The thing that strikes you about everyone in Chennai (and one would assume hopefully the rest of India) is how nice, welcoming and generous everyone is (with the obvious exception of the scheming thieving tuk-tuk drivers!). People often say that Americans are full of hospitality, but compared to Tamil Nadu, they are not even close. People are excruciatingly polite, very friendly, laid back and have...

Before you think I’m going to head off on some Mills & Boon romance thing, don’t worry, I’m not. This love affair is not of the romance kind but with a little gadget that no Indian can resist the charms of. It is the mobile phone. All around you see people clutching their mobile as if their life depends on it. I ask a member of staff to come in to my office, they will bring their...

I’ve just come back from can only be described as the single most surreal event in my entire life. I’m still trying to mentally process what happened, because I’m not altogether too sure what has happened. If that makes sense. Allow me to place the scene… One of my work mates, Farooq, had his marriage arranged, and despite me sitting him down and giving my anti-arranged...