Tag Archives: india

How We Affect Cultural Landmarks – Part 1

As I age, I realize how older things just naturally deteriorate. Many of the world’s cultural landmarks are hundreds, if not thousands, of years old. When things last that long, you may tend to think they will last forever, but there are a few landmarks that are seeing their deterioration accelerated due to pollution and tourism. One such landmark is the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 when Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan had it build in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Her round, white mausoleum is easily recognizable by most of … Continue reading →

Virginia Couple Crash a White House Party

It may seem like the ultimate prank – to crash President Obama’s first state dinner. But, Tareq and Michaele Salahi are in trouble – a lot of trouble. No doubt others are in trouble as well. Tuesday, the Salahis attended the dinner in honor of the prime minister of India, Manmohan Singh. Only problem is 320 people were invited to the bash, but the Salahis weren’t among them. They hobnobbed with the elite – Vice President Joe Biden, Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, and Slumdog Millionaire composer Ar Rahman. Heck, they even met President Obama … Continue reading →

Focus on the Oscars: Slumdog Millionaire

Tonight, is the Academy Awards and among those nominated for Best Picture is a film that features Brad Pitt, one that features Leonardo DiCaprio, and one that features Sean Penn. There is a film that chronicles the exchange between a talk show host and a disgraced U.S. President. And then, there is Slumdog Millionaire. More than any of the other films, Slumdog Millionaire has generated a ton of Oscar buzz. Although many mistake it for a Bollywood film because of its Indian background, it is actually a British film. It was written by Simon Beaufov and directed Danny Boyle. It … Continue reading →

Tax Refund Travel Packages

I don’t know about you but my tax refund has been put to use paying for water, heat, and electricity for my home and fuel for my car. I know… glamorous it’s not and so much for taking advantage of the all those fabulous travel deals tour operators are offering right now. You know the ones that guarantee once-in-a-lifetime memories to far off lands… that cost half your tax refund. In all honesty some of those travel packages are real bargains and quite enticing regardless of how much you got back from Uncle Sam. If you still have a few … Continue reading →

Taj Mahal Denies Dollar

In a previous blog I shared my brother’s take on the current crisis regarding the worth of the U.S. dollar abroad. (His exact quote upon returning from a recent snowboarding trip to Canada: “The American dollar and Canadian dollar are equal for crying out loud!”) Now, even more bad news for Americans traveling to India. India’s tourism minister just announced that the dollar is no longer being accepted at the Taj Mahal and other national tourist sites. Traditionally, if you wanted to visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World and other attractions in India you were charged in … Continue reading →

Extravagant Vacation Packages

It’s nice to dream, right? That’s my mindset each time I flip through the Neiman-Marcus Christmas catalog. The same goes for travel brochures that list ultra-luxurious vacation packages with 5-digit price tags. The thing is, there are some people who actually take advantage of these “deals.” Who knows; you might just be one of them. So, it is for you big spenders that I offer the following posh travel packages. If you love music and money is no object consider this next trip set up by Dallas-based tour operator JQ Porter Exquisite Travel. For $85,000 per person you can enjoy … Continue reading →

Author Interview: John Shors

Today I’m delighted to bring you an interview with the author of “Beneath a Marble Sky,” John Shors. John, thank you for joining us. It’s a pleasure to have you here. In the reader’s guide included in the novel, you mention that a lot of the book was taken from history, but that you also took liberties with some members of the royal family. Was Jahanara romantically involved with the builder of the Taj Mahal, or was that one of the liberties? Most scholars believe that Jahanara was Isa’s assistant on the Taj Mahal, and she worked with him for … Continue reading →

Tiger Populations Dwindle In India

Animal conservation experts believe that India may have less than 1,500 tigers left — that is half the population from just five years ago. Conservationists are performing a state by state census of tiger populations in India and expect to have final results in December. However, tiger experts are estimating that there are only between 1,300 and 1,500 tigers left in the country. Wildlife experts and government officials agree on the estimate, which is a severe drop from the 2002 tiger population — 3,700 tigers. If the census is still going on, how do the conservationists have this estimate? Technology … Continue reading →

Indian Court Issues Warrant for Richard Gere

Wow, the Indian Court system is serious! If you remember the other day, I wrote about how Richard Gere was in trouble for giving Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty a hug and kiss during an AIDS awareness function in New Dehli earlier this month. He swept her into his arms and kissed her several times. I think anyone from America could see from the video circulating on youtube.com that he was just hamming it up, but the Indians were not amused. Such public displays of affection are very taboo within the Indian culture and to do it, especially on stage was … Continue reading →

Would You Eat Here?

You don’t have to know much about India to know that its cuisine is highly regarded around the world. But, a new restaurant in Bombay is raising more than just a few eyebrows. Not because of what’s on the menu, but because of what’s on the restaurant’s walls. Hitler’s Cross restaurant is not only home to pastries, sandwiches and salads, but to posters of the Nazi leader and swastikas. While the restaurant’s owner insists that the name of the eatery is only meant to attract attention, it has outraged Bombay’s Jewish community. “It’s really made people very upset that a … Continue reading →