15 February 2026

Wherever Sharmila goes, mangoes die

In a nod to George Bush, Sharmila practices “No mangoes left behind” policy. We could not get any street side mango vendor here. Not the proper season now. I remember in many islands – Aruba, Fiji, Cabo, Cancun, Costa Rica (well, last one is not an island) – stopping on the side of the road so she could try out the local mangoes! In Grenada, she had the hotel folks procure local mangoes for breakfast the next day!

14 February 2026

Intersection Points strike again!

Sharmila and I were out and about in St. George’s market when I got a message from our first friends in this country – Rema Deo – “Where are you? And which hotel are you staying in?”

As a background, Rema and I got to know each other in 1992 while working at Citibank in Mumbai. Then we moved to Citibank in Florida, where they had already moved some time back. And then we moved to Citibank in Dallas. But, of course, always kept up with them. I think they were the first ones to visit us when our first daughter was born. And Sanjay, not knowing what to do with a newborn, assembled a barbecue for us, instead!!

Rema and Sanjay are crazy travelers, too. They have been to 65 countries, if I am not too mistaken. I figured they were going to give us some welcome tips.

Turns out, Rema and Sanjay were sitting on the tarmac on an American Airlines flight in Miami when she saw my Facebook post of “Island time again!” I had not mentioned which island, though. However, she had the presence of mind to go through the comments, and sure enough, somebody had asked where we were headed. And I had said “Grenada”.

Incredibly, that is where their flight was taking them! In fact, they had even booked at the same hotel as us and changed it at the last moment. Never mind, it is only a 15-minute walk away!

And that is how we met our friends from Florida over dinner this evening in this island of Grenada!