Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Inviting shopaholics for a rest cure


There are more coconut trees than shops out here. A thousand times more.


So it’s funny one doesn’t see ads like the following promoting this southern tip of Goa:


Are you a compulsive shopper who wants to kick the habit? Then come to this paradise of No Shops. (Not what you city types would call a shop, anyway.) We at Niche Tourism offer the Nirvana Rest Cure for sick souls like yours.


It's all not here in the south of south Goa. No designer stores, no fashion shops, no music shops, no jewellery stores. No shops where you can buy furniture or fancy foodstuffs or anything useless. (A few years ago you couldn't even buy ice cream. As for vegetables, people just ate fish.)


Our small market area called Chaudi is so ugly you’ll never be tempted to visit. (No one can be that desperate.) The biggest store here is a government-run departmental store where you get everything you don't want (but ordinary people need). Most tourists don't even know Chaudi exists, that too only 2 kms away on the NH17 , because they go straight from airport to beach and back. It's only the long-term foreigners (practically residents) who are in on this secret, and for them a few stores keep Marmite and other goodies. On Saturday is the grand weekly bazaar for vegetables, but it won't interest you. A festive air reigns as simple folk from the neighbouring villages flock here to stock up on provisions, have their future told by a card-picking parrot and get their footwear fixed from the only mochi in miles. Boring for someone used to malls.


With no shops to distract you, shed your material soul and discover ananda in god’s own creations (better than Gucci). Meditate on tranquil blue waters. Release all your negative energy on some of Goa's most beautiful beaches: Palolem, Patnem, Galgibaga, Agonda. Seek beauty in the hills all around. Return to your city with a light heart and a full wallet.


(PS. If you are beyond redemption and can’t cope with the cold turkey, go for Plan B. Drown your sorrows in liquor. Lots of booze shops here.)

1 comment:

sanju ayyar said...

Ah! Now thats a pretty convincing piece of copy. The headline works. The bodycopy works. All it needs is a layout. I shall do one and mail it to you one of these days. I got to rush to the supermarket, pick up some provision, earn those freebies, and redeem those reward points. Will catch you when the layout's ready :-)