What It Means to be Really Poor in India

It’s often said that India is a land of contrasts, which I am happy to confirm and illustrate. India has some of the world’s richest people and many of the poorest. It has luxurious high-rise apartment buildings, surrounded by the huts and hovels in which[…]

February 18, 2014

India and the Middle East

Jordan: Petra, Wadi Rum, and Middle East Nurses

I could write a substantial narrative about our first few days in Jordan: arriving in Amman, driving from Amman to Aqaba, taking a 4-wheel Jeep excursion into the Wadi Rum nature area, and visiting the amazing archeological treasures of Petra. Instead, I will let my[…]

February 13, 2014

India and the Middle East

Dubai: The Richest Country in the World

The Arab Kingdom of Dubai is a mere three-hour flight from India, but it’s a different world. It feels something like Las Vegas, but without the casinos. The architecture is amazing, including the tallest building in the world (equal to two Empire State Buildings). There[…]

February 8, 2014

India and the Middle East

India 2014: Playing Music in Mumbai

After the hectic two days in Bangalore, we flew back to Mumbai just in time to check into our hotel quickly and then board a taxi for the grand Alla Rakha Memorial Concert. This is an annual event organized by Fazal’s older brother, Zakir Hussain,[…]

February 7, 2014

India and the Middle East

India 2014: On tour with Mynta

Ah, Mother India…the sensory overwhelm, the chaotic hustle and bustle, the stark contrasts, the warm people, the great food, the beautiful music…This is my twelfth trip to India, i.e. in this lifetime, according to the Hindu way of regarding lives. Some Hindus might speculate that[…]

June 14, 2013

India and the Middle East

Qatar 2013: Architecture, Art, & Healthcare

Statistics say that Qatar is the richest country in the world measured by per capita income for its citizens (approx. 185,000). That does not apply to Qatar’s total population of approximately two million. Of that two million, 1.8 million are immigrant laborers. I’m not sure that we ever met an actual Qatari during our three days there.

June 12, 2013

India and the Middle East

Jordan 2013 — Part 2: An Israeli-Palestinian’s Story

News Coverage Abroad In Amman, Jordan, the Grand Hyatt’s television had four news stations grouped sequentially: CNN World, BBC, Fox News, & Al Jazeera English. It was very convenient to compare news coverage by jumping back and forth between the channels. Here are my observations:[…]

June 7, 2013

India and the Middle East

Jordan 2013: Amman and Roman Ruins

Amman, Jordan, June 6, 2013 This, my third visit to the Middle East, has been an emotional roller coaster in terms of feeling hopeful one minute and then soon afterwards feeling that the situation is hopeless. The politics in the Middle East are viewed by[…]

India and the Middle East