Dusk at Neemrana Fort

In India with Henry

Just back in Seal Beach today, after working with Henry Diltz on a project in Goa, Shanti Morada, a new 20-room boutique property under construction, slated to open late 2011. Henry snapped images of villages and local culture- I am helping with the brand and style. A great project in development by friends I know from Delhi who own Shanti Home, a small mid-market property. You follow Henry around anywhere and you immediately have adventures. He wanders into exotic markets, attempts to be gored by sacred cows, or ducks down a dim-lit alley in a tough neighborhood near Jama Masjid where he wound up in a madrassa filled with skins freshly sacrificed for Eid. I found the time to do a few watercolours. We rounded out the trip with a short visit to Neemrana Fort in Rajasthan, which has been transformed into a 55-room property. We had an outstanding room called Ramji Mahal. It's a big bustling property set on a lot of levels with a lot of stairs, uninspired food. Family-friendly, and they charge for everything.

Started research on my next novel. More on that later.

Goa beach scene