Thanks to the NYT columnist Nicholas Kristoff we now know that the North Koreans have a loudspeaker in their homes that can't be switched off. The leadership used it to extol the virtues of the recently deceased 'Dear Leader', things like his golf scores (really). 

Malaysian Airlines uses a similar technique, combining overhead speakers and video screens to blast a grating video on MALAYSIA TRULY ASIA WHERE EVERYONE IS SOOO FRIENDLY AAAND DID WE SAY  TRULY ASIAAA?? CELEBRATE SPREAD YOUR WINGS. One of these  moronic never ending publicity videos containing every word that the   government's committee on promoting tourism thought necessary, strung  together by faux rhyme. At 4.30 am I don't care about your smile, in fact I'll do my level best to make sure that you don't. 

Anyway, a prelude to announcing that we're about to arrive in KL, Kuala Lumpur, where we last lived 13 years ago.

The Rupee is at an all time low against the US$, GDP growth has shrunk to 6.5%, the stock market is don by 20% year on year, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail chains has been put off, Parliament is in gridlock: things are not looking good for India’s economy. 

Thankfully our building society has chosen this lean period to conduct the most uncoordinated building overhaul in years: 

1. •One of two elevators is being replaced, and its mechanized entrails have been torn out and laid out for all to see, gears, pulleys and all. Piles of dust seep into the apartment through all nooks and crannies
   
   
   
2. •Bamboo scaffolding surrounds half the building as parts are repainted
   
   
   
3. •Amidst all this our portly brahmin squad of security guards (Mishra, Tiwari and Trivedi) have been now been equipped with berets, further accentuating the fearsome look. If ever we are invaded by a marauding band of Vedic scholars then we’re in safe hands
   
   

But just when you think things this is it for India you are pleasantly surprised. I sat it on a presentation by MrAmitabh Kant, CEO of the Delhi - Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). This multi billion dollar project links Delhi and Mumbai across five states and calls for the creation of seven super cities, with an average size of 500 square kilometres each. Mr Kant’s presentation blew me away. Global firms have designed the cities with an eye for industrial production, but also for public transport, recycling, vocational education and skills development, alternative energy, etc.

Apparently the Japanese Government has put up $4 billion to support this program (as Mr Kant calls it) and Japanese firms are already buying up land along the corridor.

Mira is studying for exams, micro managing the hours in a day in the run up to her tests. Tarini has started writing a book  today, The Challenge of Immortality, and already has a sequel in mind!

As our own systems shut down we’re off to Malaysia after Christmas. Mira was born there 14 years ago.

“Happy holidays” all. Wish you a sedate and humdrum year ahead.