Why is William Dalrymple on the cover of Goa Streets? For one, he’s a fascinating individual. For another, he opened his heart to us in a candid interview. And for another, through his journeys and accomplishments in so many parts of the world, most notably here in India, we felt he exemplifies the spirit of a life well lived. We hope you enjoy our interview with this acclaimed author and historian who has made India his home for his entire adult life.
William Dalrymple is not the only extraordinary individual showcased in Goa Streets this week. Our piece on Leander Paes looks at a seldom mentioned but nonetheless relevant aspect of this international tennis great: His Goan-ness. And then there’s our story on wellness guru Rujuta Diwekar, who recently conducted a camp at an amazing retreat set amid a virgin jungle in Candolim (yes, you read that right, Candolim).
In this edition, we expose one of the darker sides of the Goan night scene, the prevalence of ‘dance bars’ as a cover for prostitution. And we give you an inside look at the uproar over two government decisions restricting timings of night spots and cutting the cord on music after 10 pm. We also bring you stories on a delightful Chinese food festival at the Goa Marriott Resort & Spa and Art Escape’s wonderful new initiative promoting indie bands in Goa (Goa Streets is proud to be Art Escape’s media partner!)
In this edition, we’re launching two new sections. Wheels on Streets features the best on offer in the world of cars and bikes. We’ve tied up with the extremely popular website www.goaonwheels.com to bring you content for this section. In addition, we’ve launched in this issue our new Mind, Body & Soul section, a space to highlight all sorts of issues relating to health and fitness.
We’d like to take this opportunity to talk about two exciting events that Goa Streets is very much involved with. This Saturday, Sept. 21, Goa Streets has joined Club Ianos in Baga to bring you a world-class belly dancing event, featuring Daila and Miya Sabah, two award-winning, internationally acclaimed belly dancers. Fun starts at 8 pm at Ianos, along the Calangute-Baga Road.
Goa Streets is also the local media partner of www.MyPurpleMartini.com’s upcoming Nightlife Convention, to be held Oct. 4-6 at the Resort Rio in Arpora. This convention is bringing together the Who’s Who in the Indian and international night scene, with top personalities attending from around the country and the world. We invite you to purchase discounted tickets through Goa Streets (details on page 3).
These are exciting times for us and the entire state, what with the season about to get started. Enjoy the ride!
