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Schools - 1

We have registered with ASB in Bandra and are hoping that our girls aged 9 & 7 get in for the next school year starting 12th August 2008. However, if they do not get places we are more than happy to put them in Ecole Mondiale in Juhu. Both schools have excellent facilities, low numbers in classes, state of the art classrooms, fantastic programmes for after school activities. We are considering living in Hirinandani Gardens, Powai. This means that the girls will have 45 mins each way to school and my partner will have 45 mins each way to work - a happy compromise. My partner flies out again on 7th May to start work and to set up a home. We will be joining him when the girls finish their school year here in July. I met up with a British lady that had been living in Bandra for 6 weeks. Her 3 children (aged between 5-13) all got in to ASB and are extremely happy. She is living in an apartment block called Quanantum Park, Bandra West, Carter Road and it is very nice. It has its own gardens, swimming pool and gym. She says that it is very safe, she even lets her 5 year old go off to play with her older siblings. She also says that the door bell doesn't stop ringing with other kids in the block calling for her children. She helps out at ASB on a Wednesday and meets with other women from the school's PTA to go out sightseeing and for lunch. She has recommended a brochure called Namaskar Mumbai which offers assistance for all sorts including finding accommodation. She has also given me the name of a gym complex near the airport called Waterstones which I am yet to look up.

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Schools - 2

We have registered in both schools but think Ecole Mondiale is most likely. The curriculum is closer to the British system that the girls (young) have already started in international schooling. Our youngest does not stand a chance of getting into ASB as she is almost 3yrs and there is only one class and I would love for them both to be at the same school! Both schools looked good and we have been given positives and negatives of both schools from current families.

We saw at LOTS of apartments in bandra and quantum park was one of them. We also looked at the Club in Andheri West near Juhu (similar to the Breach candy club) with pool, cycle path, big outdoor play areas and gym which we will join. We go back in May to hopefully finalise housing etc.

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Things to do

India just doesn't have the level of entertainment on offer as other countries do, particularly those in the West. However, there are plenty of traditional events regularly taking place such as outdoor public religious festivals, often with displays of talent and fireworks, or sporting days.

If you are heading over to Delhi to work, then you would just need to make friends with one or two locals from your job who would be happy to show you the real Delhi from an insider's knowledge of the city. Be prepared to be the only Westerner around for most of the year though, as I was on almost every visit there! This means that it can be a bit lonely and you are a definite target to be ripped off everywhere you go.

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