Boston's India Pilgrims

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The last time I was in Boston was in 2004, when the Democratic National Convention was held there. That visit didn't start off auspiciously. Blame it on the Boston accent. As I reached the T, the Boston subway, I encountered one of the scores of volunteers who were stationed there to help visitors in the city for the convention. I needed to get to Kenmore and said as much. I was politely and helpfully pointed to a train, which proceeded in exactly the opposite direction, into Boston's twin city, Cambridge. The problem was that Bostonians pronounce Kenmore as Ken-moah, and the volunteer though I was referring to Kendall, the station near MIT. This time round, fortunately, there was no confusion. We had to reach Harvard (or Hahvahd to a speaker of Bostonese) Business School. Now, strangely enough, while the Harvard campus is located in Cambridge, the B-School is actually in....

Indians in LA LA Land

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Just about a month ago, we were in Los Angeles for the Grammy awards. But, as the Oscars rolled around, there really wasn't the need to travel to LA to cover the event. That may sound strange, but the Indian interest at the Academy Awards didn't really exist in terms of Indian nominees unlike with the Grammy's. While we were in LA, we did see the Kodak Theater where the Academy Awards function was held. It marks that part of LA, Hollywood actually, quite well - the world's capital of kitsch and glitz. Right across the Graumann's Chinese Theater and the Walk of Fame, you find the souvenir stores with their knock-offs of the Oscar statuettes. Want to grab the Best Person Award? Pick one up and get it customized with your name. Strangely enough, there were no Grammy copies. But then this is the city of movies not....

Of King Kong and Kashmir

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62? Why 62? No, that number isn't the answer to the ultimate question. It's just the floor where our office is located in the Empire State Building in New York. If you peer out from the windows here, you get a panoramic view of the city. Across the East River and onto Queens. You can see the jets, descending or departing JFK or La Guardia. Or a couple of police choppers hovering above. Really really strain your neck and you could possibly catch a glimpse of Brooklyn. In recent months this building has been plagued by King Kong. Yes, that ape with a fetish for blondes. Or just a man in an ape suit who takes pleasure in standing outside as elevators doors open to give visitors a surprise. I've seen King Kong around several times but never ever Naomi Watts. Drat. Life can be unfair. Talking of going ape,....