India, Oct. 8 -- It's a strange thing for a journalist to say. But I am going to say it anyway: Don't believe everything you read in the newspapers.

Last week, we were booked to go to Bangkok to attend the World Gourmet Festival, an annual event organised by the Anantara hotel group at the iconic Anantara Siam Hotel. The event always features top chefs from around the world, often with four-hand collaborations and opportunities to talk to the chefs.

A few days before we were due to depart, it rained for 48 hours non-stop in Bangkok. This is unusual because though Bangkok does get heavy rains in September, the rains don't usually last for more than a couple of hours.

Unsurprisingly, this year's rains caused a degree of chaos, and parts ...