I joined Twitter just before coming to India, so here are some of my more interesting Twitter updates since then. I've also included the most interesting photos that I've taken. Enjoy and follow me!

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October 4th, 2009: Just donated blood to Nair Hospital bloodbank - the same hospital where my dad went to dental school.

October 5th: It's interesting to see the taxi drivers hanging around bus stops trying to pick up a passenger. Could do a case study on buses and taxis here

October 14th: We let off some firecrackers yesterday... It was fun. At night, it sounds like a war zone - so many firecrackers going off

October 21st: I just saw Aamir Khan - we drove alongside him from the Worli side of the sealink to Marine Drive. He was in a Toyota Land Cruiser.

October 25th: Reached Jaipur - mera piya ghar aaya after 18 hour train journey. Sat with a film director/producer. It was interesting to hear his stories

November 23rd: Took my first driving lesson today. Manual transmission + Indian roads = sensory overload


November 30th: Before people used to tell me that I look like Hrithik Roshan, now they tell me I look like Ranbir Kapoor. Go figure

December 1st: Music from hindi films is now being sold on microSD cards and flash drives!

December 2nd: Today was the first driving lesson where the car didn't stall. Too bad traffic keeps me in 1st and 2nd gears; I get into 3rd maybe 1x a day

December 4th: Vada pav is the best thing you can buy for 6 rupees in Mumbai

Amazing that people will pull you up to catch a train but they will also push you off if you hesitate. Only in Mumbai!

December 5th: Saw a taxi with an 'Ethics' sticker on the rear windshield.


December 9th: Why do people walk on the street instead of the sidewalk? Habit or comfort in being part of the crowd?

December 11th: I saw a beautiful green parrot outside my window this morning. I wish there were more of them and less pigeons.

December 27th: It's really amazing how passionate people are about film in India. I'm surprised there isn't a degree course - Bachelor of Cinematology

I just saw a proactiv informercial dubbed in Hindi. I'm expecting to see a magic bullet soon but I hope India is better than the snuggie.

January 4th, 2010: I found out that the switch to control the fan's speed is called a regulator in India. Sounds so strange

January 15th: Today's solar eclipse was really impressive. I saw it through a roll of film and an x-ray.

January 26th: Watching the republic day parade. Crazy stunts on motorcycles, 5 people on one bike, 1 sitting backwards on the bike reading a newspaper.

March 6th: Awesome Saturday: jog at Priyadarshini park, ate roadside idli breakfast, got my driver's license and had lunch (+Nimbooz) at Swati Snacks.
Talking to the taxi driver this morning, he said people in Bombay don't go out at night as much as they used to. I agree and blame cable TV.

April 9th: It's getting hot here, not sure how much longer I will be able to walk up the stairs to my office in the morning.

April 10th: Dogsitting today. Tedious, but a hell of a lot better than a Saturday at the office.

April 11th: So it's true, eating a lot of mangoes does give you pimples. Taking a day off today.

May 8th: Successful visit to the dentist this morning, no cavities! Got an SMS reminder about my appointment beforehand, very cool.

June 13th: In Jaipur, went to Raj Mandir theatre yesterday. First time there in years, reminds me of the sets used in 1960's hindi movies.

June 24th: Monsoon has been a pleasant surprise so far. It might be the only that slows people down in Bombay. Respect!

July 17th: Feeling normal after a bout of malaria. Time to resume normal life after 5 days of eating and sleeping.


August 4th: Saw a mutilated body at Kandivali train station - please use the pedestrian bridges and do not cross the tracks. It is simply not worth it

August 7th: Getting restless in Bombay. I'm ready to do some traveling, maybe South India?

August 23rd: missing @anujakothari and the obligatory rakhi pizza

September 12th: Michammi dukkadam! Done fasting but woke up at 3am out of hunger... sunrise can't came fast enough!

October 6th: Going to Chennai in sleeper class tonight! First time going in sleeper, this will def be interesting...

October 9th: Enjoying Chennai, ultimate frisbee in the morning and evening, eating and relaxing in the day. Great food so far and learning some Tamil too

October 23rd: Back in Mumbai after 2.5 weeks. Amazed as ever by the sunset!


November 6th: Diwali greetings from Jaipur! Good times with family and fireworks yesterday

November 22nd: Monday afternoon wedding procession in Malad, tapping my foot to the sounds of the dhol

November 24th: Saw a rat on the train in 1st class. Thankfully, it was a pretty small one, not those monsters I've seen near sewage pipes

November 25th: I sleep every time I get a seat on the local trains. I think I'm becoming a Mumbaikar.

Wishing I could get my hands on some pumpkin pie this Thanksgiving.

November 27th: I wish there was some kind of way to keep vendors off footpaths. They're built for tax-payers, who instead have to walk on the street

December 1st: How would you define 'khunnas'? As in "Khunnas kyun dikha raha hain?" Definitely my favorite Bambaiya word.

December 2nd: I still find it strange to be security wanded before I go into the grocery store a la D-Mart. Stamping the receipt upon exit is weird too.

Interesting: housing society (building) distributes garbage bags to every flat on the 1st of the month.


I find it amazing that job applicants are asked to put their father's name on their application. Why? Chamchagiri?

December 3rd: Saw 2 boys studying on the rooftop of their building from my kitchen window this morning. Lovely sight

My new anthem. It's Not my Place (in the 9 to 5 world) by the Ramones: Great scene towards the end

Bought Nutella yesterday, put it in the fridge. Opened it today, not spreadable. Kept it at room temp, started melting. How do I store it?

December 4th: Went to my first Toastmasters meeting, it was... interesting. They ask that speeches be given in Queen's English. Not sure if I'm up to it

December 6th: Wow, today's high temp in Chicago is 24 F. in Bombay it was 30 C.

December 8th: Why are landline phone connections so awful? There really shouldn't be any disturbance when I'm calling the store 0.5 km away

South Mumbai apartment prices: if you have to ask, you can't afford it.

December 11th: Just bought a single bandage. Amazing. Now I know anything can be purchased in single quantities. #efficientIndia


December 20th: Came back from Ahmedabad in general (unreserved) class. It was a strange experience: standing, sitting on the floor and finding a seat.

Once we reached Surat, the train emptied out and I could lay down. Some guy decided to join me. He sat in front of me as I slept on my side

So I got 1 hour of normal sleep with this guy sitting in front of me and now I'm going to back to sleep in a normal bed.

December 21st: Amazing that companies are still scanning printed documents. it looks so unprofessional to see docs that are slanted

Why do I get the feeling that other Indian cities are improving while Mumbai stays the same? WTF Maharashtra govt. Turning into Bekaarashtra

December 22nd: Beautiful sunrise  and amazing moonset at Juhu beach this morning.

If prices keep rising kids are going to ask Santa Claus to bring them onions for Christmas.

December 23rd: Listening to great Tamil songs by @arrahman - I recognize most from their Hindi versions but the Tamil ones sound better. Wish I knew Tamil!

December 24th: I've become semi-nocturnal. Woke up at 3am, who knows when I'll go back to sleep. I feel like I'm back in college


Knife sharpeners are definitely the most interesting street vendors: advertise by putting a stone to the sharpening wheel on their bicycle!

December 26th: good practice this morning at juhu beach amongst the seemingly infinite number of cricket games. perfect weather for a day at the beach!

January 8th, 2011: I think I'm in love with the Delhi Metro. I really appreciate the heating!

January 9th: Spending time with a puppy is like a series of psychology experiments. Endlessly fascinating

January 15th: Lots of travel this week. Delhi->Jaipur->Agra->Jaipur->Delhi. Back to Jaipur again in a few days, I hope by train. Bus travel is painful

January 22nd: Interesting afternoon at Nehru Place IT Market and Connaught Place. I was really surprised by how enormous both places were.

Most interesting part of visiting Nehru Place IT Market: Random vendors whispering "software?" as I walked past them.

January 23rd:

The Matrimonial Classifieds in the Delhi HT covers 6 pages. What's scariest is that my birth year features very prominently. #impendingdoom

Municipal garbage trucks in Delhi use the same song as ice cream trucks in the USA.


I saw a couple going to a wedding riding the Metro last night. The woman wore a heavy sari and bangles covered her entire forearm. #Respect

She was wearing so much jewelry that I thought it might have been her wedding. Unfortunately, they got down before I could ask

Delhi Metro Museum was surprisingly very interesting. Well-thought out and explained exhibits at Patel Chowk station. Check it out!

January 24th: I saw a woman carrying a Tata Sky satellite dish on the Delhi Metro yesterday. Now I know there's nothing people won't take on the Metro

January 29th: Sadness is when the village of Burr Ridge takes down the basketball hoop in your driveway.

February 9th: Had a new pair of glasses made for Rs. 1600 (~$35). Sweetness defined.


As much as I miss the hustle of Mumbai, I'm beginning to enjoy laid back Jaipur. Plus, it's nice to have some space to work with!

@Airtel_Presence Thanks for your 14 messages sent overnight regarding Airtel Live, Mobile Office, Recharge Offers, Hello Tunes, etc.

February 18th: MNP rejected by @VodafoneIN - staff at Vodafone store refused to let me convert directly to prepaid; postpaid for 60 days and then convert.

February 19th: Got a ticket at Malad station from the machines for a man transporting stuff. I told him he could get it in Hindi. He told me he can't read

Similar experience at Vodafone store yesterday. Staff wanted a customer to sign, he told them he's illiterate and could give a thumbprint

February 28th: Great news that cash payments will replace subsidies for the poor. It will be great to see its impact a few years down the line #budget

March 7th: Most difficult sentence for a Hindi speaker with a lisp: Aise kaise ho sakta hai?

March 9th:  I discovered why I hate Udipi-style sambhar: they use Jaggery! Now if only all their restaurants would be replaced by Tamilians

March 10th: I cringe every time someone says alphabet when they mean to say letter #hinglish

March 19th: Got a call from Airtel regarding an internet connection. Good thing Airtel installed it 6 days ago!

March 20th: Students to get free laptops in Tamil Nadu if DMK wins election - maybe I should convince my cousins to move back to their house in Trichy

March 21st: Wow, just felt an earthquake tremor in Jaipur.

March 23rd: business idea: motorcycle helmets for sardars

April 4th: 2nd year running that I've missed March Madness - if you told me that would happen a few years ago I would have called you crazy.

6:45 am and I'm off to shoot some hoops with Hindi-speaking teenagers. I would have never thought that possible back in the USA either!

April 6th: Atlas Shrugged is an epic book. It's been well worth the Rs. 100 investment!

Gangaur was amazing today, ladies were dressed in their most colorful lehenga-cholis. I gave them oranges as prasad. Way cool!

April 10th: My 11-year-old cousin was on the Twitter sign-up page and asked me "Twitter kya hai?" I told her to wait a few years