As Panjim-based Neville Monteiro turns 50 today, he is excited about completing the goal that he had set for himself, almost 30 years ago. As a young student, he had promised himself to travel and experience the culture of 50 countries before he turns 50 and with San Marino as the 51st country, he is ready to bring in his 50th birthday today, October 25. “I promised myself that I would definitely visit 50 countries before I turn the same this month (October 25), so I went a step further and made it 51. This accomplishment has given me immense joy and satisfaction, no words can describe,” says Neville Monteiro.
An architect by profession, Neville is always ready to travel. He realised his passion for travelling when he first set out on a month long visit to the Far East Portuguese dependency of Macau for a summer course at the Universidade de Macau at Taipa in 1996. “The earnest desire to experience firsthand the amazingly diverse cultures of our very beautiful world coupled with the desire to see both, natural and manmade creations have been the major factors to inspire me to continue travelling,” says Neville on what motivates him to travel.
Every country has something unique to offer, with its climate, monuments and most importantly, culture. In a year, he travels twice, once in May with the family, comprising his wife Selma and two sons, Stefan and Ian, and during the Ganesh holidays with a group of likeminded friends. “Although I started travelling way back in 1996, the two people who had a deep and significant impact on my travel has been Paul Sequeira (Zion Tours and Travels) and Xavier Peres (Speedbird Travels), having introduced me to countries that I would have never have undertaken to visit on my own,” says Neville.
He has also been to historical events on the religious calendar. He was privileged to attend the Canonisation of Mother Teresa at St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City on September 4,2016 as part of the Indian Representation, made possible by Paul Sequeira (Zion Tours and Travels) and the 100th Anniversary of the Apparition in Fatima, Portugal which also coincided with the Canonisation of Jacinta and Francisco Marto, on May 13,2017. He was also in Sri Lanka during the Canonisation of Goa’s own St Joseph Vaz in January 2015. “Singing the Ave Maria in Konkani for the Candle Light Procession in Lourdes was special and to be cherished as was walking in the steps of Christ in the Holy Land, has been a rich and fulfilling experience,” he adds.
Before every travel plans, comes the research to form the itinerary for the new country but nothing compares to the actual life experience in the visiting country. He says, “Before undertaking the visit, I do Google up to see what the particular country has to offer, so I do not end up missing any significant place. During my initial trips, I used to read about the same but the process was a little cumbersome and time consuming. The arrival of the internet changed all that. I try to attend a cultural show showcasing their tradition if possible, besides the normal sightseeing which every visitor undertakes.”
He always tries to carry a memento back from each country, something unique to that country and in most cases it has been a fridge magnet. The thrilling moments of his travels include the visit to the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador which is home to the giant turtles and iguanas as also being on the Equator near the capital, Quito. He shares, “The aerial view of the majestic Victoria Falls on the Zambia/Zimbabwe border is indeed breathtaking so also the powerful winds at the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa where Vasco da Gama turned and discovered the sea route to India. The experience of staying in the Masai Mara Sanctuary along with family in Kenya right in the middle of the wild habitat and the safari, besides the exotic birds and hippos in Lake Naivasha is a memory to eternally cherish. The lifelong dream of visiting the world’s oldest Republic, San Marino besides many other travel experiences was made possible by Xavier Peres. The scenic beauty of Switzerland and the beautiful windmills and tulips of the Netherlands are memories which will always remain etched on the mind.”
However, his favourite country was Malta as he says it had a great vibe and the friendly nature of the locals add to the same. Besides has a lot to offer in terms of history and culture. His plan for next summer is to visit Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland. “My next goal is to make it a total of 100 countries in the coming decade. I would advise everyone to see the world. If you cannot make it overseas, go and see our own country. In fact, I am going to bring in my 50th birthday with my family in God’s own country, Kerala. This is how I wanted it to be,” says Neville.
Travelling to some many countries has certainly broadened Neville’s perspective. But what aspect would he like to see introduced in Goa? “What I observed in my trips is the strict observance of the local laws by the locals as well as visitors, without any monitoring. Basic things like effectively using dustbins and not spitting in public places can go a long way in ensuring public cleanliness in our country. There have to be good clean public toilets at strategic locations with a nominal fee. We need to start and now is the time. Better late than never,” concludes Neville.