26 Nov 2007

I was SO grateful

Well, maybe not grateful that Christopher had kept me out until 3am the night before, but grateful I could celebrate a meal with Jess, Trond, Ben and Tim. Friends who make this London adventure much more bearable, champagne-soaked and immensely fun.

And now, my liver needs a rest.

18 Nov 2007

Namaste!



I spent four days in Mumbai for a conference. The Grand Hyatt was luxury. I marvelled at the food, especially the dal which Shweta laughed was a common staple anyone in India could make. Drank martinis in the lounge bar with a glamorous Bombay crowd. Ate lobster and an unusual stuffed pancake in the Chinese restaurant. But it was a citadel and I knew not a genuine experience of Mumbai.

Images of Mumbai

So I spent a day in South Mumbai, mostly around Colaba. It was overwhelming. The people, the noise, the traffic, everything is shambolic chaos. It's tropically beautiful, green, colourful, bursting with life. People spill out of stalls into streets diving between cars and buses. The traffic is heartpoundingly aggressive. Ibrahim, my chauffeur was very brave. I only once or twice shrieked when we dove in between cars. Ibrahim, unnecessarily apologising for his excellent English, gave a running commentary of the city, and his life in it supporting his six siblings. Without him I would know almost nothing about what I saw, so I was very grateful.

The city is crumbling, tropical, beautiful and heartbreaking. There are so many people living on the street on mats, sleeping in cars or in built up slums. Makeshift shelters are strung over anything available. Families bathe on the streets. The poverty is distressing, humbling, challenging. I lasted five hours before it exhausted me. It reminded me to be grateful for so much we take for granted.

What did I manage to see? The Gateway of India. Marine Drive. The Taj hotel. The national museum. Jain Temple and the house where Mahatma Gandhi lived.

It's a vibrant place - the colour, the music, the commotion. I won't soon forget it. I hope I never will.

4 Nov 2007

Testing

New domain host, new hosting server, new new new