This is a universe which has only grown and become a part of this regions metamorphosis from a cluster of sleepy villages to the trading centre of a dangerous and very profitable kind of business. The other shard is the Anjuna of old. The Anjuna of characters and the stories they bring. The Anjuna (and its extensions) which is the pit stop of those who travel the world and arrive to finally tuck in. The only baggage they bring are their life stories which they narrate as they generate many more as many begin their final chapters.
As the rest of Goa changes and grumbles and speeds towards a demise of all that made this land what it was, these pockets hold out because there are still those who come here of other parts of India and the world, who feed into the simple pleasures of the rising and setting sun, the lotus eating village life and songs in taverns and food at small eateries. Many run their own places, bringing their cultures and their food, not to sell but share. It is only here and in the extreme south, Palolem, Agonda and Patnem, that the Goa that once was for the early tourists, that still exists, albeit threatened by the new Goa which is creeping into this space with each passing day. Which is why it becomes imperative to celebrate the cast of characters who have lived here, settlers who are most lovable outsiders. Those who have kept Goa, the way it was always meant to be. On the road just past the Anjuna petrol pump to towards the Anjuna coast, parallel to the road that goes to Vagator, is a blink and you miss place- Rocket Burger, which is an inspiration for chap called Mathew, whose life’s mission is to preserve bees to ensure that we all live. But somewhere along the line, the passion remained but the urge to do something else took over and Rocket Burger happened. But the second journey of Mathew, from Kerala started on the highway between Lonavala and Amby Valley (near Pune) some years ago. He chanced upon a small garage on the foothills of Lonavla and converted that into a tiny garage restaurant. This was his changed script. Mathew the film maker turned into a garage cook in Lonavla. After a few years Mathew arrived in Goa. My details are a bit sketchy here and his exact entry into Goa and how the script unfolded cannot be recorded as yet, but the gaps shall be filled post some monsoon evening. But the script does have a Mallu meets Bong moment and bingo the lives of the Mallu and the Bong took off like a rocket – literally. So mallu Mathew met bong Krish, a bong who can cook, who too arrived from Siliguri with mom in tow. And this bong mom cooks steaks and burgers and notmacher jhol (Bengali fish curry). So the equation is like this. The bong cooks, or his mother does, and Mathew hangs out and fronts the place. And between guitar and jam sessions and chats in a small place where not more than 20 can squeeze in, burgers and steaks happen with regularity. Yet again, this is a creation of two friends who just wanted to be there, soak in the offerings of the land and run place not to make profits but keep their souls happy. While they do that burgers with spicy sauce, including the best veggie burgers in Goa, happen. But if you need someone to read your poem or complete your song or perk up your smile, the Rocket Man who makes these burgers can fix all that too. Which is why these places can never be called restaurants but simply the best pit stops in life. Pit stops from where guys like Mallu Mathew can still take off to preserve bees and come back to Goa, their home and their land of honey.
