I have just returned to Canada from 2.5 months in Goa and when renewing my membership with Goanet I was requested to post my experiences. I am going to do this in three or four instalments. I wish to make clear that I am not soliciting argument from fellow-readers - this is what 'I found to be a happening or circumstance' and I am putting it out for your reading entertainment. The 'Fernandes Balcao' is a tangible and relaxing place at Martin's home. Martin is my neighbour on the opposite side of NH.17B which runs - in part - from Ponda to Cortalim. While my home was being renovated I B&Ld with Martin and the two of us - along with visiting neighbours - would spend many hours lounging on the expansive balcao to his 'old-portuguese' home, shooting the breeze, commenting on the villagers walking to their homes or to the Bus Place and revelling in harmless 'petty gossip' that favoured the "spec in your eye while ignoring the log in mine"! I am a seasoned 'wooden spoon' and took great pleasure in stirring Martin and the locals into outlandish solutions to all goa/world problems, while drinking coffee/tea. No smoking or boozing was permitted at the FB Café. - I have no idea how this morality came to be a practice at our Club. Martin: Carlos, you have been back a couple of days and should be rested now? How was your trip from Vancouver to Goa? Carlos: I am a day or so short of wide-awake Martin. It would help if you stopped your thunderous snoring at nights - have you tried a nose-strip? Martin: Hey, that is my wife; I simply stay awake all night. She claims that to be her way of beating the heat, humidity and the mosquitoes. Your trip? Carlos: Vancouver to London by British Airways; spent a night with my brothers and talked about Blair's chances of re-election; London to Mumbai by the same British Airways - empty plane - tons of room to stretch; Mumbai immigration, customs and Foreign Exchange laundering was a breeze; I have a PIO visa and that stood-up well to scrutiny - I was concerned as it was my first time under this facility. Jet Airways took me to the Domestic Airport and moved me to Dabolim after a pleasant 45 minute flight. My luggage arrived with me - (it had been to Australia once without me), caught a Yellow/Black Maruti home for Rs.350. Martin: You lie, maan. What about all these horrendous stories one reads about Indian customs/immigration? Anyway, you got screwed on the cab ride! Carlos: Martin, you scrooge, you are thinking I should have taken the Bus home for Rs.14? No chance. The cab-ride price has stayed constant and I have made two other trips here over the past year - another plus for Goa? No kidding, all my flights were excellent with a special mention for Jet Airways - they go the extra mile in service. I arrived Mumbai very late at night and that may have been a reason - but believe me, both immigration and customs were flawless.
If the start is any indication, I am going to love all the progress in Goa/India. Besides Martin there were two other salty characters in our group this time and needless to say they had their own stories - mostly hearsay - of how bad my experiences should have been. They would not believe me, called me a BJP supporter, which I did not understand and on and on...........! Carlos Mascarenhas
