Goa, June 24 -- RADHARAO GRACIAS

Spring, (erroneously called summer) in Goa, ushers in heat and hu midity which march together down the aisle to a marriage that turns the land from a cool paradise into a steaming hell. To escape this annual occurrence, I had made plans to travel to Ireland, to find my personal 'Shortcut to Tipper ary'. Besides, with advancing years my tongue was losing its sharpness and I also need ed to gain the ability to flatter which I have lacked, yet is nec essary for success in modern day India. Hence, I had also mapped travel to County Cork, to climb to the top of Blarney Castle, to lie flat on my back, and bend over backwards to hug and kiss the legendary stone! However, the Iran war dictated otherwise. So, we h...