Off to see Big Brother...aja aja aja aaaaaah

In the middle of Colombo, there is a huge poster of Mahinda Rajapakse shaking hands with Manmohan Singh, with a caption that reads "New strong relationship with Big Brother". This poster is a symbol of the new spirit of Indo-Lanka ties. Sri Lanka no longer gets to deride India as its struggling, rustic, poverty-ridden neighbour, but rather has/is forced to recognise/use its superpower neighbour. Big Brother really does watch over us all in South Asia these days.

I'm off to see the newer, richer Goonda on the block come Thursday. The ticket has finally been purchased. I will be landing in Delhi on the 7th afternoon. By the 7th night I should be eating Punajabi-by-Nature food and head-bobbing to Jalaakthikaaajaaaaaaaaa. The 8th should bring a hangover and new experiences as I travel to Agra, to see the Taj Mahal, the most magnificent monument to love and most convincing argument for birth control (Mumtaz Mahal died giving birth to her 14th child). Sunrise on the 9th will see my jetting to the most sun-kissed of Indian Shores, Goa. After venerating the never-decaying body of St. Francis Xavier, its off to the beaches, pubs and raves for a not entirely spiritual 3 evenings. I will be returning to Delhi on the 12th and catching the next flight to see the loved one and other friends in Bangalore. Or Bengaluru. In the city of boiled beans, I will most probably be catching up on Tamil and Telugu television, my friends in that city not being the most happening people in town. Or they might surprise me. I could very well be sipping Black Russians in the FTV bar for all I know. Mystery and pleasures of the flesh await and abound. On the 15th, its back to Delhi and a race to the airport to catch my flight back to Colombo.

Like any true expatriate, I am as home sick in Colomob as I am in Singapore (well maybe a BIT less). In light of my recent Desi-isation, I hope that India will make feel at home for a while. I will be sure to keep you guys informed, so watch this space.