I had been in living in India long before I met Shama. My decision to live here had nothing to do with her.

We met on a sailing trip, something clicked and I asked her to marry me four days later. She thought I was mad!

There was quite an age difference -- she was 20, I was 41. We got married in 2000 though her family was opposed to the decision. Her family wasn't new to inter-racial marriages. She is a Muslim from [legendary ornithologist ] Salim Ali's family and has aunts who are German.

During my holiday here, I had met the owners of a hotel in Mandwa [near Mumbai] who wanted me to help out in water sports as a professional. I then started making water sport equipment. Soon, I branched out on my own [Guido has built the Chinkara, India's most promising sports car].

As a first time visitor to India, Mumbai airport is horrible. You take a taxi and see the beggars. You then get the stink of Mahim creek. After four or five visits, however, you also realise that, if there is the stink of Mahim creek, there is also the Queen's Necklace [Marine Drive, Mumbai's famed promenade].

I think Europe has become so sanitised that there is no taste there. India is very big and extremely beautiful, Europe is tight, small, busy and engaged. India has a lot of possibilities.

There is much more freedom here than in Germany. But I don't like the fact that human life is so cheap in India. If someone is injured on the road, people will just crowd around. In Europe, this is against the law and you could land up in jail.

Photograph: Jewella C Miranda

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