$1B home in Mumbai? Which one is it?

Real estate and neighborhoods are as
diverse as the people that live here.

The most expensive single family home in the world is right here in Mumbai. Antila cost $1B to build. This 27 story home was built by Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries. He is the 2nd richest man in Asia. The house is fully decorated, has gardens and 3 helipads, but has never been moved into, presumably for not adhering to Vastu Shastru - the Hindu version of Feng Shui. (This is what happens when you don't supervise the general contractor!)

We think Mr. Ambani and family, simply prefer to live in their current 14 story house along with his mother and brother's family in "our" neighborhood, Colaba. Great Arabian Sea views. Not very crowded. 2-kilometers into the city center. What's not to like?

Of course, if you don't have that kind of change laying about, there are lots more options. We've pictures a few here. You choose. But choose fast! Mumbai real estate has gone up 138% since 2005.

Want to read more? Here's a link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/business/global/this-luxurious-house-is-not-a-home.html

Mumbai - Bombay - Bollywood. You choose.

Call this crazy peninsula city of 12 million and 7 merged island whatever you want, but you certainly won't call it bucolic. The 4th largest city in the world and India's richest, rarely sleeps. There are people and TRAFFIC; sounds and HORNS; shops and stands of every type at every turn. No, we are certainly NOT in Delhi anymore.

Let a horse tonga take you for a tour, touch the top of the Taj Hotel's first property, join 7million rail commuters or relax in a taxi, listening to the rhythm of the horn symphony. It's all here at your disposal.

Children you will never forget

The children of Delhi are as diverse as the families they come from. What you never forget are their smiles and shy yet determined friendliness. We met hundreds. LITERALLY hundreds. Karen was swamped by a class of school girls. All in white salvar and navy sweaters, each insisted on shaking her hand, and telling her their name.

Other children simply walk up with a smile or dare each other to be the one to say hello to the "ferangi." We LOVE it!

Markets and Bazars of Delhi

Ok. Compared to our visits to Delhi over 10 years ago, the city is significantly less crowded.

Now you can actually walk through Chandni Chowk, the oldest shopping market where each block represents a different industry or product. Then there are the "small" bazars of Meena and Cahndri, still requiring police to help people and animals navigate each other. However to give a sense of "people density", these photos are of a local neighborhood market just behind the 2nd gate of the Jara Masjid. Need shoes, electronics, sweaters or a bite to eat? Out with your honey on the way home? It's all here.

With 16-million people, crowded is a relative term!

Jama Masjid and the Rock Stars

Although the historical sites in this country's capital are numerous, the one that touched us most was the Jama Masjid. To reach this principal mosque of Old Delhi, one leaves the Red Fort, passes by a Jain temple, a Hindu temple honoring Shiva and through a crowded market. Rising atop a small hill stands white domes and rich red stone.

Shah Hahan, the fifth Mogul emperor, was an architecturally attuned sort of guy. He commissioned Agra's Taj Mahal, Delhi's Red Fort and this mosque, which was completed in 1658. The beauty of its design, decorated with Arabic, Jain and Hindu inscriptions, is memorable.

Even more memorable was the warm welcome we and the numerous Hindu visitors received as we left our shoes behind and joined Muslims touring the site just hours before the call to prayer and arrival of 5,000 faithful. In India we are constantly reminded of what nonjudgmental coexistence can feel like.

Surprisingly, WE were the other big draw. Schoolchildren, teenage boys and families took cell-phone pictures with us. Even if they couldn't take a photo, they asked Karen to take their picture. ROCK STARS. Who knew?

DELHI - Changed or the same?

Land at Delhi's airport and, if has been more than 2 years since your last visit, panic sets in as you're sure somehow they've allowed you to board the wrong plane. Where did this sleek modern wonder come from? As you drive into the city and wander the streets, the change these last ten years is riveting. There is a metro, new overhead roadways ease congestion of ever increasing traffic and large buildings change the skyline. TV channels and western dress abound and poverty seems less extreme. But the city's unique character smiling faces, colorful dress and helpful hands remain. Oh to be back in DELHI!

What do you guys do on that island? 

SPK croquet tourney winner.

Returning from a little bounty hunting.  Arrgh!!

Dolphins dance!

Maybe is was the excitement of Santa's imminent arrival.  

Maybe they were just happy to see Cal and Rinda.

This family of dolphins kept us company all the way home!

Who says you need SNOW for Christmas?

Cal and Rinda were our holiday guests.  They may have had their doubts about Christmas in Florida, but 75-degrees VS. 40 changed their minds pretty quickly.  We think they will be back.

Escape to - dare we say it - Paradise
The semester is over and there was a chill in the air, so the Kaufman's headed south the spend the holidays on Useppa, where the sky is crayola crayon blue, the palms sway, people always have time to chat and life's stresses seem to take care of themselves.

Want to visit?  Just let us know.  We're always to happy  share our Florida island.