GHANTTI

When M.V ARCADIA visited San Francisco

It has become a sort of a ritual for me to take a day off whenever a P&O Cruise ship visits the city of San Francisco. It gives me an opportunity to meet and reconnect with my buddies and ex-colleagues from my seafaring days ( makes me sound like a pirate, doesn’t it ?)

Anyways, M.V Arcadia was in San Francisco at the beginning of February this year, and there I was once again hanging outside Pier 13 at the Fisherman’s Wharf  excited at the thought of seeing my buddies again . My friend Remmy de Chandor ( popularly known as Reddo) was kind enough to phone me a week ahead to let me know who was on the ship this time.

Crew shore leave was granted only after 2.00 Pm so it was quite a long wait but an eventful one nonetheless, as my buddies Edwin Afonso, Cajie de Bastora, Kevin Menezes and Remmy de Chandor came rushing out to meet me. They had to be back on board by 3.45, so time was limited. I decided to drive them to the Golden Gate bridge which was the closest spot to sightsee. These are a few of the pictures  that I took that were taken (I didn’t take the ones that has me in them, Duh! ) on that day. ENJOY.

Feast of San Joao ( Saint John the Baptist)

Traditionally the feast of Saint John the Baptist is celebrated in Goa every year on June 24 . This feast is marked by all the youth and specially the newly wed "Zanvoim" (sons-in law) wearing Kopelam ( crowns made from green twigs), jumping into wells shouting " Viva San Joao" and eating Ponnsache Ghore (jackfruits) and Ambe (Mangoes).

But for us Goans far away from home, the feast of San Joao would have remained yet another fond memory, if not for Californian Goans, a dynamic association of young and energetic Goans( energy is their forte) residing in California, in and around the Bay area who organized a fabulous event to highlight this feast. Everyone present at this event had an excellent time not forgetting the Cashew Feni, lip smacking traditional Goan food and also Goan Kantaram. The above picture features most of the Goemkars who attended this wonderful event.

Kudos to the Californian Goans and a very big DEU BOREM KORUM.

Viva San Joao and Viva Californian Goans.