The most beautiful pictures of Goa!!!

Finally I see the REAL GOA on the internet. I am sick and tired of seeing scantily clad white women sunbathing in Calangute or some drunk Indian making a mess of himself in Panjim.

Finally I can sit back and feel proud of what the world see of Goa. I just chanced upon this blog where Jose Lourenco posts some really refreshing images of the real Goa. The real Goans, the real picture.

Look for the blogroll of the right and click on PhotoGoa

Keep it up Jose. Cheers. And may Goa bless you for the good work.

Sex on a Goan beach?

So....would you care for some sex?

At least that is how casual and easy it is to set up an evening and 'top up your night with sugar and spice and all things nice'. Or so it would seem. http://www.expatriates.com/cls/3138146.html

I was told that more and more 'Goan' girls are resorting to 'personal service' as a way to make some quick money. So I went about searching the internet for some leads. Sure enough, I noted a few of the mobile numbers and voila!!! I was now talking to a several sweet 'Goan Ladies' who were willing to 'escort' me for a small fee (preferably in UK pounds))

It is now apparent that 'Goan Ladies' are deeply involved in the trade. And if you still need to reconfirm, log into google and in a few clicks you will have a night to remember.

As the Goan population, how do we plan to tackle this situation? Have you done anything so far? Or do you have any suggestions on how this can be tackled? Is it only a issue for the enforecement people?

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Sustainable development of Goan villages

26th January 2008 may probably be a date that is probably not relevant to most readers. However, down the years the day may well be regarded as the turning point in the way villages in Goan are administered.

On this day, the villagers of Benaulim came together and decided that no mega projects would be allowed in the village. Several villages and their respective gram sabhas have followed suit.

Over the years, the irresponsible 'developments' in the villages have put a severe strain on the resources and the social structures of the villages. While huge buildings have sprouted in so many villages, the support infrastructure and resoruces have not kept pace. This has also led to a sharp increase in the mix of cultures in villages that till now had experienced a truly 'Goan' way of life.

However, is this really the best route? The lack of development and hence lack of opportunities in the first place is what has led to the huge migration of original Goans out of the villages in search of better work opportunities. Can the growth of Goan villages be artificially supressed only to cling on to our traditional ways of life?

Does the Goan church promote casteism?

This may not be the best topic to start off with. But I am certainly disturbed by the story I heard just the other day.

I happened to visit an old friend of mine for dinner. When he told me that a certain young man was being dissuaded by the village priest from joining priesthood, it may have just missed my attention. Until he mentioned to me about an organised attempt to keep out young lads from a certain community.

Casteism has always been the bane of indian society. While entire villages may have been converted to Christianity by the missionaries, the missionaris did little to change the caste system. Thus the hindu brahmins became the Christian 'Bamonns'. Now the news around is that a certain community among the priests is demanding that priesthood be limited to that community. It may appear shocking. But could this be true?

So what does Goa mean to you?

So you are a Goan? So who are you? And what does Goa really mean to you? A place where you were born? Just another beautiful beach? The place that exports the famous Goan pork sausages?

I get intrigued by some of the comments I hear from some of the Goans out here (or so they claim). That's what motivated me to start this blog. A place for all Niz Goenkars to meet up, discuss everything Goan and generally experience a state of mind called Goa. Welcome.

So what does Goa really mean to you? Let me have your comments.

In case you are not familiar with posting comments here, please email your comments at goanviews@gmail.com clearly mentioning your name and location

Goa will always be the place I belong. Even though I now live so far away, I know I will return. Even though we live here, everything in our house is as Goan as it gets. I know I will return. Goa then is my destiny.

Recieved via email: Mrs. Violet Dias, Toronto 30th June 2008