Dear goanet readers
I compliment Selma, on the defination of a goan. I feel when one has Goa
at heart, irrespective if one is living in Goa, or accross the miiles for
years on end, as long as you think and ponder of the beauty, culture, grace
and charm that only Goa has, one is a true goan.
After all these years, of living abroad, I am still reminiscent of my
childhood holidays in Goa:
1. The sound of the peeling church bells, and the horn of the "poder" ,
as an alarm to wake me up. Rushing for those freashly baked hot bread
(polle"s and kankna's) and then having them layered with mangad.
2. Waiting for my pez at 10 am with miscut, or kharren (salt fish) and
parren
3. My delicious lunch, with a dash of sorro (to drown my sorrows if any)
even if the lunch was just boiled rice, with kalchi koddi, or soarak, with
that tasty river fish and the matured sorpotel. Not forgetting the alphonso
mangoes, jackfruit or cashews as fruit or desert. Oh !!! that healthy menu,
still seducing my taste buds. Add to it, the warm hospitality that only
goans can be proud of that is accomodating any guest who even shows up
with a large family at 12.30 noon, treating them to this same delicious
meal.
4. Waiting for my evening tea with that tasty bread pudding, or godhxem.
5. The sound of soothing music from the musician accross my home, playing
his violin and trumpet in preperation for the festives the next day, adding
to the solace of the evening as I sat in the bolcao.
6. The Rosary, followed by finger lickin dinner with Bibinca or von as
desert.
6. The love, peace, tranquility, great neighbours, fresh air.
Many of my friends who are with me abroad ponder over those good old days,
as I have said above, as you long as you have Goa at heart, you are a True
Goan
Joseph De John
