"Mumbai Meri Jaan"

Wow...Mumbai is massive (just in case you didn't know!) Not only is there about 20 million people here but it's also quite spread out. Finding anything can take you several hours. Yesterday our gorgeous french friends arrived, "HRH" had a disaster, the little princes got away with murder and I gave my (silver croc) Hunter wellies a whirl. Where to begin?

Ganesh Festival Mumbai 2010

My friends arrived from France on a day that the heavens opened up and poured down on Mumbai...okay it is the "monsoon season" so we were expecting it. But boy did it rain. I think my girlfriend was suffering from what I call  " Mumbai Shock Syndrome" when she arrived at our hotel, which everyone gets when they come to Mumbai for the first time. It's like a slap in the face with a leather sandal...Mumbai just runs at you with the speed of a freight train. And all the National Geographic doco's you've watched to prepare yourself and Monica Ali books you've read- go right out the door. It's there in your face demanding a response. She looked lost, confused, upset, disapointed, excited, exhausted and hungry all at once. The first thing I did was order her a bloody mary (spicey of course c'mon we're in India) and a bite to eat! Next I took her out for a ciggie and "let her have a wee chat". Sometimes you just need time to process what's going on around you- find your stance or reasoning and then you can put everything into order in your head so the next time you are hit with it you know exactly how to react or reason with it. And that's what we did. It honestly does help. There is alot to process and all at once. Humanity is right there in front of you...nothing is hidden and at times it can be tough. But at least it's honest and real. I always believe that you learn more about yourself when you come to India...because it forces you to have to make decisions and have opinions on topics that you might prefer to ignore in your own world. But this is LIFE. You can pretend it isn't this way for as long as you want but THIS is the reality. And I'm ready for it...it doesn't mean I like what the reality of our world is -but I accept it. I understand it exists. Thats all.
So after that we got a call from "HRH" who sounded like he was in agony. He was calling from a chiropractor somewhere apparently he had put his back out. Again. And had taken a cab out immeadiately to see a chiropractor. Whilst in the waiting room he had been offered a chewy fruit candy. He had several and on the third one when he bit down- his gold crown completely fell out. He screamed in pain- had to leave the chiropractors (with assistance and rather slowly as his back was still out) and go to the emergency dentist in Bandra. Which took an hour in the traffic to get to. Poor "HRH" it sounded like hell. Five hours later he returned with a gaping hole in his mouth and his back was still out as he never actually made it into see the chiropractor. What a palava I say..."HRH" is just so unlucky sometimes.

Esco bar Bandra

We decided to go out to a local low key restaurant in Bandra where we ate four times more than a normal adult should. It was delicious...perhaps a little spicey for the frenchies. Teehehehe. But overall pretty good meal. I ordered the house specialty "Paddle crab curry". The poor creature was brought to the table live to be inspected which I thought was a little over the top but the end result was pretty spectacular.
Next we went to "Esco Bar" on Linking road, Bandra. It was a fabulous place with a stunning outdoor rooftop bar which was unfortunately covered over due to the rain. I marched in bold as brass wearing my silver gummies and matching fendi headscarf much to the wait staffs amusement. I don't think they'd ever seen a get up like it. But I didn't care, it was practical and with all the rain I didn't have a care in the world. Needless to say I will be back to heels tonight when we hit the AER bar at the Four Seasons...my wellingtons will be safely tucked away under the bed.

Caves at Elephant Island

When we arrived home at 1am "Lil G" and Prince M were still awake and taking the poor little Indian girl for a complete ride. I couldn't believe they were still awake and giggling like little monkeys. The make shift party was quickly shut down. And I respectfully explained to the babysitter that SHE was in charge and not those two little devils. She told me that Lil G had managed to lock himself in the bathroom for an hour and they had to get maintenance to free the door which had jammed. Lil G had gotten quite upset. Much to Prince M's amusement of course. They were allowed to ride their scooters around the hallways which was pretty nice and explore the hotel. She was absolutely lovely insisting the boys had not been too bad and then agreed to be our babysitter during our stay at the hotel. All in all it had been a massive day. But a great day. Have decided to postpone our apartment search till next week so we can hang out with the frenchies. Tomorrow the plan is to go to Elephant Island to visit the caves and ancient temples. The kids will love it. They'll feel right at home with all the monkeys!
Thanks again to the new readers from Japan, Bermuda and Turkey. Woohoo this is it. We're here- it's really happening!

Namaskar from Mumbai!

We're here everyone...and it's a beautiful sunny day in Mumbai! Monsoon my arse! kid's are bouncing off the walls with excitement and with the amount of Mango lassi's they've consumed I'm beginning to get uneasy. Wow is all I can say. Mumbai is quite honestly a bubbling mix of humanity...humanity in it's raw and truest form. And that's life. I love it. I'm alive. Off to Bandra bandstand to enjoy the sunset this evening I think. What a way to begin. So much for the Jimmy Choo wellingtons huh...
A big warm welcome to the new readers from Finland, Bermuda, Trinidad and Tobago and Canada. Am still amazed at how much interest there is. Well get ready everyone...here we go MUMBAI!!!!!!!

Au Revoir Paris...

Good Morning Paris...feeling alive again after a good coffee and almond croissant. Well finally found my passport in the car after about 30 minutes of frantic foul mouthed searching. (As you can imagine "HRH" was less than impressed let's just leave it at that...)
So we're all checked in and I'm sitting here at the Qatar airways first class lounge having a post breakfast champers as you do. Chilling out after nearly having my (rather bejewelled) Versace belt confiscated as the spikes on it could have been deemed a weapon- or so the anal french customs lady claimed! The customs officials then balked when we had to remove all 4 laptops (the boys have their own for school these days) and all 4 ipads...each one (they insisted) needed it's own tray to go through the scanner so we held all and sundry up as our menagerie of technology slowly rolled through...I was mortified of course. What is the world coming to with all these gadgets...so shameful. And why did Donatella design such a belt that is impossible to travel with?
Any how moving on, our good friends the architects arrive to Mumbai in 2 days time so already have plans to head out to dinners and to do some sight seeing with them. The little princes are thrilled! I have an agent booked in to show us over 20 apartments in the Bandra West/Pali Hill/Mt Mary and Khar West area on August the 5th and then we have a visit of their school on August the 8th. So "aare yaar" let's get moving. Ooh hang on, just need 2 last things from duty free...hold my glass "HRH" I'll be back soon. Au revoir France- it's been "formidable comme d'habitude".
And hello to our new readers in Qatar, Turkey and Belgium. Thanks to all the readers from the U.S.A and the U.K I had the most readers ever yesterday! Mumbai here we come!

Moonage Daydream?

Phew....this is it. We're off. I still can't believe it. I feel kind of numb- and have this particular David Bowie song going round and round in my head for some reason? Maybe because I'm walking around in my own daydream! Must snap out of it....but can't drag myself out. Plus this song is just off the hook. Bowie at his best I say!
Valises' are packed. Canon camera fully charged, ipod safely zipped up in the Gucci carry on, French wallet left in the safe (next to it's Australian buddy) and swapped for the new Indian one, bathers packed, wellingtons packed, ipads brimming with newly downloaded games, mosquito repellant packed, "HRH's" anti delhi belly sachets packed, Queenie's inflight secret stash of chocolates packed, latest Rolling Stones magazine with Dylan on the cover (french version) packed, absolute super top secret stash of "Vogue" ciggies packed, inappropriately high stiletto boots packed, sh#* hang on a minute- where's my passport? You've got to be sh*#ting me? 

High class gypsy? But where to park the caravan?

The next Gypsy Queen? I think not!

Oh my friggin God we are leaving TOMORROW!!! That means this is our last real day in the south of france. Our last day with this 'beautiful' some might say serene view out the window. Last day with my french friends. Last day of playing petanque in the back yard. Last glass of my neighbours home made pineau. Last day. Last day. Last day...
"Lil G" has told me he considers himself Australian. "Prince M" has told me he considers himself French. So what does that make me? A travelling gypsy with no where to park her caravan at bloody present- me thinks! I keep having horrible visions of that show "My big fat gypsy wedding!" "Oh god no...garcon? Yes, yoohoo- could you please get me a bloody mary immeadiately ?!"
But let's not forget that means there will be a first day in India, a first day in our new home (just because we don't have one in India at this very moment -there's no need to go caravan shopping just yet!) a first day  for meeting new friends, a first day for the kids at their new school. A first day for discovering our new favourite restaurant. A first day to mark the beginning of our new lives. A first day. A first day. A first day...
Wish it was all that bloody simple.

The Sami Sisters? What a find!

Down to 6 days till we arrive in Mumbai and everything is cruising along quite nicely here in France. My obsession with India and all things Indian is getting out of control, quite quickly! I just can't stop thinking about the food, the monsoon rains, cricket matches, the mosquitoes, BOLLYWOOD...all of it. Bollywood...yes that's right- I'd forgotten about that whole industry. Wow how fascinating. Am so excited.

Was flicking through my ipod yesterday and came across "The Sami Sister's" a band that I first heard of whilst holidaying in New Zealand over a year ago. Well- they appear to have a new single up on itunes and an album just released. Brings back wonderful memories of that amazing country down under. I strongly suggest you all have a listen...and of course just discovered they are part Indian too! (What a small world) They have a website which I will be checking on regularly to try to get my hands on a copy of their new album www.thesamisisters.com or itunes New Zealand of course.

Anyhoo I have added some profile pages for each member of the family (after all your requests- you curious monkeys) which you will find at the top of the page. Funnily enough the most popular profile page to date has been our cat Sammy's which is pretty hilarious! What's up with that everyone? 

Went to a fabulous little french market this morning and purchased a vintage YSL scarf and "HRH" found a very rare bright blue "Ricard" ash try in mint condition. Will have to squish them in the valises for India too. Merde! How we will fit anything more in I don't know.

Right, off to our friends home to play petanque and drink copious amounts of pineau and rose wine. Pineau and petanque are a great mix of course! Have a lovely evening everyone and hope you enjoy listening to the Sami Sisters...their sound is just sublime.

Hare Krishna

Australian Aboriginal Flag

Firstly congratulations to Marie who was the 50th member to join this site!!! Fantastic! Yesterday we had the most viewerships EVER to date, and the top country was...wait for it- Australia followed closely by the U.K and Germany! I am blown away by how many of you are actually reading this...Thanks very much for the support everyone.

Today marks the "7 days till Mumbai' mark and it all seems to be just going a little too quickly for my liking. So many things are whirling through my head that I am going quite crazy...Like don't forget to buy an electrified mosquito racket...? WTF? What is that? Well it's a tennis racket looking contraption you use to fry mosquitoe's with....hmmm better get me one of those me thinks! Seriously.

And do I need another pair of Hunter Wellingtons? (Hmmm the new ones with military style buttons down the side...) I have never lived in a country that has a monsoon season soooo am quite nervous as to what the daily reality of that actually means. What will be my new reality? How will moving to India change me? So many questions...

I feel really strange at the moment. In a surreal zombie like state where I am neither here (France) nor there (India) yet. Tonight we have a friends birthday party but I know my eyes will glaze over and I will think of lotus flowers, curry and krishna- instead of champagne and caviar. That's not a bad thing. Perhaps I am ready for the change or actually need the change of lifestyle? I'm sure I'm enough of a superficial materialistic cow to warrant some soul cleansing...aren't we all to a degree?

Oh god I seriously need a drink with all of this self flagellation carry on. Perhaps a meander through the boutique stores will help me snap out of it? Saw the most divine dress at "Maje" the other day, oh and "Zadig and Voltaire" had a gorgeous cashmere sweater too. A nice cheap and cheerful purchase always works a treat. But all I can think of is Mumbai, Mumbai...Mumbai. Hare Krishna, Hare Rama save me. What would a mango lassi taste like with vodka in it? I'm thinking like a pina colada? Garcon?

Monsoon fashion for Mumbai

What's the point of unpacking when we leave for Paris in 7 days? And then Mumbai the day after that...? Have been checking out the weather in Mumbai at the moment and the monsoon season is raging along sooo...(having not actually owned a pair of Wellingtons since I was 8 yrs old) I decided to buy a pair of gumboots. Fashion seems to be very bright and cheerful in India so I got some wellingtons with a bit of flair! The Hunter Jimmy Choo crocs in silver of course! "HRH" is already worried about all our luggage so have kept them a secret for now but he will see the practical side of my decision once he gets to India and discovers his LV sandals don't work so well in the rain! Oh well men just never seem to learn do they?
Anyhoo, I have decided that something I would really like to do once I get to Mumbai is learn some local recipes. Over the years in France I have had some amazing cooking lessons. And learn't to cook with rabbit, quails, foie gras, duck and veal. I've learn't to cook some classic dishes such as "boeuf bourgignon", "blanquette de veau" and of course many delicious desserts. Of course the "tres bon vin" to go with- is always a fabulous incentive to cook in France.
"HRH" and I absolutely LOVE Indian cuisine and eat it several times a week at least as it is. I already have a list of dishes I would like to attempt and the little princes have a special request to learn to make "barfi" which was MY favourite Indian sweet as a child too, funnily enough! As I learn each dish from a local Mumbaikar I will write up the recipe and share it on this page...Share and share alike as they say. Right darlings, well I think I may need to lay a little low this week- post Cap Ferret holiday- so might start to go through the valises and decide on what exactly is appropriate "Mumbai Monsoon Fashion."  Queenie is on a mission....Mumbai watch this space!
P.S Bonjour to all the gorgeous new peeps who are reading in Brazil and Spain...good work!