The Backpacking Professional
The backpacking professional is a professional whose sense of loyalty in the traditional notion is low and is ready to take off to experience new adventures and discover a new trail. Like the backpacker who has a low commitment to a non institutionalized form of travel, similarly the backpacking professional... Read More
Inclusion: Nature or Nurture? | Puja Kohli
As our awareness of heterogeneity of the world around us increases, we awaken to a kaleidoscope of experiences and stimuli that was buried in our unconscious state of being. We become aware of the smell of the earth after a rainy evening, the sound of the cricket, the freshness of... Read More
Indian Men Love Babies | Mumbai Mum
Ever since Annabelle was born we have been stopped in the street for people to pinch her cheeks, bless her, tell us what we’re not doing right or how she should be dressed. As frustrating as some of these things can be, it is fair to say that Indians, as... Read More
Doting Dads | Mumbai Mum
There is nothing more heartwarming than watching a grown man coo over a baby, especially when it’s yours (and his!). I remember saying to my Mum and Dad before Annabelle was born that I was worried about how having a baby would affect our relationship and would we be able... Read More
Is it a boy or a girl? | Mumbai Mum
I posted this on my facebook status the other day and was amazed with the comments I received back: “I don’t mind when people say “boy or girl?” but when they say “really? It’s a girl?” and she’s dressed in a pink t-shirt and flower power leggings…honestly!” This... Read More
Motherhood | Mumbai Mum
People always say that you look at your mother in a new light once you become a mum yourself. It’s so true. In fact I found a new respect for my mum when we first moved to India. Although I have lived overseas my whole life moving to India with... Read More
Christmas on Lake Ashtamudi (Kollam, Kerala)
Mr Jules and I have just got back from a very lovely few days on Lake Ashtamudi in Kerala. Never have I been anywhere in India where I have felt so relaxed and so far removed from frenetic Mumbai. Even on Lake Vembanad – the best known Keralan lake, the... Read More
Ubiquitous India : No. 1 – The Squat
Today I am starting a new series on my blog called ‘Ubiquitous India’, which will be about everyday objects and actions that you commonly see in India, but perhaps you wouldn’t notice unless you are an outsider. Like me. I have already written several posts about sights that amuse or... Read More
The Freedom Tree – Quirky & Colourful Interiors
A new interiors find! On the way back from the pet shop the other day, I noticed that a new interiors store called The Freedom Tree has opened in place of the grocery shop that was on the corner of 23rd and 28th Road in Bandra. As you know, I... Read More
Vindaloo : A Very Misunderstood Curry
In the UK, ‘having a Vindaloo’ conjures up visions of inebriated Friday nights. Of beer swilling blokes downing ten pints before bundling into their local curry house. And then drunkenly making their selections from a standard anglo-Indian menu whilst competing to see who can eat the hottest curry – inevitably... Read More
Water – The Most Basic Human Need
The other morning, I got talking to our home-help Reetha about her daily routine. As part of that conversation, I asked her about drinking water and water for washing. Mop in hand, she told me that she was lucky because she didn’t have to take a water jar and collect... Read More
The Gandhi Topi
Having seen this side-cap on a lot of working men in and around the state of Maharashtra – I thought I would research and write something about what I now know to be called the ‘Gandhi Topi’ (or Gandhi Cap). A dabbawala proudly wears his Gandhi Topi I firstly thought... Read More
Introducing Bartlet – Our Bombay Puppy
Last Saturday morning, after sturdying myself with a nice sneaked-through-customs-Waitrose-bacon bap, I had taken myself off to the World for All Animal Adoptathon in Bandra. Minus Mr Jules. And just to have a look you understand. I had seen lots of pictures on Facebook of cats and dogs needing homes... Read More
Dinner with Akshay Kumar in Jodhpur (or not!)
A couple of weekends back – we went to Jodhpur for MaximumCityMadam’s birthday-weekend-special – and husbands were invited. I had been very excited at the prospect of visiting the ‘Blue City’ and hoped that the place would exceed my expectations. The Blue City The flight from Mumbai to Jodhpur was... Read More
The Good Juicery : Story of an Expat Entrepreneur
A couple of weekends back, Mr Jules and I attended the Bandra Wine Festival – where after sampling a few glasses of Indian wine in the midday sun, became rather in need of something more refreshing to drink (say no more!) That’s when I came upon the brightly coloured ‘Good... Read More
The Dharavi Cameras – Follow-up News
I received an email today that made me so happy. It concerned the cameras that were donated by followers of the blog to a Reality Gives project – please read this post and this post. To cut a long story short – I went to an exhibition of photographs taken... Read More
Holding our noses at Sassoon Docks
MaximumCityMadam was back in town and it was her birthday. What did she want to do? Visit Sassoon Docks to take photos and ‘take in the atmosphere’ of course! An early morning visit to Mumbai’s oldest docks – at the south end of Colaba Causeway – is certainly not for... Read More
My Mumbai Christmas Shopping Guide
Welcome to my Christmas Shopping Guide 2013 – although you may also find it useful for gift shopping at any time of the year!Christmas shopping in Mumbai can not be mentioned without touching on good old Good Earth and FabIndia. I personally believe that there are lots of little places... Read More
Don’t be alarmed by the Swastika!
The Swastika. A symbol for everything that was bad about World War 2. A symbol that has been banned in much of the western world as a supposed emblem of the Aryan race. A symbol that conjures up hatred, extreme bigotry, suffering and death. However! In India (or indeed Asia)... Read More
The Big Door (Mumbai) : Interiors & Jewellery
Some very large green doors have appeared on Dr Ambedkar Road (next to Pizza Metro). And when I say big, I mean BIG! Passing by yesterday and seeing that the sign to the left of the doors said ‘Heritage, Jewels, Collectibles‘…I was inevitably drawn in. Before entering the store,... Read More