Category Archives: Rose Apple Island

India’s real superpower

Posted on May 1, 2012 by subincontinentia

In monsoon, she gets up at 5 o’clock, cooks breakfast for her family under a tarp. She then walks one hour and fifteen minutes in rain that doesn’t so much fall as gush like a fire hose, across half a … Continue reading →

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One man’s hell…

Posted on May 1, 2012 by subincontinentia

“Varanasi is a shit hole. If you can’t see it’s a shit hole, you’ve got your hippie shit-loving head screwed on backwards. Varanasi is a holy heaven. And if you can’t see that, you’ve got your tired tight-ass world upside-down.” … Continue reading →

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Another piece of the code…

Posted on May 1, 2012 by subincontinentia

“Anything else, madam?” “I’ll have….erm, chocolate ice cream.” “Sorry, madam, chocolate ice cream finished.” “Okay. Then I’ll have….vanilla.” “Oh, sorry. Vanilla also finished.” “Hmmm. Alright. Do you have toffee ice cream?” “No, madam.” There was only one more flavour on … Continue reading →

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The second juice

Posted on April 30, 2012 by subincontinentia

The waiter brought her a second mango juice. “Oh, that’s okay thanks. I only wanted one.” “If you sit ten minutes more you can have this one too.” “You mean, I can’t drink it now?” “Just ten minutes more.” “So, … Continue reading →

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Burning is Learning

Posted on April 29, 2012 by subincontinentia

Twice I’ve tried to write about Varanasi. The first time my notebook mysteriously disappeared from my hotel room in Pahar Ganj, New Delhi. The next time, I dropped it in the Ganges. Varanasi is like that. Resists anything that tries … Continue reading →

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The darker side of pink

Posted on April 29, 2012 by subincontinentia

The first Indian wedding that I was actually invited to, perfectly fit my friend’s description. A ‘Big Fat Punjabi Wedding’. He was an uncle of the bride but he felt uncomfortable the whole evening, embarrassed by the lavishness and vast … Continue reading →

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Cockroach Hotel

Posted on April 29, 2012 by subincontinentia

Looking for a place to live in any city on a tight budget is usually tough, but doing it in Delhi can really kick the spit out of you with a steel-toed boot. After a morning of peering into the … Continue reading →

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Easter SMS from the orient

Posted on April 29, 2012 by subincontinentia

Not that I’m in the habit of wishing anyone Happy Easter, let alone a belated one. It’s just that I have to share a text I received on Easter from an Indian acquaintance of mine. My phone, which I reluctantly … Continue reading →

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Nice day for 30,000 weddings

Posted on April 29, 2012 by subincontinentia

There were 30,000 weddings on a single day in Delhi last week. Many of them, it seemed, took place right outside my apartment. Now, when I say ‘weddings’, I don’t mean a sedate spiritual affair where the couple tip toe … Continue reading →

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Is Chiranjeevi getting my psychic messages?

Posted on April 29, 2012 by subincontinentia

For some reason best known to Airtel I get daily SMS updates about the South Indian film actor, Chiranjeevi, who you might know by his more popular name, ‘Megastar’. He went into politics a few years back, forming his own … Continue reading →

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