SEASON'S GREETINGS TO YOU ALL FROM GOA

Yesterday as I came home, I was surprised to see this beautiful greeting card waiting for me. As I opened it, I found some very beautiful philatelic stamp's enclosed within. These beautiful stamps add to my philatelic collection.
The greeting card had this beautiful message.

"Sending my wishes
Across the mile...
For a season warm
With joy and Happy Smiles
Season's Greetings"

For a moment, I wondered, could it be Santa???

Naaaaa, It was from my dear friend Hazel.

Thank you so very much Hazel & family.
Hope you all had a blessed Christmas and a festive week.

My best wishes to you all

"Wish you a very Happy & Prosperous New Year 2010".

Partying with friends in the festive season

The Mambo's entry tag just wont go off my hands.

My friends visited me late Night, (27th December 2009), with plans to go to Mambo's at Baga.

I was trilled to meet them after a very long long time.

It was fun being in the company of Shanessa, Shijuka and the ever hilarious Rakesh.

The night started with a vehicle having no petrol. Then the trip to Mapusa to the "24 hours petrol pump" to fuel our vehicle. Then back to Baga. Then we spent an hour searching for a parking slot and in the process discovered that the reverse gear of the vehicle started to act up. So had to use the muscle power to get our vehicle reversed back on to road. It was fun to see Shanessa drive the car without the reverse gear in the terrific traffic Jam. There were tempers rising. Tit for Tat. It was very funny.

Finally we got a parking slot almost half a kilometer away from Mambos.

As we walked the Titos lane, it was like out of the world atmosphere, with people from round the world partying on the street, in the pubs, bar and discotheques. As we neared Tito's the street was jam packed with party animals :-).

We entered Mambo's after midnight, where the party had already begun. We were greeted to a feast of Music. The smoke of Hooka was in the air. For me Kingfisher beer rocks. The cocktails were baddddddd. Tequila was awesome. The food was not up to the mark.[Rakesh commented that the chicken that was used in our Chicken Tika must have had "Polio"] and then we danced to some great DJ Music at Mambos till 5 o'clock in the morning.

Thank you guy's for coming all the way to Calangute. You reminded me of all the fun & Good times back then. I wish I could turn back time.

Guys you Rock

Cheers

Christmas 2009 with family and friends at Goa

Christmas Celebrations at my home

Like every christmas this year was a very special day in my life.
It started with the holy mass followed by greeting of family and friends on Christmas.
We distributed sweets among our neighbours and friends.
It was my moms special cooking for lunch.
We had many visitors which included our neighbours, family friends, relatives, colleagues and my friends.
I would like to thank everyone who made "Christmas" at our home special.
A special thanks to Amit, Bhawna and Anahita for taking time out and visiting us this Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you all

My Christmas Crib

My Christmas tree

My Christmas Crib

My Christmas Crib

Thats Bunty and his friend

Piyush and his mom

Piyush in a playful mood

Pandurang and his son Piyush

Myself and Piyush

Thats my friend Noel Filinto

Ramachandra and Hanuman at my place for Christmas

Rupesh and Amit kanekar at my place for Christmas

Ramachandra with the Christmas tree

My Christmas Crib

Another bright shiny star in the balcony

That's my home at christmas nite

The shiny stars around our home


A little christmas video at home

Also view Christmas 2008 posts
Merry Christmas in Goa
Christmas in every Goan Home
Christmas Cribs in Goa

Christmas in Goa 2009 - New Year 2010 Goa

Wish you Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2010

Click picture to enlarge

Merry Christmas

An evening at Baga Beach with new friends

My new friends from Moscow "Israfil Atackishiev and Anastasia"


Myself, Israfil Atackishiev and Anastasia

It was nice meeting my friends from Moscow Israfil Atackishiev and Anastasia.
Israfil & Anastasia so friendly to speak too.
Anastasia does not converse much in English, but Israfil anways interprets to her :-).
That's why I call them a "loving couple".
We spoke at length about the customs, traditions and life styles of Moscow and Goa.
He was delighted on their first day at Goa.
He said he would try out Caju Fenny :-) I did caution him, but he said he would try it in under closed walls of his room :-).
Hey Ana, if he get out of control, give me a call :-)
He will be in Baga for a while before moving to Arambol to meet some of his friends there.
He will be back for Christmas in Baga, I have invited him for Christmas at my home.
Hoping to catch up with him for his Birthday on the 27th of December :-)
He was so kind enough that when I was speaking to anastasia about her job and my hobby of stamp and coin collection, he game me some coins of his country. I was indeed trilled by this act of kindness :-) .

Israfil is a web designer by profession and a photographer by passion

The lovely and beautiful couple "Israfil Atackishiev and Anastasia "

Thats me and Israfil Atackishiev

That's me and Anastasia

Dance illusions Goa - Dr. Martin - Ballroom dancing classes

Dance Illusions Goa

Take a chance, ask me to dance,

This Christmas join our special ballroom workshop,
learn to dance in just 5 days from 19th december, 2009 to 23rd december, 2009
Batch 1 6.30 pm and
batch 2 7.45 pm
at hotel Campal Panjim
@ just Rs. 800 per person

Contact:
Dr. Martin & Team
9923472688
9823014397

@danceillusions

website: http://danceillusions.wordpress.com/

email:
drmartin@rediffmail.com
goadancesport@rediffmail.com
danceillusions.goa@gmail.com

Feast of our lady of Immaculate Conception

Our lady of Immaculate conception Church Panjim

8th December we celebrate the feast of Our lady of Immaculate conception.

The Novenas at the Panjim Church are followed by fireworks and later by music by a band.

Today as I passed by the church on my way back home, I caught a glimpse of some fireworks and the Goa Police band playing.

Also as I proceeded home, I caught a glimpse of the Calangute church that was beautifully lit up as it also celebrates the feast of Our lady of Immaculate Conception

Also see : Feast of Our lady of Immaculate conception 2008

The Police band playing in front of the Church

The Police band playing in front of the Church

The Police band playing in front of the Church

Our lady of Immaculate conception Church Panjim

beautifully decorated St. Alex Church Calangute

Saskia Laroo performs at Konkani Rocks at Goa Velha

KONKANI ROCKS

The Konkani Rocks Concert at Goa Velha was a grand success.

Saskia Laroo, the magical trumpeter from Netherlands mesmerised the audiances with her fusion Konkani music in a jazz rock format, which drew a thunderous applause from the large audience gathered at the St. Andrew Church Grounds.

The show started with some songs by young artists. It was followed by self composed music and lyrics of "Sigmund De Souza", he kept all the goan music lovers entertained.

Among other who performed were S. Harikumar from Kerala who will perform with Sigmund De Souza, Maruska Rebello and Sonia Sirsat and also musician like Carlos Gonsalves on percussion, Rocky Lazarus among others.

Saskia Laroo also performed with Sigmund Desouza, Maruska Rebello and Sonia Sirsat

Additionally, India’s top lead guitarist and composer Amit Heri will also participate in honoring the language that we hold so dear to our hearts. All in all it is a show of grand proportion considering that musicians from all over the world will perform in salute to our mother tongue.

The Goa Velha Church had be lit up in grand style in true heritage jazz.

I would like to thank Armando Gonsalves for putting together this splendid shows, its was a delight to every Goan present there.

I lost my camera charger, So could not use my camera, So just managed to click a few photographs which may not be too clear, so excuse me for that.

Viva Goa Viva Konkani

Saskia Laroo Band and Amit Heri Group will perform Live on 6th December, 2009

"JAZZ NIRVANA"
Kala Academy, Campal
Gate Opens at 5:45pm
2 Great Bands for over 3 hours of pulsating Jazz Funk & Jazz Rock!

Tickets available at
*Gonsalves Mansion, Campal
*Champs- Margao & Panjim
*Magsons-Panjim
*Chocolatti-Candolim

Contact No: +91 9922023293/0832-2228010

http://www.heritagejazz.com/

Tweetup at IFFI International Film Festival India @ kingfisher valley

Tweetup - at IFFI International Film Festival India @ kingfisher valley

I have just got back home from IFFI, watched a few good movies among them I felt "7 days in slow motion" is a very nice movie.

Later I met a few twitter friends at the Kingfisher Valley @ IFFI

I was also informed by them that being the winner of their contest I would be getting some DVD's which would be sent by courier to me later. Among those present was @dhempe the winner of the "trip to Goa".

It was interesting experience meeting and knowing them all.

Konkani Rocks - Saskia Laroo Band fusion of konkani music in a jazz rock format

Goa Rocks - Konkani music in a jazz rock format

Date : Thursday, 3rd Dedember 2009
Time 6.30 pm to 11 pm
Location : Goa Velha Church Grounds

Goa has always been know as Rome of the East. However, there is so much to Goa, and its been a wonder that no other world city has called itself the Goa of the west, and it is time to change that!

With so much happening for, and in Goa, it is one of the most exciting places in the world today and it is a fact that Goa has found its rightful place in the Sun. So, is it not to time shout from the rooftop about Goa’s pedigree?

Our last year’s Jazz for Peace show was a stunning success, and the icon who made it happen was Saskia Laroo, the magical trumpeter from Netherlands who will be with us this December. Saskia will fuse Konkani music in a jazz rock format and her band will perform popular Konkani music in thus creating an international fusion that will excite the grassroots.

Besides, Konkani music is going to be honored by the virtuoso violin player, violin chakaravarthy gold medal winner S. Harikumar from Kerala who will perform with Sonia Shirsat as well as Saskia Laroo Band. Harikumar is one if the most exciting violinist in the country today.

Additionally, India’s top lead guitarist and composer Amit Heri will also participate in honoring the language that we hold so dear to our hearts. All in all it is a show of grand proportion considering that musicians from all over the world will perform in salute to our mother tongue.

The church of Goa Velha led by parish priest Fr. Raul Colaco he is all excited about this grand event which will also commemorate 140 years of the church. Elaborate arrangements are being done to light up the church in grand style in true heritage jazz and Armando Gonsalves style.

To make things even more exciting, we have spoken to leading Goan local bands who will perform local Konkani music in their own style thus bringing about a further fusion of bringing international as well as local musicians under one programme.
These include
1. The stunning diva Sonia Shirsat along with her five piece ensemble
2. Sigmund de Souza along with Carlos Gonsalves on percussion, Rocky Lazarus on bass and others


The venue for the Goa Velha show is near the majestic church St. Andrews - typical of Goa, full of charm, coziness and camaraderie. After all, what are we working towards? This event is about the heartbeat of Goa, the music that unites the exciting people of Goa.

Click here for the event page
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=184249777454


organised by Armando Gonsalves
http://www.heritagejazz.com/

See you all at Goa Velha on 3rd December, 2009 @ 6 pm

Regards
Rohan
www.exoticgoa.co.in


Location map to the Konkani Rocks Event at Goa Velha Church Grounds


View Larger Map

International Film Festival of India at Goa - Day 3

International Film Festival of India - Day Three

I saw a couple of movies today, a few cultural programs and folk dance and live bands playing. Missed the tweetup at the IFFI, coz i did not have any contact of the organizers :-(. May be sometime again during IFFI we all can meet.

International Film Festival India Goa day 2

that's my booty at the IFFI 2009

the ESG complex decorated with light for the IFFI

Seema Kapoor, the director speaks to the audience before the screening of her movie "HAAT" the weekly bazaar"

the crowd on the IFFI street entertained by the godemonni artist

Live musical shows on the stages around the IFFI street

Beautiful decorations along the IFFI street

Beautiful decorations along the IFFI street

Beautiful decorations along the IFFI street

Live musical shows on the stages around the IFFI street

A live band plays at the stage inside the INOX area