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Tag Archives: Mumbai
Cragganmore, Talisker, Lagavulin, Springbank 18 year
Part of a series of tasting notes from our private whisky club in Mumbai, India. This session was a special pairing of food and whisky.
Tasting notes from 19 Dec 2013:
For the last tasting of 2013, we celebrated with a special whisky-food pairing. Tasting notes were provided to the chef in advance and he was given full license to indulge his creative culinary talents to craft morsels to be complimented by the selected whiskies.
Our approach was to first sniff, swill and sample the whisky then to sip further with food. The idea was to savour both together and distil the flavours. Only after we ate and drank our fill of each course was the whisky revealed. The key was – could the whisky both stand ‘on its own’ and did it enhance the flavours of the food? (more…)
Tis the season to get “marry”ed… again
While tis the season to be merry, winter is also marriage or “shadi” season in India! The temperatures cool and ‘phorun’ (foreign) relatives descend. Peacock bright wedding finery is donned, jewellery polished and coloured envelops stuffed with cash plus one rupee for good luck.
Wedding puja (Photo: Carissa Hickling)
In a true sign of the times, the family wedding we attended on the weekend was 2nd time around for two siblings. All four experienced wedding, divorce and were taking a leap of faith to wed again. The brother and sister decided to tie the knot with their respective loves on the same day, keeping the ceremonies short, sweet and restricted to family. (more…)
Urban Village – I’m not kidding!
There is a delightful contradiction seeing “village” life in the middle of a major metropolis. One of the sister’s from ASK Your Sister was transiting from China to Goa via Mumbai and did a double take:
That guy is walking a goat – it really is a goat not a dog!! Do ya think if I moved back to Nova Scotia I could get a pet goat?? (more…)
“Drive here? Are you nuts!” Cars and re-learning to drive in India
I’m often asked about driving in India… and my response for the longest time was “Drive in India? Are you nuts!?”
My ‘new’ car in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, 1997
Like a typical Canadian teenager, I got my driver’s license in high school. However less typically, it was a decade later before I owned a car – a 2nd hand Toyota Corolla which survived more than one blizzard in Winnipeg. I did a great job accumulating Manitoba Driver’s License merit points not because I was a particularly good driver but simply that I drove so rarely it was nearly impossible to be caught speeding or get into an accident! So when I moved back to Delhi in 2003, bought a cheap 2nd hand Maruti 800, I also splurged on a wonderful bonus – HIRED A DRIVER.
A Canadian friend visited us in India and remarked that driving around the world is a bit like a video game – Canada is the super easy, reasonably polite entry-level and India is one of the most challenging. Here you dodge everything from cyclists to beggars, camels to cows (less so now), and during particularly hot summers, high tempers combined with arrogant driving can lead to deadly disasters. (more…)
Jakarta I miss you!!
As they say “all good things come to an end” and alas my time in Indonesia was cut short as the project took a different direction. I get why and how it happened and have perspective enough to recognize these things just are what they are.
Random Jakarta Mall pic (Photo: Carissa Hickling)
I have zero regrets being involved in the project. It was fabulous working with a great bunch of guys and wish nothing but the best to our client too. We just finished the work remotely on the weekend and… as they say “It’s a wrap!”
The real loss is not being able to explore Indonesia more! During my trips to Jakarta from end July, I kept thinking “next time I’ll be sure to make more time to do XYZ.”
I had even made a commitment that the 3 week November trip would include activities OTHER than work! I had dreams of going “glamping” with a fabulous bunch of gals. I had dinners and various catch ups planned for the December trip. I even had high hopes my partner could join the January trip so we could explore outside of Jakarta together.
It all went puuufffttt! No November trip… no more trips at all… sigh… I’m left with scattered random photos of the few things I did do and…
A brilliant reminder – seize the moment when you can!
So, Jakarta, I do miss you! And would like to come back… I really really do! And next time I promise to take full advantage of the opportunity!!!
In the meantime, I have a few more Indonesia posts to come… yesterday’s “Sidewalk adventures… stumbling to work?” is an example of just how utterly random some of my pics are!
Ever have something cut short before you were ready? (more…)
Music Musings – Carlos Bica and Azur
Carlos Bica, Frank Moebus and Jim Black performed last week at St Andrew’s in Mumbai and are this week’s Music Musings feature!
Carlos Bica, Frank Moebus, Jim Black (Photo: Carlos Bica’s FB page)
There is something about seeing a trio perform that just do their thing – and have been doing it together for 20 years – it shows. Their sound is original and completely their own. Broadly falling under the music category of ‘jazz’, it is … (more…)
Glenlivet’s “The Guardians Chapter”
Warning! While whisky inspired and definitely fuelled the evening, this post is actually not about whisky tasting. Instead it was a gathering generously hosted by Glenlivet in the gorgeous old Camelot Bungalow at Kemps Corner in Mumbai last month.
Camelot by night (Photo: Carissa Hickling)
The evening’s main feature was the stories of fascinating authors’ and the convivial atmosphere engineered by the gorgeous and talented stage and film actress Lillete Dubey and others. (more…)
Music Musings – Sridhar/Thayil’s STD
This Music Musings feature is STD – a remarkable duo from Suman Sridhar and Jeet Thayil. Seems fitting as we’ve enjoyed listening to their CD with them at our recent dinner gathering – what fun!
ShridharThayil (Photo: STD MySpace)
Him – Jeet is an old friend of my partner – known for his edgy poetry, blistering guitar, funky offbeat and outrageous approach. His book Narcopolis was short-listed for the 2012 Man Booker prize and draws one into a different side of Bombay – its addictions, predilections and transformations in the 70s and early 80s.
Her – I first saw Suman on Boxing Day (26 Dec 2010) at an evening gathering of music and merriment in Bandra. Her quirky style and powerful talent blew everyone away – blues, jazz scatting, opera, Hindustani classical… she effortlessly slips between styles seducing and conquering them all.
Them – Together they are a combustible combination… flirting and bending musical styles, mocking and breeching boundaries of conventions, creating a sexy groovy sound that is uniquely theirs. (more…)
Jameson, Green Spot + Redbreast
Part of a series of tasting notes from a monthly private whisky club in Mumbai, India. This session was a special event focused on Irish whiskey.
Tasting Notes from 21 Nov 2013
We departed from our usual format in honour of a couple Irish lads from Jameson. Our evening included Irish whiskey history, making, trivia and tales – including a sniff of malted vs unmalted barley, new make spirit from pot vs column still.
The Jameson lads with their set-up for the eve
The whisk(e)y sampling began with a blind tasting of American, Irish and Scottish: (more…)
Music Musings – Fatoumata Diawara
Compared with Angelique Kidjo, Fatoumata Diawara from Mali was performing this week in Mumbai and is today’s Music Musings feature!
Fatoumata Diawara (Photo: Wikipedia)
Now living in Paris, Fatou’s singing, guitar, dancing and theatricality was mesmerizing. Her sound clearly reflects her Wassaoulou tradition in a folk pop way that deftly weaves a bit of funk, jazz and rock for good measure.
It’s been some time since we’ve seen such a brilliant performer – not just musically talented but also puts on a show. Warms up the audience, charms, beguiles, engages, captivating one and all completely. A born story-teller, she spoke of war, women’s rights, and embracing the world traveling by choice or forced by circumstance.
One of the most entertaining numbers was when she decided to teach everyone the different dance styles of Africa and proceeded to go region and country by country demonstrating each with such joy and abandon! (more…)
Everyday Asia 