leavinggoa

Shame they don't read the Times of India business pages. They might earn some money.

prestonjohn

A large majority of Goan Taxi drivers cannot read.Its why they are taxi drivers you do not even need a brain just brazen cheek....

wheatsheaf

Yep. But they own multi storied apartment buildings along the coastline close to the seas edge!

prestonjohn

They must be the exception to the rule.Most of the taxi drivers i know personally all left school very early largely because of money problems.Fishing as an occupation finished over 15 years ago for most families along the northern belt.Construction industry largely employs out of state labourers, they are cheaper....! So what else is there for them to do ? Their existence is mostly parasitic on the large hotels.The situation needs to be sorted out though and strangely enough its out of state domestic tourists who make the most noise re being ripped off royally by not having meters and then when they complain the rent a mob appears and you end up being beaten up or worse.Remember Anands in Arpora ? They waited until the tourists had left before torching the place...very brave people when you consider that Anand was waiting for a kidney transplant and they knew it too.Absolute cowards the lot of them.

wheatsheaf

Out of state'rs are a permanent factor in Goa's future. The "veni vedi vici" attitude they bring has long been noted even going back into the 1960s. Goa has no Lee Kuan Yu's with the moral fibre or incorrigible character (let alone intellect, vision and charisma) to tackle such. As for taxi drivers, you are right that they have faced many hardships in the past. However, they are the only ones with their ears to the ground on a daily basis and many have capitalised on this making huge strides in the recent decade. They comprehend that just as out of state'rs run the government, utilities and businesses that very soon out of state taxi drivers will dominate transportation in Goa.

Bipat

Nice to have another voice in the 'gossip thread'
Goa is an Indian state. There has been movement of people to and fro even before the Portuguese left. Many Goans left/leave to work in other states. Isn't it up to local Goan people to show that they are as capable, hard working and entrepreneurial as others? The government can't do everything.

wheatsheaf

I wasnt implying otherwise. What's missing is real and practical consideration of the character of Goa which is shaped by factors that are in sharp contrast to the rest of the subcontinent. It is not difficult to conclude that this lack of consideration is deliberate and manifests in the 'veni vedi vici' approach of virtually all out of state'rs towards Goa and Goans. Political, social and economic consideration of course, have pre-requisites that involve knowing and appreciating "otherness", "difference" and a firm sense of identity that precludes aggressive acquisitiveness. Goa in it's short time as a union state has displayed admirable ability in shaping itself to the new realities it faces, but I gather, is seeing a future where there is no room for it other than as a heritage site administered by out of staters. Even if one ignores what that means to Goa, it means even more to the world which today is desperately flailing in it's search for a true example of communal respect. multi cultural richness, east and west commonality. In Indian terms, Gandhi was a proponent of this. The question is, is Goa just a poorly managed/curated heritage site?. Is Gandhi just a picture on a rupee note? As for Goans showing they are capable: that is a tired refrain of the colonial genre that places obstacles in the way and then blames the victim. A classic that requires no further rebuttal and proof of achievements from Goans born and raised on what was 'a pimple on the fair face of India' are abundant.

Bipat

Not quite sure all that you are getting at? Present day India has been shaped by the Nehru dynasty rather than Gandhi!!
Of course many, many Goans have achieved great things but still the joke exists by others about "not able to get up in the morning", and it may seem trivial but the abundance of alcohol has been and still is an ongoing problem. (Growing problem in some other states unfortunately). Others will naturally take advantage.
In fact our own Karwar builder spends a great deal of time working in Goa (and he is not the world's most efficient ).
As has also happened regarding Karwar, the educated/go-getting Goans seek a better life in the big cities rather than a small city/state
I don't see a connection to colonialism, there are no obstacles to progression now. Goa has natural advantages not enjoyed by other states, which is why others go there!!

wheatsheaf

the joke in Goa is that out of state visitors cannot hold their drink, yet that is the main purpose of their visit. As for being "unable" to wake up in the morning? That is more of the belittling propaganda of the veni vedi vici crowd and could quite possibly reflect the seething envy of the graceful. environmentally friendly ways of Goa of old and those trying to retain it. Your karwar builder is a good example. Doing things, anything, but inefficiently is not industrious. Goans perhaps know that it is unwise and foolish to become enthusiastic participants in what they know can be done better.

Bipat

Wheatsheaf--the jokes are 'light hearted'. The visitors to Goa are of two types those of Goan origin who come to attend their family temples and those local and foreign who want to enjoy the holiday scene, some to do both. The entrepreneurs and investors want to take advantage of this.
"What can be done better" --it is possible to learn.

Karwar people are of the same stock or descendants of Goa, they still have their environmentally friendly ways because they have resisted calls for changes to encourage foreign tourists (it was suggested by Gokarna authorities to encourage this to take the weight from their place but it was resisted.)
The Tagore beach is better than many Goan beaches, however the view of it ruined by the building of the bridge and extending the road for Goan trading to the south
However there has never been a 'brick wall' round Goa, there has always been free movement in and out. At least for last hundred years or so.

Going back to taxis, none in Karwar for town use--so much more enviromentally friendly to just get in a rickshaw or walk, don't seethe with envy though, you can visit any time (sea is safer than further north-but only a couple of little liquor shops, just beer bottles and mini-gins )

wheatsheaf

karwar here i come.....honey bee n all

Sun Hunter

Seen this yesterday on the goan voice came via O Herald

INJUSTICE TO BRITISH TOURIST

We have been coming to Goa for around 16 years and after the first time we came and fell in love with the place and it`s people and we have visited Goa every season since. From a 2 week stay the first time and building up to 6 month stays.
We are just ordinary working class people from the UK. We have seen many changes some good some not so good, but we still love the place and it`s people.
But Goa, you are fast becoming expense and we cannot afford the price and the red tape to get a visa. The price of flights and Hotels on top of this has put many of our friends off from returning.
The taxi drivers who constantly over charge, the garbage it is all getting too much.
We had some friends who came for the first time for the Xmas/New Year period. They have a 2 week holiday the same time every year because of work commitments.
They were charged £4700 for 2 weeks all inclusive for 2 people in Baga plus Visa at £100 each. How can this filter through to any other business in Goa when they never eat or drink out of their hotel.
They will never return although they liked Goa. Nobody had told them that the Baga road was such a mess or that they would be harassed by taxi drivers constantly if they ever leave their hotel.
Last night I visited a local restaurant in Calangute with some friends for a meal and we were asked to pay Rs 100 for parking on the street.
Needless to say we left and went elsewhere. The owner of the restaurant was not happy at all.
I think that if you take a good look back at the tourist that have come to Goa over the last 2 decades you will find quite a lot that return year after year are English.
But over the last couple of seasons all you hear from the hard core English is that Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand are their destinations for next year.
Come on Goa. Embrace the English, give them a reasonable price visa and flights and they will return.

Bipat

The price of flights and visa are not anything Goa Gov. can change. Hotel prices unfortunately during winter season are high in other Indian popular tourist areas.
Regarding general negatives garbage etc --- stick to south Goa. We recently gave north Goa a 3 day 'try' after about 20 years!! Will not visit there again.
Crowded, unclean, multiple sunbeds/shacks etc.
(but apparently mainly British tourists, south far more mixed)

wheatsheaf

Was talking to a Goan-born and raised in Goa- yesterday who said they will never go back because (a) it definitely means spending hard earned after tax money on 'extra payments' for no reason and (b) it is soul destroying to witness the rabid destruction of paradise.

Bipat

"Paradise" for whom Wheatsheaf? The farmers, rural workers, those in poverty in towns? Or-- for the 'hippies' and early tourists?

Of course the ethos of Goa has changed along with commercialism and a major tourist Industry---you are part of that wheatsheaf!!!
Corruption has become unfortunately a part of life in all of India from top down, the new central government may try but it will take many, many years to undo the established bureaucratic corruption.

In the 1940/50s when OH went on his childhood bus trips through south Goa, Margao to Ponda and myself on bus trips to idyllic remote north Norfolk beaches in UK it looked like paradise but reality not always so for local people.


Discovered this on-line thesis/book, it might be of interest

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=...20rule&f=false