It started with 18 women. They came from three villages outside of Jaipur, in the State of Rajasthan, in Northwestern India. These women were part of a Self Help Group (SHG). These groups came together on a monthly basis in a desire to learn more about health, hygiene and gender education. They were supported by the NGO, Vatsalya (www.vatsalya.org). Vatsalya coordinated training and helped them learn the basic concepts of microcredit.

In 2005, I wrote a laudatory story about Dubai entitled The Pie in the Sky, Really Does Fly, and included it in my 2008 travel collection A String of Pearls.

Over the past month or so, I haven’t traveled much outside my snowy wintery region.

You don't have to be a President to Sleep in the White House - Part 2

Celebrate President’s Week at a B&B with Presidential connections