Dear Goan Netters, The Goan village life is something to experience! It cannot be described in words or depicted as paintings or photographs or even the movie talkies. To Maendra Alvares goes the cridit of creating "Ancestral Goa" that brings back nostalgia in a gush like hurricane Katrina that sweeps one off his feet.
On Sunday the 25th September, 2005, Big Foot kicked off the tourist season with the dhol, tanso, ghumot, guitar and violin adding melody to the voices. There was a bit of everything from "Romta-mell" that had tourists from Mumbai stomping their feet and throwing money as at a 'mujra' dance or 'dance bar' shows [may be nostalgia for, alas, they are no more!] to dulpods being sung by a really spirited guy. The taverna had feni and the "shiramche" glass for the "dhed peg" or 90 ml of bottled spirit. The kunbi house had a budkulo full of piping hot canji, sukhi sungtam and khovantlem tor [rice canji with dried prawns and mango slices in brine] that we had in the traditional 'cotti' or half coconut shell. DaLima's Bakery & Cuisine was there with the poi, catri pao and decorative bread besides the xacuti , sambarachi kodi and bebinca. I would vouch for quality of the bread and the pulao. Of the rest, I have eaten better versions. The chourico-pao [sausage bread] was excellent. The handicrafts at Ancestral Goa have increased and their prices decreased. I got a set of toothpicks with shell-embellished bases and a natural shell holder for just Rs.60/-. It would still be a steal at Rs.100/- Till the end of October there is an exhibition of children's paintings on Nature. Great perspectives. I hope to interest Maendra in exhibiting the paintings at the PLANT UTSAV at Panaji in November. For urban school and college students, Non-resident Goans;heritage lovers and tourists from anywhere, who want to know a little bit about everything in Goa, there is nothing better that 'Ancestral Goa". One can look up the details at www.ancestralgoa.com. If you are passing near Loutolim, look out for 'Big Foot' signboards even if 'Ancestral Goa' is what you want to see! Ph.2777034 in case you are lost in the woods. Viva Goa. Miguel