Home » Articles posted by Carissa Hickling (Page 21)
Author Archives: Carissa Hickling
The “Real” Mentalist – Lior Suchard
I’m a closet TV series addict. As much as we enjoy being out n about, nothing beats curling up at home and watching a good show. Or occasionally even a not so good show. 😉
The Mentalist Poster
And sometimes all you crave is fluffy filler type stuff – predictable shows following a formula that you can follow without full attention.
So, as I’ve been doing a variety of mundane tasks at home, my current companion is The Mentalist.
It is perfect – enough dialogue to follow without really watching. Between various updates, I can glance up and watch for a bit then get back to the main task at hand.
A bit of an irony considering the premise of the series is a brilliant guy (Simon Baker) who is able to solve crimes through his powers of observation and mental manipulation.
It also accepts that with these elements, adding a dash of distraction, a drop or two of research, one gives the impression of having psychic powers.
So when invited to see real live mentalist – Lior Suchard – how could I resist? Especially as it was a private function with promise of single malt and good food! (more…)
The good, the bad and the ugly – India’s air pollution exposed by Obama’s visit
Why does it take the visit of the US President Barack Obama to highlight that India has a serious air pollution problem?
Some may have missed a small footnote in the excitement over the US President’s visit. It was initially suggested Obama, chief guest at India’s Republic Day Parade, should remain indoors as the air quality levels is hazardous to his health?! Naturally you can’t be chief guest at an outdoor parade without being… well.. outdoors! But at last there followed a series of articles in the press about just how bad pollution levels are in India. (more…)
Makar sakranti / pongal feast
You know it is makar sakranti when every street corner in Mumbai is bursting with kites.
Known as makar sakranti in Maharashtra and pongal in Tamil Nadu, it is a time to celebrate the end of winter with flying kites and feasting!
It is also a time to get rid of the old and welcome the new. (more…)
Avehi Abacus at Mumbai Marathon
Yesterday all over Mumbai folks woke up with extra aches and pains but satisfied smiles despite feeling stiff all over!
Sunday was the 12th annual Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon (SCMM). One of the largest marathons in Asia and India’s largest non-profit fundraiser platform.
Clearly I’m not currently marathon material at the moment, however my partner volunteered to support the Avehi Abacus Project by participating in the 6 km “Dream Walk”. (more…)
Whisky Lady – January Journal
It is Friday night and for you whisky drinkers, time to make you jealous!
Some may recall I decided one of my vices passions deserved its own little home. Thus Whisky Lady was born.
I also promised to share whisky posts here only once a month…
My 1st monthly malt missive is a bit of a catch up so bear with me!
Last night we kicked off the new year with: (more…)
How bad theatre results in a great eve
We’ve seen some terrific theatre over the last few months… but it can’t always be a complete hit or ‘wow’ reaction!
No surprise, a recent new production that SHOULD be good was actually a dud.
The audience was so collectively stunned that when the lights dimmed at the end of the performance, there was a resounding silence. Followed by an uncomfortably polite smattering of lacklustre applause.
No… I will not give further details or trash the folks involved – they were clearly sincere in their efforts. It just did NOT work. (more…)
Answering the annual update – personal + professional
There was a time when Christmas cards stuffed with hand-written letters and photos would be dutifully mailed off annually to near and dear. These were replaced by an email with a carefully crafted newsletter attachment. You know what I’m talking about – a couple of pages chock full of photos, a bit of bragging about accomplishments, glossing over tragedies, making recipients just a wee bit green with jealousy?
However when you live the other side of the globe from where you grew up, these updates fill more than a few gaps. For example, my spunky and precocious niece turns nine tomorrow – for her entire life she knows only that she has a ‘crazy aunt Carissa’ living in India who pops ‘home’ for a visit every year or so. Not once have we lived in the same place. Let’s just say – I miss a lot! Which makes my sister’s ‘Holiday Missive’ all the more precious. (more…)
2014 in review
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 16,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 6 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Sanctuary Asia Awards – Inspiring and humbling affair…
Drive anywhere in Mumbai these days, you will see large billboards with DSP Blackrock featuring incredible images of tigers and the company’s support for the Sanctuary Wildlife Awards.
Sanctuary Photography Special Mention – Aditya Singh’s In Safe Jaws
It is easy to be cynical in this world yet I must say Sanctuary Asia magazine and its annual award ceremony was an incredibly inspiring, moving and deeply humbling affair.
We were fortunate to meet Bittu Sahgal at a friend’s wedding – a remarkable human being whose genuine passion for preserving nature’s creatures and habitat is infectious!
Beautifully hosted by the enchanting Dia Mirza, the entire ceremony saluted the stories of so many people making a difference.
A few highlights: (more…)
Our Christmas Eve Love Story
Three years ago I was invited to a Christmas Eve party at Christmas Eve Building hosted by theatre personality / advertising guru Alyque Padamsee.
Little did I know how one evening would change my life.
You see… that was when I met my partner.
Who is that masked man??
From the very first moment, there was something.
The next day a friend and I dropped by Christmas lunch at his home where I met his mother, extended family and friends. Instantly plunged into his nearest circles.
Fuzzy 1st date pic!
Our first ‘date’ was that evening at the Bandra Gymkhana Christmas ball. Can it get any better than a debonair man sweeping you off your feet?
Mad New Year’s Party in Bangkok
A few days later we flew to Bangkok for New Years. This wasn’t a fancy resort trip, it was to spend time with my adopted family – three siblings, their partners, five kids, parents, two maids and a rambunctious dog in the suburbs. As one sister warned “If he can survive this madness, he’s a keeper!”
Bangkok romance
By the time we returned, we had skipped past all the normal dating rituals and started to look for a place to live together.
We just knew… it was that simple.
Cousin’s wedding in Calgary
It was the best thing that ever happened and today I give thanks for taking a chance on love and being blessed with such an amazing partner. We enrich each others lives and I am looking forward to a lifetime of adventures together.
Together in New York
PS – In June 2017 we formally tied the knot with immediate family and a few friends in Winnipeg, Canada. And the journey together continues…
Winnipeg wedding..
Related posts:
Everyday Asia 