Category: – Cities and places

Spotted these boards everywhere inside Lalbagh during a recent walk one rainy evening… Reminded me of this definition of puritanism by Henry Mencken – the haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy. I mean, what are parks and open spaces for, if not for kids to run and play in – and there were… Continue reading An evening at Lalbagh

I am in Chennai now for a couple of weeks – my dad is going through a bypass surgery tomorrow and should be back home just around Diwali time. My moving to Bangalore, good timing – I have been in and out of Chennai the last few weeks keeping my parents company. Now Bangalore, Chennai… Continue reading Namma Chennai?

Everyone claims to be a foodie… Who really is a foodie? Is it someone who likes to eat? who loves to eat? who lives to eat? Or is it someone who just likes interesting food? Or that someone who will drive 25 km for that recommended biryani. Or more for that special kachori. I asked… Continue reading Who is a foodie? Not me…

…sounds so much better than Mumbai monsoon, no? Anyway, the free ride is on and it is a lovely rainy evening and so what better time to head to Marine Drive? The sea link bridge has heavy slow-moving traffic, despite Amul’s latest ad that says ‘no jam, only butter’. I kept my eyes peeled for… Continue reading Bombay baarish…

A version of this was published in the September 17, 2009 edition of Sunday Mid-day. You can read it online here (pdf form) It’s Sunday morning and the roads leading to Chandni Chowk are deserted. We cross the chaotic merry go round of Connaught Place in a trice and head to old Delhi. Where are… Continue reading Morning at Jama Masjid

This month on Himal – The heritage mass market *** In a city where the skyline has long been defined by massive hoarding boards, there was one on Marine Drive a few years ago that captured Bombay’s ethos perfectly. Restless to get ahead, it proclaimed, and that is exactly what the much-touted spirit of this… Continue reading Crawford market calling…

…neither of them mine. hah! gotcha. If you have heard great things about those Thai massages and are dreaming of pretty young things softly caressing your skin with fragrant oils, here is something to make you pause and reflect. Sure you can choose to walk into a dimly lit massage parlour and live out that… Continue reading Massage and marriage in Bangkok

The black horse rides again -this time only for three days – today till Sunday for the Diwali Kala Ghoda festival. Since I go to Max Mueller Bhavan everyday for my German classes, I have been noticing a lot of activity around the area – the artists and sketchers have been up and about, setting… Continue reading Kala Ghoda again