Traditionally, vodka is odourless and tasteless. However, I have found that flavoured vodka can be so much livelier and fun,” says vodka enthusiast, Pankaj Mehta as we meet for an evening of home-infused vodkas at the Opium Den at The Trident, Mumbai. Pankaj Mehta is an entrepreneur and vodka enthusiast. His travels all over the world always bring him back to the Opium Den for its unique vodka offerings. Created as the hideout of the intrepid traveller India Jones, Opium Den suitably captures his spirit. Legend has it that India Jones maintained a secret diary of his recipes, carefully collated from all over the world, at the Opium Den. These recipes are revealed for the very first time to the readers of G2. “Our home-infused vodka selection can be broadly divided into two categories: fruit and spice. Today, we are offering what we call a Flight of Spice,” says Abhimanyu Ranawat, Manager of the Opium Den. We start with a cinnamon infused vodka. Pankaj takes a deep whiff. “I love the fragrance of cinnamon. Start with a small sip and gently swirl it in your mouth.”

Travelling through China makes one think of Churchill’s description of Russia, the country is and, perhaps always will be, a riddle wrapped up in a mystery inside an enigma. Home to nearly a quarter of the world’s population, its ancient cultural heritage exists seamlessly with its strident modern revolution. Perhaps in no other part of the country will one see China’s imperial past and political present meet as emphatically as at Tiananmen Square. It is here that the majestic entrance to the Forbidden City of the emperors was cleared in 1958 to make space for the Great Hall of the People and then a decade later the mausoleum of Mao.

The mausoleum contains the preserved body of Mao in a crystal sarcophagus, along with a standing marble statue of the Chairman. Despite the oppressive summer heat, it is hard not to be overwhelmed by the majesty of the Tiananmen Square. It is the largest inner-city square in the world and can hold up to a million people. A relic of Communist propaganda reads, “Devote Great Efforts to Building up our Socialist Spirit and Civilization.” In Beijing today there seems to be more emphasis on building up individual and societal wealth. This epicentre of the country makes a dynamic commercial statement with high-rise hotels, office buildings and department stores.