The dabbawalas of Mumbai

My mother’s visit to India in January gave me a chance to play tour guide. I’d always felt that if we had had a choice on where we lived when we moved to India, we may have chosen Mumbai. I feel safer there and public transport is more accessible.I’ve hailed cabs off a Mumbai street…

India Debunked #4: Indianisms

I can now speak enough Hindi well enough to conduct several everyday transactions in it. But most of the time I don’t really need it, as I am now able to adapt my accent when speaking English to sound Indian. I’m a pedant when it comes to accents and pronunciation so this…

The Pushkar Fair

Pushkar was never really on my India list. It was only after we’d lived in India for a year, using every opportunity to hone my…

Salaam, welcome to Iran

“First time in Iran?” the immigration officer asks.

Things I’ve learnt from living in India

I said goodbye to India this morning. Or rather, goodbye for now.

Many have asked how I feel about leaving. The last few months have been a whirlwind of activity, each day brought its own stresses, triumphs, highs and lows. But the…

India Debunked #12: I Am Woman

In December 2012, 23-year old medical student Jyoti Singh Pandey boarded a private bus with a male friend. She was brutally raped, tortured and murdered. It made headlines across the world and sparked widespread protests in Delhi. I hope the world never forgets it.

If there is a paradise on earth, it is here

In the summer of 2014, we arrived in India laden with all our belongings, emotional…

India Debunked #11: Holy Cow

If you’ve ever been to India, you would have seen cows, pigs and stray dogs running wild on the street.

Would it surprise you to know that these seemingly unchecked, freewheeling (free walking, rather) animals have owners? Someone definitely owns the…