Recent content by Bayleaf

Cockroaches are inevitable in many climates, but that doesn't mean they have to have the run of a hotel. There are plenty of ways to both kill and deter them, though I suppose it may feel like an endless battle that isn't worth the cash investment. In this case, the mention of mold suggests...

Mauritius has a fascinating history, and I am curious to know how much influence of the Arab and Portuguese visitors is visible today. Perhaps evidence of the Dutch settlers is more obvious? If anyone has been to Mauritius I'd love to hear about the food, architecture, or anything relating to...

I think it is real enough, tough perhaps not in every area you visit. Monkeys are sacred creatures in India and this seems to grant them a lot of leeway in terms of behaviour, I have no doubt that monkeys are smart enough to figure that their tactics go unpunished, or that they at least to know...

Reading this is making me hungry! Daal was the first dish I ever ate with lentils, and I found it really filling and satisfying, so it's a great choice for eating well without a high calorrie count.

Has anyone here ever spent the night at an airport in India? I am sure it must have come up for some people, whether they missed a flight or chose to save cash on a hotel when their plane leaves really early in the day. I would be interested in hearing about the experience, especially in terms...

I think many foreigners are really only familiar with vindaloo (hot) and then masalas or tandoori dishes which tend to be more palatable by the average person. I have eaten sag dishes with very little spice to them, and of course biriyani. Perhaps these are all westernized dishes, and nothing...

I didn't realise people looked to black magic to cure things, it struck me as more the opposite. Personally I wouldn't want to mess with anyone who was likely to invoke this kind of magic on me, as I have no doubt it is real.

I really love buildings, especially those that are especially historical, unusual and atmospheric, and I believe The Talatal Ghar - Kareng Ghar meets all three of these quite easily. It's historical because it's over 200 year old and was a palace of the royal family. It's atmospheric due to its...

From what I know of black magic it shares several traits with voodoo, especially spells, chants, mantras and curses, or the use of clay figures to inflict distress. The ethos is definitely similar, even if some methods are unique. I suppose people look to black magic to cause physical harm, but...

There seems to be loads of different domestic airlines operating in India, so what are the major differences between them? For me obviously the first priority is a good safety record, but I'm flexible on other things. For instance, I'd tolerate an airline that is known for its bad timekeeping if...

This is great news, thanks for sharing it. I haven't heard of a Tatkal ticket, and despite looking on Google I can't quite figure that out. Are they specially priced tickets?

Hi. The show is part of a series made by the BBC. Each show is called 'The toughest place to be a ...' and taxi driver is one. It was filmed in Mumbai. If you look around the 'net you may get lucky and find a video site with it on. If I see one I will send you a link. I watched it a good while...

I never knew that Sharath, thanks for sharing the info. I think India would be a great market for driverless cars if they can fix the logistical side of it, as it would take the emotion out of driving.

That's the first thing that comes to mind for me too, and why not? Your story of how you learned about it is very special and touching, and I can see how it motivates you to visit India. The next thing that I think about is the traffic. I saw a TV documentary about a British taxi driver who...

I was going to say I was sure it would be available due to the historical connections to England, but I was beaten to it! I've had Cadbury's from different countries before, and it usually did taste different. Not bad, just different.