A little common sense and courtesy is
all we ask for. Oh yes, our tiny state is blessed with all that is fine and
good, hills, dales, forests, rivers, fields, beautiful beaches, lovely people,
PCOs and broadband. Okay, if you insist, it’s a gift from God. Kerala claims to
be God’s own abode, but everyone knows when God needs a holiday He comes to
Goa.
We understand that there are other
beautiful places with similar features all over the Konkan coast; all over the
country; all over the world. We understand that Goa is cheap, gives you great
value for money and that you can get your eyes, teeth and several other body
parts fixed for a fraction of the amount it would cost you in your place of
origin. We understand that you have looked forward to this holiday for a long
time, that you have planned it down to the last detail. That you will be
talking about this perfect holiday till the cows come home. We understand all
that, but we need you to remember certain things.
We need you first to respect this
beauty that you come to revel in, so when you buy overpriced bottles of mineral
water, canned juices, wafers, ice creams and snacks, remember to carry a bag to
stow away all your empty containers. The beach, roads, gutters are not the
place for it. Put it all in a bag and deposit it in the bin at your hotel.
When you buy paan from any of the
vendors, remember our money has gone into the painting of our lovely heritage
buildings all over the state and spitting red paan saliva on them does not merely
distress us, it makes us mad as hell. If you must chew paan,
then carry a small tin or container or portable spittoon, spit into that and
empty it out in your hotel bathroom.
When you come here all shiny-eyed and
bushy tailed ready for the holiday of your life, it’s okay to let your hair
hang down, but don’t let all your body parts hang out also. It does not only embarrass
us, it puts our girls in danger when the creepy crawlies who cannot lay their
hands on you decide to get their jollies by molesting our girls.
Again, bras and badly fitting shorts
crawling into every crevice and fold of fat, exhibiting angry red, wrinkled,
freckled skin is enough to put a normal person off their feed for a week. Do
yourself a favour; look at yourself in a full length mirror before setting off
for the city, wearing beachwear. When you visit our churches and temples, a
little decorum to clothing and behaviour is of the essence.
And to our country cousins… When you
come to Goa from other parts of India, especially the landlocked areas,
remember the sea is deceptive. It contains all sorts of threats that can snuff
out your life in the most implacable way possible. The rip tide slides in from
anywhere in any depth of water and will drag you far out to sea and drown you.
When the lifeguards tell you not to swim in certain areas, listen to them. They
are curt with you when they come out with their second and third warnings
because they know that when you are being sucked down into a watery grave, they
will have to risk their lives and limbs to come out to save you. And their
lives are not worthless as you may think. They have families depending on them
returning home whole after their day’s work is done.
There’s so much booze available in
Goa and you sip and stagger like there’s no tomorrow. Do that by all means, but
don’t harm others, or put yourself in harm’s way. If you cannot hold your
liquor, cease and desist, have a mocktail instead. It costs a little less and
looks more impressive. And for heaven’s sake, do not drink alcohol and swim,
it’s as dangerous as drinking and driving.
We know our people are naïve, warm
and welcoming. That our girls have a serene Polynesian kind of beauty, but like
you they are just trying to get on with their lives. They are not prostitutes
either professional or free-lance. Don’t ogle them; don’t fondle them; they
don’t like it. Neither do the common folk.
Also leave our little children alone.
When Goans get angry they will punish you.
Enjoy your holiday and return to your
home state or country. Don’t visit real estate agents and try to buy land here.
We have very little of it and we need it for ourselves. Also, there’s no
guarantee that you won’t lose your life’s savings. Come back again and again.
Goa will welcome you in her warm embrace every time. Just don’t abuse that
welcome. We have a way of life here, we are desperately trying to save. It is
this way of life that makes Goa so special. Help us to protect it. And Goa.
