This is brilliant! Thanks so much for posting this. BTW where in India do you live now?

I think she is in south India now, but I can't recall which city.

It's very hot in Delhi right now. The past few days have been around 110 degrees (F). It's made worse by long bouts of power outages (usually several hours) and water supply problems.

Yep. I saw it was 114 today or something like that. Someone I know wanted to go to the Golden triangle area in mid May and I told her this was a bad time but she went so we'll see how she did upon her return. She and her traveling companion had never been to India B4 so i told her to be sure to get a hotel that has AC AND a back up generator.

@jacketwatch & Jaya: Thanks. Great to hear from you. Yes, Jaya is right. I am in South India.

Would that be Kerala?

Where in the south? I am a long-time fan of classical Indian dancing. I did Bharatnatyam until my knees started giving me problems and had to cut back. I also love Odissi style too, though I never learned it. Manipuri is so pretty for the large skirts they dance in.

@jacketwatch & Jaya: Well, Jaya, since you mention Bharatanatyam, let me say that I am in what could be called the home of Bharatanatyam...Chennai. There are some posts on my blog about Chennai, Pondicherry, Kathakali. You could check them out if you are interested. Where are you two based? I've lived in the US intermittantly, that is why I am wondering.

We live in a suburb of Chicago about 20 miles west of the airport.if you ever come this way we would love to meet, last yr. we met two Fodorites who happened to be on the same cruise with us.

I am in New Hampshire, about 1 hour north of Boston. I have not been to Chennai, but my dance guruji is from Chennai and I think she still performs when she visits there.

I am a dance purest. I only learned the true Bharatnatyam, not any of the "modernized" versions I see on YouTube. I like the classical dances as they were intended, not as a part of fusion or other mixtures. I don't know any of the south languages other than to know it's a south language by the sound of it. My Indian language is Hindi.

I am also a big fan of Kanchipuram and Banarsi saris. I love many of the other regional styles too. Ok, enough blah, blah, blah from me - lol.

@jacketwatch: We would love to meet too, whether we come there or you come to our part of the world!

@Jaya: Considering that you are from North India, it is interesting that you learnt Bharatanatyam. Kathak is more popular in the North. But that is what I love about India...unity in diversity!

Well if we ever come to Madras or Chennai I'll contact you. And if you ever come to Chi we'll treat you to the best pizza in the US!