Ribs, Thai Garlic-peppered Prawns, Deep-fried Prawns Tossed in Garlic.

At Sinquerim, Candolim @ 1 pm – 3 pm & 7 pm – 11 pm +91 9049022348

Margao & Around Boat Quay Grill

Boat Quay Grill serves tropical cuisine in a romantic setting. Favourites on the menu include Grilled Tiger Prawns & Beer Battered Fried Fish. At Royal Orchid Beach Resort, Utorda @ 7 pm – 12 am +918805013553

Cafe Mardi Gras

A 24-hour café serving seafood, Goan&North Indian cuisine, coffee & snacks.PanfriedPomfretRecheado, Chicken Xacutti, Pork Vindalooand Goan Fish Curry are some of the popular offerings.

At Holiday Inn Resort, Cavelossim @ All-day +918322871303

Fig & Olive

Offers specialties from Morocco, Spain, Italy, Lebanon & Greece. The menu boasts tapas, fresh salads & seafood, paella & pasta, wood-oven pizzas and homemade desserts.

At Holiday Inn Resort, Cavelossim @ 9 am – 11 pm +918322871303

Firefly Goan Bistro Bar

Top picks includes Chicken Liver Paté, Fish Ambotik, Fish/Prawn Curry Rice& Barbeque Pork Ribs. At LamourBeach Resort, Benaulim +91 9822123535

Food 9

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Mog Café

A pastry shop with some innovative décor! Choose from a selection of cheesecake pops, cupcakes, crispy chocolates &lemon pie shots. Also offers ‘designer’ cakes, desserts and chocolates. Shop #3 & 4, Colaco Residency, Off AbadeSariya Road, Comba, Margao +91 8380078252/9892588252

Hotel HQ

Multi-cuisine restaurant with buffet and ala carte service and a wellequipped bar. @ 12pm – 3 pm &7pm – 11 pm At Near Axis Bank, Vasco +91 832 2500015/2500016

Gawin’s Restaurant & Pub

Specialisesin Goan cuisine&curries with generous helpings. The Chicken Cafreal here is quite popular among regular patrons. At VernaCansaulim Road, Off NH-17, Verna +919822177179

Peppers

If your weakness is Goan cuisine, head to Pepper’s for a wide range of local delicacies cooked in a traditional style with a hint of modernity.

At Gold Road Pajifond, Margao @ 11:30 am – 11 pm +91 9822133506

Ruta’s World Cafe

Located on a quiet side street right by the city’s Latin Quarter, a world away from the madding crowd. Open for breakfast, lunch, coffee.

At Dr Miranda Road, Margao @ 9 am – 6 pm +91 832 2710757

Shandong

An Asian cuisine restaurant with a fine dining ambiencefocussing on fresh, inseason ingredients.

At Radisson Blu Resort, Cavelossim Beach @ 11 am – 11 pm +91 832 6726666

Spice Studio

The award-winning Spice Studio has a dinner menu that boasts the fiery flavours of the southeast coast, the dumpreparations of the Nawabs of Awadh& Hyderabad, Tandoori fare from the Northwest Frontier &Goa’s rustic flavours.

At AlilaDiwa, AdaoWaddo, Salcette @ 7 pm – 10:30 pm +918322746800

Upper Deck

A lively coffee shop with an interactive kitchen & communal/bench/ roundtable seating; offers a creative a la carte menu with Continental & Indian fare.

At Radisson Blu Resort, Cavelossim Beach +918326726666

In &Around Panjim A Pastelaria

This bakery & confectionery serves gateaux, pastries, cookies& traditional Goan sweets. The chocolate &strawberry mousses are hugely popular. Big G Complex, Ground Floor, MandoviAppartment, Dr Dada VaidyaMarg, Panjim @ 9 am – 9 pm +91832 2426270/2426273

ATonaBar &Restaurant

Nostalgia’s the first word that comes to mind when one walks in to A Tona (meaning ‘A Canoe’). Specialising in authentic Goan& Portuguese food, the menu here seems to be straight out of a grandmother’s kitchen.

At Carina Desa, Betim @ 7 pm – 11 pm +919823129239

Baba’s Wood Cafe

An Italian wine bar &restaurant specialising in wood-fired pizzas and homemade gelato.Choose from a wide range of pure Italian dishes with beef fillet and fish always on the menu. At Mala, Fontainhas, Panjim @ 12 pm – 3 pm &6 pm –12 am (Closed on Tuesday) +91832 3256213/9923414098

Cantina Bodega

Pizzeria, bakery & cafe. Owner Vandanautilises 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 – 7 pm +91 9011662233

Chilli ‘n’ Spice

A carnival of fusion cuisine, a bar to enlighten your spirits, this multicuisine restaurant serves up exotic traditional fare, with a focus on Oriental cuisine. At Hotel Fidalgo, Panjim @ 7 pm – 2 am +918322226291

Pan Asian Bowl

The restaurant gives you a bowl, which you then take to a bar of noodles and raw vegetables and meats. You then fill your bowl with as many of these ingredients as you like, then choose one or more spicy or non-spicy sauces from a list of 18 (examples: XO, Szechwan, Black Bean, Teryaki, “Devil’s” Sauce), and then hand your bowl over to a chef who cooks the concoction in a sizzling wok before your eyes. Bella Goa Annexe, Next to Hotel Solmar, River Road, Miramar, Panjim.

Phone: 0832 6455547

Forrest Veg Food Court

Serves a wide range of fast food from different parts of India: Mumbai’s Butter PavBhaji, frankies&paanipuri, Delhi’sChatpataChaat&samosas and the South’s dosas. Apart from that, there’s Continental, Chinese, Thai & Mexican cuisine to choose from.

At BhagwanMahavirBalVihar, Panjim @ 11 am – 11 pm +918326454353

Confeitaria

The Grand Hyatt’s patisserie, Confeitaria serves homemade products. Ideal for snacks, light lunches&desserts, it also offers chocolates, cookie, teas &seasonal specialties. At The Grand Hyatt Goa, Bambolim Beach @ 8 am – 8 pm +918323011200

Coros Velvet

Want gourmet food in Caranzalem?

Head to Coros Velvet. It’s a multicuisine fine dining restaurant which specialises in ravioli, steaks &pastas.

At Miramar, Panjim @ 12 pm – 3 pm&7 pm – 11 pm +918605020020

Doçaria

Doçaria is many things in one. A coffee shop, beverage counter, cake shop, games centre, snack bar and dessert lounge. It also has a late-night menu. In short, it provides everything you want in a relaxed open setting.

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

Edu’s Restaurant

A multi-cuisine restaurant with Indian, Chinese, international &Goan food.

Pizzas are one of their specialties.

DB Marg, Miramar, Panjim +91 832 2463777/2463888

Giardini

An alfresco restaurant, the menu here is exclusively Goan-Portuguese with some authentic Goan Catholic fare.

There’s live music on most nights.

At Curca, Bambolim @ 11:30 am – 11 pm +918805873335

Global Shore Restaurant

A multi-cuisine restaurant serving Goan, seafood, Chinese, Thai, Indian & tandoori dishes. The Chinese & Thai food here is very popular among its patrons.

At Hotel Chandrageet, Porvorim +91 832 2414125/93731113205

Sher-e-Punjab

Well-known for its traditional North Indian fare, the restaurant serves Punjabi classics like Sarson da Saag, PaneerMakhani, Dal Makhani, Butter Chicken, ChickenTikka Biryani& Mutton Dry Fry. At Rue 18th June, Near Levis showroom, Panjim +91 832 227204/227975

The Verandah

The signature grill restaurant at the Grand Hyatt serves fresh market produce of seafood, meat &vegetables.

At Grand Hyatt, Bambolim Beach @ 7 pm – 12 am +918323011658

From page 7

Lahsooni Jhinga press it flat against a tin. The size of the tin can vary as per the thickness of the biscuit base desired. I like my biscuit base very thin so I go for a longer or broader pan. Chill till firm (and until the milkmaid is done and cooled off a little) 3. Spread the cool milkmaid on top of the base (spread either with a spatula dipped in water, or if lumpy just spoon little bit at a time over the base till it covers). You can use as much milkmaid as desired. The rest can be kept away for other sweets. I use the entire tin and make a really big pie cause we are just too many of us here who love more than a second helping ;) 4. Cut banana slices thickness as desired and layer on top of the milkmaid. (Sometimes I put 2 layers, I love banana). Chill again till the cream is ready 5. Whip cream with coffee and little powdered sugar (sweetness as desried, because the milkmaid can get very sweet). I do mine without the sugar, because I love the bitter coffee to cut through the sweetness of the milkmaid and bananas. Chill again!!

Cut slices and serve. It should be done in about 2 - 3 hours of chilling :)

As for a few lines about me, I am Reeva from Goa. Fun loving, but very straight forward! Currently recuperating from a leg injury.

Had a surgery 6 months back and now am back to walk and do other small things which feel like an accomplishment now that I am back on my feet :) I love to write and talk, although I am not a professional writer. You can see how much I have elaborated in my simple but very loooong recipe… ha ha :) As for cooking, I just started and am still learning. But I love trying out different recipes be it of simple and easy desserts or long and tedious stews ... Patience is my plus point and I can just be at a recipe for hours together!! :) Thats all about me!

- Reeva Pinto

Nicole Figueiredo’s chocolate muffins with walnuts

Ingredients: • 4 Eggs • 150 gms margarine • 50 gms refined oil • 160 gms flour • 40 gms cocoa powder • 200 gms Powdered sugar • 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/4 tsp soda bi carbonate • Chopped walnuts

Method: Sieve the cocoa powder, baking powder and flour together.

Cream the butter, oil and soda bi carb well. Add sugar powder and beat till light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat well.

Lastly, add the flour mixture. Mix well and pour into the muffin moulds after greasing them and lining them with butter paper.

Sprinkle the chopped walnuts on each muffin. Bake at 180 degrees Celsius (30-40 minutes)

And now a little bit more about Nicole: I’m from Orlim, (the lil town between Varca and Cavelosim). I’ve been born and raised in Mumbai but am a Goan at heart. My parents are both from Goa and they moved to Mumbai so that I had better opportunities to choose from. We still visit Goa every year either in May or December. I started my career in Public Relations three months ago after pursuing my Post Graduate diploma in PR & Corporate Communication from Xavier Institute of Communications, Mumbai. I now work at MSL India. I love to bake! I love to sing more than I love to bake. I’m part of an acoustic duo, ‘Open’.

We recently did two shows in Pune and are soon going to perform in Mumbai again.  Reeva’s Twitter handle is @reevapinto and Nicole’s is @nicolefigi

Give Back 11

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Photograph by Ananda Krishna

The scenic drive from Mapusa to Siolim strewn with garbage

Goa, garbage and the fight against chaos

By Pedro Menezes

T

his is not about denying the intrinsic beauty of Goa, or its allure as a wonderful holiday destination. It’s about acknowledging the elephant in the room: the garbage, the lack of infrastructure, the need for this beautiful state to keep pace with development.

Why are our fields, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, hills and valleys so dirty?

There are many reasons, but most agree that chief among them is lack of planning.

Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the endless bickering over a regional plan that is supposed to find ways to achieve development without destroying the landscape.

Not surprisingly, the latest proposal – Regional Plan 2021 – is on hold indefinitely.

Noted architect Dean D’Cruz, who was on the committee formed to draft Regional Plan 2021, said political pressures are responsible for the delay.

But he said putting the plan on hold could have its advantages, as the plan had envisioned even more environmentally damaging development than what’s currently taking place.

Still, he said, he questioned the government’s motives in ignoring the plan.

“The sad thing is that in these past 18 months the government has not bothered to even review the 2021 plan or put forward a plan of action before it sends it to the people. Without this there will be complete chaos,” D’Cruz said, adding that perhaps the government is hoping to “make the plan themselves and say participative planning does not work.”

Officials contacted by Streets denied that’s the case, and said they do want to go forward with a regional plan that takes all Goans’ needs into account.

Speaking privately, they acknowledged that touching the Regional Plan will inevitably come up against a wall of political opposition, so it makes more sense to implement its key provisions piecemeal.

Nonetheless, the majority of the painstaking work done by the residents of different villages with a long-term vision for the Regional Plan is on hold.

With no clear planning for the future, the creation of basic infrastructure has been the biggest casualty. Haphazard growth in villages has meant that water bodies like lakes, ponds and streams

Why are our fields, streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, hills and valleys so dirty?

There are many reasons, but most agree that chief among them is lack of planning. have been buried, resulting in problems of water-logging, which in turn leads to the breeding of mosquitoes in stagnant water.

One of the key features of the Regional Plan 2012 was the identification of these water bodies. Another important aspect was the setting up of garbage treatment plants and segregation of waste. With the plan still not notified, everything is on hold. But the most important aspect was that the development in Goa’s villages, which are fast urbanising, was sought to be done in a planned manner.

The lack of basic infrastructure like garbage treatment plants and electric sub-stations has also meant that many villages have blocked big housing projects, arguing that the

existing infrastructure cannot handle any extra burden, as happened at last Sunday’s Gram Sabha in Arrosim-CuelimCansaulim in South Goa. Michael Lobo, Chairman of the North Goa Planning and Development Authority, holds a more practical view. Talking to Streets, he said, “A lot of plans are there, but when are we going to implement them? When it comes to infrastructure, all the previous governments have failed.

As NGPDA chief, I’m trying to set up garbage treatment plants for the north, especially along the coastal belt.”

Lobo is also the MLA for Calangute constituency. “My priority is infrastructure. We’ve done the maximum in terms of widening roads, making pavements and now have started work on a sewerage treatment plant and a sewerage network.”

But, he adds, a lot more needs to be done, especially with regard to tourismrelated infrastructure. “We’re losing out on a lot of tourism. If you talk of hinterland tourism, we need to have an amusement park somewhere in the hinterland, maybe in Aldona, Britona…

We also have to exploit the rivers in the interiors of Goa so that there can be boating facilities. A marina can be set up somewhere in the area around Aldona, Pomburpa. These, in turn, will generate business for the locals who can have shops, restaurants, guest-houses, like we have in the coastal belt. But the marinas and amusement parks have to come first.”

Those are all noble goals, to be sure.

But first, let’s clean up the garbage. 

12 Cover Story Andrea Colaco: A new paradigm for mobile gesture control

T

hese are the youngsters who sit at the back of the classroom scribbling on their desks while their peers regurgitate canned notes and anxiously await a report card. Perhaps they are lost in another world, designing cities or building automobiles.

What most excites these rare folks is the thought of creating something new.

They don’t follow the clock.

They sleep at sunrise and wake up at sunset. They forget to brush their hair and sometimes even to eat. Their nourishment is the thrill of innovation. Streets decided to hook up with some of these hot campus freaks who think outside the box and, in the end, do Goa proud with their delightful creations.

The wonderful creations of the best and the brightest

Gearing up for action on the beach

Photograph by Ananda Krishna

By Jonathan Rodrigues

Here’s a little factoid you may not know. A young Goan woman recently won one of the most prestigious innovation awards in the world. Andrea Colaco, a native of South Goa’s Velim, is a leading member of a team that won the MIT $100K entrepreneurship competition for their innovation providing real-time, millimetre accurate 3D gesture sensing on mobile phones.

“Gesture recognition is the next interface for cell phone devices. Every cell phone-device manufacturer is scrambling to bring gesture-recognition into their devices. This is an immediate and unaddressed market,” Andrea said.

The innovation was presented at the competition as ‘3dim’ solution, set up by Andrea with co-founder Ahmed Kirmani.

Their innovation changes how one interacts with smart devices, providing the first accurate 3d gesture censor, radically reducing power requirements, eliminating sensitivity to lighting conditions and making reliable gesture control on the go possible for the first time.

As the competition website explains, “gesture is the new touch.” And Goa’s very own Andrea Colaco was instrumental in making it happen!

Cover Story 13 Shefali Cordeiro & Co: In pursuit of making Mapusa less messy Shefali decided not to waste time lamenting the chaotic state of affairs in Mapusa. Instead, she took it upon herself to redesign the entire city, replete with new traffic routes, an alternative bus station and a shining new cultural centre.

The new Mapusa designed by Shefali would be a very different place indeed: a smoother traffic flow, cleaner roads and waterways, a new focus not just on the city’s exterior but on its very spirit.

Above all, her vision would transform Mapusa from something of an eye sore to a true place of beauty.

“The whole aim of the exercise was initially to design a master plan for Mapusa,” Shefali explains. “In the process of doing this, we tried to solve the existing traffic issues by relocating the bus stand and providing alternate traffic routes, which would greatly help in improving the existing chaos.”

Shefali designed a plan to reclaim the Mapusa river and clean out the nallahs (drains), which she hopes would “greatly help in improving the hygiene and overall image of Mapusa.”

She goes on. “We designed a cultural centre for the city. The city needs a venue for dance and music classes, cultural events.” This, she said, could be the centre of heritage for the entire taluka of Bardez.

Could her vision be a tad bit ambitious for the humble people of Mapusa? Perhaps, she concedes.

“I personally feel that this model is a bit sophisticated for the demography of Mapusa .. but with slight modifications, it is workable.”

Gearing up for action on the beach

Soumit Sawant and friends: A sporty solution for agriculturists Jai Texiera, Shamsuddin Shaikh and Soumit Sawant, three studen ts at Fr. Agnel Ashram, decided to go on a rather unusual shopping spree… at the scrapyards. They picked up an old 2-stroke rickshaw and parts of other cars, including a Maruti 800. And they built a funky new buggy – a kind of all-terrain vehicle – with practical applications in the field of agriculture and sport.

“The chassis is a robust space frame design and the suspension used for all the tires are individual, permitting everyv arm to move freely, which enables the buggy to tread in different terrains.”

The 2-stroke petrol engine

buggy runs at about 65-70 kmph, performing at an average mileage of about 35-40 kmpl.

The brains behind the invention are still contemplating their next steps. They are open to marketing it, both as a sports buggy and as a rural vehicle that could be used on vast holiday farmlands as well as cross country driving.

The buggy was originally conceptualized as a recreational sports vehicle. This changed when they realized it could be valuable for Goan agriculture.

“We studied the farming methods in various other countries. All terrain vehicles are used in the lumber industry, so we thought maybe we would work in that field. Provide an attachment to the buggy which would serve as an extra carriage and the buggy already has the required power to carry that amount of load,” Soumit explains.

Among the many elements that make this project extraordinary is the fact that it was completed without any support or financial aid from companies or government authorities. Before they can apply for a legal license to commute on roads, they’ll have to go through some rigorous crash testing.

“Patency is on our mind but only after developing it further. Right now it is still in its nurturing phase,” says Soumit, who is currently doing Industrial Design and specializing in Digital Design at DSK ISD International School of design.

“If it does go commercial then I would like to place it in the farming and agriculture family and not suggest it as a solution to traffic problems. However, the construction can very well be used as a concept to develop and grow towards urban mobility,” he said.

Turn to page 14

14 Cover Story

Soumit Sawant’s creation from a two-stroke rickshaw and other car parts From page 13

Bovine innovation

Doyle Dias, Clayton Castro, Frazer Braganza: Taking a shot at the buggy Doyle Dias and his companions from Goa Engineering College worked on a similar project by making the garage their workshop. They would labour late into the night, making sure they did not compromise on their classes. Working on an engine from a Maruti 800, this group, too, shopped at scrapyards in search of anything that would help them assemble the buggy - except for the main body, for which they purchased new metal sections and pipes to make the invention strong and safe.

This vehicle, they believe, can be a game changer for lifeguards at the beach – and, by extension, for all those in peril in the water (not a small matter in Goa, where dozens of people die every year in the sea).

Doyle, who is also a passionate photographer and an enthusiastic biker, admitted that the initial days

were cumbersome. “Right from wheel alignment, to getting the dimensions right, to building the chassis, everything was a challenge,” says Doyle. Other major challenges, he said, included mounting the engine at the rear (similar to the Ferrari) and modifying the gear shifting mechanism.

Hard work and determination is all that these lads breathed as they built the buggy on a Rs 40,000 budget in an astonishing 40 days, working only on weekends. Doyle believes that the buggy could be the perfect vehicle for lifeguards on the beach, since it is light and flexible _ an ideal replacement for the heavy Gypsies used today. If only the Goa government would look up to these young lads as much as the lads look up to the gods of innovation. Maybe we would see lifeguards on buggies, just like Baywatch. ______ Goa’s hot young innovators are an unusual and varied bunch. What they all have in common, however, is the simple belief that there’s always a way to do it better.

15

Thursday, August 1, 2013

streetspicks Sketch Club With Ramdas Gadekar Want to stretch the wings of your imagination?Check out the Sketch Club workshop, organised by talented artist RamdasGadekar. The professional artist from Goa will introduce participants to the basics of sketching using the mediums of pencil and charcoal. Stretched over five Sundays, the workshop will also cover techniques like free-hand drawing, shading, perspectives, still life with an introduction to the human figure. Go ahead, emote your thoughts creatively on paper!

At Sunaparanta Goa Centre For The Arts, Altino, Panjim @ 10:30 am – 1 pm +91 832 2421311

Kerkar Art Gallery

The Kerkar Art Gallery exhibits installations and sculptures by local artists such as SubodhKerkar and selected works by contemporary artists from all over India. It also organisesworkshops of painters and sculptors to create a healthy dialogue between artistic traditions of the East and the West. Apart from original art, the gallery sells reproductions of famous paintings and frames.

At Gauravaddo, Calangute @ 10 am – 7 pm +918322276017

Konkani Play: Munisponnachem Ghor Written and directed by Paul Soares, MunisponnachemGhor is a drama with the storyline revolving around family venues.

At Pai Hall, Margao @ 3:30 pm +91 9158347164

Weekend Art Workshop Explore your creativity at Chitrangan, the weekend art studio, at Gallery Gitanjali this Saturday. Learn about water colours, oil pastels and acrylics with an experienced teacher over 12 modules.

At Gallery Gitanjali, Panjim @ 2:30 pm – 6:30 pm +91 832 2423331/7350530445

Make Goa the new Cannes

B

orn and brought up in New Delhi by parents who were Partition refugees, 59-year-old film producer and media strategist Kalyan Mukherjee has spent 18 hardworking years producing films. He is the Establishing Partner & Director of KAS Moviemakers, a well-known Bengali writer & author of four novels. In an exclusive conversation with journalist Jonathan Rodrigues, he talks about the scope of a film city in Goa, the trade of writing and the essence of preserving the culture and spirit of Goa.

JR: Does Goa have the capacity and infrastructure for a film city? Could it be a new source of generating revenue for the state after the mining ban?

KM: Firstly, plundering resources is not the way to create wealth. I really congratulate the Chief Minister on his stand on this issue; any backtracking on this will amount to seedy compromise of some kind.

Secondly, if Cannes is the model, then Goa does not have the infrastructure yet; I think Goa should spend money on becoming the premier exhibition city for films in India. It’s a Cannes requirement that only films which are to premier there are acceptable; Goa can follow this. It is not stars, but films that make a festival. Revenue cannot be calculated only on ticket sales but also on the number of room-nights, transport and flight tickets. There should be a way of tracking this and then seeing the figures that emerge.

JR: Goans often get upset about Bollywood’s projection of its culture and people. Do you feel there should be a line drawn between creativity and sensitivity or do you feel there is a need for a change in mentality, where Goans open up to art and cinema?

KM: Films are made by directors. I feel that new directors have no connect with literature. Many cannot even write in their own language. What this means is the content in those films spins from their heads alone; they have no access to the large body of regional literature. Don’t forget that almost all of the

Turn to page 16

16 Arts&Entertainent August 10 All-Goa Dance Competition

Performance categories will be hiphop/fusion. Maximum 8 members in each group will be allowed. Best group will be rewarded!

At Dugrem Ground, Agassaim +91 7507437370/+91 7507891052 ysd.society@gmail.com

July 13 – August 30 Painting by Salvador

Fernandes&ronsay

At Moksa art gallery, calangute-baga road @ 9.30 am to 8.30 pm +91 9326717386

Galleries Of Note Ruchika’s Art Gallery

Ruchika’s Art Gallery displays fine art, performing art and new forms of art.

Opposite Goa Marriott Resort, Miramar @ 10:30 am – 6 pm +91 8322465875/ +91 9850571283/ +919881836400

Xavier Centre Of Historical

Research

Catch exhibitions of paintings, rare books and symposiums with particular emphasis on contemporary cultural &social issues affecting Goa. At BBBorkarRoad, Porvorim +918322417772

Surya Art Gallery

Surya Art Gallery is situated in a quiet location where contemporary works of canvas paintings of Goa &artefacts are displayed.

At Bandawalwada, Pernem +919404149764

Yemanja Art Gallery

Features works by different artists.

At Betim, VeremRoad, Reis Magos +918322416930

Panaji Art Gallery

To promote Goan art, this gallery displays figurative &individual works of Goan artists.

At Panaji Art Gallery @ 9 am – 8 pm +919822168703

Arte Douro Art Gallery

This gallery displays paintings on canvas of original art &international print arts. It also showcases works by contemporary artists from India and abroad.

At PorbaVaddo, Calangute @ 9 am – 9 pm +919822147148

From page 15 films made by Satyajit Ray were based on Bengali novels. People are not stupid; they can smell garbage even if it’s washed in French perfume. A lot of what we see now is plain soulless garbage. So don’t blame the viewers, but the directors. I am not saying all is bad, but that’s the trend.

JR: You ought to have taken many daring escapades (both national and international) in your career, be it journalism or filmmaking. Have you ever faced death threats or had a neardeath encounter?

KM: I was a journalist for ten years, I mean just a reporter really. But in those days, there were no cellphones or computers. So it was a lot of work. I fondly remember my escapades in the dreaded Chambal Valley of northern Madhya Pradesh in 1982. We were three of us, when we went to cover the bandit gangs led by Malkhan Singh and Phoolan Devi.

What started as reporter stuff led to their surrender and we negotiated with then Chief Minister Arjun Singh.

I have never faced death threats. I don’t think Indian reporters die in dozens like in the West primarily because we don’t do war reporting, which clearly is calling for death. But I think India can get dangerous

if you try reporting on politicians and their corruption or, for instance, the real-estate mafias. Inspirationally, once a reporter; always a reporter! The smell of news never really leaves you.

JR: There is talent among mass media students in Goan colleges; some have even tried their hand at ad jingles and documentaries. Who are the people you would advise them to follow, refer to and read about?

KM: Just live and experience life. Read and read. Che Guevara told his daughter on her birthday that he had a gift for her.

But where was the gift? Che said, ‘Go and read in the library; that is your gift’. Mass media and film school don’t prepare you for the real thing. All you need is to start writing, start trying to get published.

Get your names in newspapers or on the screen. Suddenly you will feel the power, the power that you matter and that people are watching. I think journalists should look and study accounts, get to the money matters of a story, and check the trails of money. For filmmakers, it is simple: Watch films.

JR: As a filmmaker and journalist, do you live the challenges of each day as they come or are you someone who is anxiously obsessed planning for the future?

KM: I live one day at a time... I see life as God’s gift. One must work or else life can lose meaning. The question is whether to work for money or for pleasure. I think one must really quickly remove the work-formoney goal and go for pleasure. I am now ready for pleasure.

JR: How do you see Goa from the eyes of a Dilliwala?

KM: I like Goa because it gave us Dom Moraes, the poet and FN Souza, the artist.

Why aren’t statues in their name in the heart of Panjim? Why no Dom Moraes poetry festival or an exhibition of Souza?

Goans are forgetting their past, I really dislike this. They are no longer proud, but seeking and grubby, always wanting to run away from Goa. I see a lot of ugly buildings around, the loss of art and beauty. Last week, I attended the new plan for the Panjim makeover. The debate was on development, not one person talked about beauty. Will Panjim and the rest of Goa become a soulless version of the West and its models? We cannot follow China which has rubbed off its past in the name of progress. The model cannot be Singapore or Shanghai. It has to be Goa first and Goa last. It means Goans have to decide what they are not prepared to lose in order to move forward. 

Thursday, August 1, 2013

streetspicks Inspirational Talk With Slum Soccer CEO The first edition of the Chowgule Conversations, a series of inspirational stories organised by Parvatibai Chowgule College, will take place this Saturday, August 3. Abhijeet Barse will lead the inaugural session focussing on his organisation, Slum Soccer, that is bringing smiles on the faces of thousands of underprivileged children through the medium of soccer. The idea behind this series is to share personal stories of ordinary people who have achieved extraordinary feats. At Parvatibai Chowgule College, Margao @ 11 am – 12 pm Phone: +91 832 2759504/2759231

A Trip To TukTuk From apparel to silver jewellery, bags to accessories and souvenirs to curios, everything at TukTuk is hand-picked from across India. What makes TukTuk’s items special is that a lot of them are made by people with special needs (like Down’s Syndrome).Others are crafted by artisans from recycled materials or by housewives who simply want to showcase their talent.

At A 104,Pereira Plaza, 1st Floor, Opposite Hospicio,Margoa @ 10:30 am – 1:30 pm & 2:30 pm – 7 pm +919049017182

Street Self-defence Sessions Trainer Vincent Rosario (Black Belt AIMAA - Kukkiwon Certified) is organising classes on street self defence this August. Learn the traditional Korean martial art of taekwondo along with other aspects of fitness and health. Classes are open for all age groups, starting from five. Introductory rates are at Rs 400/ month.

At The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula @ 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm Phone: +919823696138

Tropical Spice Plantation Located in a village yet untouched by pollution, the Tropical Spice Plantation is spread over a setting that allows one to soak in the joys of nature at her unadulterated best. Listen to birds chirp & sing, ride on elephants, stroll through betel-nut plantations or just laze around by a stream. If peace of mind is what you’re looking for, the Tropical Spice Plantation is a good place to find just that.

At Arla Bazar Keri, Ponda +91 832 2340329 Email: tropicalspice@rediffmail.com

July 18 – October 15

August 2 – August 4

Advanced Arts Programme

Introduction To Theatre

A workshop on oil & acrylic painting on canvas designed for amateur artists.

Selected art works will be exhibited at the organisation’s annual exhibition.

At Canopy Azure, Art & Design Community, Margao @ 3:30 pm – 6 pm +91 9326135577

Workshop For Adults

Theatre personality Sunil Shanbag will lead a workshop on the skills and craft of theatre performance. The intent is to introduce people to what goes into making an actor/ess. At Sunaparanta, Panjim @ 10 am – 1:15 pm +91 832 2421311

August 2

August 2 – August5

Friday Health Talks On Cataract

Western Vocal Technique

Co-organised by Manipal Hospital, attend an informative session on cataract – the most common cause of blindness – with Dr. Kaushik Dhume.

At The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula @ 6pm – 7 pm +91 832 2452805/2452808

Master Class

Giving Voice Society announces a session on western classical music by world renowned soprano Patricia Rosario and her pianist husband Mark Troop. At Kala Academy, Panjim @ 9:30 am – 5 pm +91 9920267704

August 8 – August 11

Goa Food & Hospitality Expo

Goa’s premium and largest food & hospitality-focussed trade show of the year. Catch a wide variety of products catering to hotels, restaurants, cafes, bakeries and fast-food joints from established brands.

At Taleigao Community Centre, Panjim @ 10 am – 8 pm +91 9011058876

Museum Of Christian Art

Open all days of the week at the Convent of Santa Monica, Old Goa. @ 9:30 am – 5 pm +91 832 2285299

Goa Chitra

August 11 – August 18

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 – 5 pm +91 832 6570877/9850466165 Email: goachitra@gmail.com

Limbs Of Yoga

Dance

Monsoon Retreat – The Eight Experience yoga, rejuvenation and meditation on a seven-day yoga immersion in a forest during the monsoon. Discover how yoga is much more than just a physical activity.

At Aranya Retreat House, Arpora August 11, 12 pm – August 18, 2 pm +91 9923219254/9923219230

Cyrus Da Costa Dance Classes Viennese waltz, foxtrot, cha chacha, jive; Monday to Saturday @ Margao +91 832 2715906/9921039537

David Furtado Dance &

Aerobics

Learn salsa, jive,waltz for adults & Bollywood, hip hop & contemporary dance for kids. @ Panjim, Mapusa, Porvorim, Candolim, Aldona & Saligao +91 9975914195

Dr Martin & Dance Illusions

Team

Learn waltz, jive, cha chacha, tango, Viennese waltz & salsa @ Panjim, Vasco, Margao +91 9823014397

Jason & Sylvia Dance Academy Hip-hop, Bollywood, Latin American, jazz ballet for kids @ Panjim, Mapusa +91 9822161652/9822151614

Everyday

Free Swimming Guidance

Organised by Walter Mascarenhas; every day by prior appointment only.

At The International Centre Goa, Dona Paula @ 5 pm – 7 pm +91 9822911161

Spice Farms

Sahakari Spice Farm

Guests are entertained by folk dances, elephant rides, shown the art of climbing the tall betel nut palms & swinging from one stalk to the other.

Lunch is served in earthen pots & banana leaves. At Ponda Belgaum Highway, Curti +91 832 2312394 Email: info@sahakarifarms.com

North Goa

Savoi Plantation

Snip Salon Spas

The Orient Spa at the Cambay Beach Resort,

Sephora Salon & Spa

South Goa

Offers traditional Goan Saraswat cuisine served in mud pots & banana leaf plates along with seasonal fruits grown in the plantation At Ponda +91 832 2340272/9423888899 Email: savaiplantation@rediffmail.com

Museums

Ancestral Goa

A centre for the preservation & promotion of art, culture & environment started by Maendra JA Alvares.

At Big Foot, Loutolim @9 am – 6 pm +91 832 2777034 Email: ancestralgoa@gmail.com Website:www.ancestralgoa.com

Casa AraujoAlvares

Goa’s first automated sound & light museum. A 250-year-old mansion showcasing traditional inheritance.

At Big Foot, Loutolim 9 am – 6 pm +91 832 2777034 Email: bigfoottrust@gmail.com Website: www.casaaraujoalvares.com

Spa Sitara

At Padmavati Towers, Panjim @ 10 am to 9 pm 2420898/989 www.snipsalonandspa.com A Dubai-based beauty services chain Nr. Don Bosco School, Panjim. @ 9 am to 9 pm, Open daily 2231314, 3260890

Papiillon The Beauty Lounge

Virginkar Bhavan, Opposite Saraswat Bank, Margao, Goa - 403601 9822488355, 9822488366, (0832) 6483110, 6483111, 6480107, 6480106

Snip Salon & Spa

the SNIP Salon & Spa offers an array of treatments specifically including massages, scrubs, ayurvedic therapy, hair treatments and anti aging facials.

At Calangute candolim road, Candolim +91 832 2275421

At Fort Aguada Rd, Candolim +918888886084

Holiday Street,Kerkar Art Gallery Lane, Calangute, Bardez, Goa - 403 516 Phone: +91 832 2276151, 2277397 Spa Manager: +91 91580 07110

Park Hyatt Goa Resort

and Spa

Sereno Spa at Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa is a unique health and wellness oasis that offers holistic treatments through a blend of unique therapies.

At Arossim Beach, Cansaulim +918322721234/+919923207075

Amanya Spa & Salon

Traditional Ayurvedic Therapies, Relaxing European Massages, Mystical Oriental Therapies, Rejuvenating Body Scrubs and Wraps, Pampering Bath Preparations, Indulging Facials At Ranghvi Estate, Dabolim (Near airport), Vasco, +918326486888/+918322538661/ +919096700407

The

18

Corner

An Evening of Mediterranean Wonder

G

rand Hyatt Goa welcomed one of India’s premium wine brands, Fratelli Wines, over an exclusive wine dinner on Saturday, July 27, with wine enthusiasts from all over the state. Guests were treated some fine Chenin Blanc and SangioveseFratelli wines with some delicious bite-sized canapés as accompaniments. This was followed by a five-course Mediterranean spread comprising delicacies like Truffle Risotto, Sesame-pepper Crusted Scottish Salmon and Black Challans Duck Breast paired with an exotic selection of (what else?) wine.

Executive Chef Shane O’Neill, in-charge of the hotel’s signature restaurant The Verandah, and Sommelier AlessioSecci took their guests on a journey of authentic Mediterranean cuisine complimenting some of the region’s finest wines. This, with the warm ambience and the soft breeze of the Bambolim Bay, made the evening a truly magical rendezvous for all involved.

Lowell D’Souza, Stefan Radstrom, GM, Grand Hyatt Goa, Sommelier Alessio Secci & Mr Beto

Incredible India’s Incredible Food at the Marriot

G

oa Marriott Resort & Spa will be celebratingIndia’s colourful regional cuisines in commemoration of the 66thIndependence Day with the Incredible India Festival at Waterfront Terrace & Bar from August 3 – 15. Discover the myriad flavoursof India’s different culinary regions over 12 sumptuous days.

The festival will comprise a diverse spread from across the country laid out in the form of a lavish dinner buffet, with live interactive cooking stations & the finest Indian beverages carefully selected to complement the cuisines of all regions.

Every evening, experience the flavours from a different region of the country, including Kashmiri specialties, Chettinad delicacies, Punjabi favourites, authentic Awadhi cuisine, juicy Kebabs, zesty Hyderabadi fare and Goan delights, amongst many others. Specialty dishes include Kozhi Vertha Curry, Gosht Roganjosh, Sarson Da Saag, Dahi Pudiney Ke Kebab, Gulab Ki Kheer and Pal Payasam. The festival culminates on Independence Day, August 15, with the Grand Independence Day Brunch.

Festival Schedule: August 3: Punjabi August 4: Tamil August 5: Gujarati & Rajasthani August 6: Goan August 7: Kerala August 8: Hyderabadi August 9: Bengali August 10: Kashmiri August 11: Awadhi August 12: Northeast August 13: Kabab/Chaat Street August 14: Maharashtrian August 15: Grand Independence Day Brunch For reservations, contact +91 832 2463333.

Feature 19

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Is anything being done to control the stray dog population in Goa? Actually, yes.

Photograph by Ananda Krishna

By Robert Scalia @gracebythegun

W

e emerged from the two vehicles like some kind of Canine Swat Team. The afternoon’s intended assets were a couple of caramel stray dogs lying lazily on Candolim’s main road. Raju Neagaraj was the first out. He grabbed one sevenfoot blue net from the accompanying International Animal Rescue (IAR) ambulance, caught the unsuspecting animal in one fell swoop, dropped the net and quickly moved on. The street erupted in sympathy barks as the stray yelped and wriggled helplessly in the twisted net and motorists rubbernecked to see what all the commotion was about.

The Worldwide Veterinary Services (WVS) trainer from Tamil Nadu used the diversion to his advantage. As three of his IAR ‘students’ rushed over to cage the apprehended dog for eventual vaccination and sterilisation back at their Assagao headquarters, Neagaraj grabbed a second net and jogged toward the second target. The dog, fully alert but still mesmerized by events unfolding some thirty feet before her, barely noticed the man in the checkered shirt. He walked straight past her, made a sharp right and bore down on her from behind.

The entire operation took less than thirty seconds, but celebrations were shortlived. There were five more strays by some park benches up ahead. “Too many dogs,” declared the veteran dog catcher with a shy smile. “Too, too many dogs.”

Too many strays, too many dog bites and still too many cases of rabies in Goa. Figuring out more cost-effective and humane ways to solve this conundrum was what today’s sortie was all about.

The WVS has partnered with IAR and fellow Goan animal welfare organisations in anticipation of Mission Rabies, a campaign that will aim to vaccinate 50,000 pet and stray dogs across ten Indian ‘rabies hotspots’ in September.

According to WVS, a dog bites someone every two seconds in India and not one hour goes by without a child dying from rabies. More people die of the disease here than anywhere else in the world with West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh accounting for more than half of the 253 reported rabies deaths in 2011.

Despite numerous requests from government officials, no specific stats on incidents of rabies and dog bites could be provided for Goa specifically. Dr Sunanda

To Catch a Stray Amankar, Medical Superintendent for the Goa Medical College, maintained they “were still getting quite a few cases.”

According to figures compiled by the Animal Welfare Board of India, Goa’s shelters brought in a combined 16,254 strays last year. More than a third of these were sterilised and vaccinated under the Animal Birth Control programme, a national initiative that grants shelters Rs 445 per treated stray. Because these strays are released back onto the streets, more than half of the total were caught simply for revaccination. The remaining eight percent – those with wounds or afflictions requiring expensive long-term care – were euthanised.

The World Health Organisation claims mass vaccination programmes are the most cost-effective way to control the spread of rabies, citing success stories in now rabies-free countries in Central and South America. Far more effective, it insists, than the indiscriminate extermination of strays which states like Goa were once known for.

Looking to make Goa the most ‘animal-friendly’ in all of India, the state government has earmarked Rs 2 crore in this year’s budget for animal welfare organisations carrying out such programmes. These groups calculate the cost of sterilising a single stray at double what the birth control programme currently provides and have consequently applied for Rs 950 per stray. No funds have been disbursed as of yet.

But dog-owner Tony Asquith, who has lived in Goa on and off since 2003, isn’t convinced such programmes are having the desired effect. “The numbers of strays have increased massively,” he

explains over a chat with his partner Kamal Patel and their soon-to-be-eightyear-old Weimaraner. The British expats have also noticed new strays among the unleashed regulars near their Saligao home. “The other day we were the only two on the beach … and a group of fifteen wild dogs were there barking for this one spot of territory. There was no sign of any ownership. It’s as if they were just dumped there.”

Volunteer Sophia Yasmin agrees the situation has deteriorated. “And the problem only seems to get highlighted when someone is bitten or attacked but falls by the wayside at all other times.”

Having worked closely with shelters and stray populations in the North, she believes the Goan government lacks longterm vision on the issue. She’d like to see a statewide mass vaccination push which, she insists, could go a long way in making the state the true shining example it claims to want to be.

The problem is that official stats on stray populations in Goa are hard to come by. Animal Welfare Board of India board member Norma Gonzales points out the most problematic areas remain the more urbanised municipalities where food markets, overflowing garbage bins and tourists abound. She lays at least part of the blame on the tourist industry.

“Many of the dogs found on the streets are owned by someone. That or people are feeding them. Shack-owners feed at least two to three dogs with all the bones and leftovers. It saves them the bother of disposing the waste.”

Still, she believes the situation is improving. Puppies no longer litter the streets in areas with long-running birth control programmes and large

groups of dogs no longer haunt the main thoroughfares at night. “So yes, I still believe the programme is the most humane way to control the stray dog population and bring down incidents of rabies over time.”

While she disputes Goa’s designation as a rabies hotspot, Gonzales does believe the upcoming Mission Rabies campaign is necessary to help protect both the Indian and international tourists that flock to the state every year.

But then even the WVS has realised that infected stray dogs are only half the problem. Making local dog-owners responsible for their own pets is a whole other ball game. “The problem with owners, I feel, is that once their dog is vaccinated they think it’s vaccinated for life,” explains Yogeeta Gad, administrative director at IAR. “They don’t realise they have to do it every year.”

The problem extends beyond just vaccinations. Most owners don’t even have collars for their dogs. Leashes are very rare. In fact, the shelter’s mobile crews often end up picking up pets that are mistaken for strays – sometimes to the owner’s discontent.

Sterilisation also remains a tough sell for those worried their male dogs will become lazier and purposeless. While Gad believes owners are slowly coming around, International Animal Rescue still carries out only 15-20 sterilisations per month on pet dogs. The shelter may sterilise up to 200 strays in that same time frame.

Bottom line: Goa has too many unwanted dogs. Unless you’re a breeder with the means to find good homes for all puppies, sterilizing dogs, both male and female, is the right thing to do. 

20 Hot Streets

Kiss me baby... in public Dear Acaricia May,

Dear Acaricia May,

I

M

spent the first 18 years of my life in Canada but moved to Goa a couple of years ago with my parents, who are Goan. I feel very lucky to have a really nice Goan girlfriend who’s very pretty, very nice and very smart. I had a few girlfriends back in Canada, but she’s much more special to me than any of them. The problem is that I’m used to holding hands, kissing, hugging and just being cozy with girls, even in public.

We always called it PDA – public display of affection. My girlfriend here hates when I do it and pulls away. She even gets mad when I touch her in public, let alone kiss or hug her. I don’t like this, because it makes me feel very restricted, and it makes me miss the freedom of Canada. And even here in Goa, you do see other couples touching each other. How do I make her understand there’s nothing wrong with this?

Signed, Joe in Panjim Dear Joe,

When in Rome, do as the Romans my son. True, there’s some PDA happening here, but not nearly on the scale of Canada. On the scale between heavy PDA and a strict hands-off approach, perhaps your lady does tilt toward the latter. But in the social context of Goa, you can’t really blame her.

Perhaps you could reserve your touchy-feeliness for settings like the beach, and be content with cozying up just in private. In the end, you can still be free without sucking face on the street. Be sure to enjoy each other and all the great things Goa does have to offer!

Love, Acaricia May

y ex-boyfriend is back in the picture. I had decided to finally let him go last year. He had been putting the final touches on his divorce to his crazywitch wife, a marriage I had tolerated for over three years. I always despised being the other woman. I thought it was finally our time. But when it was all said and done he said he still wasn’t sure about us. I felt used. I was heartbroken and vowed to never take him back. It wasn’t the first time he did this and I know there were other girls during those painful years of us sneaking around behind her back. Now that his ex-wife has moved on, he suddenly realises I was the one for him all along? I should have slapped him and slammed the door. But he sounded so sorry. We had one crazy night and now he wants to marry me! My brain is telling me that everyone deserves a second chance, but my heart isn’t so sure. I can’t handle any more heartache from this man and I’m more scared than excited.

What do I do?

Signed, Kishora in Arpora

Dear Kishora,

I suppose it’s important to remember that this is a man who apparently didn’t have a problem cheating on the woman he was cheating for. If he cheated on his first wife, and on his mistress, there’s good reason to believe he’ll cheat on the mistress who becomes his wife. Face it Kishora. He’s a cheater! Ask yourself if you can live with that. If you cannot, move on!

Love, Acaricia May

Feature 21

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Scarlet Gumboots

By Sheela Jaywant

O

ur plot in the village gets very damp with dew. Even a slight drizzle can get the ground so wet that it takes a day for the water to soak into the soil. Last year’s downpour broke down our eastern wall. This year’s deluge destroyed the western one and our private flood killed many trees. We had to wade through knee-deep water to salvage saplings, clean up clogged channels, and the fear of scorpions and snakes added to the discomfort of my toes clutching on to a mess of clayey mud, decaying grass, soggy leaves and dead crawlies.

For the third time in a month, I withdrew money from the ATM to buy yet another pair of ‘rainy shoes’.

My shopping is crisis-oriented. A strap breaks or a sole wears off, and I hop on a pilot to the closest shoe-shop (until Bata opened its showroom on ChogmRoad, we Sangoldkars had to venture out to far off Mapusa or Panjim). This time, I worked my blistered feet through first a pair of hawaichappals. The classic version of these rubber slippers is a white sole with two blue straps with the size number encircled and engraved on both the sole

One woman’s quest to find the perfect monsoon footwear and the strap. Until 2-3 years ago, if the strap broke, you simply took it off the sole and carried it to a local shop to buy a replacement.

One could thus stretch a single pair for many months, until the soles were a couple of millimetres thick. These days, no one keeps chappal spare parts. The ‘classic’ chappal is still available, but hidden under the coloured versions that have swamped the market – purple soles with pink and emerald stripes or dots or wavy designs across them, thick soles, thin soles, in all sorts of synthetic materials, to suit many budgets.

A lot of shops (names

unknown,as the sign-boards are faded, rusty or just above one’s head!) stock cheap Thai/Chinese footwear these days. The prices range from Rs 180 – 350 for a ‘decent’ pair that will last for a season if you travel by bus, two seasons if your own a vehicle and maybe an unpredictable week if you use your feet for commuting.

There is a plethora of choices, but I don’t wear huge purple flowers on my toes, nor transparent soft-plastic ‘ballerinas’ (India has borrowed this word to describe slip-on shoes pointed at the toes) with holes all over them. Some look like leather. One sales-chap told me they outlast real hide. Others are called ‘all-weather’. I had bought one of these, my feet slipped inside them through the monsoon and sweated horribly through the sunny months. Besides, they gave me bad bites. Now, I don’t look at them even if there is nothing else available in

my size. The Paragon brand, like Carona, is hidden away, I can’t fathom why!

For the men, there’s a flip-flop called ‘Gas’(apt, don’t you think?)

Gas and Numero Uno are among the cheapest in men’s footwear.

Velcro-studded rexine sandals seem to be popular with men, as well as chappals that look like chappals, with toes. Branded shoes (like Nike) smell through cloudy weeks.

Best avoided in these rainy months, unless you have a house with sufficient drying space. Too bad we don’t have Metro or Regal handy like in Mumbai, but the former has a website (Bata has one too) one can order from. Personally, I don’t indulge in online shopping because I like to feel an item that I’m going to wear. Lunar is a good brand, one person tells me, for value-formoney. Can’t say, never tried.

Having found that my feet had to live through gooey mess every time I walked outdoors, I decided to buy a pair of gumboots (in some parts of the world they are known as waders), but found them nowhere. I even asked construction site workers where they’d got their sunny yellow ones from. Language problem, I couldn’t find anything. It took me many days to discover, right next to Barday’s Inn at Calangute, a shop that sold Crocs and had gumboots – without canvas inside, in my size in bright scarlet and for over a thousand bucks. Well above my budget, but I bought them.

They don’t make squeaky sounds, keep my feet dry, are easy to slip on and off.

I powder the insides before I wear them, put on socks so my toenails won’t injure the boots’ expensive material and hold on to the grilles when I’m walking to the gate so that the soles won’t glide against the moss and slime. But, I feel safer (scorpions and snakes can’t get to my feet anymore) and drier.

I wonder why more brands don’t make gumboots. I’m dashing off letters of suggestions right now. There should be a law: if you want to live in Goa through the monsoon, you must own a pair of gumboots.

Whilst these thoughts were pummelling my brain, I crossed a labourer-woman carrying a load on her head. My eyes went to her feet. She had fixed bottle tops at one end of two thick thermocol pieces cut to fit her feet.

She had tied two twisted plastic ropes at the tops to make herself a pair of slippers, of sorts. It protected her feet from the thorns and sharp stones she trod upon.

No longer will I grumble about my footwear…

22 Explore

In to the

Socorro Plateau. The most commonly spotted ones include Oriole, Munia, Barbet, Plum-headed Parakeet, Bulbul, Starling, Jungle Babbler, Blue-tailed Bee-eater and Sunbirds. For some lucky birders, the Orange-breasted Green Pigeon pays a visit once awhile.

Maina Lake

Bee Eater waiting for a prey

By Puja Roy @AriAsher

I

Photographs by Ananda Krishna

t’s true. Goa’s just beginning to project itself as a wildlife and ecotourism destination, but there’s a world waiting to be discovered away from the sun-kissed beaches and colourful nightlife. Toward the Western Ghats that border its eastern border (the Sahyadris), Goa is a haven for birdwatchers. Dense forests, river beds, mangroves, estuaries, saltpans and saline & freshwater marshes provide homes to an delightful array of birdlife, most of which are residents, some migratory and others which have been designated as ‘endangered’ by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN. Goa has an impressive birds’ list with over 460 species, including 17 of the 28 species considered ‘endemic’ or ‘nearendemic’ to the Western Ghats, one of the richest reservoirs of biodiversity in the world. This large and diverse population can survive because of Goa’s equitable climate and rich vegetation.

Here’s a list of some known (and notso-known) places where you can find some of the most interesting and exotic avian fauna in Goa’s wilderness. Happy

birding…and surfing through our pages!

Bhagwan Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary

The largest wildlife sanctuary in Goa, this 240-kilometre Protected Area in the Western Ghats is among the top places to catch birds in action, particularly those which are considered ‘endemic’ in the Indian subcontinent. Covered in evergreen tropical forests, over 200 species of birds can be found here, the most popular being Paradise Flycatcher, Indian Black Woodpecker, Drongo, Fairy Bluebird, Golden Oriole, Greater Indian Hornbill, Malabar Grey Hornbill (unique to southerncentral Western Ghats), Malabar Pied Hornbill (found only in the Western Ghats and Sri Lanka), Large Green Barbet, Ruby-throated Yellow Bulbul (Goa’s State Bird) and Wagtails.If you’re lucky, you can get to see as many as 100 different species in the course of 2-3 days. At the northern edge of the sanctuary stands the TambdiSurla

Temple, built in the 12th century and dedicated to Lord Shiva. A large number of forest birds (Western Ghat endemics) have made its ancient ruins their home.

Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

Nestled at a height of 3,000 feet above sea level and visited by over 1 lakh 20 thousand people in 2012, the beautiful Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary (Goa’s smallest wildlife reserve) is another exciting bird-watching destination. Over a hundred species of birds (some, a little shy) reside among the tall trees and thick foliage, including rare ones like the Malabar Grey Hornbill.

The Common Grey Hornbill and Golden Backed Woodpecker are daily visitors here.

Other potential sightings include the White-browned Bulbul, Pygmy Woodpecker, Heart-spotted Woodpecker, Blue-faced Malkoha, Rufous Woodpecker, Brown Fish Owl (quite rare), Indian Scimitar Babbler, Malabar Whistling Thrush and Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher.

Carambolim Lake

A manmade freshwater lake, Carambolim came into being to facilitate irrigation in the surrounding paddy fields. The rich ecology here supports a diverse herbivorous avian population and migratory birds (Greenish Warbler, Blue-capped Rock Thrush and Ruddy Shelduck) which have been flocking to this area for centuries. Other birds found in abundance include Pintal, Lesser Whistling Teal, Cattle Egret, Pond Heron, Purple Moorhen, Red-rumped Swallow, Bronze-winged Jacana, Pheasant Tailed Jacana and Coot.

Socorro Plateau

Egrets fighting for feeding ground

On any given day, as many as 17 different species of birds can be seen at

A lesser-known lake, Margao’sMaina Lake is one of the largest and most productive wetlands in Goa. Marshy and covered with lotuses, it is filled with a wide variety of water-birds. Regular species include Purple Swamphen, White-breasted Waterhen, Garganey, Northern Pintail, Lesser Whistling Duck, Asian Openbill and Oriental Darter.

The nearby paddy fields and woodland provide a good habitat for Warblers, Munias and various woodpeckers, beeeaters, and parakeets.

The popularity of ecotourism in Goa is growing, with more and more folks coming from places like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Germany, the UK, Finland and Denmark exclusively for the natural beauty and abundant bird/ wildlife. The good thing is Goa has an active local community involved in the conservation of and raising awareness about birds (the Goa Bird Conservation Network). Together with the state Forest Department, this network of bird lovers is working hard to preserve an untouched but integral aspect of Goa’s identity. For more information on birding tours and groups, get in touch with: Backwoods Camp Matkan, TambdiSurla, Sancordem, Sanguem Phone: 822139859/ 9822144939/ 9822387434 Email: backwoodsgoa@hotmail.com Website: www.backwoodsgoa.com

Canopy Goa Shop #3, Francis Complex, Near Old College, Gogol, Margao Phone: +91 832 2710650/9764052225 Email: info@canopyindia.com Website: www.canopyindia.com Rahul Alvares (Wildlife guide, writer, photographer, backpacker) Phone: +91 9881961071/9420710608 Email: rahulalvares@gmail.com Website: www.rahulalvares.com

Streets’ Nature Trivia

• 15 villages in Goa are named after the mango tree, two after the kokum.

• Among butterflies, the biggest (Common Birdwing) and the smallest (Grass Jewel) are to be found in Goa. • Goa plays host to 55 ‘sacred groves’, preserved and maintained because of their association with various deities.

• Close to banks of the Talpona River, a 2,000-year-old giant banyan tree at Partagal-Canacona can provide shade to about 1,000 people at a time!

Photographs by Ananda Krishna Photographs by Ananda Krishna

Luke Sequeira

Designers, innovators, techies, animators and other creators meet at installation artist Subodh Kerkar’s house in Saligao, a get together orgainised by Luke Sequeira

Subodh Kerkar

Goa Streets staffers frolick at a waterfall in Tivim