Archive for the ‘travel’ Category

Recognize those painted curbs?  Those are Santas doing wheelies in Mumbai!

Are those Santas in dhotis?

A country of paradoxes indeed:

Beautiful shot:

All I want for Christmas is…onions?  Santas distributing free onions in Amritsar.

Images: Times of India, Matchless Gifts UK, Google Images, BBC News, 2Space

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Did your family have one of these?  We had the mustard yellow (which still lurks somewhere in my parents’ attic) – and oh, the memories – to India, to weddings…

Like everyone didn’t know what was in there.

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And quite possibly the most beautiful picture I’ve ever seen of a Hindu temple – photo credit goes to Trey Ratcliff of Stuck in Customs.

It’s the Prambanan Temple in Central Java, Indonesia – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest Hindu temple in Southeast Asia.  It celebrates the Trimurti – with main shrines dedicated to Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu.  It is also where the famous Ramayana Ballet is performed – which I am determined to take the kids to see when they are older.

A stunning Hindu temple set amidst the jungles of Indonesia…really, it’s like something out of a dream.

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Would I fly 11 hours just to lunch at a restaurant?  I would for this one.  Dishoom is a vintage Bombay cafe located in London – an ode to those original gathering places which dotted Bombay of yore.  Places (as described by Dishoom) of “faded elegance” that “welcomed all – rich businessmen, sweaty taxi-wallahs and courting couples” and where “Students had breakfast. Families dined. Lawyers read briefs. Writers found their characters.”

Though the original Bombay cafes are disappearing, Dishoom brings back the nostalgia of those Bentwood chairs and slow-turning fans at what’s fast becoming one of London’s hippest eateries.  Even their name (so artfully chosen) is a nod to vintage Bollywood – it means, in part, “The old Bollywood sound effect produced when a hero lands a good punch, or when a bullet flies through the air.”

I’m drooling over their menu: a spicy Bombay Omelette, Pau Bhaji, Black Daal…..And of course drinks – Bhang Lassi, Nimbu Pani and a whole host of “Tipples” such as the Bollybellini (a rose, lychee and rasperry Bellini).

During the summer months, they also operate Dishoom Chowpatty Beach at London’s South Bank – where you can get your Golas (it’s been a LONG time since I’ve have one of those!) and dine and drink on the beach – jugaad style.  (Jugaad, they say, is a kind of up-cycling – as you can see from their creative re-use of old freight pallets, reclaimed seating and many other details that would tickle the folks at Re-Nest with design delight.)

And of course, you can get your Limca and Thums Up!  Meet me there?

All images via Dishoom

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I met an Indian from Mauritius once .  I can’t recall exactly when or where, but I do remember scratching my head and coming home to consult my atlas.  I wasn’t sure exactly where Mauritius was.  (It’s an island just east of Madagascar.)

Turns out 68% of the population of Mauritius is of Indian descent (according to the 1997 census) – a surprising number most likely due to the fact that the island was a fromer British colony.  In fact, the current Prime Minister of Mauritius – Dr. Navin Ramgoolam - descends from Bihar and is a Hindu.

The main languages are Mauritian Creole, English and French and the government mandates that all students also study an “oriental language” such as Hindi, Urdu, Telugu, Tamil, Marathi or Chinese.

I’d certainly want to explore this Creole-French-African-Indian island paradise (and stay and spa at the The Oberoi Mauritius – pictured above).  I can only imagine what tasty fusion food could be found there:  French Indo-Chinese perhaps?

Images via The Oberoi Mauritius

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I’m travelling (in my head) today – to Dehradun.  How I would love to be driving up that Mussoorie road (pictured above).

Dehradun is one of those places I’ve always wanted to spend time in but can never quite make it to.  Scenicly nestled in the Himalayas, this capital city of India’s newest-created Uttarakhand state is also home to some of India’s most prestigious educational institutions – including the Indian Military Academy (where my father-in-law was) and The Doon School, a breading ground for future leaders of India (Rajiv Gandhi went here).  Historically, Dehradun is said to be the birthplace and residence of Drona – esteemed guru to the Pandavas and Kauravas.

I’d peg Dehradun for an outdoorsy-vacation:  trekking, biking and swimming, with minor visits to local temples and the 107-foot Buddha statute built by Tibetan refugees.  Some day I will make it up there…

Image via dehradun.nic.in

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We just returned from a week-long vacation in Vancouver with friends and are wishing we could have brought that city’s multi-cultural ethos home with us.  Of course the L.A. area where we live is one of the true melting pots in the U.S., but did you know Vancouver’s Public Library (Main Branch) has signs in 6 languages – including Punjabi!

Yes, we took in the beautiful vistas and ate wonderful food – and in between it all there was bhangra.  We heard it in restaurants, cabs, music stores and on the Punjabi TV channel in our hotel room.  The Museum of Vancouver even had a groundbreaking Bhangra.me exhibit – an amazing display of photographs, archival video and of course music and dance that tells a universal story of the South Asian diaspora.  (If you’re in the area, it runs until October 23 – don’t miss it!)

Of course there is more to Punjabi music and dance than bhangra – but it’s an element of Punjabi culture that my kids love.  One CD is enough liven-up a boring afternoon for hours!  No surprise then that when we were in Vancouver, it was the music that carried our days and our memories.  So this month “bha” is for “bhangra.”

What started as a folk dance to celebrate the harvest is now a global phenomenon.  Check out this hilarious video from dance group Signature on Britain’s Got Talent (it’s NOT just Billy Jean, trust me):

There are even specialized bhangra classes for toddlers and beyond (including NamasteKidz in Los Angeles and NYC Bhangra in NY/NJ ).  And these little kids from the UK are simply adorable with their bhangra moves (click on image to play):

Images: Museum of Vancouver (top of post) and 4×4 Bhangra (figure re: parts of dress)

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Image by Madhu Reddy – The India Tube

Is it Indian?  Turkish?  Greek?  Well, it’s all of those things – and, oh, throw in Islamic, Persian, Rajputana and Deccani styles and techniques of architecture too. 

They’re the Paigah Tombs in Hyderabad – constructed for the Paigah nobles, relations of the Nizam’s who were married into the lineage.  The Paigah’s were great patrons of arts, literature and sports.

The tombs span some 40 acres and you’ll find marble facades, intricately-carved lattice work, Hindu-temple-inspired columns and Arabic inscriptions.  Perhaps an embodiment of all that influenced India.

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Oh, you 3-wheeled wonder, How do I miss thee?  You have room enough for 5 laddoo-sized adults and their offspring.  You zip and you zoom, but by God’s Grace, you seldom topple.  You have the omniscience to make sure to hit all potholes, old and new, on any road you travel.  You are an indispensible part of the Indian Experience.  Thank you.

So this past weekend, my son and I spent a few hours ogling over our Tour du Monde canvas that arrived on Friday (yes, hours -  he is simply enthralled by it).  He happened to notice a curious graphic over the approximate area of Pakistan and asked “what’s that?”  I told him it was an auto-rickshaw, that it had 3 wheels and that people in India ride in them all the time.  He gave me this look of utter astonishment, as though saying, “I can’t believe you kept this a secret from me for so long, Mommy.  How could you not apprise me, a covetous connoisseur of all motorized land objects, of the existence of this 3-wheeled vehicle????”

And so began our web search for “all things auto“…

First, toy autos can be purchased here.

A curious interview with a tech-savvy auto driver – who has his own website!

(Image by The Hindu)

Funny cartoon entitled Anatomy of an Indian Autorickshaw, apparently from a T-Shirt.

Autos on strike:

For about €1600, you can enter the Richshaw Challenge – an auto rickshaw race (of sorts) that’s organized by Chennai Event Management Services.

A decked-out auto, probably decorated for Diwali or a wedding.  Interestingly, the Rickshaw Challenge folks seem to work with Pimp My Shaw, offering custom paint jobs, upholstery and sound systems for autos.

(Image by Anurag Saurabh)

The solar auto…

Coming to a city near you.

And last but not least, my son’s favourite auto video – featuring an auto that gets stuck in the sand…indeed a poetic ending to this post.

Tags: Diwali
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As only the French can do – Tour du Monde with the kids.  I just ordered this world map poster from L’Affiche Moderne that’s too cute for words!  Quirky and not cliche – thankfully.  I can’t wait to hang it up in our play area.

I got the mounted canvas version…and in French for some added intrigue (there is also an English version).

I think of it as a consolation prize for not being able to go anywhere exotic this summer.  Sigh.

Tags: poster for kids, world map
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