(11 Dec ‘11)
This wasn't the first
time I’ve met visitors who weren't interested in the beaches.
True, there are
increasing hordes that crawl over the Sinquerim-Baga stretch and all the way to
Palolem, out swimming, shopping, eating, and drowning, too. But I’m not sure
how much Goa benefits by them. They are low spenders who make up by the
volumes. Quite often, theirs is a single trip.
The no-beach kinds are
friends and relatives who come to 'do' the Mangueshi-Shantadurga bit: they
don't want to see the sea at all. They come at least once a year and again,
aren't good spenders. Those who come for conferences venture out in
hotel-arranged vehicles. For one day. That's it. For the rest of the while they
dip in the pool by the banquet hall whenever they have time to spare. These are
the ones that have been here, done everything on the itinerary and can compare
'those' years with 2011. These have the money for upmarket entertainment and
the will to spend... at casinos, they confess, more than on the evening cruises
on the Mandovi. Or they go scuba-diving or driving around to discover spice
farms in eastern Goa. They've bought the Portuguese nostalgia over and over
again, it's time to do something different. Like IFFI.
I met a lot of them who
came regularly to Goa, have been doing so for the last 9 years. The
paediatrician from Assam has been coming here with her family; she knows
exactly which hotel will give her a good deal (internet zindabad, agents are no longer needed) and isn't
interested in buying cashews or feni. “The ones with the skin are of pathetic
quality and no one can tell me the name of a reliable, smooth feni, so I don't
shop for the stuff. Cashews these days are available easily everywhere, so why
buy from here?” she said.
“We come only to see
the films and enjoy the festival,” confessed the CA from Hyderabad. Over the years, these
regulars who come from different corners of India, who are knowledgeable about
films, have become well acquainted with each other. They know which restaurants
will give them a good meal and at what price. They, too, avoid the shopping bit
and the regular routine tourists are expected to follow. “Why,” they asked,
“has the festival been split, with one part in Margao? The place is not as
charming as Panaji.” Point noted. Hope
CM takes note.
One introduction of a
tourist 'event' came to me via a terracotta coloured 104 page book named
'Cholta-Cholta' (or walking, walking in English). Architect Pritha Sardessai
has made sketches of localities in Panaji one can amble through to get a
flavour of the history of the town. From the Church to and through Fontainhas,
the Mushti Fund lane, the waterfront, Altinho,
Dona Paula and more. There are 10 walks, each about an hour long. 'Cholta
Cholta' is a notebook, of good paper, good sketches, usable maps... and the
publisher, Bookworm, is a fledgling institution that I do believe will spread
its wings beyond Goa.... it's the ONE place that really encourages children to
read, helps them think and see beyond their school syllabii. I recommend Cholta
Cholta not just for the tourists but for
all who live in Goa. This is a vital step in knowing one's history, and
taking pride in one's heritage.
My neighbour, who has a
pleasant collection of tropical flowering plants, tells me she's learned a lot
from a certain Ashok Dande of Taleigaon who takes one or two day sessions in
teaching interested folk about how to make their gardens flourish. I intend to
take his classes soon. I want to grow my own vegetables, maybe fruits.
Healthier, cheaper, and the weeding and watering will give me much-needed
exercise.
Things are happening
away from the beaches that is making me look forward to a great Christmas-New
Year. Compliments of the season, everyone.
@@@@@
No comments:
Post a Comment