Making susegad a way of life

One of the most common misconceptions that people from outside Goa and India seem to have is that Goa is only about the sun, sand and music and all that Goans do is lie on the beach the whole day long. Roque Fernandes too faced similar experiences. Having worked on cruise ships before, Fernandes was struck by his interactions with people abroad. "‘Susegad' is a term associated with Goans and people wrongly believe that susegad means lazy. Susegad is not lazy, it is a way of life. It is about being content," he says. Also, while Goa is among the favorite places for holidaymakers to choose and there certainly isn't a lack of options of things to do here, Fernandes believes that there is still so much more to Goa that not many know about.
Thus, Fernandes recently launched The GetAway Club, an entertainment and recreational hub, which aims at giving tourists the true Goa experience while also helping them plan their whole vacation here. The membership club allows members after paying an annual fee, the ease and convenience of booking a range of services - restaurants, hotels, cruises, spas, adventure sports, water sports, events, treks, tours and much more through one web app itself while also availing of discounts and other offers. The club also has it's own digital wallet called the GetAway CHIPS which are easy to use.
"Getting clients on board was a tedious task mainly because they still don't know the brand and how much footfall it will give them. We are confident however that we will get a good response in time," says Brian DaCruz, business development manager of the club.
Apart from this the website will also have a blog wherein the abundant Goan talent will be displayed. "We want to start GetAway Local where for instance a village lady selling bebinca, little known local handicraftsmen and groups practising traditional dance forms etc can be showcased," says DaCruz, while Fernandes adds, "We want to showcase the culture and traditions of Goa which are fading away."
As part of this club's endeavors, it will be organising it's first ‘Susegad Evening' on November 7 at Taleigao Community Hall. The evening will feature stand up comedy from noted comedians like Kunal Kamra and Naveen Richards along with Goa's very own comedians- Frazier Martins and Ashish Archarjya. There will also be soulful live music by The Runks to dance to and some mouth-watering Goan food. The clubs plans on making such events a monthly experience.
And as a way of giving back to society, all the proceeds from the show will go towards Bethesda Life Centre- an NGO for Underprivileged children.
"Somewhere in this fast economic development of Goa, we are losing out on the real feel of Goa. Through The GetAway Club we want society to realise the value of taking breaks, laughing with friends and family at a getaway," says DaCruz.