We Need To Stop Running
  • Blog
  • Archive
  • Des Photos
  • Contact
  • Mjoezik
  • Eating In / Eating Out
  • Be Kind

Pyongyang Speaking

12/27/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.
0 Comments

System Shutdown

12/18/2011

0 Comments

 
Picture
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.
0 Comments

    About

    This blog documents our arrival in Mumbai from Chicago and our attempts to make this city home, our experience with finding housing, the kids’ first days at school, shopping, 30 year - old taxis, inundation by monsoon rains, street side shopping and boutiques, slums and $3 million apartments owned by rich playboys.

    Categories

    All
    All In A Day In Bombay
    Business
    Foooood!
    My School
    State Of India
    The State Of Us.
    Vacation

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    May 2021
    July 2020
    April 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    August 2017
    May 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010

    Btw, the banner photo was taken from our holiday home outside of San Gimignano at 6.20 am. What light! It lasted all of five minutes.
  • Blog
  • Archive
  • Des Photos
  • Contact
  • Mjoezik
  • Eating In / Eating Out
  • Be Kind