Chaos on the Subcontinent

June 28th, 2009 | By Lee | 8 Comments »

On the Indian subcontinent, nothing ever really runs smoothly if they run at all. Things that appear to be simple, simply cannot be explained and there is little retribution. I have had 7 flights (including connections) thus far on this trip within the subcontinent and to neighboring islands and every one of them have been late, cancelled or even more annoying-disallowed. This trend continued in the most annoying fashion over the past several hectic and chaotic days that brought me from Chennai to the Andaman Islands to Dhaka, Bangladesh to Sikkim to Kolkata.
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A Maldivian Honeymoon With Myself

June 22nd, 2009 | By Lee | 8 Comments »

The Maldives are a place that was almost made up to me. I never really thought they really existed. I had seen so many brochures and pictures of this amazing place; a tropical paradise on the other side of the world that seemed so exclusive and alluring. Well it is. It is as gorgeous as the pictures and the brochures do not lie. It is a paradise in all senses of the word. The weather is perfect. The beaches are divine. The people are so nice and accommodating and the resorts are stunning. The only bad thing is the prices (which are astronomical) but at the same time, sometimes you have to pay to play.
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The Lakshadweep Islands

June 20th, 2009 | By Lee | 9 Comments »

Lakshadweep, from Hindi meaning “100 islands” is actually a string of 36 palm covered islands, of which 10 are inhabited, 200 miles off the coast of Kerala in Southern India. Its inhabitants are mainly Sunni Muslim fisherman wherein fishing and coir production are the islands’ main sources of income. Life on the islands is very traditional and the Indian caste system divides the Islanders in ways that I have never seen in India.
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From the Azores to India

June 17th, 2009 | By Lee | 2 Comments »

It was a long and tumultuous journey from the Azores to Kochi, India but I have finally made it and spent the day relaxing in Kochi or Cochin at the Le Meridien hotel which is very nice and very cheap. My crazy journey started in the Azores by my first flight to Lisbon being delayed, while I only had a 55 minute layover to begin with to London, I knew something bad would happen with my bags-and it did. They lost my bag which has all my clothes/toiletries type stuff. TAP Portugal may be the worst airline I’ve ever flown and I hope to never use them again if I have a choice. When I did finally get to London I was told I wouldn’t get my stuff back until the next day at the earliest because they wouldn’t send it out until the last flight of the day which landed at Heathrow at 11pm. Ugh!

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Delhi is Maddening

November 30th, 2007 | By Lee | 3 Comments »

If Goa is heaven in India, then Delhi is almost certainly hell. Delhi is maddening in all ways that a city can possibly be. Delhi will sharpen your wits and numb your senses. Delhi will come at you in full force from all directions at all times of the day and from all walks of life. Delhi will make you long for the “slow paced” life of New York City because compared to Delhi, everywhere is slow paced. Delhi will make you scream and yell and start to act in ways you would never dream toward other people and wandering animals. Delhi is the trip of all trips and you can get sky high from your own sensory overload.
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Thanks to India

July 9th, 2007 | By Lee | 2 Comments »

I just wanted to say thanks to all of the people of India who sent me such nice emails and made comments about the Taj Mahal being a new 7 wonder of the world. It is very worthy and I am very happy for all of the people who have a lot of pride in their country and their iconic Taj Mahal. The people make India great. Thanks again and congratulations!

New 7 Wonders Profile-Taj Mahal, India

May 23rd, 2007 | By Lee | 24 Comments »

Everybody knows the Taj Mahal and everbody has seen the same pictures of it. It looks amazing in pictures but seeing the same pictures all of your life cannot possibly do it justice. When you see the Taj in person, it is breathtaking. It will stifle you in your tracks and make you just stare at it. It is the worlds most beautiful building, hands down and a sure fire new 7 wonder of the world.
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Laundry in Bombay

April 30th, 2007 | By Lee | 2 Comments »

If you want your laundry done in Bombay, this is where it can get done. For just pennies, your dirty laundry can get washed in dirty, stinky, filthy water so it can actually come out looking even dirtier and smellier than it was before. The washers will step barefoot into the laundry holes and wash your clothes while they stand in the water contributing to the filth with any germs and whatnot they may have on their feet.
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Goa

April 3rd, 2007 | By Lee | 19 Comments »

The state of Goa in India is a place lauded by many and experienced by few. It is far from anywhere, especially other states and cities with India. Goa is the polar opposite of everything that is India. It is a relaxed paradise of sorts. It’s not a paradise for all but certainly a paradise for some. Its nightlife radiates all day and night, making up for what the beaches do not satisfy. During the day however, there are many alternatives to lying on dirty beaches crawling with stray dogs and those were my finest memories of my week in Goa.

The first decision in Goa is at which beach you should stay. As I finally came up with North Goa and the town of Anjuna Beach, I set out from the airport in search of a paradise that I had heard so much about around the world-wide traveling circuit.

I arrived at my guest house, Villa Anjuna, and plopped down at the very nice pool. After thanking God that I was no longer in the sweltering filth of Mumbai, I enjoyed myself at the pool and bar with a few Kingfisher beers.
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Delhi

April 2nd, 2007 | By Lee | 46 Comments »

If Goa is heaven in India, then Delhi is almost certainly hell. Delhi is maddening in all ways that a city can possibly be. Delhi will sharpen your wits and numb your senses. Delhi will come at you in full force from all directions at all times of the day and from all walks of life. Delhi will make you long for the “slow paced” life of New York City because compared to Delhi, everywhere is slow paced. Delhi will make you scream and yell and start to act in ways you would never dream toward other people and wandering animals. Delhi is the trip of all trips and you can get sky high from your own sensory overload.

I never dreamed of a place as crazy as Delhi. I have been everywhere from Cairo to Bangkok to Johannesburg to Rio de Janeiro and most people describe those places as wild, crazy and in your face. They clearly haven’t been to Delhi because I never thought any of those places were even half bad.
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