Salle Travasso does sound a typical Brazilian name. He loves his
football; he readily breaks into a dance when the occasion presents itself. He
sips an occasional beer pint or a peg of whisky. No certainly he is not a
Brazilian but an Indian hailing from another former Portuguese colony in
western India - Goa. His only link to Portuguese is the few greetings he
has mastered.
He is a global citizen. A Citizen, constantly on the move. Hopping from one
country to another. Marveling the wonders of different places as his ship
anchors itself.
Yes right! Salle is a sailor. A sailor, who enjoys his time at the sea. The sea
is a home for nine months.
A sailor, for the last ten years, Salle like all Goans loved his football. He
played for his college football team - Chowgule college Margao Goa, while
completing his bachelors degree. His brother Tony played for another college
team Damodar college, Margao Goa and graduated to play for one of the leading
club in India
- Salgaocar sports club. Salle beginning and end in football all happened
at the Chowgule college. No further than that.
The next stop on completion of college was practical hands on training at one
of numerous five star restaurants on the coast of Goa.
After two years on-the-job-training, Salle was ready for the challenge.
It was time to
say good bye to his Goan dreams and set up his base in Mumbai.
Mumbai has turned many a dreams of Indians into reality, but for Salle it was
his temporary abode. His village KUD (club) where his other villagers also
stayed in Mumbai, scanning for jobs in the shipping industry and in the gulf
was his home in the metropolis.
Finally after many a try, Salle cleared his interview with P & O cruises.
That was the start of his journey. His sailing trips has taken him to 96
countries- vow that is astronomical figure- .
The P & O, Cruising trips which started from the home ports of England. The
world cruises lasted for three months and would start from Janaury to April.
Cruise makers eager to escape the harsh winter of Europe
during the period.
The world cruise is what Salle relishes; it throws up an opportunity to visit a
new country on every alternate day.
“ I never had the pleasure to go to Japan. And I am waiting for the
opportunity to go there. Indeed as devout catholic and having hear and read a
lot about Jerusalem
it was a dream come true for me to visit the place. I savoured every moment of
it while at the place. Jerusalem
visit is my most memorable place I have visited so far. Bethlehem, the birth place of Jesus Christ has
a calming effect on my mind and certainly I could connect to some spiritual power.
An experience which I will remain etched in memory throughout my life,” he
says.
The other favourite spot for Salle has been the Dead Sea.
Italian city of Venice
is one city which he dubs as a romantic city. A glimpse of the city soothes his
mind. Then his visiting Medeira in Canary
Island took his experiences
to a new level. Like all Goans his minds rewind to his native Goa.
Indeed many a Goan sailors, Medeira is like you are back to their home state- Goa .
Then his other favourite places are cape town south Africa , and the canals - Panama, Suez and the
Kiel canal in Germany.
Salle has been enjoying his life board the cruise ship as he works as a bar
steward. "For a start life was difficult when I first joined my first
ship- Canberra.
The traditional Goan club (kud) life was still existing...but it slowly
diminished with new young boys joining the newer ships. Crew parties once in
two weeks and the best part was talented Goans boys will once in a while pull
out a guitar and drums to hop in a Goan band. So it was fun and frolic."
Football is an integral part of the Goans and no matter where ever they go they
carry their football along with them. Goans would arrange football matches
against locals wherever they visited any port and give a tough fight, as some
of the former players from Goa who shone in India are now working in the
cruising industry for P& O company
Salle''s worst nightmares when the sea got rough and he used to get affected by
the sea sickness but still had to carry on work and so did other staff in
various departments.
The Goans did not forget their religious obligations while working and
frocking. They had occasions to have a Christian mass on board once in a while.
"But the Canberra was different we used to have - Our lady of Milagrosa -
around and in a nine months contract the Our Lady of Milagrosa used to
visit our cabin three times on a single voyage.
Most of the Goan boys worked in catering department and the deck was manned by
the Pakistanis and the Filipinas........"" the Indians and the Pakistanis
got along very well it was the Filipinos who the Indians always fought
with"" he recounts.
Back home India and Pakistan have fought three wars ever since Pakistan in
1947.
"Norway
is a very picturesque. Fiji,
Hawaii were like paradise outside Goa........ But I certainly miss my Goa!!!.
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