*yawn* How boring Irmao Fred you are! One wants to do stuff yo....the museums have just three or four items decorated in cobwebs and often not worth viewing. And its costs money to enter right? If you cannot touch stuff (or take a free souvenir or two, it ain't worth it- this is India's first failed state after all!!) Here is what yours truly would suggest in Panjim, its all funkot:
1. Enter the police complex, wander around and get lost in there. Rub shoulders with the latest from the over-night catch by the Goa Puli-ce! Some of them are celebs. Watch first-hand the Goa pulice taking 'hafta''. You will likely find files unattended- put them in your 'poti' as a souvenir. They are quiet transparent and open about how they do business. Stay away from any grill-section: that is the prison section yo....its difficult to get out once in! 2. Had your fill, you have three choices: I suggest turn left and go to the public library....its free and smelly. But you need time-pass right? You may bump into some pompous and over bearing librarian- avoid that. You can see first hand how an invaluable treasure of century-old newspapers are rotting. Wander around. Get into an office. If you see something lying around, put it in your 'poti', as a souvenir (they don't allow potis but...). Then get into the library...and ask for a book. Its an experience how a 'eficient' Government of Goa employee shakes itself from slumber and opens their computer, them searches for a book. trust me...you'll never find the book. What do you care? 3. You have had enough, get out and go across....Department of Industries and Mines. That is the cash cow. Pretend to be an out-of-state grease-ball looking to invest in Goa. Thats your morning chaai. While there, do visit the Department of Information (if you manage to jump the puddle of water in front of their door...no, it ain't rain water). Tell them you are jorno from some outstation newspaper- some more chaai. 4. You still want mo? Sure, walk back to across and to the Government Print press. Try and dislodge Asia's first presss (nobody knows for sure)...its antique and quite priceless. If that is difficult, wander up.....pretend you are looking for Saku from Peadne. Tell them he is related to a minister (don't say who). Sit down, There are lot of chairs. Try and chat up some of the female employees while they fix their make up....shock them and ask them what they do? 5. This would have taken you through an hour or so....and all the free chaai you've had. Now its time to relive yourself: walk up to the Mandovi, stand on the banks and let it flow, let it go.......aye, make sure Madame Goswamy does not have her magnifying glass out and watching you from across the Mandovi, in Betim....or....or.......Joe Go International is hanging around with his Canon around his neck. Importantly, don't fall over into the river......you may end up at the bottom of a casino! ederick Noronha <[email protected]> wrote: > A friend was travelling by Panjim and asked what could be done in a > morning. Here are some suggestions. What are yours? > > In terms of things to do... > > * Goa museum is at Pato, the very end of "Goa's Nariman Point" (near > the BSNL Building). A bit hidden by the Goan-sized skyscrapers, but > maybe worth looking into. > > * Xavier Centre of Historical Research and Thomas Stephens Konkani > Kendra are interesting (both Jesuit-run centres) at Alto Porvorim, > along Bakibab Borkar Road (go in at the watertank on midway between > Panjim and Margao, towards the east from the watertank, 2 kms). They > have fascinating libraries (and XCHR, an art centre, small but coming > up... with some Goanetters involved there!) > > * Architect Gerard da Cunha's Houses of Goa museum (near Nisha's Play > School at Alto Torda, about 2 kms from the XCHR/TSKK is worth > visiting). > > * Likewise with the Christian Art Museuem at Old Goa. The museums are > kind of 9-5 open. FN > > PS: There was a museum of goldsmithery due to come up at Sangolda, > anyone has an update? Mapusa has its own charms (in a crowdy and > unpainted setting). Like the Other India Bookstore bookshop, with its > interesting selection. The coastal stretch comes to life only "in > season". Literati is another bookshop at Candolim, highly > recommendable. > -- > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > Frederick Noronha +91-9822122436 +91-832-2409490 > Journalism, editing, photography http://photosfromgoa.notlong.com > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Goa-launch of the well-received *Into The Diaspora Wilderness* by Selma Carvalho on Aug 29, 2010 (Sunday) at 11 am at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. Meet the author, buy a signed copy (only Rs 295 in Goa till stock lasts). http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
