Culminating this idea, Zibbl was born; from a deep longing to return to stories that move us, a desire to bring back the art of storytelling that is raw, real, and deeply connected to the soul of Goa. The kind that lingers, like the smell of salt on skin after a day at the beach. The kind that reminds us of who we are and where we come from. It lets you find your kind, like I found mine — some lovable, creative misfits who love the tangible and reflections of “back in the day” but want to build better futures. And you’ll get to read their stories here too.

Zibbl is our quiet rebellion against fleeting trends and superficial narratives in a world obsessed with the quick and the viral. It is a slow-burning love letter to Goa, one scribble at a time. We’re not here to chase trends. We’re here to write with feeling, to remember, and to resist.

Goa is often reduced to lazy clichés — booze, beaches, and parties. But the real Goa lives in silence after the waves, on the roads and by-lanes of villages, in the scent of nustyachi hooman / kodi (fish curry) and ukde rice, and in stories passed down around evening hangout spots over a cup of chā. Zibbl is here to tell those stories you won’t find in tourist brochures. The real ones. The raw ones. The ones that live in our bones.

Zibbl is inspired by zines — those unapologetically personal, self-published little booklets that offer a platform for the unseen and unheard. Inspired by the spirit of zines, we’re offering this space where stories flow freely, capturing the true essence of Goa without being constrained by algorithms. We’re embracing that same rebellious spirit, the original sussegado spirit rather than the one that everyone has time and again butchered to label as “lazy” rather than laidback. We don’t follow deadlines or hashtags. We follow emotions, memory, curiosity, and people. We don’t follow a clock — we follow our instinct. Our zines will drop not on strict schedules, but when they’re ready to unfold with intention, care, and heart. Expect surprise arrivals, not deadlines. Think of it as slow publishing — the kind that lingers.

So, what is Zibbl? Simply put: Zine + Scribble = Zibbl. It’s a spark of thought. A lovingly crafted musing. A poem, a photograph, a rant, a quiet reflection, an audio story, a fact, or a deep dive into something precious. Each piece you read in this zine is a zibbl — an unfiltered, heartfelt multimedia creation from someone who feels deeply about Goa and its many-layered realities.

Whether you’re Goan born and raised, a neo-inhabitant in love with the way of Goa's life, a curious wanderer, or part of the diaspora aching for home, Zibbl is for you. For anyone who believes stories still matter.

We're not a publication. We're a pulse.

Why people, not categories? You will see that each zine in this booklet has names written on it rather than titles or categories. We thought about doing it the usual way — sections for “culture”, “travel”, “history”… But Zibbl is about connection. About faces and feelings. So instead of sorting our stories into boxes, we decided to highlight the humans behind them. We’re all about the categories people love rather than putting people into categories. Our people write what they love, what they ache for, what they feel needs to be told. When you read a piece, you’re not just reading a topic — you’re entering someone’s world. That’s the kind of intimacy Zibbl wants to foster.

Why print? Because we miss the weight of paper. The quiet of turning a page. The doodles. The magic of pausing. In a world wired for speed, we want you to slow down with us. That being said, we’re not entirely dismissing the digital and are working on it as you read this.

We’re going to play with the zine format — a lot. Each edition of Zibbl is a space for experimentation, so don’t expect things to stay the same. Layouts might shift, packaging may surprise you, and new media will sneak in. Every release is a new creative adventure — and you're invited to discover it with us.

So, what’s inside a Zibblet? (that’s what we’re calling our zine editions — it's Zine + Booklet) 

Expect musings. Poems. Photo essays. Conversations. Deep dives. Unexpected facts. Audio transcripts. Anything that allows us to spill our guts and let Goa breathe through our words and images. Sometimes it’ll be just one zibbl. Sometimes, many. Always honest. Always human.

Why purchase this print zine? Because it’s more than just pages — it’s a labour of love. Every edition takes time, travel, thoughtful storytelling, and fair payment to the artists, writers, and collaborators who bring it to life. Printed with care, sometimes by us and sometimes in collaboration with LAFA — a design-forward stationery studio in Goa — each zine is crafted with material integrity and artistic intention.

Your purchase helps us:
✺ Sustain this independent project without relying on ads or compromising our values
✺ Pay our contributors fairly and support Goa-based creative work
✺ Travel across Goa to meet people and bring you stories that feel real
✺ Explore new formats and media to create immersive, meaningful experiences

By paying a nominal retail price, you’re not just buying a zine — you’re investing in a community of creators, and the preservation of slow, thoughtful storytelling. Thank you for helping us keep Zibbl alive, and printing.

So… who’s scribbling in this zine? Meet the Zibblers:

We’d love for you to know them better.

We’re trying to build something slow and meaningful in a fast, forgettable world. And we would love to invite you to be part of it:

• Write your zibblings to us at response@zibbl.com

• Collaborate with any of our zibblers by emailing their respective email addresses

• Tell your truth

• Scribble with us!

Zibbl is yours too. Let’s carve space for stories that matter. Let’s remember together. Let’s feel something real.