Royal commuting in the Konkan The proposed super-fast train between Mumbai and Goa, which was tocut short the journey between the two destinations to eight hours or so,may be in cold storage due to technical glitches, but the Konkan RailwayCorporation is all set to make amends. The latest Railway Budget introducedby Mamata Banerjee is generously dishing out a Palace on Wheels type oftrain to tourists interested in making a Mumbai-Goa run.Not only will tourists be able to take in the gorgeous unspoiled view of the virgin Konkan belt through which the railway passes, they will also be able to visit exotic destinations like Ajanta and Ellora. One therefore expects Maharashtra's cup of joys to run over with this measure, as an earlier proposal by the erstwhile Sena-BJP government to turn Sindhudurg district, bordering Goa, into a tourism district is now in cold storage.Now if only someone can teach the charms of culture to the dregs of European society, which come to Goa annually, as charter tourists. Wooing media, Delhi style Journalists as a tribe love junkets, especially if these come withairfare and accommodation in well appointed hotels. Twisted PR types andpoliticians therefore love to ensure positive coverage by doling out freetravel to hacks whenever an opportunity arises.The Central Government with a well-funded Press Information Bureau is well-equipped to dish out patronage to journalists across the country. Recently, the body put together a fortnight-long trip to Sikkim. Whilethe normal practice is to send out invitations to newspaper editors askingthem to depute correspondents, handpicked news reporters from Goa are nowwinging their way to the North-Eastern destination. No, this is not thefirst time. Last year, a selected crowd landed in the Andamans, courtesythe babus in the Union Government.Perhaps it is time for the Press Council to look into the matter. Music mania in Goa Music and masti is synonymous with the land of sun and feni so it was not surprising to see two musical happenings hit the state last week. Bob Livingston and his son Ravi from Texas hit the state with country music, courtesy the American Center. For nearly two hours the duo kept a small group of enthusiasts humming along with their renditions of This land is my land, Don't bury me on the Lone Prairie and Country Roads. But what really took the cake was their original contribution about a meeting of Mahatma Gandhi with Sitting Bull.Goans who still remember Abba, saw a Swedish couple launch an album here.Rebecca and Frederik, a husband and wife team who are frequent visitors toGoa, decided to launch their debut album, an effort containing 11 tracks.Enjoy, as the techno-pop mix is called, is aimed at youth and partyanimals. Tailpiece Smokers beware! The cops in Goa are arresting people under the tough Goa Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Act, 1997 that came into effectthis year. The first victim happens to be a paan shop owner who advertised a brand of cigarettes in his shop. Police officials say even people wearing T-shirts with logos of cigarettes can be liable for prosecution.
