The time to watch the beings, which add grace and colour to nature, arrives in Goa with the retreat of the monsoons. Birds, bees, butterflies and other mysteries species of wildlife are seen in abundance. The government seems to have eventually realised their important in developing eco-tourism. Alongside is a tiny bird which had to helped to learn to fly.

This is a typical scene on the bridge over the Zuari river on the road leading to the airport, from Panjim. It seems to be perpetually under repairs, restricting the flow of the highway traffic at peak hours. On certain occasions the bridge is even shut down totally and the light vehicles have to use the Agassaim-Cortalim ferry.

The Mandovi river is the main channel for the barges which transport iron ore from the iron-mines in North-East Goa to the Mormugao Harbour. The river bed gets silted and requires to be dreged once in a while. A dredger is scene dredging the area near the Panjim bridge, from where the river cruises take off with tourists.

Traditional fishing in Goa is on its way out, being taken over by mechanised fishing trawlers. The labour working on the trawlers hail from Karwar, Ratnagiri and Daman. This picture shows some round boats, used by the women or children of upcountry labourers, to fish in the Mandovi river.

This ain't no shamba in Moshi or Arusha in Tanzania. But this is right in the heart of Mapusa. That's Willy Faria (ex-Zanzibar/ex-Tanga) tending the lush bloom of marigold flowers, typical of Goa at this time of the year. Marigolds are much in demand for Hindu festivals and pujas, particularly during the recently concluded Duseehra festival. Not only do the golden blooms look gorgeous but they also help attract several species of colourful butterflies.

Amidst the wildlife and flowers that grace the period following the monsoons, we come across massive pythons visiting the village in search of fowls and small animals for food.

Siolim, a village teeming with traditions, has added another event to their annual repertoire. It is the "Pets Day" celebrated on the feast of St Francis of Assisi, patron of animals, in front of the Church of St Anthony. People from Siolim and even the neighbouring villages bring their pets to be blessed, and the programme is followed by some entertaining programme or the dogs doing some tricks to the entertainment of the onlookers. The parish priest, Fr Joseph Rowland Salema has been responsible for the "Pets Day" celebrated in the first week of October.

Joel D'Souza