Claiming the Right to Say No-30 Nov 09-EQUATIONS - Equitable ...

Personal Reflections in Vagator
Personal Reflections in Vagator
By Mario Fernandes
This was my first experience. I learned a lot from this research. When I
saw Vagator on my first day, I was surprised to see the changes. I was
fortunate to visit places like ‘9 Bar’, ‘Surf Club’ and flea market in Vagator,
Arambol, and Anjuna respectively.
We interviewed Israeli tourists who were married and had children. They
are here in Goa for family vacations. Some of them have not been in
Israel for years. Some of them earn their daily food here in Goa itself.
They put musical shows in hotels, teach drawing and sell products in the
flea market.
In Vagator, there is a beach which is called as “Israeli beach” just below
the 9 Bar. Non-Israelis are frightened to come over to this place. Shacks
which are here, their menu consists of all Israeli food for the Israelis.
There are bars, restaurants and hotels which are run by Israeli people.
In Arambol, there is a “banyan tree” where tourists gather and they talk,
smoke and share their experiences. There are Hindu priests, some male
and female tourists and one of them claim that I am a “banyan tree”.
In Vagator, there is a 9 Bar where tourists gather and enjoy themselves
through drugs and alcohol. Trance music is played by a DJ and each day
the DJ changes. If the DJ is from Germany, most of the tourists will be from
Germany. There is also prostitution going on.
From the Mouth of Other Tourists
A British tourist, who had a concern for Goa, told that Israelis cheat local
people. He informed that there are Israeli drug dealers here in Goa.
They get drugs from neighbouring countries, e.g. Pakistan, Afghanistan
etc. The sad part is that they use people of our own country to get the
drugs in Goa. They have a contact with a minister of Goa and right up to
a minister of Delhi. Goan police are well fed by Israeli drug dealers
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