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Big B in Bandra

India’s greatest superstar of all time remains the “Big B.”

For those who never heard of Bollywood (is that possible?), Amitabh Bachchan, is the ‘angry young man’ who took Hindi films by storm in the 1970s and 80s. Who made “Kaun Banega Crorepati” (Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?) the ONLY show you heard blaring from every single home, with streets deserted so all and sundry could be glued to the TV set. Who remains film royalty even in his 70s.

Amitabh Bacchan (Aug2013)

Part of the Bollywood Art Project, this image can be found strolling along the bi-lanes of Bandra.

Other Sunday Snaps:

“When is duck not duck?” In Bombay

So… when is duck not duck?

It could be a fish if you live in Mumbai!

I first had ‘Bombay Duck‘ in New York when visiting a Parsi friend from Mumbai. It was masala dried – stinky, chewy, very different but also quite good.

Then I moved to Bombay and discovered fresh bombil, deep-fried is beyond yum! If ever asked what goes superbly with a chilled beer? The answer is ‘Bombil Fry‘ aka ‘Bombay Duck.’

When a duck ain't a duck

When a duck ain’t a duck

Bombil  is actually a lizardfish… uh yeah… this duck is now actually a lizard? What is it with the misleading names and this fish?

It is rather popular with folks from Maharashtra… and the dried form is privately ‘smuggled’ across borders – hence my tasting contraband ‘Bombay Duck’ in New York back in the early 90s.

Any food in your ‘hood’ with a misleading name?

I’ve also come across :

Other Sunday Snaps:

Vienna Store’s Elephant Sized Surprise

Once upon a time there was a humble store on Hill Road in Bandra, Mumbai, India.

Then along came an artist who transformed it into a great big happy blue elephant! Festooned with red, this pachyderm attracts smiles from passerbys.

Vienna Store

Vienna Store, Bandra, Mumbai

A young friend recounted the tale how excited she was to check out this amazing quaint little place.

And what exactly is it? A cheerful cafe? A cute curio shop? An artful daycare?

Nope!

It sell eggs. As in wholesale eggs. As in cartons and cartons of eggs. That’s it.

They say not to judge a book by its cover but… in this case one can be forgiven for not instantly connecting elephants with eggs!

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Punjabi khaana in Delhi!

When traveling, a gal has got to eat! In 2015, I had several trips to Delhi. Normally I keep it a quick ‘grab and go’ kinda meal unless it is a sit down business lunch or dinner.

However during my December trip, with the chill in the air and a little time on my hands between meetings I had a ‘proper’ sit down Punjabi lunch with chole (chickpeas), laccha parantha, pickles and salad. It was simple and completely satisfying!

Punjabi lunch

Punjabi lunch

Now I’ve ordered hot chole bhatura from a local dhaba in Bandra and have even been known to make it at home from time to time… however it is just not the same as the spicy tangy incredibly delicious version most joints make in Delhi.

There are lots of other amazing Punjabi dishes… any other favourites out there? Ones that are simply not quite the same outside of either someone’s home or a particular location?

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“It’s the coconut man!” in Delhi

One of the delights about living in Asia is access to an array of fresh food. Pure and unadulterated.

In Canada if you want coconut water? You get it from a can or a drink box imported from Asia.

In India, if you want coconut water? The coconut man brings it fresh to your door.

You can sip it with a straw or even have it in a glass if you prefer (why?).

He’ll then ask if you want the ‘meat’ and proceed to take part of the coconut shell to scoop out and roughly chop all that good stuff so it is easy to eat as is or store to have later.

Practically everything from the coconut can be used.

2015-12-18 Coconut man

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“What the heck?” in Mumbai

Are these a new art installation? Some fancy creative contraption? Preparing for the space age piping?

All around our building these shiny new objects attached themselves to our pipes…

2015-12-21 Mayur Rats

2015-12-21 Mayur Rats2

For those not familiar with life in Mumbai, you may be forgiven for your confusion.

After all, their purpose may simply not be required in your parts.

However for us? Let’s just say there was more than one reason we decided to welcome a kitten into our home. It was also in hopes that she would be a good mouse (or rat… or bandicoot) catcher!

Particularly since all the construction, let’s just say that the rodents of the neighbourhood have become rather adept at scurrying up our pipes. Those of us on the lower floors in particular are prone as they climb up and then hop through windows into homes full of all sorts of goodies.

But since these suckers came up? Not one rodent. Phew! Simple yet effective.

Any other unique ways of keeping rodents and other pesky creatures at bay in your home?

“This table is reserved!” in Singapore

You can be forgiven for thinking that someone ‘Oops!’ left their wallet behind.

But nope! This is instead a small indication that this table has been reserved while folks go get their meal. It could be a packet of tissues, a ticket stub, a phone, keys, practically anything!

2015-12-03 Singapore Reservation

Have you ever encountered something similar to reserve a seat or table where you live?

Or is this just a terribly considerate honest approach possible only in Singapore?

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Introducing Sunday Snaps

Over the last few years, I’ve snapped a lot of random pictures that capture a short story or glimpse into everyday life both in Bombay, in my travels around India and Asia.

Most of them end up my DropBox photos folder – neatly labeled by year, month and location. In short – stored but forgotten.

Then along came a notice warning me that my ‘free’ extra 48 GB was expiring. Dropping me from 57 GB of space to 9 GB. And my current ‘usage’ a whopping 43 GB. Oops!

Sure I could just dump everything on a hard drive and be done with it. However I decided to do a little photographic ‘spring cleaning’… deleting many, saving a few and selecting a choice pic or two to share these ‘everyday’ images.

Welcome to ‘Sunday Snap Stories’…. just an image (or two) with a simple thought (or story) to share a little insight into something you could stumble across around the corner from home in Bandra, Mumbai or traipsing around India.

First up? A typical Mumbai skyline shot of the Bandra-Worli SeaLink taken from a friend’s home.

Sealink

PS This also celebrate’s Everyday Asia’s 300th post! Woo hoo!!

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