Rakhee Ghelani

Tag: India

  • Keeping the Poor Down: India’s Growth Strategy

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    I really struggle with seeing the poverty in India, and I have posted before about my struggles with poverty, charity, apathy towards the poor and my observations of some of the middle class. I have come to the conclusion that here in India it is not in the interests of anyone with power or money…

  • Mumbai versus Delhi: Where Would You Choose to Live?

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    Delhi has recently been given a rather bad time in the media, particularly as a city for women (or perhaps more appropriately not for women).  With this in the back of my mind, I now find myself pondering whether it is a city I could choose to live in. I went to Delhi last week…

  • The Ancient Cities of Sri Lanka

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    The Cultural Triangle is one of the most popular tourist trails in Sri Lanka.  I am a bit of a temple junkie, having done so many throughout India over the past 18 months, so I couldn’t resist seeing the famous sites of Sri Lanka.  What I didn’t realise was just how much Buddhist history was in…

  • The Difference Between Sri Lanka and India

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    It had been 18 months since I had been outside of India.  That’s a long time, and to be honest I didn’t think going to Sri Lanka was really going to be a big change from what had become normality to me, after all at some points there is only 30 kilomtres separating Tamil Nadu…

  • The Crafts of Kutch

    The Crafts of Kutch

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    I have a little fascination with the arts.  Whilst I wouldn’t consider myself to be a creative person, I really enjoy seeing and appreciating a wide variety of arts.  It is one of the things that draws me to India, every region has their own form of art or craft.  Whether it be dance, music,…

  • The Great White Rann of Kutch

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    The main reason most people visit Kutch is to see the White Rann or Great Rann.  It is a salt marsh that is flooded during monsoon, and then reappears as the dry of winter sets in.  Located in North West Gujarat, the Great Rann spills into Pakistan, so there is plenty of border security to…

  • Wild Ass and The Little Rann of Kutch

    Wild Ass and The Little Rann of Kutch

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    I visited the Little Rann of Kutch recently for the first time.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect there, I had heard so much about the Great Rann but not so much about its smaller cousin. Going somewhere without any expectations, definitely means it has less of chance to let you down. Our visit…

  • Why I Choose to Stay in India?

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    I get asked all the time, “Why do you choose to stay in India?”.  I am asked this by my Indian friends, by friends overseas, travellers I meet and most recently by my parents who are here visiting me for a few months. It is not an easy question to answer, but whilst reflecting on…

  • Hidden Treasures in Gujarat: Modhera and Patan

    Hidden Treasures in Gujarat: Modhera and Patan

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    I recently visited Gujarat, on a trip that was to see family and explore Kutch.  However on the way, I was fortunate enough to come across a couple of stunning structures that I had no idea existed in my home state. It always amazes me how some of the most incredible buildings exist in the…

  • Diwali in Mumbai

    Diwali in Mumbai

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    For my second Diwali in India, I thought I would be alone.  My only family here in India lives in Gujarat, and my parents weren’t arriving until just after Diwali.  As good luck would have it, I received an email from a close cousin of mine in London who just happened to be passing through…

  • Foodie Post: Pineapples

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    One of the things I love about India, is the natural craft and skill that exists.  Even in what seems like the most simplest of things, there is so much skill involved. It is pineapple season here, and last night as we were walking home, my mother found the beautiful fresh pineapples irresistible. Whilst the…

  • Bandh (Closed): Incredible India Indeed

    Bandh (Closed): Incredible India Indeed

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    My parents arrived in Mumbai a week ago.  Its been almost 18 months since we have been together, and so they are having an extended visit for a few months with me.  Its been really lovely having them around, I come home to home-cooked food, and its nice to show them my Mumbai. They arrived…

  • It’s the Season for Music

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    It seems to be the season for festivals here in India.  Mumbai Film Festival has just finished and everywhere I turn there seems to be another new festival to attend. One thing I did a lot of in my past life (in Australia) was see a lot of music and go to music festivals.  From…

  • Mumbai Film Festival

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    I love a good film festival.  In Melbourne I would always go to the International Film Festival that came to town each year. For someone who is not so creative, I seem to have a lot of friends who are in the arts, and a few of my close ones in Australia are film-makers.  It…

  • Navratri in Mumbai

    Navratri in Mumbai

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    Navratri is a festival that is celebrated around October every year (its actual dates are lunar).  In line with its meaning the festival goes for “nine nights”.  I must confess, I don’t know much about the technicalities of why Navratri is celebrated, but I believe it is related to invoking the energy of the Goddess…

  • Indian English: My Top 10

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    I love the English language.  Since I have been learning Hindi, I do also appreciate how hard it is to learn any language that is not your first language. That is why I find it fascinating that most middle and upper class Indians speak at least two languages proficiently, if not 3 or 4.  English…

  • Sometimes A Girl Just Need Some Girlfriends

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    Last week I made 5 new friends. I can’t remember the last time I made that many new friends in a week.  As I have got older, meeting new people that I click with has become harder, and to be honest it has never worried me,  I much prefer quality over quantity anyway. But when…

  • Will India ever be a "real" super-power?

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    When you live in India, it is almost impossible to go a single day without reading something about corruption.  Bribes, kick-backs and ‘gratuities’ are a daily part of living here. My first official experience of this was when I was travelling in an auto-rickshaw, and the driver accidentally went the wrong way down a one-way…

  • Foodie Post: My Favourite Locals

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    I love food. That is certainly not a revelation to anyone who has read some of my posts, seen my tweets or followed me on Instagram.  Good food to me isn’t just about eating gourmet though, its about just enjoying some of my favourite things and being able to go back to those that are…

  • Trekking in the Sham Valley: Ladakh

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    I was only able to take a short trip to Ladakh, but I really wanted to fit in a trek of some description.  Luckily I managed to find a 5 day trek that would let me explore some villages without having to go to high in altitude.  Whilst I have trekked in high altitude before…