Sunday, November 7, 2010

Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel, Mumbai, India

and the India view of President Obama's trip

The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower is  the historic hotel (1903) where President Obama is staying in Mumbai, India. The hotel  was restored and re-opened 8/15/2010 following the  terrorist attack of 11/26/10. This hotel of the same name should not be confused with the historic Taj Mahal mausoleum (tomb) in Agra, India, which dates back to 1630AD. 
   
"Trip Advisor". Following the lead from Blogmaster, Steve Sinai, I searched for Taj Mahal hotel Trip Advisor reviews.  Easily discovered was an extensive 10/17/10 review from the wife of an international businessman  (the couple lives in New York):

World class hotel - could we put it somewhere else?"  From that review, "We stayed at the Taj Mahal Palace. This is my kind of place. A sophisticated hotel that offers real luxury, character and world-class service....If you do visit, don’t even think of walking around outside. The heat and humidity are generally overpowering. Impoverished locals have turned many sidewalks into their personal residences, shopping malls and restrooms. Traffic is chaotic. Many intersections lack traffic lights and so turn into giant games of chicken with everyone driving in hopes that the other drivers slam on the brakes at the last second before glass-shattering impact. Drivers ignore crosswalks. While Mumbai pedestrians take this in stride, I saw several Westerners enjoy close calls with death as they jumped, shaking with terror, out of the way of speeding traffic. Unless you plan to spend an entire day in the hotel (not a bad option at the Taj!), arrange to have one of the Taj hotel cars on call at all times. They are clean. The seat belts work. The Taj drivers are skillful and courteous. They cost, but how much is your life worth?  I will never return to Mumbai. I am instructing my Dearest (referring to her husband) to avoid all future India projects at work and dedicate himself to business located in places that are nice to visit, such as Italy."

India's view of President Obama's trip. NewsX India TV discussion (video 13:57 minutes), and related videos.  The NewsX panel considers outside country investment (including American) in India, the moderator seems concerned about loss of "outsourcing" from the USA. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh   

33 comments:

Laurie Frater said...

Part of the text on the main page seems to have disappeared when you get to this screen, but:

"Turns out the President's trip cost to Asia rumor "source" was from India TV".

Perhaps, with about 50 Rupees to the dollar, the "200 milion" number was (or was intended to be) in Rupees? That would amount to about 4 million dollars, which would seem to be much nearer the mark!

Laurie Frater said...

My bad! There are two, consecutive but separate articles on the same subject - and I posted to the wrong one - which is why I thought that something was missing! Sorry!

Kathy Meeh said...

No, you're good Laurie. Conversion of $20,000,000 US dollar to Indian rupee is 4,543,224 as of today's date. currency calculator. This is a basic expected fact discovery, which was not considered in the GOP Tea Party pundit and congressional representative rumor mill of "don't let facts get in the way".

Steve Sinai said...

Chris Wallace calls Fox News co-worker an 'idiot' for believing India trip rumor

Kathy Meeh said...

Steve, good article from Chris Wallace, let's hear some "real solutions".

The reason I posted this secondary article of the President's trip is because one of our Tea Party visitors said President Obama was staying at the Taj Mahal where no one has every stayed. And, of course the reference was the "trip to India" rather than the 4 country trip to Asia.

I believe these comments were in keeping with the mythological theme of an "elitist President squandering tax payer money during a severe recession." Beck even went so far as to call this necessary diplomatic, business trip a vacation.

This series of smears about the President (of ALL citizens of the United States) is not the only fictional story or stories these media Fox clowns and other right-wing "idiots" (including congressional members) have told, these fictional stories are ongoing. The fact they continue to not tell the truth an/or buy into these delusions makes their credibility not much.

Ethical and/or religious breach? "Thou shall not bear false witness." Do your own research, read something other than your own blog lies, take another look at the rantings of pundits such as Beck, Limbaugh, Savage-- question.

Anonymous said...

Could you take the partisan bickering to some Fox or MSNBC site and leave this one to things dealing with Pacifica?

Kathy Meeh said...

No, the staying on fact is not a partisan issue. This is a major communication failure that is afflicting GOP Tea Party politics.

Here's some updated information about the President's trip to Mumbai CNN - The 1600 Report. On the news section, there's a video from the India Pepsico CEO, and other videos. Lots of pictures in the Report. Might want to various sections including the view of an India child.

Anonymous said...

Ms. Meeh once again you missed the point, Anon @ 9:18 was asking that we limit this to PACIFICA, thanks.

Anonymous said...

The name of this blog is "Fix Pacifica." It should be limited to what's wrong with Pacifica and what the fixes are.

Can you say ironic?

Kathy Meeh said...

Typo correction last sentence of my 12:58pm post should read: "Might want to view various sections including an India child." The link to the child is on that comment post.

And, apparently I missed the comment point you made Anonymous "article posting police" 1:07pm, oh well. PS: there is no Anon 9:18am. On the other hand, guess you missed the point I made, first line 12:58pm, namely "staying on fact is not a partisan issue"-- nor is it a "limited to Pacifica" issue.

There is a broader world out there, and some "limited" comments here have involved statements about that world. So, I'll continue posting articles which seem to be of interest, timely, relevant (and including those related to Pacifica, surrounding areas and the state).

Anonymous said...

Another anonymous poster here to say that these types of blog postings have nothing to do with Pacifica's local issues and you're only fanning the flames of the stupid commie v wing-nut arguments that derail most "discussions" here.

Anonymous said...

she is using the same old democratic losing tactic, discredit your opponent. She does not get it that her party, who is owned and led by communist George Soros, is losing. In the end Americans do not like to be told what to do or how to think. If Americans want to think the President has been spending to much money on traveling and parties, then Americans will think that. It is hard not to since there are pictures and party crashers proving it all to be true. Meanwhile, Joe and Jane's taxes are continuing to go up in Blue State California and they still have not found a job since Silicon Valley went through their last round of layoffs. "It's to help American Business" says the President. Really? I'm not feeling it here in Pacifica , where my home is in foreclosure.

Scotty said...

Kathy, can't you see that engaging with the tea party folks just keeps them going? Be the adult and just ignore them please.

Anonymous said...

What do Republicans propose to do to save your home from foreclosure?

Extend tax cuts for the wealthy? That'll help a lot. And we'll all help pay for it.

Kathy Meeh said...

Since you're "anonymous" there is no way to prove your "home is in foreclosure", my bet is it is NOT in foreclosure, and what you have said is just another "rumor". But, prove what you have just said and I'll apologize for lack of sensitivity.

Back again, same theme George Soros smeared as being a "communist"-- yet he's got to be the richest "communist" you don't know. Anon 2:12pm makes a good point, and if Soros pays taxes here, he will benefit from the top 2% tax continuation-- almost makes me want to support it (almost).

Cancel overseas diplomatic trips, including those which just made arrangements to export goods and services from America, support Democracy, and enhance better world security-- because, you're not feeling recession improvement in Pacifica, huh?

Anonymous said...

Ah Scotty, apparently Kathy can't help herself. I remember my Dad telling me the only way to end an argument with an idiot was to stop arguing.

Kathy Meeh said...

Comment from an anonymous coward, "Kathy can't help that comment either."

Anonymous said...

I hope the officials don't blame pacifica for the missile that was launched earlier today from our california coast. Can you imagine the fine on that one.

Anonymous said...

It wasn't a missile, it was a tar ball. A tar ball, my friend.

Anonymoose said...

It was Pacifica's economy soaring onward and upward.

Anonymous said...

It was another pointless, irrelevant and gratuitous attack by Fix Pacifica, instead of doing something useful and effective.

Anonymous said...

Who is pointlessly, irrelevantly, and gratuitously being attacked?

Anonymous said...

Anon, 11:24AM, please describe "pointless, irrelevant and gratuitous".

mike bell said...

Seemed relevant to me.
I assumed this was a reference to Vreeland's Ocean Front City Hall ambitions.
* he wasted $350,000 Pacifica tax dollars
* he chased away several viable WWTP delopments * he was re-elected for being a no show
Says a lot about our city.

Steve Sinai said...

I wonder how well Jimmy V and Sue would have done if, instead of the hotel tax measure being on the ballot, the upcoming parcel tax was on the ballot?

Hey, were Jimmy V and Sue D the same Jimmy and Susan from the old Pacifica-L quarry battles? I think they were!! I smell a conspiracy.

A Painter of the Flemish School said...

A more interesting question to ponder is, "Will the upcoming parcel tax pass?"

If the TOT couldn't -- a cost assumed by visitors and not residents -- I doubt a big hit on homeowners has much of a chance.

Anonymous said...

The TOT passed.

Anonymous said...

Parcel tax 1 or 2 doesn't have a chance. The national economy sucks and improvements will be slow to trickle down. The state economy is DOA for the next 10 years. TOT passed because it doesn't come out of our pockets. Even if hotel occupancy goes up, the added revenue is a drop in the pan. There's still a lot of cost-cutting to be done here. Painful but we need to get back to basics and quit living above our municipal means. All the small business in the world won't put a dent in this mess. We're counting on the LBC? Recreation? Hell, they seem to want to give away the beach for a bird sanctuary. I saw the meeting but you can't trust them. If lips are movin' they're lyin'.

Suicide is Painless said...

TOT, Parcel, Snowy Plovers, Missed Opportunities to build the WWTP, Measures failing is all stuff to keep us busy.

I say forget about all that and get to know your neighbors cause you're gonna need their help in the very near future.

A Painter of the Flemish School said...

The TOT passed.

Sorry about that. It sure did. My bad.

Anonymous said...

Hey, is that Vreemeister's new city hall on Palmetto?

jasa security/jasa keamanan said...

Good.. Good.. Good!!

Unknown said...

Really great Palace "The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai". I have no words to tell about Taj Mahal Palace.