GOA SPEAKS

I am a Goan
and proud to be one
I love my Goa
the land of sea, sand and sun!

But now, they've ruined it all
To satisfy their greed
They are a bunch of thieves
The most selfish and corrupt breed.

I've had enough!
no more I can take
I no longer need promises and vows
Which are like them, empty and fake.

Elections are near,
people's power they fear.
with wine and wealth they will try to woo,
But i want 40 NEW FACES AND NO RELATIVES TOO!!

Friends-a precious gift!!

We all love making friends. Some of these just get lost in time, but then some remain and become a part of our lives. I am very fortunate to be blessed with a few good friends in my life. Friends who have stood by me in times of tests and who have supported me all the way. No doubt, I am always on a lookout for an opportunity to hangout with them, and I got one recently. Yes, that's right! I am talking about the friendship day!! It was a perfect reunion with my buddies that brought back memories which were so special and irreplaceable.

As decided, we met in Margao, and as usual, i reached a bit too late. "You know the traffic and the bad roads. Its so difficult to drive"! I tried to justify myself. But in vain. I had given this same excuse too many times now and my friends were expecting it this time. What followed was a series of 'special compliments" which I always used to receive whenever I would keep them waiting. Some new and some the same old and familiar ones. But they did improvise on their "special compliments" over the years.

After a short session of gossip and pulling each others legs, we decided to head for north. The drive was amazing. I must say, Goa surely looks more picturesque and beautiful when you are with your friends. Now we were in Goa's capital city to celebrate friendship day....but without any plan! While we were figuring what to do, all eyes were focused on me being the geek of the group. I thought hard and luckily i remembered INOX. Thats it....we had a plan. We would watch the movie zindagi na milegi dobara. The movie was awesome and it lived up to the hype. More than anything I just loved the music.

The movie was over and we decided to go for a quick bite. The decision was unanimous. All fingers pointed towards the Caculo Mall. KFC!!!!! My mouth watered even before reaching there and my friends were no different. We ordered for a bucket and pounced on it like a hungry lion attacking its prey. As we munched through the tasty chicken, my mind wandered down that memory lane, where we would enjoy a similar meal during our college days. Only difference being there was a simple rice plate and the complimentary sweet lime juice. Time has passed but my friends remain the same and their company still remains priceless. It's been a giant leap from college to company, from fun to work and pocket money to salary, but this bond of friendship still remains unchanged!

The finger licking KFC chicken was followed by a session of gossiping about things ranging from tedious work, nagging bosses and off-course, blind dates! The celebration ended with a game of pool. The friendship day was over, but not until we promised to celebrate it in a similar manner in the coming years.

They say "life is only as good as the people you have in it"! Our friends are an important part of our lives. Their influence plays a major role in molding and shaping our lives. Friendship day is over, but the scent of friendship still lingers around and will continue to do so till i live. This post is dedicated to all my friends who were my strength, my support and my guiding light. Today I thank God for making you all a part of my life. May he strengthen our friendship every coming day and help it overcome the test of time!! love you all...May God bless you.

Because...i am a Goan!

The incidents that happened in the last few days are really worth discussing. The strongman of benaulim or rather the self-proclaimed strongman of benaulim is in news again. this time its for his daughter.

the reputation of these alemao's is not hidden from anyone. time and again they have kept the government hostage to fulfill their selfish demands and this time it was no different. they threatened to resign. and why? because valanka was disqualified!

such incidents have surfaced in the goan politics time and again. these are the same "people's representatives" we elect after standing in long ques at the election booths. with lots of expectations and hope in our hearts and what do we get in return? they dissappoint us to the fullest and make goa their private property.

this current state of goa is really pathetic and goa looks no better then an orphaned child. many of our people have been disgusted to the core and have decided they have had enough. and no wonder, we see the voter's turnout is going down with every election. people feel its a waste of time and do not want to be abettors to this large scale destruction of Goa.

i do agree with their thinking. we are disappointed , we have been cheated and made fools. why should we vote for them? or what difference will my vote do? well, i must say, our 'smart' people have a valid point. but just one question, what is the difference between you and the corrupt selfish politician? both are responsible for the destruction of goa. one is doing it directly and the other one is not doing anything to stop it! So do you have the right to point fingers at them? can you demand for a better life? can you complain about the pot holes, the inflation, the fuel prices or the crime rate? well, the answer is certainly NO!

during the elections we see candidates who seem to be known figures and we end up voting for them, or we vote because of his money or the unlimited food and booze. it doesn't really matter if the candidate has pending criminal cases against him. but what about the new candidates, the ones with a clean record but not much popular? why do we neglect them? just because they don't spend money or they lack that sweet tongue?

instead of wasting your votes and then complaining about the happenings in goa, why cant we come out openly in support of these candidates? why cant we say "No" to the criminals and crooks? its time we give them a real taste of democracy.

by not voting we are only wasting our precious votes. lets put it this way, if 45% of the voters(average turnout these days) can vote and elect a corrupt and a "good for nothing" government, imagine what the remaining 55% are capable of. but they preferred not to vote and rather sit in the comforts of their homes and curse the politicians. when i see this plight of goa, my heart cries in pain. i dont want to see my goa in ruins, but i want goa to be developed, to be advanced and be an example to every other state in india.

its my strong decision, a decision taken in anguish, a decision without fear . i will vote, i will fight and i will protect my goa. because......I AM A GOAN!!

WITH A TEAR IN MY EYE!

The clock just stopped ticking,

Tears just filled my eyes

The land was painted with blood

And the wind was filled with cries.

I stood there trying to beat the grief

Trying to harden my heart.

For what I just heard

Almost ripped me apart.

I couldn’t believe I lost him

In a way I never even thought

It shattered every bit of me

To console myself a battle with me I fought.

They say a bullet pierced him

Deep down in his heart

Killing him within moments

With death pain and suffering playing their part.

What do I have to live for?

My world eclipsed with endless sorrow

I know not what to do

How to step all alone into tomorrow.

DEDICATED TO THE BEREAVED FAMILIES OF THE 26/11 MUMBAI TERROR VICTIMS.

THE ALMIGHTY

On the sixth day you created me

In this world so huge and colorful!

You own me and this world, you say

But I defy your rules each and everyday.

I rule the world with glory.

With my intelligence and thought

I change the landscape, the mountains and all,

I build structures that would never fall.

With my weapons so deadly destructive

The worst dangers I can face

No matter what comes my way

I never fail to clinch the race.

Then rose a storm mighty powerful,

That wiped to the hilt man’s achievements’ slate.

Spoke a voice “Do not be vain O man

I am the lord who fills your plate”.

Seafarer-the unique species!

Hey guys!! its my first post after a long time. hope you like this one. this post is dedicated to the millions of seafarers worldwide who fight the perils of the sea evry coming day. Its their 'never say die' attitude that keeps them going and helps them to come out of the worst of situations.

It was a warm evening and our ship was swiftly transiting the gulf of aden. Everything was normal until we got a distress call from a chemical tanker just behind us.

They were being attacked by the dreaded pirates!!!! The voices turned into cries. We could hear people crying for help over the vhf. The cries continued for sometime and then there was a creepy silence. After a while we heard a nearby US warship responding to their call. But it was too late, the pirates had already boarded the ship.......The ship was hijacked!!

Piracy is jus one of the problems being faced by seafarers worldwide. Gone are the days when merchant navy was looked upon as a profession with a difference. There was a time when seafarers where known for the three w's, i.e wealth, wine and women. But thats history now. The tight schedules, strict pollution norms and crimes against seafarers have only added to their woes.

When we work on the ship, we are totally cut-off from the outside world. emails or phone calls being the only link with the extenal world and our families. Its a tough life out there. Not to mention the forces of nature, there are times when people on board dont sleep for days due to bad weather! And to make matters worse, even during our leave we are made to do courses, give exams and udergo upgrdations.

My aim is not to discourage people from joining this field, rather i would suggest you get the stars out of your eyes and face the truth before you join this profession.

sometimes, when i think of all this, i wonder what is that one thing that seperates out the seamen from the rest of human race. what is that thing that makes them so different from others and then one day a thought struck me.

when god created man, he must have created men, women and then he must have created the third one ---the seamen!

The three angels!

It was 1 o'clock in the afternoon. My neice jus came running in the hall and she said "switch on the tv". It was time for her favourite cartoon "chotta bheem". I switched on the t.v and she asked me to watch it with her. to which i hesitantly obliged. She started telling me the names of all the characters and I was really surprised to see her knowledge about her favourite cartoon character. It turned out to be quite and interesting episode and i ended up watching it til the end!

I feel most of us love children. And I would say am very fortunate to be blessed wit the gifts of two neices and a nephew in my life. I always cherish the moments i spent with them coz them tend to take me in a different world altogether. Down that memory lane when I too was a kid like them playful, and naughty unaware of the competition and challenges I would face as i grow up. A child always brings happiness in a family and m sure a sweet smile from a child can brighten up your worst of days! They say "every new child born is a sign that god still loves the world". Its been a pleasure to watch them grow infront of my very own eyes. The first look, the first step n first word all these priceless memories which i would never want to forget.

As we grow up, the child within us starts dying and we forget to appreciate the wonderful things in life. There are more regrets then dreams and fear takes the place of hope. No doubt, childhood is the best time of our lives. As we grow up, the child within us gets subdued and we feel

ashamed to bring it out. Remember guys, it is not always a sign of immaturity to laugh over a joke, to get wet in the rain, to sing even if you u don't have the best of voice, to fight for chocolates and to watch cartoons once in a while.

This post is dedicated to the three sweet little angels in my life nicole, dayle and daniel who not only brought joy and happiness in my life but also helped in rejuvenating the child inside me. love u lots muahhhhhhhhhh!!