Hari International Bangalore

... such as Asia, notably China and India, Latin America and Eastern Europe; other new and developing markets include Kenya and Mexico. In the mature markets, while high-end buyers are opting for a value over volume strategy, mid-range consumers are choosing value for money by buying drinks from New Zealand, South Africa and Chile than those from the euro area.

The global economic downturn is making companies adopt an ...

Well, the kids surprised us again. They wanted to go to school with Niko and Sonia and see what school was like in India. So with a couple of calls and emails, Nita arranged it all for us. And Sejal and Rahul went on the bus and to the Indus International School with their "cousins".

Sejal went to Niko's class in 5th grade, and Rahul hung out with Sonia’s class in 1st grade. Niko had golf ...

The first thing you notice about Bangalore is how green it is. As we were landing, it was lush with open spaces and you did not feel crowded in like we did in Mumbai and Hyderabad. The next thing you notice is the weather – it is mild and reminds me of Portland. We did not need the AC every second and the evenings had a nice breeze.

Today, Nita arranged for us to go to Family ...

... s kids. Clear as mud, huh?

Vijay and Nita live in a gated community that is primarily home to expats and Indians that returned to India after living abroad. In a word, it is gorgeous. With stucco walls, tile roofs, and a resort-like clubhouse with restaurants, a fitness center, 6 swimming pools, and shops – one does not need to go on vacation if you live in Palm Meadows.

We enjoyed a late lunch at the pool and the kids went swimming when we got there ...

I came to India with six cameras packed into a tan leather bag custom-made for a Leica camera and gear. This was my most self-indulgent luggage and is proving to be totally redundant. Five of the cameras are analogue, including two medium-format relics and a Russian Horizon panoramic, and though I like my toys I get by just fine with a single digital camera that I take with me everywhere.

I came to India with such equipment in order to capture what I ...

... she left to continue on her way home. It was really great to have my mom come all the way over here and to have a visitor in India. I also liked being able to see a part of the country that was so different from where I had been and really enjoyed the trip. I returned to Dr. Bandhu's around midnight and when I got back I found three new guys had come since I had left, all of them medical volunteers.

... am, and hail a rickshaw, fully well knowing that this guy will not be able to break a 500 and that this is going to cost more than it should.  For everyone who's wondering, 1 Canadian dollar is worth 36 Rupies, to give you an idea that I'm not exactly balling all over India with 500's.  I get a guy who doesn't speak any English whatsoever, and the two of us work our way back to the Academy.    After this adventure, and knowing that I need to go back out to get some clothing for ...

... get my backpack the driver tells me this is the brothers house. I am very confused, until i walk inside the house and find a party going on. Basically it is a party for the director's, brother's daughter an all the volunteers have been invited. It is fancy dress and i feel really stupid sat there in my travelling clothes while everyone else is zebra's and cats!! There are about 6 volunteers here ...

... cheap, and the music they played was pretty good. Yeah JT!! Since the three of us were very obviously not from around Bangalore or from India, we were severely preyed on. Severely. Luckily, I have no mercy when it comes to guys like that, so that proved to be very useful in that situation. We managed to find two American guys, one Jewish and the other Indian, and we stuck together. It wasn't that us girls aren't social, but it was nice to find someone who ...

... and cutesy. Like being at the fair, in a way. Once you get past the grove, however, the real splendor of the Dam reveals itself. There is a majestic garden that you can walk through which is beautifully landscaped and repleat with water-features. Martha Stewart would be proud. There are several levels to the gardens and up, up, up you go til you reach a platform which has a marble bust of the Maharajah (I'm not sure which one). From there you have to climb even ...