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mumbai 5 (monkeys)
yesterday i took the ferry from the gateway of india to elephanta island to explore the ancient hindu caves that were carved out of the living rock face 1,300 years ago. i had to climb a hundred steep steps to get to the caves. there were fantastic sculptures all around and a forest of columns. also, the island was full of mischievous monkeys. i ( Read more... ) -
mumbai 3
there is a flat on mohamedali road that has been vacant for many years but still has the basrai name on it. this is the flat that my dad grew up in. but after my grandparents passed away, my parents decided to keep the flat as storage - it is full of fantastic antique furniture, lovely ceramic dishware and tea sets, books, letters, and old ( Read more... ) -
villamir
my family and i just spent a few days in the cottage built by my great uncle amir in a hillstation outside bombay. it was so peaceful there -- i could almost feel the presence of generations of my family who came there to escape the city for a weekend. mom and i went hiking along the hillside and found ruins of an ancient buddhist temple. from the ( Read more... ) -
mumbai 2
yesterday i fought my way through the crowds of colaba trying to buy some new sarees for myself and some gifts for friends back home. this city will literally crush you if you aren't constantly moving and watching out for bikes, scooters, cars, trucks, cows, dogs, and people. there is not a moment, day or night, when you don't hear honking horns ( Read more... ) -
mumbai 1
i left amsterdam early yesterday morning and arrived in mumbai late at night. there was a big welcoming party for me at the airport. i have a huge family and it was nice to see so many of them come in the middle of the night to pick me up ( Read more... ) -
amsterdam
i am sitting in tami's cozy amsterdam apartment enjoying day 2 of my vacation. this city is lovely. it is so charming and small. there is a little snow on the ground which makes me very happy. seeing tami again is bringing back so many lovely memories of all of our friends in philly.
