The Asia Society is a marvelous organization.  They are holding a major conference in Mumbai March 18-20, which will be opened with a speech by India's Prime Minister Singh.  The following day, Henry Kissinger will speak, and on the last day of the conference U.S. Ambassador Mulford will speak.  The themes, though generally business-oriented, also address matters of education, health, and entertainment.  I'll (Brent) be attending, both to get a better sense of India at present, and in hopes of making professional contacts. During the time Vickie will be in India on a scholarship, I would like to either be hired, or have a professional clientele.  That's one of the benefits of practicing immigration law -- I'm not bound to a local practice; there are clients everywhere in the world.  I've created a new business card, using www.vistaprint.com :


I've spent a good deal of time doing internet research on hotels. The conference hotel room rate is more than $250 / night, so I've looked for a "clean, cheap" place nearby. Mumbai does not abound in those.  I have settled on an 80-year old hotel on nearby Juhu Beach.  Not fancy, but then, I'd rather be near the coast, than in the middle of that huge (16 million people) city. Here's a photo of the beach at sundown:


It's a favorite place for families to hang out.

After 3 days at the conference, out near the airport 15 miles north of town, I will come into downtown Mumbai for a couple of days.  One of the sights I'll look forward to seeing is the famous Gate of India:


As you can see, it's a very popular spot with the locals.

I'll move over to the Ascot Hotel.  It's very hard to find a decent place in Mumbai for under $100, but I think I'll be OK at both of these places.  I'll spend the two days after the conference, one of which is the Baha'i New Year's day, March 21, with the Baha'is of Bombay, before going on to Indore. 
Brent