Deborah LeipzigerAfter the conference is over, we have a day to visit Mumbai’s financial district. We are meeting Bharti Bamwani who works at the Bombay Stock Exchange and she will give us a tour. She is a wonderful young woman whom I met in Singapore. She had given me a gift in Singapore, a small journal for writing made of hand-crafter paper. This won me over—and it makes me happy to have a friend to look up here in Mumbai.
The view of Mumbai is stunning from the top of the building. We see the waterfront and most of the city, but without the noise. From here we can see the British influences—the clock tower that looks like Big Ben—only much taller.
Our colleague Lavina meets us and Bharti invites us all for breakfast. Bharti recommends the Modern Diner—which makes us laugh as this is the name of Andy’s favorite diner in Rhode Island. (Read what Andy has to say about it.) There are four tiny tables and we delight in being in a place where the locals go. This place is famous for these fried rings of dough which look like doughnuts but are savory. We dip the doughnuts into spicy dishes.
Here we try the idli sambhar—steamed rice cakes which we eat with lentil curry and coconut chutney. It is very spicy for me, but I try it.
All around the breakfast stalls are garlands of flowers—marigold and yellow colors. For months we will treasure the memory of being in the warmth of Mumbai, surrounded by friends and unaware of the need to wear masks.
We are impressed with the Stock Exchange and pleased to learn that they are eager to do more to promote sustainability.