What it means to be greedy in this city

This is a very short post/lecture (Mother-in-Law, you may want to look away!) 

I have been feeling very guilty about the amount of food that we waste here in Bombay.  Either when we don't finish everything on our plates or when something goes off in the fridge or when we over-order in a restaurant.  I always felt bad when this happened back in the UK, but here, there's just no excuse for it when there are so many malnourished men, women and children around. 

Now, when we have some food left over from a restaurant meal I always ask the waiter to package it up so that we can try and give it away to a hungry child at a road junction.  Although they don't really want it, they just want your money.  But sometimes it can make someone's day.

Here are some images to focus the mind.

This picture is a WHOLE room dedicated to desserts at the Sunday Brunch offering at the JW Marriot in Juhu.  Every dessert imaginable is on this table.

Just in case you need a closer look?
What is amazing about this is that it is about 3.30 in the afternoon when the restaurant is almost empty and brunch service is nearly over.  Look how much is still left over!!

 

Now see this (rather terrifying looking) girl ferociously tapping on the window of our nicely air-conditioned car on the way home.  You can't really see from this shot, but this eight year old child is carrying a smaller child aged about two.  She is making a sign with her hand that she needs food.  We did give her 20 rupees (about 25 pence) when I snapped her on my camera but normally you are advised not to do this and try and 'ignore' them as best you can.  Which as you can imagine is extremely difficult.

Look again.  A child with no shoes ...probably about 6/7 years old, begging in the same way.  I am hoping she gets lucky.

NOW BE SURE TO FINISH EVERYTHING ON YOUR PLATE AND DON'T WASTE STUFF IN YOUR FRIDGE!!!!