SOUR GRIPES
Travel — it’s what I do for a living, and I enjoy every moment of it. Er, hold on a second — let me back up a bit and start again. It’s what I do for a living, and I enjoy every moment of it — except the part where I have to apply for visas. Just how many times can a human being gather the same set of papers (salary slips, bank statements, income tax returns, covering letters, air tickets, insurance policies, photographs, proof of semi-intelligence, proof that I don’t have ingrown toenails and so on) and submit them to some sour-faced visa officer who’d rather be out to lunch? Why can’t countries, especially European countries, issue long-term, multiple-entry visas to people who are clearly frequent travellers, and who don’t have bombs in their backpacks for good measure? Because they rake it in by way of visa fees, that’s why.
I’ve been a keen amateur photographer for several years now, and started off, like most people of my generation, using all-manual film cameras. There’s no better way to learn how to take pictures; all the camera’s controls are in your hands, so you make or break the picture. I resisted the digital wave for quite a while, continuing to shoot slides on my (lovely old) Contax, but eventually I had to give in —film is well and truly dead. I own an Olympus digital SLR now, but what I really want is a compact, point-and-shoot sized camera with SLR levels of picture quality and controls, along with interchangeable lenses. A pipe dream, you say? The new Olympus EP-1 and Lumix DMC-GF1 have arrived, and they fit the bill perfectly. I want one — no, I want both.
STOMACH THIS
As a keen foodie, I keep an eye out for any new eating establishments in the city, but sometimes a few pass under the radar. One such was Global Fusion, a restaurant near my home in Bandra in Mumbai. I had never heard of the place until a couple of friends suggested we meet there, and it was a revelation. A sumptuous far-eastern buffet had been laid out —sushi, tempura, teppanyaki, teriyaki and plenty of others of their ilk. All of it was uniformly delicious, and excellent value at Rs. 850. Do try it if you’re in the city.
HIT THE ROAD
Chances are that you’ve heard of Bijapur, in Karnataka, but it’s never been uppermost in your list of travel destinations. Well, I’d like to suggest that you cast your misgivings aside, get in your car or on your bike (it’s only eight hours from Mumbai) and head there. The Gol Gumbaz there is a truly magnificent monument, and there are other interesting bits of architecture as well. In addition, the ancient temples of Badami and Aihole are only a couple of hours away by road.