Yesterday, we had lunch at the five star Sheraton restaurant. When we pulled up to the hotel we were greeted by a closed gate and two security officers. They demanded to search the trunk and used a mirror to inspect the bottom of the car before admitting us to the main entrance of the hotel. The driver got quite annoyed by this procedure, but I felt that the upped security measures were warranted after the Bombay bomb blasts on 26. Nov 2008. The hotel industry has responded to the threats with heightened security for their guests. Annoying but reassuring. Strange times.

On a different note: there are so many new cars populating the streets of India. So many Tatas, Marutis, Suzukis, Toyotas, Hyundais that haven’t been here in 2006. Apparently financing for the common man has picked up in the country. Along with it comes ever worse traffic jams. Lots of physical medians and flyovers where built since my last visit. Change is happening.