Mike and Chrissie: My English neighbours of Goa Mike and Chrissie Shepherd, a British couple bought a house in Cuncolim in south Goa, decades ago and have made it their second home. Their message to the law makers is that tourists are not a threat to Goa's environment but its the big land sharks..
By CJ: Armstrong Vaz THE RAINY season is in full flow in the Indian state of Goa. It's time for many foreigners on long -term visas to retreat back to their native lands to escape the rainy season. Few brave the rainy season and stay back. Mike and Chrissie Shepherd, are one such British tourists who have fallen in love with Goa and have made the tourist-resort state their second home. No wonder they own two homes in Goa. But they too do want to stay in Goa for the rains. A Google search for Chrissie and Mike leads ones to Sanvorcotto ward in Cuncolim village in south Goa. If there is any chance that you have never heard of the village Cuncolim in Goa tourism related news, you are right; the village has nothing to do with tourism. The next question that comes to mind is what drew the nature lovers and ornithologists to buy a village house in Cuncolim, inaccessible as it is by car. The Google entry by the couple, who conduct guided tours, answered the query - they like the quiet and relaxed part of Goa. Every year during the tourism off season from May to October, they remain away from Goa, handing over the keys of the house to 30-year-old Cuncolim-born Lengley Tavares who operates a transport business from Calangute beach in north Goa. Yes, the Tavares and Shepherd families are neighbours in this sleepy village for the last 15 years and have been living in perfect harmony. Tavares has been entrusted to take care of the house, which remains locked for lack of occupants. Handing over the keys of the house has had been the routine the couple has been flowing for the last 15 years, ever since Tavares has been a child. The 60 something English couple quietly slipped into the village when no one was unduly concerned about foreigners buying property in Goa. In that way the couple has been lucky that they did not go through the mental agony and sleepless nights that many foreigners are going through for violating Indian property laws. The house originally belonged to Dr Antonio Tavares, a local resident who had since settled in Nagpur in Maharshatra and when the doctor put out an advertisement, some 20 years back, many Goan families tuned their back in buying the house, as it was inaccessible by car. Until the Sheperd came in to become 'good shepherds' of the traditional style tiled-roof Goan house buying it for rupees three lakhs. The house continues to have no road leading to it, but a pathway allows them to reach their home abode. The couple on their part has made no wholesome changes to the surroundings or to the design of the house. The pathway continues to be a favourite place for the pigs to their droppings till this date as it has been for the last several decades, but the Shepherd's Enfield Bullet motorcycle and the three-wheeler rickshaw tuk-tuk sound is enough hint for neighbours that the couple are back at their home. Beraldine Tavares their neighbour said, "We have no problems with them. Most of the day time they are away, we do not know where. We have not inquired. We see them leaving the house at 10-11 am and then there is the sound of their vehicle coming in late in the night at 11pm. They play no loud music at their home. They contribute funds to the village chapel and are part of the social gathering of the villagers when invited. They are a model couple, with their dress code confirming to the local culture." And if the villagers in Sanvorcotto are in the dark where they spend their day, the news is that the couple has another holiday home in Cannagunim, another quieter unspoilt small beach in south Goa close to Betul village. Besides, during the day, the couple conduct their bird seeking expedition for foreign tourists. And Chrissie and Mike are responsible tourists who care about nature, when, Goa has put a stop to foreigners registering purchase or sale of property, as a result registrars are not registering land deals from foreigners. Crissie and Mike message to the law makers is that the smaller budget tourists are not the threat to Goa and its environment but the big land sharks who go about destructing the flora and fauna. But will the government sign to the tune of the smaller budget tourists or the big land sharks. That is a question will be best answered by the pie hungry Goan politicians. http://india.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=138007 ~(^^)~ Avelino
