March 08, 2006
Update and Great Photo
I apologize for the long silence. In fact, not much has been happening around here. Well, not much except bird flu, temple attacks, and presidential visits. At this point, nearly two years later, India and Bombay have almost become...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 05:17 AM |
Read Comments (1)
January 12, 2006
I Heart Outsourcing!
Senator John Kerry came to India recently to discuss, among other things, his opinions on outsourcing. During the U.S. elections of 2004, Indians (or at least the Indian media) never quite warmed to Kerry, so I suppose this was a...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:03 PM |
Read Comments (0)
January 11, 2006
Book Bans and Other Stupid Govt Tricks
Bombay is one of the most progressive cities in India. For most intents and purposes, both the New York and L.A. of India. It is also the capital of of Maharashtra, a state that is proving to be more backward...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 07:43 AM |
Read Comments (1)
January 04, 2006
Plus ça change...
I don't think I had ever planned my life beyond 2005, so New Year's 2006 hit me from the out of the blue. We hadn't made any plans for New Years, either, figuring that something low-key would come along. Ha!...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:07 AM |
Read Comments (1)
December 28, 2005
Queen of Clubs
Another sign that Bombay is booming: it seems like a new club opens each week. Since I arrived over 15 months ago, a number of new clubs, including Zenzi, Seijo and the Soul Dish, and Squeeze have opened in Bandra...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:36 AM |
Read Comments (0)
December 14, 2005
The Town of Boiled Beans
Bombay has changed to Mumbai. Madras to Chennai. Calcutta to the much less evocative Kolkata. Now, it looks like Bangalore is jumping on the renaming bandwagon. It intends to change its name to Bengaluru, which means "the town of boiled...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 05:18 AM |
Read Comments (0)
November 11, 2005
Bombay in November
I'm finally back to work after three restful weeks back in the States. Besides traveling around and seeing family and friends, I had the chance to while away a few afternoons in some national and state parks, including Wakulla Springs,...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 09:35 AM |
Read Comments (2)
September 26, 2005
Golden Triangle and Ganpati
September Ho Gaya...September is gone. And I didn't even have much time to blog. I did some traveling - again to the Golden Triangle (see below) - went to a film shoot (see my last post), attended the Elle Decor...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 01:30 PM |
Read Comments (1)
September 15, 2005
Rani, Abhishek, and SRK
Much has been made about a possible link-up between Rani Mukherjee and Abhishek Bachchan, two of Bollywood's biggest stars of the moment. As I've mentioned before, Rani is on a hot streak, having had hits with Black (a remake...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 01:14 PM |
Read Comments (7)
August 29, 2005
The Raj of Wankaner
As Indian states go, Gujarat has a long way to go before becoming tourist friendly. It may be the homeland of many a global Indian (the Patel clan comes from there), but it's lacking in some of the things...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:57 PM |
Read Comments (0)
August 19, 2005
Mangal Pandey: The Rising
No matter what the raging controversy is about the new film about Mangal Pandey, whether it was too harshly anti-British or that Pandey, India's first so-called freedom fighter, was blasphemously portrayed as a having a relationship with a nautch...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 03:33 AM |
Read Comments (1)
August 08, 2005
I'm Not Bajirao
I've often mused at the title of "I'm Not Rappaport," the play-then-film about two men from varying backgrounds coming to terms with the ravages of old age. Even though I've never seen the play or the film, I was always...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:45 PM |
Read Comments (4)
July 28, 2005
The Rainfall and the Fallout
Three days after record-breaking rains brought Bombay to a halt, I'm finally beginning to hear about my friends' and colleagues' unbelieveable journeys. South Bombay, as I've mentioned before, got hit with 7 inches of rain on Tuesday, but, save...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 10:55 PM |
Read Comments (2)
July 27, 2005
Monsoon Update #2
Well, I'm still pretty high and dry here in Bombay. But now I see that the international papers have caught on to our little rain problem. So, it must be a big deal. Actually, it rained about seven inches in...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 05:47 AM |
Read Comments (1)
July 26, 2005
Monsoon Update
Nine hours later and...it's still raining! No flooding where I am, but most of the city is shut down. I guess this is the equivalent of a blizzard, so I'll concede that flooding is inevitable at this point. News...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 10:34 PM |
Read Comments (1)
Now That's What I Call A Monsoon!
I've been pretty unimpressed by the monsoon so far. Sure, it came in with a bang. Then again, the flooding has happened mostly in the suburbs, not in the city. In fact, the weather in Bombay has been mostly overcast...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:24 PM |
Read Comments (0)
July 17, 2005
Bollywood Memorabilia On View
Until last week, visiting museums in this country has been a mostly unsatisfying experience. Luckily, we stumbled upon the last day of a week-long exhibit at the Jehangir Gallery entitled "Revisualising India." Included in the show were pieces from...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 01:33 AM |
Read Comments (1)
July 16, 2005
MTV Desi
In case you missed it, MTV launched its newest offspring the other day: MTV Desi [press release] From my Bombay-entrenched perspective, I'm surprised that it's taken so long to put together the channel. Why not just beam MTV India...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 06:40 AM |
Read Comments (1)
July 12, 2005
A Taste of Goa
Tired of bland veg curries and dals? Think sheekh kebabs are the only non-veg contribution to Indian cuisine? Then, check out Goa. Thanks to the Portuguese, who left their Euro-Christian tastes for meat, Goan menus include beef and the ever-popular...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:17 PM |
Read Comments (0)
July 09, 2005
Goa...Goan...Gone
Why would anyone want to visit Goa, the ultimate beach destination in India, during the middle of the monsoons? I'm sure a lot of people will be asking that when I tell them that Anthony and I visited there...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 10:01 AM |
Read Comments (2)
June 25, 2005
The Rains Are Here to Stay
As I'm sitting here at about 3:15 on Saturday afternoon, the skies are overcast, the peepul and palm trees are swaying, and the rain is taking a short coffee break before coming back to work. The monsoons have arrived...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 06:21 AM |
Read Comments (0)
June 23, 2005
Sania, It Was Really Nothing
Now that summer has ushered in the monsoon, there seems to be hardly any justification for India to use sun-baked haziness as a reason to be blinded by Sania Mirza's incredible mediocrity. Anytime that the young Indian tennis star...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:00 AM |
Read Comments (1)
June 20, 2005
Waiting to Exhale
Bombay is extremely lucky. The rains finally started here on Saturday, albeit late. These rains were to start on June 10, then June 14. Then, mid-morning Saturday, a little thunder rolled in. And with it, a brief respite from the...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:45 AM |
Read Comments (3)
June 07, 2005
Hidden Neighborhood on the Hill
Bombay can be extremely noisy, crowded, and inhospitable at times. But, at other times, you stumble across these tranquil little neighborhoods. One such place is Walkeshwar. Adjacent to glitzy high-rise apartments and old-money bungalows, Walkeshwar is a fisherman's village...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 11:57 AM |
Read Comments (2)
May 21, 2005
Look Out, Galliano: Part 1
Looking online at the spring and summer offerings from the likes of The Gap, Banana Republic, Zara, H&M, etc., I've noticed that just about every store has something inspired by India. Embroidered or sequinned tops, cotton kurtas, long, full...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 01:20 AM |
Read Comments (1)
May 02, 2005
Mango Season!
All I have ever heard about the great Indian mango is true – it is the ripest, freshest, and one of the most enjoyable fruits ever. Forget the scrawny, stringy tasteless Mexican mangoes that we have to settle for...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 01:32 AM |
Read Comments (0)
Mango Season!
All I have ever heard about the great Indian mango is true – it is the ripest, freshest, and one of the most enjoyable fruits ever. Forget the scrawny, stringy tasteless Mexican mangoes that we have to settle for...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 01:32 AM |
Read Comments (0)
April 29, 2005
Same Same - But Different
A week or so before the April 15 tax-filing deadline, I was on the phone with some financial planner guy who was trying to help me out with tax filings and the like. When I mentioned that he couldn’t courier...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:18 AM |
Read Comments (5)
April 12, 2005
Call of the Wild
It's tough being an animal in Bombay, especially now as the sun stays out longer. Crows fight in mid-air over scraps of food. Cats shriek at night below my window. And dogs have that ever-more sleepy hang-dog look as they...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:11 AM |
Read Comments (1)
March 30, 2005
Feasting High and Low
A bout with jaundice - or even a little tummy ache now and again - certainly doesn't encourage adventurous eating. But I am happy to say I am back to enjoying the interesting range of cuisines that Bombay has to...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 09:04 AM |
Read Comments (2)
March 11, 2005
Bombay Makes Headlines
Bombay (Mumbai) makes the U.S. papers thrice in less than a month. Tale of 2 Cities: Mumbai? or Bombay? "Though the membrane between these two cities is permeable, there are plainly two realms, of Bombayites and Mumbaikars, where one name...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 04:14 AM |
Read Comments (0)
March 08, 2005
Finally, the Taj Mahal
The dream is that the rest of India could adhere to the same standards that govern the upkeep of the Taj Mahal. The grounds are well-manicured, with nary a speck of trash, paan (the betel-nut narcotic) is prohibited so...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:56 AM |
Read Comments (0)
February 26, 2005
Awards in the 'Woods
I have a love/hate affair with awards shows. I love watching them to see what people are wearing and who wins, but I usually can't bear the acceptance speeches. Indeed, I love watching the Oscars, and I'll definitely be tuning...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 01:27 AM |
Read Comments (0)
February 12, 2005
Ever Get the Feeling You've Been Ripped Off?
I must say there is one upside to being sick in India: the drugs (and the doctor visits) are very cheap. Not sure if I mentioned before, but I had the best dental cleaning ever while here and it cost...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 03:50 AM |
Read Comments (5)
February 10, 2005
Joys of Jaundice
Fellow misplaced expat Karilyn hit the nail on the head with her recent comment. Indeed, I have come down with jaundice and I'm finally somewhat well enough to sit up straight and write about it. Basically, I have succumbed to...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 07:50 AM |
Read Comments (0)
January 26, 2005
On Republic Day, A Sad State of Affairs
Today's a day off from work, so I can't complain. Nevertheless, I thought I'd "celebrate" Republic Day by following up on the BMC demolition drive. It seems that the BMC wants to delist slumdwellers from the voter rolls because, in...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:14 AM |
Read Comments (0)
January 19, 2005
Tamil Nadu - Open for Business: Part 2
Pondicherry If you really need to take a break from India, then Pondicherry is a good bet. Anthony and I had set our sights on this former French colony long before we came to India, but we weren't sure how...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:56 AM |
Read Comments (0)
Tamil Nadu - Open for Business: Part 1
Less than three weeks after the tsunami hit, I was able to visit Tamil Nadu (TN), the Indian state that, in addition to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, suffered the most damage. Most of the people who died in TN...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 07:35 AM |
Read Comments (1)
January 13, 2005
Bombay Regresses
Just when I start to think that Bombay is a world-class city, ridiculousness ensues. The BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) – the org responsible for overseeing city planning – has recently gone on a rash of demolitions against illegal structures. The...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 03:55 AM |
Read Comments (3)
January 07, 2005
Not Much New in the New Year
Several weeks and a new year since I last wrote, the tsunami has wreaked unimaginable havoc in Asia, though, luckily, not in Mumbai. Many of my friends and family, as well as many people I've never met before, have gotten...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 02:18 PM |
Read Comments (1)
December 29, 2004
How Bloggers and Webmasters Can Help
If you're a member of the Amazon Associates program, then you can provide a link for visitors to your site to donate to the American Red Cross. It's as easy as purchasing a book, and 100% of the proceeds go...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:05 PM |
Read Comments (0)
December 28, 2004
tsunamihelp.blogspot.com
My friend Rohit and some others have set up a blog to help consolidate information on the earthquake, tsunamis, and resulting relief efforts. Great great idea. I hope to put in a little time on the blog providing links to...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 10:12 AM |
Read Comments (6)
December 27, 2004
Wedding, Tsunami
Wedding First of all, I should say that this side of India is doing just fine – so far. The news of the earthquake and tsunamis hit home in a really surreal way, as I spent more than two hours...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 10:27 AM |
Read Comments (1)
December 23, 2004
The Kiss Seen Round the Subcontinent
I can't believe I'm even going to comment on this, as it's a ridiculous tabloid issue. But the big media news around here for the last week or so has been the outrage over a celebrity kiss caught on a...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 02:46 AM |
Read Comments (1)
December 16, 2004
Swades Premier
Law 36 of the 48 Laws of Power states, "Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them Is the Best Revenge." Admittedly, I have regarded the whole Bollywood scene with a bit of disdain, and I've tried my damnedest to...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 01:19 AM |
Read Comments (4)
December 13, 2004
Oh Christmas Tree
No one ever said finding a Christmas tree in Bombay would be easy. But that's exactly what we set out to do this past weekend....Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:01 AM |
Read Comments (1)
December 12, 2004
La Traviata
Sometimes I have very good luck, such as I did this weekend when I scored two, last-minute, free tickets to see 'La Traviata' at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA). The event was part of the whole...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:31 PM |
Read Comments (0)
December 09, 2004
It's just too easy
A delightful Bollywood jab in this week's Onion: Bollywood Remake Of Fahrenheit 9/11Criticizes Bush Administration Through Show-Stopping Musical Numbers Yeah, making fun of Bollywood is just too easy sometimes. Of course, I'm not the only one who does it. There's...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:03 PM |
Read Comments (1)
December 07, 2004
Cooking in an Indian Kitchen
Looking back from India, it's amazing the kinds of things we (Americans, Europeans, others) take for granted each time we're in the kitchen. I had one of those moments the other day when I was roasting peppers. The peppers had...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 09:18 AM |
Read Comments (2)
December 02, 2004
Blissed Out
So I have to apologize for being out of touch for over a week, but I have a good excuse...I finally found a yoga instructor. Yeah, you'd think that finding a yogi in India would be easy. (You certainly see...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 10:41 AM |
Read Comments (2)
November 21, 2004
Visiting Vasco in Cochin: Part 2
Late Sunday afternoon was time to go on our guided tour of Cochin. After a stop to view the shore, some shady rain trees, and the Chinese fishing nets (a row of big nets attached to cranes that were...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 03:24 AM |
Read Comments (0)
November 20, 2004
Visiting Vasco in Cochin: Part 1
One of my favorite dialogues from Seinfeld has to be the one where Jerry and George discuss their favorite explorers. [mp3] Jerry likes Magellan. George likes DeSoto: Jerry: What did he do? George: Discovered the Mississippi. Jerry: Like they wouldn't...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:47 AM |
Read Comments (1)
November 18, 2004
Kerala: Boating on the Backwaters
The second leg of our Kerala weekend took place aboard a Kettuvalam, or houseboat. Historically, Kettuvalams were used to transport rice, coir, or other products down the Keralan backwaters. But most of the ones you'll see these days have...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 11:28 AM |
Read Comments (1)
November 16, 2004
Escape to Kerala
It's a true testament to a place when, after arriving, you feel that you never want to leave. That was my first impression of Kerala. The state on the southern tip of India is greener than green, with an...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 10:24 AM |
Read Comments (1)
November 10, 2004
The Holidays Are Here
Bombay has been incredibly merry for the past several weeks because of Ramzan (aka, Ramadan) and the run-up to Diwali. In fact, Bombay has sort-of lived up to its name: BOMB-Bay. Neighborhood kids are setting off massively loud fireworks...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:50 PM |
Read Comments (0)
November 08, 2004
The Hottest Tickets in Bombay
There was only one way to ease our sorrows last Wednesday night after we realized the inevitable, and that was to drink. And eat. Luckily for us, the reopening of the club Enigma came on a night when we needed...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 10:51 AM |
Read Comments (0)
October 30, 2004
Getting to Know India: Top 10
Before I switch to full-on U.S. election monitoring mode (my nerves are already a wreck, compounded by the fact that I'm currently reading Dude, Where's My Country), I thought I'd reflect on the past two months in India. Gosh...it's already...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 06:46 AM |
Read Comments (0)
Costumes Everywhere but Nothing to Wear
Mumbai has great shopping: clothing, jewelry, furniture, fabrics, books, you name it. And, of course, there are great bargains to be found if you know where to look. The one thing I really admire about the culture here, at least...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 05:13 AM |
Read Comments (0)
October 26, 2004
Maharashtra's Konkan Coast: Day 2
Day 2 Could there be anything better than starting your day with a fresh, hot butter dosa? We went back to KBR's outdoor terrace for breakfast around 9:30 on Saturday morning and it was already about 90 degrees outside. The...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:42 PM |
Read Comments (0)
October 25, 2004
Maharashtra's Konkan Coast: Day 1
Good news. You don't have to go all the way down to Goa to find swimmable waters and clean beaches. Maharashtra's Konkan Coast has some surprisingly nice beaches, too. Faced with a long weekend, Anthony and I were desperate...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 06:35 AM |
Read Comments (1)
October 21, 2004
Dussehra sara'...whatever will be...
Alas, the Yankees couldn't pull it off against the Red Sox last night, er, this morning. So, the only thing that could possibly soften the blow of a Yanks loss is...a day off of work. Woohoo! Tomorrow is Dussehra here...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 09:54 AM |
Read Comments (0)
October 19, 2004
India's "Robin Hood" Dead at 52
The huge news over here today is the demise of Veerappan, one of India's most-wanted bandits. His stock-in-trade was endangered animal byproducts and sandalwood. (Only in India would someone make a name for himself smuggling sandalwood--does anyone born after 1960...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 10:22 AM |
Read Comments (0)
October 17, 2004
This is Not Brazil
I understand that some of you are under the impression that I'm in some exotic, beachfront paradise. Some of you have seen pics of us on the beach and have wondered why we're not in our swimsuits. Let me...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 04:04 AM |
Read Comments (1)
October 15, 2004
'Bride and Prejudice'
I just got the October issue of Vogue and there's a ton of stuff in there about Bollywood. Most notably, there's mention of "Bride and Prejudice," the new movie from Gurinder Chadha (the director of "Bend It Like Beckham")....Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 11:07 AM |
Read Comments (1)
October 12, 2004
Day Trip from Mumbai: Lonavala and the Karla Caves
We had the day off on Monday, so decided to take a day trip to Lonavala, site of some hill stations and the ancient Buddhist Karla Caves. Located about two hours outside of the city, Lonavala is for city...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 11:12 AM |
Read Comments (1)
October 05, 2004
Who's Who in Bollywood: The Men
Apparently, I've been spending way too much time in front of the computer, so I've been cutting back. In surfing's stead, I've been reading quite a few magazines and newspapers, which, around here, are chock full of entertainment news. In...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:34 PM |
Read Comments (0)
October 02, 2004
Gandhi's Birthday
I would be remiss if I didn't also mention before I blog off that today marks the 135th anniversary of Mohandas Gandhi's birth. So, here's a nice link to the Mani Bhavan Gandhi Sangrahalaya (aka Gandhi Museum). Peace....Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 01:26 PM |
Read Comments (0)
Back in the Bombay Groove
It's true that despite how crazy/upsetting Bombay can be, it can also be quite pleasant. The past few days have been hectic, but enjoyable. And even though I have had down days (with respect to poverty, misery, Delhi Belly, etc.),...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:35 PM |
Read Comments (0)
September 29, 2004
'Trying Really Hard to Like India'
I think Slate's Seth Stevenson is one of the best writers out there: hilarious, concise, and a with a sarcasm that I can appreciate. He's most famous for writing the webzine's Ad Report Card, which is probably the only...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 11:10 AM |
Read Comments (1)
September 28, 2004
Ganpati Immersion Day on Chowpatty Beach
Alternative names for today's post: Taj Mahal, Schmaj Mahal, or So, This is What One Million People Looks Like Alas, the days of Ganpati 2004 are over, after an exuberant night of immersions, marigold tossing, and general revelry. The crowds...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 09:25 AM |
Read Comments (0)
September 24, 2004
Barefoot in the Dark
Every night of the past week has been set to a soundtrack of tablas and cymbals, with groups of men, women, and children dancing to the beat on the way to immerse Ganesha. Despite the heat and humidity, it...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 09:00 AM |
Read Comments (2)
September 22, 2004
Mumbai Dining, In and Out
Admittedly, I haven't been the healthiest of eaters since arriving in Bombay almost a month ago. I've eaten well, of course, but I've also drawn a complete blank about what I used to eat back home. You see eggplants, tomatoes,...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:07 PM |
Read Comments (0)
September 20, 2004
Glimpses of Ganesha
Not a whole lot of time for me to debrief you today, as I'm writing just before heading off to work. Nevertheless, I wanted to send you a few pics that I captured last night of some of the Ganesha...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 11:17 PM |
Read Comments (0)
"Maximum City" Worldwide Launch
So again I find myself in the right place at the right time with the launch of the newest tome of nonfiction on Bombay entitled Maximum City: Bombay Lost and Found. It's a book I read about in the...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 02:35 PM |
Read Comments (0)
September 17, 2004
Jonesing for a Burger
Okay. So I did it. I haven't been here more than three weeks, and I got this outrageous craving for a burger today. I think it's because I was emailing my former colleagues at the Diner and it got me...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 09:25 AM |
Read Comments (1)
Getting Ready for Ganesha
I couldn't be in Mumbai at a better time than now, just before the big Ganesha Festival. "Ganeshotsav" is a ten-day festival that starts tomorrow, September 18th. The purpose of the festival is to worship Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 02:08 AM |
Read Comments (0)
September 16, 2004
Not Quite What They Meant, Part 1
So, this snack company's slogan is "Great taste that's a hundred years old!" I can't help but be reminded by my friend Lou pointing out the German beer purity law - the Reinheitsgebot - and the fact that it...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:24 AM |
Read Comments (0)
September 13, 2004
Colaba, Kala Ghoda, and Cricket
This weekend was exhausting. It was time to get out and explore some of the city, so that's what we did, even in light of my tummy's protests. Saturday was spent in Colaba, the neighborhood at the south end...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:12 AM |
Read Comments (0)
September 11, 2004
Mumbai's Towers of Silence
I live not far from one of the more eerie landmarks in Mumbai. Unfortunately, because I am not a Parsi, I will never get to visit the Towers of Silence. The Parsi (aka, Zoroastrian) community fled religious persecution in Iran...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 02:46 AM |
Read Comments (1)
September 10, 2004
Bhagavad Clinton?
Not too much going on today, as I've got a case of Delhi Belly - or so they call it. Luckily, medicine is super cheap here. I paid a little less than $2 for a series of antibiotics and some...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 04:37 AM |
Read Comments (0)
September 09, 2004
Janmashtami: Lord Krishna's Birthday
I think that one thing I will need to get used to in Mumbai is that random festivals will spring up without any notice. Take, for instance, Janmashtami, a celebration in honor of Lord Krishna's birthday. I was awoken...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 07:18 AM |
Read Comments (1)
September 08, 2004
Day Trip from Mumbai: Matheran
Over the weekend, we went to a hill station outside of Mumbai called Matheran. Indians like to travel to these hill stations high in the mountains to breathe in the fresh air and escape the heat of the city....Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 11:48 PM |
Read Comments (0)
September 03, 2004
Getting Easier
It's amazing how much easier life in Mumbai can be when you have your own driver. Ours started today, and I'm relieved. We may be scooting around in the Honda Civic for the time being, but at least the rides...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:08 AM |
Read Comments (2)
September 02, 2004
Namaskar Mumbai Se!
And on the first few days I saw: 1 vulture 1 lizard 3 Cows (1 of which was hitched to a cart at the beginning of the evening rush) Several bats Dozens of stray dogs Mumbai is wild and for...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 08:50 AM |
Read Comments (0)
August 24, 2004
Next Stop: Bombay
This has been a long time coming, this posting. But the past month has been too hectic to keep up. Intensive Hindi classes, packing, and saying goodbye to everyone has taken it's toll. Now, I'm just hanging out in New...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 11:00 AM |
Read Comments (0)
June 18, 2004
On to India
So, I will let you in on a little secret. In less than three months, I will be moving to Mumbai (formerly Bombay), where for the next little while I hope to derive travel writing inspiration from the Indian metropolis'...Read this update
Posted by Melanie at 12:21 PM |
Read Comments (1)