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Tag Archives: Mumbai
Shine On Award!
With the recent project in Jakarta, I’ve been struggling to make time to do anything other than work. So it took a trip home to Mumbai and a little breathing space to say – “Thank you Gina of the fabulous A 4star life for the Shine On Award nomination!”
I can’t miss your blog and its in my “all time favourites” like Zhongguo Jumble, Kiwi Gypsy, Lady of the Cakes, Ottominuti – You folks are my blogging idols!
To accept the award, I need to share random 7 facts about myself (different to earlier award – Liebster) and nominate 15 other blogs I enjoy reading. If I’ve nominated you (ie blogs below), feel free to ‘accept’ and pass on the joy to others! (more…)
Life’s simple pleasures… the joys of doing laundry?
You may think I’m insane… but right now… the simple pleasure of doing my own laundry in my own washing machine is pure bliss! The ritual of putting it up to dry and then taking them down after a few hours to stack in a pile to go to the press wallah tomorrow morning is such a joy!!
The clothing quandry of working professionally away from home in hotels includes:
- Don’t bother to do laundry. If traveling only a few days, imminently do-able. If not… (Most trips now 21 days)
Happy clean clothes drying in the balcony
- Selectively attempt to hand wash and dry in the hotel room (Works for the ahem! ‘unmentionables’ but not everything)
- Live in the same clothes repeatedly (Nope – can’t do!)
- Pack a massive bag and lug around enough clothes to last the entire trip (Generally, if I can’t carry it on the plane myself, don’t to take it!)
- Do send clothes for laundry and live with the consequences
None of these options are ideal. With all my trips back n forth between Mumbai and Jakarta, I’ve tried a modified approach: (more…)
“Can you drop the Indian accent?” – Accents and voice overs
Recently, I did a voice over in Jakarta for an ad pitch. They were looking for a middle-aged woman with a North American accent who could speak with warmth, like a mother to her growing child. Now…
Where the deed was done!
- I’m indeed a ‘native’ English speaker
- I’m certainly from North America (yes the Canadian prairies count!)
- I’m quite happily in my 40s so the right ‘age’ (more or less)
However… I don’t exactly have what you would call a typical ‘Canadian’ accent any more. Truth be told after a decade plus in India, it has more than just a tinge of an Indian lilt.
So given just how Indianized my accent has become, it was no surprise that my friend who arranged the voice recording begged me “Can you please drop your Indian accent?”
Apparently I succeeded in reclaiming my ‘home and native land’ accent. We were able to ‘nail’ the recording in only 5 takes – including options for the client to consider.
Now I’m not a professional at doing voice recordings, so it was an amusing experience however it did prompt me to think about how our accents adapt to our environment. (more…)
Glen Breton, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain
Part of a tasting notes series from a monthly private whisky club in Mumbai, India. This month was my turn to host and it was such a delight having folks home.
Tasting Notes from 22 August 2013
This month we blind tasted three samples before revealing the whisky. We featured: Glen Breton 10 year, Bruichladdich Rocks, Bunnahabhain 18 year with a desert ‘extra’ of White Owl Spiced.
“Home sweet home with nearly a full house”
The sounds of travel… death by baby wail!
Oh those innocent little tykes. Those big dark moist eyes. Those little fingers that fetchingly reach out. Cuteness incarnate until… Mouth opens wide and unleashes…. THE HOWL!!!!
Yes I’ve shamelessly borrowed this from an IDBI Fortis campaign – hope my friends there will forgive!
There is something about flying in and out of India. For that matter most countries with a youthful demographic. There are always kids – LOTS of kids! And in some cases, they have the most amazing lung capacity. One sets another off and soon there is a symphony of screeching.
On my recent trip from Mumbai to Jakarta, I had their sweet serenade from the queue outside the airport, the wait to check-in, then the wait for immigration, followed by the wait for security so that even before stepping foot on the plane… their lungs were clearly well-primed already for the coming concert. My head was throbbing in accompaniment long before we even took off!
These munchkins are champion caterwallers and – alas – can keep it up ALL night. Nothing can hold back the anguished wails. Noise cancellation headsets at ear bleeding levels cannot compete. (more…)
The Glenlivet range, Edradour, El Dorado
Part of a series of tasting notes from a monthly private whisky club in Mumbai, India.
Tasting Notes from 18 July 2013
In a slight departure from our standard format, we tried ‘blind’ four selections in rapid succession before they were revealed. Followed by a 5th whisky and a rum.
“Our host for the evening had a surprise in store! We were warned at the outset there would be 5 samples with four to be tried without revealing the whisky in question until all were tasted.”
Back in Bombay… and straight to Bandra!
Its my first trip home to Mumbai since landing a super cool project in Jakarta. I managed to arrange a flight route (via Bangkok) that permitted me to arrive in time for a friend’s new gallery / event space launch. We reached just as the music began, what joy to be serenaded by a dear friend, munch on macaroon treats, sip wine and generally enjoy terrific company in a convivial atmosphere. Our friend has done well with this new venture!
For those unfamiliar with Bandra, it is a special neighbourhood – a catholic bastion with strong proud traditions that has become rather popular with ex-pats – including those seeking a more ‘regular’ life not bolstered by insane high salaries and expense accounts. You know the type – locally hired foreigners who have chosen to stay and forgo all the ‘extras’ that come with a pampered ex-pat nomadic life!
Particularly the immediate area around Veronica and Chapel road, one can still find old bungalows and a sense of community. The space I found myself just a few hours from landing is one such bungalow… That was falling into complete disrepair until along came friends with a huge labour of love and rather more money than they planned – transforming it into a new avatar – an enchanting space to enjoy for eclectic events and show off funky furniture.
Yes we were a rapt attentive audience!
Oban, Deanston, The Six Isles + Yellow Spot
This is the 1st tasting notes post from a monthly private whisky club in Mumbai, India. We are into our 3rd year and somewhere along the way I became the unofficial ‘scribe’. Hope you enjoy!
Tasting Notes from 20 June 2013
Following our standard format, we blind tasted before revealing the whisky. This month featured: Oban 14 year, Deanston 12 year, The Six Isles and Yellow Spot.
“Oh us fortunate few! What an evening it was!”
Winnipeg Folk Fest Part 2 – With a LOT of help from our friends
I woke up this morning to an email from the Winnipeg Folk Festival asking for my mailing address in India to send a commemorative poster of the 1974 inaugural fest as a thank you for joining the “40 Years of People” workshop. It prompted me to start publishing posts on our recent trip, starting with one I drafted on the flight back from Canada… And missed publishing in the flurry of preparations for the unexpected job in Jakarta. Enjoy!
Goodnight ‘n goodbye all!
It’s officially over and we made it home safe n sound despite our 1st flight being cancelled.
While there are lots to share, want to begin at the end… with a massive heartfelt THANK YOU to many folks who made it possible for us to fly all the way from Mumbai to Winnipeg with zero camping gear. This was luxury camping compared to my old camping stuff (long since wandered way away to better homes).
Here are a few things for which I’m infinitely grateful: (more…)
Adventures in Jakarta apartment hunting
So the Jakarta accommodation saga continues… The “Princess” now has to admit, this hotel is growing on me. After getting out and about a couple of times, realised the ability to walk to the office is PURE GOLD! The gym is well-equipped, the food is good (today’s lunch was gado-gado), staff super nice and the poolside terrace restaurant really quite lovely.
Poolside gado gado – yum!
With a change in room, no more shower head battles, figuring out how to turn the A/C off, making peace with acrobatic contortions under the table to use the single power point, getting the telephone and wi-fi fixed, buying sundry toiletries, am now quite comfortable.
Especially when I started to explore the alternatives… Apartment hunting with Lebaran (Eid al-Fitre) around the corner is well…. just silly! (more…)
Everyday Asia 