Shimla is the capital of Himachal Pradesh and a famous Hill Station in the foothills of the Himalayas. We reached Shimla via India’s iconic and romantic Toy Train. Our travel coincided with incredible turmoil in India’s domestic air travel industry, complicating air travel and making even railroad trips uncertain due to the spillover effect of huge waves of flight cancellations. It was truly an adventure.
Author Archives: Susan K. Finston
Uber 3-Wheelers
The Uber Auto Rickshaw is a great example of how India assimilates Western products through a local lens.
When I wake up too early …
If you are one of those people with a jar of sourdough sitting in the back of your refrigerator and no time for baking – this Sourdough Crumpets recipe is for you!
New Year’s Eve Mu-Shu with Pancakes
As a Jew I make Mu Shu with Chinese pancakes not because it is a traditional New Years’ food but just because it is so delicious! Best wishes to our Chinese friends around the world celebrating the start of the 2026 Year of the Fire Horse! “Horses arrive and Success follows.”
Finding the Christmas Spirit in India
My great love affair with India started long before my first trip more than 26 years ago, and it was very important to me to finally travel with my husband to India in December 2025 – to give him at least a taste of the country and the culture. It was a wonderful, memorable trip for both of us. I do not claim expert status on India – I am just sharing a few photos and memories of our time last December at the request of friends who have asked about the experience.
Quick Tip: Peeling Thin-Skinned Avocados
Sometimes even a very small innovation can make a difference – like using a ceramic peeler to easily remove the skin from an avocado.
In Memoriam: Garden Recollections of Menuhah (Suzanne) Peters (May 22, 1956 – October 24, 2025)
Menuhah Peters made a huge and lasting impression on the world through her early education teaching and what she shared about it online (photos always shared with written consent). For Menuhah every setting was a classroom and every experience and opportunity for learning and teaching. I was fortunate enough that this included my garden. Hosting her young students always brought joy.
Are You Counting what Really Matters?
We need to value intangibles. Intangibles like family, friendship, contributions to our communities, and our spiritual / religious commitments defy easy measurement. Yet they add essential meaning and value to our lives. As Albert Einstein said:
“Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.”
Navigating the Global Governance Crisis
We are living in a time of crisis for the rule of law and governance around the world. When I lived in the Philippines in the 1990s, democracy was fragile. Each election carried the risk of renewed dictatorship. It was hard to escape the realization that the warm, hardworking and creative people of the PhilippinesContinue reading “Navigating the Global Governance Crisis”
The Truth: Others Don’t See Your Self Doubts and Insecurities
I was just an insecure 16 year old, uncertain about everything from my appearance to my place in the universe. One day like any other, I found myself in a sea of students crossing the glass hallway in both directions. Suddenly I realized that of the hordes of students, literally no one was focused on me. Not a one. They were just trying to get to class on time, and most felt just as insecure as me.