Goa and what I know of it

weaTHER changes and tires us out these days.....but it is great fun in Goa!!
OH its an interestin place awright! We have our fair share of rain and
Sun here....its rainin so hard that I got drenched THROUGH my
Chinese raincoat....(or is it a windcheater with micro-pores?)
The Adidas pants which mother sent, too are not water-proof
as i realised yesterday, much to my chagrin!
You know we have so many of brilliant people here.....in Goa.....with cheerful names...

Just like our Pedro is a version of Peter and JOAO of John,

Monica is a very popular name...and very pleasant to utter and to hear, when uttered!

Just like Pascoal which sounds Spanish and Pauline as in French or Roque as in Portugal.
I dont know much about other parts of India as I am like fish outta water outside my state GOA.....
We are nestled between the SAHYADRI range mountains and the lush green forests of another state.....and on the 3rd front by the
gentle lapping waves of the Arabian sea carressing the golden
virgin shore.....lottsa coconut trees here.....lottsa cashew, arecanut
kokum, teak, neelgiri trees....our revered tree..the BANYAN and
the PEEPAL...also grow in their majestic strength and valor...
I dont know about the religious ratio but it would be somethin like....
Hindus, catholic n muslim and other religions like Parsi, and splinter-groups....more or less...
There is an invisible line drawing cultures on religious backgrounds
but everyone overlooks that fact...we all share in each others festivities...unless and except fer the few bad incidents we have had
like communal riots....which have been resolved but the embers are still burning under the ashes....
Here everyone speaks ENGLISH/KONKANNI on a 50/50 basis...
Marathi being the other language of nearby state Maharashtra and also sharing official language status here . Hindi is our ..the National tongue! French/Portuguese/German are options fer 3rd language at the school level.....
We have our own Goa University here but I attended one from Tamil-Nadu.
People here are fashion conscious and our grandfathers and mothers all know PORTUGUESE.....(Goa had been ruled by the Potuguese for 451 years...hence European culture is part of our
heritage)
WE have our quaint festivals too where sometime this month all the
youth will be crowned with a crown of leaves and jump in the village wells eatin fruit drinkin FENI..(country liquor) and shoutin out to their
hearts content..../this is the feast of st.john the baptist...
fer Diwali ....we prepare a feast of sweets and lights...
Holi...festival of colors....spray everyone n anyone with washable
paint...no offence taken...
Christmas.....sweets agin and renewal of the faith...
Carnival...3 days of abandonment.....withen safe limits....(thats the picture they paint to the tourist.....I dont believe in feast of the flesh)
year round....boat-cruise trips.....back-water crocodile spotting...dolphin trips....trips in a canoe to a secluded island.....
trips to a 1000 year old black-granite temple....DUDHSAGAR...our waterfalls(runs dry sometimes lol)..
vistit the SPICE-FARMS....wher one can see the green apron of nature, nurtured by the tender hands of slender women in traditional
Goan attire of Short thin blouse and a folded sari....
Elephant rides and water-scooter jets......parasailing and windsurfin...
motels to hotels....starless to 7star-deluxe.....
golf courses are gainin popularity here...but then water is so dear....
migrants have voted today to elect their chosen representitives
and I.....cant vote ....dont have an election card or proof of residence to give....lol....sorrowful lies my land....your son of the soil (like one of our famous writers would name his book)...yet son no more......people flockin here...guess its time fer me to go.....
and then...I`ll be a migrant on a foreign shore....that is if they will
welcome me at their door....have to leave here...i haVE TO GO....
India my house...but home no more!