The world through my iris
travel
Public transport in Bombay
Mar 29th
It has been a long while since I took a bus. Tonight is a rare occasion, perhaps not to be so rare in the future. The new air conditioned buses are pretty comfortable if not in spotless condition. The fare is a very reasonable Rs. 30 (about 75 cents) for a 15 kilometer ride. The More >
At the Verandah
Mar 28th
This photo was taken on the recent trip to Kashid. Appu at the Verandah of the hotel at which we were staying.
Madrid Photos
Mar 7th
Finally got around to uploading a bunch of photos from my trip to Madrid. This was back in January and the first of the bad winter storms across Europe was under way. Temperatures were below freezing most of the time, and indeed when the temps hit 2 degrees my taxi driver remarked that it was More >
Madras: the last leg
Feb 5th
In Madras for the last leg of the trip. This is a real flying visit accompanied by a bad cold and headache. I am probably the only guy in town wearing a jacket on top of a sweater in this weather. Will be glad to get home after this. The good news is that the More >
Oh Calcutta
Feb 4th
In cal today. This is pretty much the last major city to get any form of development or make over. Still new roads and buildings can be seen here and there. I am hoping for a relatively relaxed day today, if possble. The cold that’s been bothering me all week is refusing to let go.
Thankfully More >
Delhi
Feb 3rd
My rant on flights to Delhi must have upset my aircraft, for there was a major technical snag that kept un from taking off for 2 hours following which we were eventually transferred to another plane. Three hours late. Reached at 11 pm, and went to the hotel.
The weather here is pretty cold in the More >
Bharat yatra
Feb 2nd
Off on a tour of the major cities. Delhi, Calcutta and Madras this week. Bangalore next. With the crazy fog situation in Delhi, I am being forced to travel a day early. No guarantee that the morning flights will get there at all. Funny thing about technology: one would have thought they would have licked More >
Spirit Rover: RIP
Jan 30th
It’s not quite dead, but now it cannot move as it is stuck in the Martian mud/sand.
The rover landed on Mars in 2004 with a 90 day, 1 kilometre mission. In reality it did something like 10 km over the next 5 years and more (more than 20 times the initial duration). Mostly the extra More >
Kashid Trip Summary
Jan 26th
I’ve been posting short trip-updates during the weekend break, but this is the full log.
We started Saturday afternoon after lunch and after a long drive (especially around Panvel), reached the resort (grandly named Sagar Beach Resort) by about half-past eight. It had gotten pretty dark by then. Still the drive was quite good and finding More >
Janjira fort
Jan 25th
We went to Janjira fort this morning, and had a good outing despite the sun & heat. It is a wonder that we cannot maintain monuments in this country despite professing a great love for our history and culture.
The fort itself is some 900 years old and unfortunately it has been done over with graffiti More >