Over the weekend, I was on my arm-chair world tour. This time it was browsing through a picturesque book that covered about a dozen islands dotting the borders of various countries and scattered in the Mediterranean. I showed my wife these pictures. And she said, "Nice pictures of Goa." Many of them had the 17 and 18 century buildings, one or two level houses with porches (verandhas) and low pitched tiled (Manglorean style curved) roofs. The beaches had the sunset with palm trees or small boats in the foreground. The pictures showed homes, cafes, side-streets, beaches and the harbors (used by the local fishermen to bring in their daily catch). Each of these islands play host to about a million tourists a year and have been able to RETAIN AND SHOWCASE their culture, way of life and be a place where both tourists and locals prosper. With a heavy heart, I said to my wife, "Hmm ... unfortunately the pictures are not from Goa." So despite the infrastructure being "like-Goa"; why these pictures could not be Goa. 1. The roads and neighborhoods were spotlessly clean with no trash. 2. The homes were not new but generally well-maintained and freshly painted. 3. The tables in simple indoor and outdoor cafes (where patrons could see and be seen) had tablecloths. 4. No stray animals in the photographs. 5. Other than on the beach, all wore simple, neat attires. 6. Small little gardens with bright flowers or leaves So what will it take for these transformations in Goa? I think Goans and Goa can achieve many of these. Start small in your own neighborhood with the cooperation of your neighbors, family and friends.. Regards, GL
