Sunday, November 29, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Slow News Week
As you may have noticed by the lack of posts, I've been taking it easy for the last few days. Not a lot has happened. Monday, we had work done on the house, we didn't leave the house until 9pm for dinner. Tuesday, I went and visited a couple aunts. Today, my aunt and I finished off all the shopping I had been wanting to do. I just had to get to get the Daruwala horoscope for 2009. Ask Sarah, it's an addictive read. So far, it's looking like 2009 will be very prosperous for me.
I've got two days left. I've already started to pack, but I'm pretty sure everything will be removed from the bags and repacked Saturday evening.
Anyway, just thought I'd post some photos from the last few days. Nothing spectacular.
It's about that time to get back into Xpress mode. Call me crazy, but I'm looking forward to getting back to the newsroom. The break was much-needed, but it's time to get back to work.
I've got two days left. I've already started to pack, but I'm pretty sure everything will be removed from the bags and repacked Saturday evening.
Anyway, just thought I'd post some photos from the last few days. Nothing spectacular.
It's about that time to get back into Xpress mode. Call me crazy, but I'm looking forward to getting back to the newsroom. The break was much-needed, but it's time to get back to work.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Taxi! Taxi! Taxi! Taxi?
Bombay is known for overflowing with taxis, but as of last night, a large majority of taxis are out of commission. You see, there is a fuel shortage in Bombay. As of yesterday, the drivers of the tanker trucks that bring fuel into the city went on strike. And already, gas stations are running dry. The taxis over here run on something called CNG and all the places that sell CNG are completely out, so the taxis are running on whatever they have left in their tank. In this morning's Times of India, the President of the Taximen's Union said that 70% of the 55,000 taxis in Bombay were already off the roads.
After dinner last night, even we went to fill up our car. While my family was waiting in line, I got out to take photos. This gas station was one of the few 24-hour stations in downtown Bombay. When we got in line, we thought we'd be there for at least an hour, but we were actually there for roughly 40 minutes, which gave me enough time to walk around and shoot.
They actually had to get police in to direct traffic and make sure fuel transactions were happening on the up and up.
There was a freeway overpass right next to the gas station. I told my cousin that that would be the best place to go take a photo. We went without telling anybody, because if they had known we were walking on the side of the freeway, they would have killed us. But it was the photo I wanted, with the cars lined up, entering the gas station.
Before all this gas shortage stuff, we went and had dinner at the Radio Club, which our family has a membership to. The thing is, it is right down the road from the Taj Hotel. When Rahim and I were done with dinner, we took a walk down the block to go see the Taj and the Gateway of India. Even for 10:30 at night, it was completely empty. They had just reopened the road in front of the Taj but there was still barely any traffic. The huge open area, where the media had set up during the attacks, was empty.
Security was visible. There were barricades surrounding the Gateway and there were barricades lining the Taj. Believe it or not, but they actually had a cop at the back entrance. Whether he was armed or not, I do not know. But nobody gave me any problems taking photos of the Gateway or Taj.
I don't know how much I'll be able to do in the next few days with the gas shortage. Taxis aren't running and there's only so much gas we have in the car. Will probably have to walk everywhere, which will limit the distance I can go. My aunt is so worried that this strike will go on for 10 days, she wants me to call Jet Airways and see if they have some sort of pick-up service to the airport in case we don't have gas to go to the airport next Saturday night.
We'll soon find out.
Oh, and how bout them Gators?!? Got up early this morning to watch the Gators roll over the Sooners. Two titles in three years. It was a good game. Both defenses played well. But the Sooners run defense vanished in the 2nd half and Sam Bradford, although he had a good completion percentage, just never looked comfortable. I think the Sooners really missed DeMarco Murray. I bet if the Heisman voters could vote again, and take into consideration the entire season, with what Tim Tebow was able to do, what he was able to promise, he'd have won the Heisman and not Bradford. Bradford had a great season and I really like him (if you go back almost a year and half ago in this very blog, you'll see that I predicted Bradford would win this year) but Tebow should have won the Heisman, even without today's game. He just proved that he is the single best and most important player in college football, and that he is the biggest game-changing player in the game.
Alright, well, hope everybody has a good night. I'm waiting for Rahim to come home and then we are gonna go get some lunch.
Take it easy,
Ali
After dinner last night, even we went to fill up our car. While my family was waiting in line, I got out to take photos. This gas station was one of the few 24-hour stations in downtown Bombay. When we got in line, we thought we'd be there for at least an hour, but we were actually there for roughly 40 minutes, which gave me enough time to walk around and shoot.
They actually had to get police in to direct traffic and make sure fuel transactions were happening on the up and up.
There was a freeway overpass right next to the gas station. I told my cousin that that would be the best place to go take a photo. We went without telling anybody, because if they had known we were walking on the side of the freeway, they would have killed us. But it was the photo I wanted, with the cars lined up, entering the gas station.
Before all this gas shortage stuff, we went and had dinner at the Radio Club, which our family has a membership to. The thing is, it is right down the road from the Taj Hotel. When Rahim and I were done with dinner, we took a walk down the block to go see the Taj and the Gateway of India. Even for 10:30 at night, it was completely empty. They had just reopened the road in front of the Taj but there was still barely any traffic. The huge open area, where the media had set up during the attacks, was empty.
Security was visible. There were barricades surrounding the Gateway and there were barricades lining the Taj. Believe it or not, but they actually had a cop at the back entrance. Whether he was armed or not, I do not know. But nobody gave me any problems taking photos of the Gateway or Taj.
I don't know how much I'll be able to do in the next few days with the gas shortage. Taxis aren't running and there's only so much gas we have in the car. Will probably have to walk everywhere, which will limit the distance I can go. My aunt is so worried that this strike will go on for 10 days, she wants me to call Jet Airways and see if they have some sort of pick-up service to the airport in case we don't have gas to go to the airport next Saturday night.
We'll soon find out.
Oh, and how bout them Gators?!? Got up early this morning to watch the Gators roll over the Sooners. Two titles in three years. It was a good game. Both defenses played well. But the Sooners run defense vanished in the 2nd half and Sam Bradford, although he had a good completion percentage, just never looked comfortable. I think the Sooners really missed DeMarco Murray. I bet if the Heisman voters could vote again, and take into consideration the entire season, with what Tim Tebow was able to do, what he was able to promise, he'd have won the Heisman and not Bradford. Bradford had a great season and I really like him (if you go back almost a year and half ago in this very blog, you'll see that I predicted Bradford would win this year) but Tebow should have won the Heisman, even without today's game. He just proved that he is the single best and most important player in college football, and that he is the biggest game-changing player in the game.
Alright, well, hope everybody has a good night. I'm waiting for Rahim to come home and then we are gonna go get some lunch.
Take it easy,
Ali
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
So much for that idea
I know I should have planned this photo story better, but the time just wasn't there. So I emailed Happy Home School for the Blind at the end of last week. I explained what I wanted to do and that I would be taking photos and recording audio. I explained that I would like to come to the school and spend a couple days with the kids before I start shooting. The Director of the school sent me an email Monday informing me that I was welcome to come to the school for a meeting and tour today (Wednesday afternoon). But this morning at about 10am, I called her just to confirm the meeting. She informed me that I would not be allowed to take any photos or transcribe any notes. She then told me that if I wanted to take photos, I'd have to address a photo to the school and have it approved by the committee and that the committee wouldn't be meeting until next Tuesday. In my eyes, I need to start this project no later than next Monday to have enough time to do the story justice.
But at least I have a lead for the next time I come here. Any I'm enjoying the concept of relaxing and not working.
To make up for not being able to work on this story, I did a bit of audio editing for a personal project from a few months ago. School got in the way and I got about half way through all the audio when I put the project on hold. But hopefully I can finish the audio in the next few days and do a preliminary soundslides before I leave.
So getting back to my trip, yesterday, my cousin Zahir and I went with a few of his friends to Kobe to have sizzler steaks. I posted photos from this place the last few years. It's always interesting to go there. It's expensive, but the food is worth it.
In one of the last issues of [X]press this past semester, I wrote about the terrorist attacks that happened in Bombay at the end of November. I mentioned that my family lives within 5 minutes of the Oberoi and Taj Hotel. Both are clearly visible from our house. Today, I was home with my cousin Rahim and we were standing at the window talking and we were looking at the skyline in front of us. He looked at the Oberoi and pointed out that there are still burn marks around the window of one room.
The Oberoi (arrow pointing to burnt out room):
Taj Hotel
So my family had a front row seat to all the chaos. They told me that their windows rattled whenever grenades exploded and they could hear the gunfire.
That's about it from here. This post was supposed to go up about 10 hours ago, but the photo uploading function wasn't working.
Everybody enjoy watching my Gators run all over the Sooners tonight in the BCS Championship. I found a website that will probably stream it live for free, so I will be up at about 5am watching the game. Go Gators!
But at least I have a lead for the next time I come here. Any I'm enjoying the concept of relaxing and not working.
To make up for not being able to work on this story, I did a bit of audio editing for a personal project from a few months ago. School got in the way and I got about half way through all the audio when I put the project on hold. But hopefully I can finish the audio in the next few days and do a preliminary soundslides before I leave.
So getting back to my trip, yesterday, my cousin Zahir and I went with a few of his friends to Kobe to have sizzler steaks. I posted photos from this place the last few years. It's always interesting to go there. It's expensive, but the food is worth it.
In one of the last issues of [X]press this past semester, I wrote about the terrorist attacks that happened in Bombay at the end of November. I mentioned that my family lives within 5 minutes of the Oberoi and Taj Hotel. Both are clearly visible from our house. Today, I was home with my cousin Rahim and we were standing at the window talking and we were looking at the skyline in front of us. He looked at the Oberoi and pointed out that there are still burn marks around the window of one room.
The Oberoi (arrow pointing to burnt out room):
Taj Hotel
So my family had a front row seat to all the chaos. They told me that their windows rattled whenever grenades exploded and they could hear the gunfire.
That's about it from here. This post was supposed to go up about 10 hours ago, but the photo uploading function wasn't working.
Everybody enjoy watching my Gators run all over the Sooners tonight in the BCS Championship. I found a website that will probably stream it live for free, so I will be up at about 5am watching the game. Go Gators!
Monday, January 5, 2009
I hate being sick...
...especially when I'm on vacation and trying to enjoy myself. I wanted to leave the house, but I just didn't have the energy to roam around. Even on New Years, we went out for dinner, but I just couldn't wait to get back to the comfort of the house.
But now, I'm feeling better. Not 100%. Still have an annoying cough and cumbersome runny nose. But my energy to roam around has come back.
I didn't really do anything worthwhile over the last four days.
But today, I went to see my grandmother in Bandra. This fact still amazes me. My trip to Bombay at the end of 2005 was brought on by the fact that my family alerted me that my grandmother was sick and she may not live much longer, and since I hadn't been to Bombay since 2001, I might want to see her one last time. So, although terribly frightened at the thought of traveling by myself for the first time, I came to see her.
Three years and three trips later, my Nani is still fighting, although it has gotten tougher each year.
Something sad actually happened while we were visiting my grandmother. She's staying in this building that has been turned into a senior living center for women. When we got to the place, she was in the main room with four or five of the other women. After about five minutes, one of the women started to cry. She was speaking Marati, and our family friend that had come along with us said that she was sad because her family never comes to visit her. She was sad at the sight of the other residents being visited by two of her grandchildren. It was quite sad and we felt bad. We made sure to tell my grandmother to share the chips and chocolate we brought her. Now, hopefully she remembers.
On a lighter note, my grandmother actually remembered that I live in "Berkeley, in California." I'm glad she at least still has her long-term memory. She has about a one-minute short-term memory. If she had said Kensington, I would have been knocked off my feet. At that point, I would have taken San Francisco and been happy, so the fact that she remembered Berkeley made me feel really good.
On the way back, we stopped on Carter Road in Bandra because the sun was setting. I only had about three minutes to shoot, so I didn't get too many shots off, but I was fairly happy with the results.
I'll be back in this area tomorrow visiting one of my aunts, so if I'm around there near sunset, I may take another crack at it.
Only about 11 days left, so I have to the make the best of it. I want to try to do a photo story, but I'm not sure if I can make it happen on such a short timetable. We'll see.
Alright, well, it's 1:30AM here. Time to get ready for bed.
Everybody, have a good week.
Ali
But now, I'm feeling better. Not 100%. Still have an annoying cough and cumbersome runny nose. But my energy to roam around has come back.
I didn't really do anything worthwhile over the last four days.
But today, I went to see my grandmother in Bandra. This fact still amazes me. My trip to Bombay at the end of 2005 was brought on by the fact that my family alerted me that my grandmother was sick and she may not live much longer, and since I hadn't been to Bombay since 2001, I might want to see her one last time. So, although terribly frightened at the thought of traveling by myself for the first time, I came to see her.
Three years and three trips later, my Nani is still fighting, although it has gotten tougher each year.
Something sad actually happened while we were visiting my grandmother. She's staying in this building that has been turned into a senior living center for women. When we got to the place, she was in the main room with four or five of the other women. After about five minutes, one of the women started to cry. She was speaking Marati, and our family friend that had come along with us said that she was sad because her family never comes to visit her. She was sad at the sight of the other residents being visited by two of her grandchildren. It was quite sad and we felt bad. We made sure to tell my grandmother to share the chips and chocolate we brought her. Now, hopefully she remembers.
On a lighter note, my grandmother actually remembered that I live in "Berkeley, in California." I'm glad she at least still has her long-term memory. She has about a one-minute short-term memory. If she had said Kensington, I would have been knocked off my feet. At that point, I would have taken San Francisco and been happy, so the fact that she remembered Berkeley made me feel really good.
On the way back, we stopped on Carter Road in Bandra because the sun was setting. I only had about three minutes to shoot, so I didn't get too many shots off, but I was fairly happy with the results.
I'll be back in this area tomorrow visiting one of my aunts, so if I'm around there near sunset, I may take another crack at it.
Only about 11 days left, so I have to the make the best of it. I want to try to do a photo story, but I'm not sure if I can make it happen on such a short timetable. We'll see.
Alright, well, it's 1:30AM here. Time to get ready for bed.
Everybody, have a good week.
Ali
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Where was the celebration?
Reading all the newspapers in Bombay during the last two days leading up to January 1st, all I saw was how relieved people where that 2008 was ending and how hopeful they were with 2009 coming. Just because a number changes doesn't mean everybody's problems go away, but people wanted to believe that the recession would be a thing of the past. Mumbaikers, as the people are called here, wanted to leave the terrorist attacks in the past.
After reading all this for the last two days, I was extremely disappointed with the fact that there were no big celebrations and no fireworks when the clock struck midnight.
After any major attack, the government tells their people to live their lives normally, and that if you alter your routine, you allow the terrorists to win, that they got their desired effect.
Well, I feel like the terrorists claimed a small victory last night. There were no fireworks on Marine Drive. There were no fireworks at the Taj Hotel.
The city's routine was anything but normal last night.
I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon visiting family in Bandra. I got to spend some quality time with my niece, Naira, and nephew, Kahzar.
I think Naira is a model in the making.
I'm trying to get over a cold myself and my aunt caught a few days ago. I spent most of today sleeping, which actually felt pretty good. My aunt blames the weather, saying that it gets really warm, then get cold pretty quickly in the evening.
Hope everybody had a safe New Year's celebration.
Take i easy,
Ali
After reading all this for the last two days, I was extremely disappointed with the fact that there were no big celebrations and no fireworks when the clock struck midnight.
After any major attack, the government tells their people to live their lives normally, and that if you alter your routine, you allow the terrorists to win, that they got their desired effect.
Well, I feel like the terrorists claimed a small victory last night. There were no fireworks on Marine Drive. There were no fireworks at the Taj Hotel.
The city's routine was anything but normal last night.
I spent the better part of yesterday afternoon visiting family in Bandra. I got to spend some quality time with my niece, Naira, and nephew, Kahzar.
I think Naira is a model in the making.
I'm trying to get over a cold myself and my aunt caught a few days ago. I spent most of today sleeping, which actually felt pretty good. My aunt blames the weather, saying that it gets really warm, then get cold pretty quickly in the evening.
Hope everybody had a safe New Year's celebration.
Take i easy,
Ali
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