Breakfast in Mumbai

Something else that is great here is that they serve some great things for breakfast. In addition to Indian specialties, they also serve one of Martin's favorites, Baked Bean on Toast. Of course with a bit of an Indian twist. As we heard from the mouth of one Indian, Indians always put their own spin on everything.
ABOVE: first morning, me drawing.

ABOVE: Parsi Omelette, Toast Butter Jam and a Malarone pill, for malaria! The omelette is yummy! The jam tastes like spreadable strawberry Jello. Top it all off with a Masala Chai, tea laced with spices and hot milk. We hold the sugar and add our own since the Indians make it SOOOO sweet.

Way better than Starbucks ever dreamed or made.

RIGHT: My handsome husband, easy traveler, Martin, also know as "Sherpa Extraordinaire". He dreamed of going to India long before I ever did. 2007 was his first trip, my second. Well, Martin had forgotten to bring a hat, so Ray loaned "the sherpa" the Ohio Plein Air Society golf cap. I'd recently given the cap to Ray, since it's always been too large for me.

Seemed funny to see Martin in a cap like that, but the sun in India is brutal on the eyes, even early in the AM. Too bright not to have a hat to shield a foreigner's eyes.

LEFT: Martin's Baked Beans on Toast. Looks like a rich sauce, maybe they added a little spice and parsley or coriander leaves ? I didn't taste them. I only know he ate them happily.

Morning in Mumbai

We arrived at the airport in Mumbai around 10:00 PM on September 10, 2009. A car from the Hotel Harbour View was waiting to take us to the hotel just down the street from the Taj Hotel and the Gateway of India. After checking in, we headed to the rooftop bar and restaurant. This was my third time in India, and coming back to this rooftop is always like coming home.

Below is the view of the Gateway of India at dawn, from our breakfast table. Monsoon season filled the warm air with a heavy moisture.

Below is a photo of a drawing I did that first morning, with Pepto Bismol tablets lying on the lefthand page. Some days later, I was to loose this sketchbook/journal and all of my resource drawings and written impressions from the first week of this seven week trip. It was a sickening disappointment to me at the time. Eight weeks later, at home looking through photos, I was happy to find three photos I'd taken of my book that morning in Mumbai.

I'd bought the Moleskin book the day before we left America. It had extra thick blank pages, 100 to be exact, that I thought would be good for watercolor, but when I tried a petite sketch of the harbor at dawn, the paper resisted the water and you can see the paint beaded up. I used this book only for drawing from then on, and stashed small pieces of watercolor paper into the back pocket in the book, so was ready for a quick painting if and when I wanted one. I did do one, and lost it when I lost the book.

Birthday Drawing

Twas the night before Natalie's 10th birthday. Granddad was busy, Mommy was busy, Natalie was playing a game on the net. I was bored. Remembering I had brought my drawing materials, and "Eh. Voila!" A quick sketch: "Natalie, Age 9" Conte Crayon on Strathmore 400 Series Drawing paper.