Although I am not generally a huge sports fan, I like playing but I am not a big fan of watching sports on TV, I have gotten into the IPL (Indian Premier League). The Indian 20/20 Cricket league. Cricket matches traditionally last days but 20/20 cricket is a shortened form of the game in which each team only bowls (throws) 20 overs (an over is 6 balls thrown by one bowler (pitcher)). Thus a game of 20/20 lasts about the same amount of time as a game of baseball. This type of game results in more 6ers (when a batter hits a ball out of the oval (field)-think home run) and more 4s (when the batter hits the ball out of the oval on the ground (it touches the field before bouncing or rolling out). This is because batters will take more risks in a 20/20 game, since they have a more limited number of balls being bowled (pitched) to them. This of course also means batters get out faster: the ball is caught by a fields person before it touches the ground, the ball touches the wickets before the batter can get there (think base when I say wicket) etc. This makes the game more exciting (in my opinion) and helps those of us who have short attention spans (I cannot watch a single game for 3 days).
In the IPL may Indian cities have teams: Mumbai Indians, Delhi Dare Devils, Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, Deccan Chargers (Hyderabad). There are 8 teams in total. So people cheer for their home state or the team of their cities like baseball in the US. Although the season is much shorter here (a bit more then a month). For more info on 20/20 Cricket see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twenty20
This year because of the elections the whole 20/20 season (called a tournament) is taking place in South Africa instead of India, so while it is a big TV watching event, there are no matches to go to. There was fear that the IPL and the elections would disrupt each other and with India on a high terror alert because of the elections, their was a fear that the games would be a terrorist target. (Fyi: Indian elections take place in phases and last about a month). I guess I will have to come back next year to go to a live game
In other news (I mean this literally since the newspapers are dominated by two things right now- 20/20 and the Elections), Bombay went to the polls this past Thursday to vote for their local representative to the Lok Sab and thus vote for Prime Minister. This years turnout in Bombay was considered low because their was only a 43 or 45% turnout. As an American I thought that was pretty good, but here that's considered a really bad turnout, about 60% is considered good. The low turnout was blamed on the fact that the Bombay election phase occurred right before a three day weekend. 4 day weekend if you include election day (when offices are closed). But low turnout was also blamed on confusion at election stations where people's names were not on lists or there were issues with their ID etc. In any case the election results will have to wait until May 16th when the results for all of the phases of polling are announced.
The other exciting development is that I have begun taking Bollywood dance classes, for fun. Having never taken dance classes, it has been fun to learn the steps to popular songs, and you will never know when this could come in handing during my non-existent Bollywood carrier.
This is what I am currently learning:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAdpTqcQcFM
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Elections and Nimbooz
Every 5 years, Indians go to the polls for their national election. This year is election year and voting has already taken place in some districts. Bombay votes on March 30th (for those of you who do not know, voting takes place in phases with different states and districts voting on different days lasting for approximately a month). As Election Day draws near, I am seeing more and more election ads: billboards, TV spots etc and plenty of newspaper articles on politicians calling each other names.
Along with the election campaigns, I am watching friends get ready to vote, one of my friends at an ad agency just registered to vote a few days ago through a website called jaagore.com. Jaago Re One Billion Votes is a campaign sponsored by Tata Tea to get more young, mtv generation, mostly urban youth to vote. With an extensive print and TV campaign to drive people to a website where one can complete the voter registration form, they want to bring out the vote. The website has easy to follow instructions and drop down menus, which generate a pdf registration form with directions on where to send the form in (via post). The site makes registration easy for the internet savvy and the youth. But we will have to wait and see how successful it was.
In other news, the I-should-have-thought-of-that award goes to Nimbooz. Nimbooz is a new bottled drink that is basically bottled Nimbo Pani. Nimbo Pani (Lemon/Lime Water) is a traditional Indian drink of cold water (not carbonated) flavored with Nimbo (a citrus fruit that a cross between a lime and a lemon) juice and sugar or salt. It is an Indian version of lemonade. The bottled version is only the sweet (flavored with sugar) version. Nimbo Pani is usually made at home, and is widely consumed during summer. The release of the bottled version coincided with the beginning of summer, and now allows people to drink Nimbo Pani away from home, and take it with them. I have to say Nimbooz is actually pretty good, although not at all like homemade. In any case, Nimbooz is by PepsiCo and is advertised as “by 7Up.” It’s going to make a lot of money even though it is so simple. Its pretty smart to take a drink that is simple to make and that everyone likes and put it in a bottle so they can have it when not in the home. This is especially smart when one remembers that most cold drinks (sodas) are consumed out of home at fairs, restaurants, street-side stalls etc.
Along with the election campaigns, I am watching friends get ready to vote, one of my friends at an ad agency just registered to vote a few days ago through a website called jaagore.com. Jaago Re One Billion Votes is a campaign sponsored by Tata Tea to get more young, mtv generation, mostly urban youth to vote. With an extensive print and TV campaign to drive people to a website where one can complete the voter registration form, they want to bring out the vote. The website has easy to follow instructions and drop down menus, which generate a pdf registration form with directions on where to send the form in (via post). The site makes registration easy for the internet savvy and the youth. But we will have to wait and see how successful it was.
In other news, the I-should-have-thought-of-that award goes to Nimbooz. Nimbooz is a new bottled drink that is basically bottled Nimbo Pani. Nimbo Pani (Lemon/Lime Water) is a traditional Indian drink of cold water (not carbonated) flavored with Nimbo (a citrus fruit that a cross between a lime and a lemon) juice and sugar or salt. It is an Indian version of lemonade. The bottled version is only the sweet (flavored with sugar) version. Nimbo Pani is usually made at home, and is widely consumed during summer. The release of the bottled version coincided with the beginning of summer, and now allows people to drink Nimbo Pani away from home, and take it with them. I have to say Nimbooz is actually pretty good, although not at all like homemade. In any case, Nimbooz is by PepsiCo and is advertised as “by 7Up.” It’s going to make a lot of money even though it is so simple. Its pretty smart to take a drink that is simple to make and that everyone likes and put it in a bottle so they can have it when not in the home. This is especially smart when one remembers that most cold drinks (sodas) are consumed out of home at fairs, restaurants, street-side stalls etc.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
April Update
I apologies for the lack of update the last two weeks, things have been very hectic.
Fist I will talk about the last few days of travel with my parents. After Kerala, we went to Ooty and Mysore before having one more day in Bombay to get things together ad pick up tailored shirts. Ooty was beautiful mountains and tea gardens and the weather was wonderful and cool, especially after hot hot Cochin. In Mysore we walked around the city and the market, where I was finally able to get a DVD of the Tamil version of Ghajini. We got interesting Jute bags for people back home as gifts, coffee and a great Indian Cricket team shirt for Gabe to wear in New Zealand, in support of the Indian cricket team. We also did a lot of Mysore Palace touring and temple viewing, both impressive.
At the end of our journey we spent some time in the freezing Bangalore airport which we had to pay a tax to get into (but it was a nice and new airport). That night we all headed to Zenzi, a happening bar in Bandra, to meet some of my Bombay friends and have a nice night out. It was definitely fun. On Saturday I said good bye, I miss them already.
Then it was back to work on research, which I am currently mostly doing on Lakme cosmetics. While work has been stressful, there have been some high points including getting to attend Lakme Fashion Week. Lakme Fashion Week started in 2001. As a property it represents Lakme’s creative side and reaffirms its position as an aspirational (desirable, glamorous) brand. Each LFW has a theme. This summer’s theme was “Bridal Sutra.” At the end of each LFW event the closing show is the work of the designer whose clothes feature in the Lakme ad campaign for that season. The show features that designer’s work with the models all wearing Lakme makeup. Winter 2008 featured the designer Sabyasachi while the summer 2009 features designs by Anamika Khanna.
“Bridal Sutra” was the same theme that was used for the winter 2008 LFW. The ads and products associated with that campaign did very well, and so the client (Lakme) wanted to extend the theme to summer 2009. The winter 2008 looks (images and make-up colors) and ads followed the stages/ceremonies of an Indian wedding (the fashion week and ad campaign smartly placed right before wedding season) but with modern edgy touches. For example, the use of a black and red dress within one ad, which is a non-traditional color and look or the addition of a watch on the wrist of one of the models. The campaign bridges the West and the Indian.
The new Summer 2009 Bridal Sutra collection follows the emotional journey of the bride as appose to the ceremonial one. Instead of the rich deep earthy make-up colors of the winter collection, the summer’s collection features more nudes and lighter colors.
Summer 2009 LFW took placed at the Grand Hyatt. Within the venue a Lakme Salon had been set up. A working salon it also doubled as a product show piece displaying this seasons ad campaign images, products and models. The runway was decorated with the Lakme logo and “Lakme Fashion Week” was written prominently on the walls.
I had never been to a runway show before so it was really exciting an interesting to be there and see the whole thing take place, as well as the branding aspects for Lakme. I saw the show for Westside which is a clothing brand, that had three well known Indian designers design small collections under its name. It was fun to see a fashion show and it also gave me a better understanding of how this type of event can be used by Lakme to promote itself and Indian designers and fashion.
Pictures to come soon.
Fist I will talk about the last few days of travel with my parents. After Kerala, we went to Ooty and Mysore before having one more day in Bombay to get things together ad pick up tailored shirts. Ooty was beautiful mountains and tea gardens and the weather was wonderful and cool, especially after hot hot Cochin. In Mysore we walked around the city and the market, where I was finally able to get a DVD of the Tamil version of Ghajini. We got interesting Jute bags for people back home as gifts, coffee and a great Indian Cricket team shirt for Gabe to wear in New Zealand, in support of the Indian cricket team. We also did a lot of Mysore Palace touring and temple viewing, both impressive.
At the end of our journey we spent some time in the freezing Bangalore airport which we had to pay a tax to get into (but it was a nice and new airport). That night we all headed to Zenzi, a happening bar in Bandra, to meet some of my Bombay friends and have a nice night out. It was definitely fun. On Saturday I said good bye, I miss them already.
Then it was back to work on research, which I am currently mostly doing on Lakme cosmetics. While work has been stressful, there have been some high points including getting to attend Lakme Fashion Week. Lakme Fashion Week started in 2001. As a property it represents Lakme’s creative side and reaffirms its position as an aspirational (desirable, glamorous) brand. Each LFW has a theme. This summer’s theme was “Bridal Sutra.” At the end of each LFW event the closing show is the work of the designer whose clothes feature in the Lakme ad campaign for that season. The show features that designer’s work with the models all wearing Lakme makeup. Winter 2008 featured the designer Sabyasachi while the summer 2009 features designs by Anamika Khanna.
“Bridal Sutra” was the same theme that was used for the winter 2008 LFW. The ads and products associated with that campaign did very well, and so the client (Lakme) wanted to extend the theme to summer 2009. The winter 2008 looks (images and make-up colors) and ads followed the stages/ceremonies of an Indian wedding (the fashion week and ad campaign smartly placed right before wedding season) but with modern edgy touches. For example, the use of a black and red dress within one ad, which is a non-traditional color and look or the addition of a watch on the wrist of one of the models. The campaign bridges the West and the Indian.
The new Summer 2009 Bridal Sutra collection follows the emotional journey of the bride as appose to the ceremonial one. Instead of the rich deep earthy make-up colors of the winter collection, the summer’s collection features more nudes and lighter colors.
Summer 2009 LFW took placed at the Grand Hyatt. Within the venue a Lakme Salon had been set up. A working salon it also doubled as a product show piece displaying this seasons ad campaign images, products and models. The runway was decorated with the Lakme logo and “Lakme Fashion Week” was written prominently on the walls.
I had never been to a runway show before so it was really exciting an interesting to be there and see the whole thing take place, as well as the branding aspects for Lakme. I saw the show for Westside which is a clothing brand, that had three well known Indian designers design small collections under its name. It was fun to see a fashion show and it also gave me a better understanding of how this type of event can be used by Lakme to promote itself and Indian designers and fashion.
Pictures to come soon.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Traveling Through the South
The past week had been a world wind of travel. Flying from Bombay to Trivandrum was fun. There we (my parents, their friend Lenny, and I) visited the famous Shiva temple and the palace there, while trying to brave the heat of the south. From there it was a fun trip by car to the backwaters of Kerala for a houseboat experience. We were greeted at the boat with coconuts (filled with wonderful coconut water) and took off for the smaller canals in our slightly smaller boat (two bedrooms only and no pool or rooftop seating area- yes some of these boats have pools on top which is crazy). The food on the boat, cooked by the three man crew, was incredible and contained fresh local vegetables, fish and prawns. Although we were hit by some hard rain for about an hour of our trip, we had a great time being wined and dined while watching the beautiful scenery, villages and people go by.
After the houseboat it was off to Cochin were we ate more great fish and prawns, watched the Chinese fishing nets, visited the Synagogue, palace, spice market, and beautiful old buildings of Fort Cochin (old Cochin). We also ate at the highly recommended Dal Roti restaurant, which I highly recommend to anyone heading that way.
Then it was time for a 7 hour drive to Ooty, in the mountains. We traded the crazy hot weather of Kerala for the cool weather of the mountains and the views of palm trees and ocean side for mountains, tea gardens and windy roads. Which were fun to walk around, but made me a bit sick.
Now we are in Mysore for some more palace viewing, market walking and temple viewing before its back to Bombay.
After the houseboat it was off to Cochin were we ate more great fish and prawns, watched the Chinese fishing nets, visited the Synagogue, palace, spice market, and beautiful old buildings of Fort Cochin (old Cochin). We also ate at the highly recommended Dal Roti restaurant, which I highly recommend to anyone heading that way.
Then it was time for a 7 hour drive to Ooty, in the mountains. We traded the crazy hot weather of Kerala for the cool weather of the mountains and the views of palm trees and ocean side for mountains, tea gardens and windy roads. Which were fun to walk around, but made me a bit sick.
Now we are in Mysore for some more palace viewing, market walking and temple viewing before its back to Bombay.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Back in Bombay but... with the parents
After finally beginning to get somewhere with my work here in Bombay, my gains have been cut short by a visit from parents, who came all the way from New York City to visit me.
Although I am soooo excited to have them here, I am bummed about not being able to get work done, I just don't want to be away for so long and have everyone at my fieldwork site forget me.
Hopefully they wont.
On to the fun stuff: I have been introducing my parents to Bombay. We did the standard Colaba tour, I showed them around Bandra (where I live), took them to my field site to visit, went to Elephanta Island, and saw a bollywood movie (Billu Barber) which was not as bad as I thought it would be and which my parents liked a lot probably because they could not understand the script. We have also been doing a lot of eating at some great restaurants my friends recommended. It has been wonderful to introduce my parents to coastal Indian food, as oppose to the north Indian food that is more easily found in the USA. All in all, its been nice to explore Bombay with them, especially since I have not had time to explore it myself.
Next stop: Kerala
Although I am soooo excited to have them here, I am bummed about not being able to get work done, I just don't want to be away for so long and have everyone at my fieldwork site forget me.
Hopefully they wont.
On to the fun stuff: I have been introducing my parents to Bombay. We did the standard Colaba tour, I showed them around Bandra (where I live), took them to my field site to visit, went to Elephanta Island, and saw a bollywood movie (Billu Barber) which was not as bad as I thought it would be and which my parents liked a lot probably because they could not understand the script. We have also been doing a lot of eating at some great restaurants my friends recommended. It has been wonderful to introduce my parents to coastal Indian food, as oppose to the north Indian food that is more easily found in the USA. All in all, its been nice to explore Bombay with them, especially since I have not had time to explore it myself.
Next stop: Kerala
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Bombay and Kolkata
As I begin to get settled in Bombay. I have had to learn a lot about my new city. I have gotten a seasonal train pass for the Bombay computer train/metro which will enable me to get around the city for only 340 rupees until May 15th. Although the train is very cheap it is also very crowded so I have also been learning about which trains I need to take when. For example some trains begin and end at my station, Bandra station, these trains are less crowded because they do not travel farther out and therefore less people can take them. But in general I find that the ladies train car (yes there is a separate car for women) is crowded and there is a lot of pushing but it is manageable and not as crazy as the men's car, where during rush hour you can often find men riding on top of the car instead of inside the train.
I have also been wandering around my new neighborhood and I have found a jogger's park where it costs 2 rupees to get in and use the nice dirt track. This has been great for my morning runs. I have also found a good and cheap restaurant near my house that delivers if I ever get hungry. Speaking of food there is also a place called The Bagel Shop, which sells... bagels! Although they are no where as good as the bagels in NYC, they are boiled and do resemble a bagel. I have also started carrying out my research with advertising agencies and have made inroads into new products and their ads.
But of course as just as I am get settled, I had to leave for 5 days to go to Kolkata for the annual South Asian Fulbright Conference, where Fulbrighters, alumni, and those who run the program from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan all get together for a conference. I have been able to listen and see other Fulbrighters present about their work and I was able to present mine as well. It was generally very well received which was so exciting for me. I have also been able to explore Kolkata a bit and even try some famous Bengali sweets! Its been a good trip but its back to Bombay early morning tomorrow for some frantic work before my parents are come for a visit! This means more travel. Get ready for some more commentary on Bombay as I explore it like a tourist, as well as a trip south!
I have also been wandering around my new neighborhood and I have found a jogger's park where it costs 2 rupees to get in and use the nice dirt track. This has been great for my morning runs. I have also found a good and cheap restaurant near my house that delivers if I ever get hungry. Speaking of food there is also a place called The Bagel Shop, which sells... bagels! Although they are no where as good as the bagels in NYC, they are boiled and do resemble a bagel. I have also started carrying out my research with advertising agencies and have made inroads into new products and their ads.
But of course as just as I am get settled, I had to leave for 5 days to go to Kolkata for the annual South Asian Fulbright Conference, where Fulbrighters, alumni, and those who run the program from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan all get together for a conference. I have been able to listen and see other Fulbrighters present about their work and I was able to present mine as well. It was generally very well received which was so exciting for me. I have also been able to explore Kolkata a bit and even try some famous Bengali sweets! Its been a good trip but its back to Bombay early morning tomorrow for some frantic work before my parents are come for a visit! This means more travel. Get ready for some more commentary on Bombay as I explore it like a tourist, as well as a trip south!
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