Yesterday, my coworkers and I went to do a bit of sight seeing in Mumbai.  First, we went to see an historic church built in 1904, Mount Mary’s Basilica.

and afterwards, an important Hindu temple, Iskcon-juhu

Finally, we stopped at a hotel on Juju beach to have a beer and snack, and watch the sunset.

While I love my team and co-workers, it sure is nice to have a few hours to chill out and catch up on stuff I want to do and read!  Sitting poolside in Mumbai is not a bad setting to pursue this…here is a shot from the “life is good cam”:

To do list:

• Breakfast – Check
• Relax – Check
• Talk with my family – Check!
• Do some posts here to update you on my trip – Check!
• Take a short rest
• Go find something to do for a bit

 

The first thing that many first time travelers to Mumbai are concerned about is if there will be food they like.

I will make some assumptions that if you are going to Mumbai that you are open to trying some new things, even if you are not a natural adventurer.  I think even the most particular eaters will find food to enjoy.  You should be able to find choices that are not spicy if you just ask for some help from the people who are serving the food.  The people I have met in Mumbai are very focused on providing an enjoyable experience, and will help you find things that are less spicy if that is your preference.

I am no expert in Indian cuisine, but I will share some of the things I have tried and enjoyed my first trip to Mumbai.

Samosa – Fried pastry type item, usually stuffed with spiced potatoes, onions and such.  It is spiced for flavor, but not spicy-hot at all.  Try it with side of chutney!

Samosa is in front right of this picture!

 

Dosa – Think of this as a very thin pancake like item, often stuffed with a filling of vegetables, but can be just the thin folded item with no stuffing.  Try with coconut chutney if available for a nice treat, that is easy for Westerners to enjoy!  Pictured with a mint chutney, coconut chutney, and a tomato based as well!

“Indian coffee” – Give yourself a break from Starbucks and black coffee and give this a whirl.  Its rich, it has some milk in it, and a light froth sometimes at the top.  If you really like coffee, I think you will like this!

Chole – This is made with chick-peas/garbanzo beans and has some spice in it, but not hot like some dishes.  The chole I had was more spiced with cumin than it was cayenne, in case that helps at all.

Many dishes are served with rice, so the trick to remember is this:  If you get yourself in too deep with something that is too spicy, just mix in more rice, or ask for naan to go with it to cut the heat!

 

 

 

I had a great evening with my team in Mumbai.  We met after work at a restaurant called Global Fusion.

It was a nice selection of food and deserts, but the company was the highlight.  It is wonderful to meet people in person who you have been working with via email and phone for some time.  You get to see how the team interacts together, and the individual personalities of each person.

It was a nice interaction, and worth the trip just for this one reason.

 

The rest of the plane trip was uneventful, exactly the way I like my flights!  I was pretty tired after 25+ hours of traveling, and could not post an update until now.

The hotel is very clean and nice.  The food has been excellent.  The people have been very hard working and desiring to please their guests.

Mumbai is a bustling city with approximately 20 million people.  The traffic is crazy and this would be the case even if the infrastructure and roads could be built at a pace to keep up with the city’s growth, which I can tell you is not possible based on what I have seen.  There are some very nice buildings, and many buildings that are empty and probably going to be demolished and rebuilt.

I will post site seeing and related posts in the coming days!  Thank you for reading.

 

 

Ok. I made it to Atlanta to meet my colleagues. I had a couple hours to kill at the airport so I enjoyed a Cuban sandwich at a little place in the concourse. Leaving for Paris airport soon, before catching final plane to Mumbai! 

This should be quite an adventure. I can
hardly wait to meet everyone I have been working with the past year!

Business class rules!