Up On The Roof

When I lived in Vietnam I had a roof terrace, I miss that outdoor space now that I am in a flat without even a balcony. The closest I can come to outdoors is sitting on the window seat with the windows opened to maximum but it isn't the same. Our hotel in Jaipur had a roof terrace where we spent a lot of time with views of other people doing the same.

Produce

The range and quality of fresh produce is a constant pleasure whether you just take pictures of it or actually get around to cooking the stuff.

Chili emporium



Farm goods on the way to market

Jantar Mantar, Jaipur

Jai Singh's amazing stone astronomical observatory built in the early 18th Century and a perfect blue sky.

BBC Radio 4 did an excellent programme on this place if you want to find out more about it. In Our Time, Jantar Mantar.

Jaipur

Amber Fort tout



Amber Fort bird

The Joy of Sets

I got very excited recently to find a matching set of plain white crockery, no patterns, no gilt, no flora or fauna. Thank you ShopperStop, saved from eating from the beige plastic stuff that came with the flat.

Since getting the crockery I haven't done much cooking but I can confirm that eggs taste much better out of plain white egg cups than out of shot glasses stuffed with kitchen towel to stop the egg wobble.

The Big Balloons of Bombay

Giant Balloon Guy

Puzzled. Every city has its own brand of hawkers specialising in selling tat to tourists. In Vietnam it was photocopied books, anywhere there were tourists there were girls lugging tottering stacks of Lonely Planets and The Quiet American around. If they didn't have what you were looking for the would hop off to a central warehouse and be back with your Bill Bryson of choice in minutes. This is a practical and popular product ideally suited to the target market.

In Mumbai they sell giant balloons to tourists. I know you would buy an uninflated version but the questions are still begged...

Who buys them?
How much do they pay?
What do they do with them ?
How long do they take to blow up?
Why?

One Day

The views from two of the flat windows at different times of day.

Morning



Evening

I say "the view", for the morning shot what I mean by that is the view if I lean out over the child safety barriers and trust in luck to snap the sun. The sunset is from the spare bedroom and requires careful framing to avoid the big black buildings on either side of it. Still, it's nice how the light filters through the smog.

Bandra Thursday

I was caught up by a passing parade so I pulled out the camera and prepared to be be besieged by beggars, hawkers and other itinerate earners.

My guess is Durga but my Goddess-identification-skills need a lot of developing, as do my avoiding-McDonald's-signs skills.

Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai

I'm a sucker for museums, The Prince of Wales Museum, or more properly, The Chatrapati Shrivaji Museum, Mumbai called me in.  It's an excellent looking building and, should you wish to shop, has a fantastic gift shop.  I paid my foreigner ticket price for which I got a "free" audio tour, a pamphlet and a postcard.

 It's a fine museum although the second floor is currently closed and looks as good inside as out but

far too many wet afternoons in Chamber Street Museum, Edinburgh, as a kid make me feel that the central well is incomplete without goldfish.

The exhibitions are well laid out and informative and there's plenty to see to while away a couple of hours.

 

The most memorable part of the visit though was The Man catching up with me somewhere between Miniatures and Coins.  He was delighted to tell me that he'd been offered a range of drugs ... in a museum!  OK, on the streets, sort of expected especially since we most certainly still have a touch of the wide eyed tourist look about us.  But a museum!  Definitely a Memorable Mumbai Moment. 

Fireworks for Ganesh

Just one of the elements of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebration. Good photography practice for Diwali.