DOCUMENTARY: The Journey - Goa, India.

Goa is a state in India within the coastal region known as the Konkan in western India. Bounded by Maharashtra to the north and Karnataka to the east and south, the Arabian Sea forms its western coast. It is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Goa is India's richest state with a GDP per capita two and a half times that of the country. It was ranked the best placed state by the Eleventh Finance Commission for its infrastructure and ranked on top for the best quality of life in India by the National Commission on Population based on the 12 Indicators.

Panaji is the state's capital, while Vasco da Gama is its largest city. The historic city of Margao still exhibits the cultural influence of the Portuguese, who first landed in the early 16th century as merchants and conquered it soon thereafter. Goa is a former Portuguese province; the Portuguese overseas territory of Portuguese India existed for about 450 years until it was annexed by India in 1961.

Goa is visited by large numbers of international and domestic tourists each year for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture. It has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, a biodiversity hotspot.

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FLORA  AND FAUNA OF GOA 

Equatorial forest cover in Goa stands at 1,424 km2 (549.81 sq mi), most of which is owned by the government. Government owned forest is estimated at 1,224.38 km2 (472.74 sq mi) whilst private is given as 200 km2 (77.22 sq mi). Most of the forests in the state are located in the interior eastern regions of the state. The Western Ghats, which form most of eastern Goa, have been internationally recognised as one of the biodiversity hotspots of the world. In the February 1999 issue of National Geographic Magazine, Goa was compared with the Amazon and the Congo basins for its rich tropical biodiversity.

Goa's wildlife sanctuaries boast of more than 1512 documented species of plants, over 275 species of birds, over 48 kinds of animals and over 60 genera of reptiles.

Goa is also known for its coconut cultivation. The coconut tree has been reclassified by the government as a palm (like a grass), enabling farmers and real estate developers to clear land with fewer restrictions.

Rice is the main food crop with pulses (legume), Ragi (Finger Millet) and other food crops are also grown. Main cash crops are coconut, cashewnut, arecanut, sugarcane and fruits like pineapple, mango and banana.[6] The State has a rich forest cover of more than 1,424 square kilometres (550 square miles). Goa's state animal is the Gaur, the state bird is the Ruby Throated Yellow Bulbul, which is a variation of Black-crested Bulbul, and the state tree is the Asan.

The important forests products are bamboo canes, Maratha barks, chillar barks and the bhirand. Coconut trees are ubiquitous and are present in almost all areas of Goa barring the elevated regions. A large number of deciduous trees, such as teak, Sal tree, cashew and mango trees are present. Fruits include jackfruit, mango, pineapple and 'black-berry' ('podkoam' in Konkani language). Goa's forests are rich with medicinal plants.

Rice paddies are common in rural Goa.

Foxes, wild boar and migratory birds are found in the jungles of Goa. The avifauna (bird species) includes kingfisher, myna and parrot. Numerous types of fish are also caught off the coast of Goa and in its rivers. Crab, lobster, shrimp, jellyfish, oysters and catfish are the basis of the marine fishery. Goa also has a high snake population. Goa has many famous 'National Parks', including the renowned Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary on the island of Chorão. Other wildlife sanctuaries include the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary, Molem Wildlife Sanctuary, Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary, Madei Wildlife Sanctuary, Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, and Mahaveer Wildlife Sanctuary.

Goa has more than 33% of its geographic area under government forests (1224.38 km²) of which about 62% has been brought under Protected Areas (PA) of Wildlife Sanctuaries and National Park. Since there is a substantial area under private forests and a large tract under cashew, mango, coconut, etc. plantations, the total forest and tree cover constitutes 56.6% of the geographic area.

CULTURE OF GOA

Having been a Portuguese territory for over 450 years, Goa's culture is an interesting amalgamation of both Eastern and Western styles, with the latter having a more dominant role. The tableau of Goa showcases religious harmony by focusing on the Deepastambha, the Cross and Ghode Modni followed by a chariot. Western royal attire of kings is as much part of Goa's cultural heritage as are regional dances performed depicting a unique blend of different religions and cultures of this State. Prominent local festivals are Christmas, Easter, Carnival, Diwali, Shigmo, Chavoth, Samvatsar Padvo, Dasara etc. The Goan Carnival and Christmas-new year celebrations are well known to attract a large number of tourists.

The Gomant Vibhushan Award, the highest civilian honour of the State of Goa, is given annually by Government of Goa since 2010.

DANCE AND MUSIC 

Traditional Goan art forms are Dekhnni, Fugdi, Corridinho, Mando, Dulpod and Fado. Goan Catholics are fond of social gatherings and Tiatr (Teatro). As part of its Portuguese history, music is an integral part of Goan homes. It is often said that 'Goans are born with music and sport '. Western musical instruments like the Piano, guitars and violins are widely used in most religious and social functions of the Catholics.

Goan Hindus are very fond of Natak, Bhajan and Kirtan. Many famous Indian classical singers hail from Goa, including Mogubai Kurdikar, Kishori Amonkar, Kesarbai Kerkar, Jitendra Abhisheki and Pandit Prabhakar Karekar.

Goa is also known as the origin of Goa trance.

THEATRE 

Goan-chumar-chitram

Natak, Tiatr and Jagor are the chief forms of Goa's traditional performance arts. Other forms are Ranmale, Dashavatari, Kalo, Goulankala, Lalit, Kala and Rathkala. Stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata along with more modern social subjects are narrated with song and dance.

‘Jagor’, the traditional folk dance-drama, is performed by the Hindu Kunbi and Christian Gauda community of Goa, to seek the Devine Grace for protection and prosperity of the crop. Literal meaning of Jagor is “jagran” or wakeful nights. The strong belief is that the night long performance, awakens the deities once a year and they continue to remain awake throughout the year guarding the village.

Perni Jagor is the ancient mask dance – drama of Goa, performed by Perni families, using well crafted and painted wooden masks, depicting various animals, birds, super natural power, deities, demons and social characters.

Gauda Jagor, is an impression of social life, that displays all the existing moods and modes of human characters. It is predominantly based on three main characters, Gharasher, Nikhandar and Parpati wearing shining dress and headgears. The performance is accompanied by vibrant tunes of Goan folk instruments like Nagara/Dobe, Ghumat, Madale and Kansale.

In some places, Jagor performances are held with participation of both Hindus and Christian community, whereby, characters are played by Hindus and musical support is provided by Christian artistes.

Tiatr (Teatro) and its artists play a major role in keeping the Konkani language & music alive. Tiatr's are conducted solely in the Roman script of Konkani as it is primarily a Christian community based act. They are played in scenes with music at regular intervals, the scenes are portrayals of daily life and are known to depict social and cultural scenarios. Tiatrs are regularly held especially on weekends mainly at Kala Academy, Panaji, Pai Tiatrist Hall at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao and most recent shows have also started at the new Ravindra Bhavan, Baina, Vasco. Western Musical Instruments such as Drums, bass, Keyboards, Trumpets etc. are part of the show and most of them are played acoustically. It is one of Goa's few art forms that is renowned across the world with performances popular among Goans in the Middle-East, Americas and Europe.

KONKANI CINEMA 

India Goa Film Festival

Konkani cinema is an Indian film industry, where films are made in the Konkani language, which is spoken mainly in the Indian states of Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka and to a smaller extent in Kerala. Konkani films have been produced in Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Kerala.

The first full length Konkani film was Mogacho Anvddo, released on 24 April 1950, and was produced and directed by A. L.Jerry Braganza, a native of Mapusa, under the banner of ETICA Pictures. Hence, 24 April is celebrated as Konkani Film Day.

Konkani film Paltadcho manis has been included in the world’s best films of 2009 list.

Konkani films are eligible for the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Konkani. The most commercially successful Konkani film (as of June 2011) is O Maria directed by RajenRajen.
Source: Wikipedia.orghttps://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa

#004 MUST-TRY WEIRDEST FOOD IN THE WORLD - Recipe and Cooking method

MEXICAN ESCAMOLES

Escamoles are the edible larvae and pupae of ants of the species Liometopum apiculatum and L. occidentale var. luctuosum. These larvae and pupae are harvested from the roots of the Agave tequilana (tequila) or Agave americana (maguey—mezcal) plants in Mexico. They are most commonly consumed in Mexico City and surrounding areas and this weird MUST-TRY, Escamoles, have been consumed in Mexico since the age of the Aztecs.

The cooking method or process method of Escamoles production is very simple, but the greatest task lies in getting the larvae and pupae. The ant's larvae and pupae used in the production of escamoles are not just tiny ants, instead they are giant ants which bites so aggressively and this makes getting the pupae pupae and larvae the most difficult task of all. Getting scared you gonna miss this tasty escamoles because of the aggressive, giant ants? Never worry, you can readily get the larvae and pupae in Mexico stores.

Walk into stores in Mexico and buy the readily available larvae and pupae for your tasty escamoles. You can only cook escamoles in Mexico because it is not allowed to be taken out of the country. So I will suggest-  enjoy the cuisine in Mexico for as long as you staying in the country.

RECIPE

1. Liometopum ant eggs and larvae ( also named as insect caviar in some places)

2. 1/2 cup chili sauce (which depends on the quantity)

3. Pinch of salt

4. Oil

5. Garlic

6. Onion ( chopped fine)

7. 1 lemon

8. 1 cup guacamole

9. 6 tortillas

10. Grasshoppers (optional for added taste)

COOKING METHOD

1. Wash the eggs and larvae thoroughly in warm water; then dry.

2. Put in a large saucepan, add oil and fry; then add garlic, lemon, guacamole and the chopped onions.

3. Adding grasshoppers and some salsa is optional, it depends on your choice. Let the whole dish fry well.

4. Serve hot; it is often served on the tortillas. The tortilla in this case is made up of the eggs of many different kinds of aquatic Hemiptera which are Mexican caviar.

ENJOY THE SAVORING SMELL AND THE YUMMY TASTE!

N.B: THE ANTS IS RICH IN PROTEIN AND ANTS LIKE EVERY OTHER ANTS AND ITS NUTRIENTS IS MORE TAKEN FROM THE ESCAMOLES.

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OUR ROME TOUR: INSIDE ANCIENT MUSEUM SERIES - PART 3

THE VATICAN MUSEUMS, ITALY.

The Vatican Museums are the museums of the Vatican City and they are located within the boundaries of the Vatican City. The Museums showcases works from the immense collection built up by the Popes throughout the centuries, including some of the most renowned classical sculptures and also the most important masterpieces of Renaissance art in the world.

The Museums was founded in the early 16th century by the Pope Julius II. The Sistine Chapel, with its ceiling decorated by Michelangelo and the Stanze di Raffaello decorated by Raphael, are on the visitors route through the Vatican Museums. In 2013, Statistical records shows that about six million (6,000,000) tourists visited the Museums,  and which makes the museum to be ranked as  the 6th most visited art museum in the world.

There are 54 galleries in total, with the Sistine Chapel. In this present century, the museums abhors works of Greek and Roman sculptures like Greek Cross Gallery, Sala Rotonda, Gallery of the Statues, Gallery of the busts, Cabinet of the masks, Sala delle Muse and Sala degli Animalia.

HISTORY

The Vatican Museums trace its origin to a marble sculpture, purchased 500 years ago. Precisely, the sculpture of Laocoön and his Sons which were discovered on the 14th of January, in the year 1506, in a vineyard near the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. Pope Julius II ordered Giuliano da Sangallo and Michelangelo Buonarroti, who were working at the Vatican, to examine the discovery. Based on their recommendations, the pope immediately purchased the sculpture from the vineyard owner. Pope Julius II displays the sculpture of Laocoön and his sons to the public at the Vatican exactly one month after its discovery.

The Christianum Museum was founded by Pope Benedict XIV, and some of the Vatican collections formed the Lateran Museum, which Pope Pius IX founded by decree in 1854.

The art gallery was formerly housed in the Borgia Apartment, until Pope Pius XI ordered the construction of a proper building. The new building was then inaugurated on the 27th of October, in the year 1932. 

The building architecture was done by Luca Beltrami. The museums has paintings which includes Giotto's Stefaneschi Triptych, Olivuccio di Ciccarello, Raphael's Madonna of Foligno, Oddi Altarpiece and Transfiguration, Leonardo da Vinci's St. Jerome in the Wilderness, Caravaggio's Entombment, Perugino's Madonna and Child with Saints and San Francesco al Prato Resurrection, Filippo Lippi's Marsuppini Coronation, and the  Jan Matejko's Sobieski at Vienna.

The Vatican Museums celebrated their 500th anniversary in October 2006 by permanently opening the excavations of a Vatican Hill necropolis to the public.

MODERN RELIGIOUS ARTS AND SCULPTURE MUSEUMS

The Collection of Modern Religious Art houses range of paintings and sculptures from artists like Carlo Carrà and Giorgio de Chirico.

Museo Pio-Clementino, one of the sculpture museums in the Vatican Museums acquire its name from two popes, the Pope Clement XIV and the Pope Pius VI, these two popes are those who completed the Museum. Pope Clement XIV came up with the idea of creating a new museum in Pope Innocent VIII's Belvedere palace and started the refurbishment work.

Pope Clement XIV founded the Pio-Clementino museum in 1771, and originally it contained the Renaissance and antique works. The museum and collection were later enlarged by Clement's successor, Pope Pius VI. Today, the museum abhors works of Greek and Roman sculptures.

Other sculpture museums in the Vatican Museums includes the Museo Chiaramonti which was named after Pope Pius VII; Museo Gregoriano Etrusco founded by Pope Gregory XVI in 1836; Museo Gregoriano Egiziano which houses grand collection of artifacts dating from ancient Egypt and was inaugurated on the 2nd of February, in the year 1839 to commemorate the anniversary of Gregory XVI's accession to the papacy.

PLAN YOUR TRIP TODAY TO ROME 

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PERFECT WAYS TO GO BRALESS WITH BIG BOOBS - #shotsTV Fashion

You have got a big boobs and you felt you would look awkward if you go BRALESS. Perhaps, friends said you cannot flaunt your big breasts the way you want to because they might jump around in public. Yes! Small breasts may most times be perky and firm while BRALESS but because you have a large breast does not restricts you from flaunting what you have got. What you need is tips on what to wear to keep your big breasts firm and makes you more comfortable in public.

We have took some time to analyse the wears you could wear and go BRALESS without worrying about your breasts looking awkward in public. Scroll down and read the Seven (7) essential tips listed for your convenience.

#01 - WEAR A SCARF AROUND YOUR NECK

Wearing a scarf truly hides your breasts from the public and as well as it also allow girls who do not like to be seen as a 'BRALESS girl' stay more comfortable, even though the front side is naked in their garments. Try this out and be unbothered and relaxed all day. 

#02 - TRY OUT WORKOUT TOPS WITH BUILT-IN SUPPORT 

Many tops are now produced with built-In support; even though they are not as restrictive as bras but they rather gives you convenient ample reinforcement. Try it out by wearing it under sweater or cardigan.

#03 - GO FOR A TIGHTER TOPS

Nothing is as embarrassing as having your breasts jumping around under your outfit in public. Wearing a tighter tops saves the embarrassment by holding firm of your large boobs and putting them in place. It is more advisable to go for tighter tops and stay comfortable all day while you flaunting what you got.

#04 - STAY STYLISH IN PLUNGE TOPS

Look stylish just like other celebrities on the red carpet in a deep and fitted plunge tops. Not only that it holds your large breast in place, but it also give you a pleasing cleavage and  comfort while you are out there flaunting around. 

#05 - FLAUNT YOUR BRALESS BOOBS IN HALTER DRESSES

Halter dresses looks more stylish on big breasted women as it also gives the opportunity to go BRALESS. Try one these out and support with sew-In cups for ample reinforcement.

#06 - LOOK FLAWLESS IN BODY SUITS

Body suits are made of spandex and so they are tight which makes gives support to your breasts and makes you comfortable when you go BRALESS. Wear them on jeans, trousers and skirts.

#07 - WEAR A BANDEAU

Bandeau are pretty good and they are cheap. It gives you also the opportunity to wear them under a loose top. They provides more convenience all day long.

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#003 MUST-SEE CREEPIEST ANIMAL IN THE WORLD- COMPLETE FACTS!

SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION 

KINGDOM: Animalia

PHYLLUM: Chordata

CLASS: Mammalia 

ORDER: Eulipotyphla

FAMILY: Talpidae

SUB-FAMILY: Scalopinae

TRIBE: Condylurini

GENUS: Condylura

SPECIES: C. Cristata

BINOMIAL NAME: Condylura Cristata

The Star-nosed mole is the only member of the tribe 'Condylurini' and the genus 'Condylura'.

The small mole is found in wet low areas of Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States.

Adults are about 15-20cm in length and they weight approximately about 55grams; they have 44 teeth and a nose of about 1cm with 22 pink-fleshy appendages that all looks like a star.

The star-nosed mole got its name from the shape of its appendages known as 'Eimer's Organs' which is extremely sensitive, with more than 25,000 minute sensory receptors; with which it feels its way  around and also detect food; and through which they are easily identified.

FEATURES 

The star-nosed mole is covered in thick, blackish-brown, water-repellent fur; has a large scaled feet and a long, thick tail (function as a fat storage reserve for the spring breeding season).

Its most distinctive feature is a circle of 22 mobile, pink-fleshy tentacles at the end of its snout, which are used to identify food by touch, such as worms, insects, mollusks, crustaceans, small invertebrates, small amphibians and small fishes which this creature feeds on.

Its 22 star-like receptors known as the Eimer's organs were first described in the European mole in 1871 by German zoologist, Theodor Eimer. There are few mole species also which  possess Eimer's organs, but they are not as numerous as in the star-nosed mole. 

The star-nosed mole is precisely functionally blind, the snout was long suspected to be used to detect electrical activity in prey animals, though little, if any, empirical support has been found for this hypothesis.

STUDY

The nasal star and dentition of this species appear to be primarily adapted to exploit extremely small prey. A report in the journal Nature gives this animal the title of fastest-eating mammal, taking as short as 120 milliseconds to identify and consume its prey. Its brain decides in approximately 8 milliseconds if a prey is edible or not. This speed is at the limit of the speed of neurons. They also are able to smell underwater which is accomplished with the help of exhaling air bubbles onto objects or scent trails and then inhaling the bubbles to carry scents back through their nose.

ECOLOGY AND TRAITS

Although, they are found in wet lowland areas, but research shows they also found in dry meadows, farther away from water. They have been found in the Great Smokey Mountains as high as up to 1,676 meters. Meanwhile, the star-nosed mole does prefer wet, poorly drained areas and marshes; and besides, it is a good swimmer and can as well forage along the bottoms of streams and ponds. It often digs shallow surface tunnels for foraging which exit underwater. It is active day and night and remains more active in winter, when it has been observed tunneling through the snow and swimming in ice-covered streams.

The small animal mates in late winter or early spring, and the female has one litter of typically 4-5 young in late spring or early summer. Moreso, the females are known to have a second litter, provided that their first littrr is unsuccessful. 

At birth, each offspring is about 5 cm (2 in) long, hairless, and weighs about 1.5 g. Their eyes, ears, and star are all sealed, and then later appears opening and functioning about 14 days after the birth. They become independent after about 30 days, and then fully mature after 10 months. 

THREATS

The star-nosed mole's predators or threats include the red-tailed hawk, great horned owl, barn owl, screech owl, foxes, weasels, minks, various skunks and mustelids, and large fish such as the northern pike, and lastly not to forget domestic cats.

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#003 MUST-TRY WEIRDEST FOOD IN THE WORLD - plus Recipe and Production

SURSTROMMING also known as 'sour herring' in Sweden. It is fermented Baltic sea herring. It has been the traditional Northern Swedish cuisine since the 16th century.

Strong brine is used to prevent the raw fish from rotting which is known to be chemical decomposition. A fermentation process of at least six (6) months then gives the lightly-salted fish its characteristic strong smell and a kind of an acidic taste.

PRODUCTION 

1. Catch or buy the herring around April or May when they are still in prime condition and just about to spawn.  Prior their spawning, they have not yet fattened.
2. Put the herring in a strong brine (salt solution) for about 20-24 hours to remove all blood.
3. Remove the head, gut it; and then put it into a weaker brine or salt solution.
4. Then place the barrels in a temperature controlled room under 15-20 degree Celsius.
5. Fermentation continues (either in can or barrel) from the beginning of July for the next five (5) weeks or Mid-August.
6. Often preferably to be eaten with two pieces of the hard and crispy kind of tunnbröd with butter, boiled and sliced or mashed almond potatoes, garnished with fillets of the fish together with finely diced onions.

NOTE: The fermentation process depends on the lactic acid enzyme in the spine that is activated, if and only if the temperature and brine concentration conditions are right. The low temperatures in Northern Sweden is one of the parameters that affects the final product.

Try this out and perhaps you may like it... 

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'INSIDE ANCIENT MUSEUM' PART 2 - #shotsTV Discovery!

Capitoline Museums was opened to the public in the year 1734 under Clement XII and the museums are considered the first museum in the world. It is located in Piazza del Campidoglio, 1, 00186, Rome, ITALY.
It is a museum known to be an archaeology, art museum and historic site.

INFORMATION ABOUT CAPITOLINE MUSEUMS

The Capitoline Museums are a single museum containing a group of art and archeological museums in Piazza del Campidoglio which is situated on the hill of Capitoline.

The history of the museums is traced to 1471, when Pope Sixtus IV donated a collection of important ancient bronzes to the people of Rome and stored them on the Capitoline Hill and since then, it was recorded that the museums' collection has grown to include a large number of ancient Roman statues, inscriptions, and other artifacts; a collection of medieval and Renaissance art; and collections of jewels, coins, and other items and it was since then owned and operated by the municipality of Rome.

The statue of a mounted rider in the centre of the piazza is of Emperor Marcus Aurelius is a copy of its original being housed on-site in the Capitoline museum. 

Many Roman statues were destroyed on the orders of Christian Church authorities in the Middle Ages but this statue of the mounted horse was spared from being destroyed, in the erroneous belief that it depicted the Emperor Constantine, who made Christianity the official state religion of the Roman empire.

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