Here I am in the Crystal Lounge at Le Royal Meridien Hotel in Bombay. This is the substitute band, and I now have a new rhythm section. Lenny Heridia on piano continues as a steadfast side kick. Julie Cascioppo sings WILD WOMEN DON’T WORRY.

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I met another singer in town at a fabulous hotel called Taj Landsend. Anyway, the hotel I work at is a smaller boutique hotel, and not exactly on the grand scale of many other hotels in India. This makes it more ‘homey’ and familiar and almost the great big family I never had. In fact, it’s out by the airport.

Airport usually means a lot of planes flying overhead, but I mostly hear helicopters. When they fly over I ‘m usually hanging out by the pool in my Life Guard bathing suit. I wave to them, and then they come down real low, and I shout out to pool boy, ‘That’s my boyfriend!” Then i get on my cell phone and call someone and pretend I’m talking to ‘my boyfriend…” (An overactive imagination comes in very handy here.

This is a Business Hotel. That means businessmen. They seem to think anything goes at the hotel. At first when ‘guests’ asked, “What hotel room are you in?”, I thought it was out of curiosity regarding the ‘décor, or view’. I found out, they looked at my answering this innocent enough question as if it were a green light to ‘stop on by’ later.

I arrived in Bombay on Christmas Eve. I know God wouldn’t have booked me here if there wasn’t something I HAD to learn, and something God wants ME to do, and help with.

I’m getting to know the poor kids that are waiting for their parents, while the parents are busy working, digging up concrete, with what appears to be garden tools, in order to lay water pipes. You see these poor men and women, both working equally hard, doing back breaking bending and pounding of the cement with sticks and wooden bowls. Their children look on, obediently staying in a roped-off area, playing together with no toys, and happily running about within this small area. They likely don’t go to school, as parents have to pay for the privilege.

I had gone out to talk to a taxi driver at the taxi stand, to ask about fares and to say hello to the dogs. (My location is quite remote, I don’t get out much) and when I do, I’m gone all day. This is one tough city.

At first I did not think I would ever find my way around here. In Delhi I had horses and monkeys to play with…and expat lady friends and even a few Australians stopped over to travel the wild country together when I had a break between seasons.

The pay is ok, as I’m spending so much less here, and I’m getting several more perks — like one massage a week, and in-room dining — extra days off (built in). I’m glad I’ve got a gig, although I really miss Bali!

There’s another singer here at a huge hotel, very busy, and lively and near the sea. I’m conveniently located near the airport, so I can hop a flight to Goa or wherever I like, quite easily. Like I said: God puts you where you are for a reason!

I had some leftovers from last night’s dinner and today my new Indian friend Salil and I went walking out around the hotel area here, and found this little sweet trio underneath a truck. I brought out the goodies, wrapped in bread, and some cheese. They were so sweet and appreciative, catching it as I threw it, and wagging their tails. It was a happy moment for all of us.

Salil also works with abandonded designer dogs. The ones that are so cute as puppies and people buy them for their kids, and then no one knows what to do when the dog needs to be walked. I’m going with him to walk them someday. He’s a nice human being, and fills one of my criteria for a friend: Must be a compassionate animal lover.

I have the sweetest musical trio now, too. I call them the Juliettes. Adorable, loving, clean-living guys. I must remember to count my blessings. This could be a great opportunity for me.

I went out yesterday with my ‘driver’ to meet the Manager of the new Westin. He’s a good friend of a friend from Bali. He would like me to sing for the brunch crowd, which would happen in every one of his five restaurants. Do that many people go out to brunch?

Then I went shopping in the ‘Oberoi Mall’. It’s characterized as a fantastic high-tech mall, but was really uninteresting to me. It all seemed a bit tacky and artificial, and I never know how to find what I actually need. They need to get a Bartels here!

We’re really a bit dynamic for this somewhat conservative, Royal Palace of a hotel — but I’m getting a lot of work accomplished musically.