After touring the north of India in April, we proceeded to Pune, a mid-sized city that is home to many software companies, auto manufacturing plants and technology startups. The city was modern and bustling. It’s not really on the typical tourist itinerary, but we visited to work with Ed’s client, Rahul, and his company, Bonzai.
Bonzai’s offices were modern and bright – we could have been anywhere in the world, except for the Indian snacks, Chai, and spoken “Murati” (the local language).
We were able to conduct two morning business sessions for the entire company.
And we spent the afternoons with senior management discussing strategy.
It was a treat to be able to stay with Rahul in his home. We also enjoyed meeting Rahul’s father.
Rahul had been a student of Ed’s in a Stanford Executive Education program. After that class, Rahul asked Ed to consult for his company and they have worked together remotely for the past two years. Rahul visited us in Sun Valley last summer and it was a privilege to visit him in India.
A Visit to Goa
After Pune, we proceeded with Rahul and his wife, Shiny, to Goa, a lively beach town on the coast.
The Portuguese ruled Goa for more than 450 years. This history can be seen in its crumbling forts, baroque architecture, whitewashed churches and cuisine. We learned that the Portuguese left Goa as recently as the 1960s.
We especially liked the Basilica of Bom Jesus, dating from the 16th century.
Sunset on the beach was breathtaking. It seemed like the entire town was outside and enjoying walking along the sand.
In Goa we sampled the local Konki cuisine.
And we enjoyed a nightclub with live entertainment. We selected ‘These Boots are Made for Walkin’ for the singer, and our friends were surprised that we knew all the words!
Goa was relaxing and so much fun! We loved the Portuguese influence and we are so grateful for Rahul and Shiny’s warm hospitality!
Onward to Mumbai
Our final destination was Mumbai, where we stayed in the famous Taj Mahal Palace hotel. (This was the site of the serious bomb attack in 2008.)
The hotel was gorgeous. We enjoyed a tour of the facilities led by a man who had worked there for over 40 years as the personal butler for the CEO of the hotel. He told many colorful stories about famous guests and parties. And, although he was off that day, he knew everyone who was working during the 2008 attack. A memorial fountain pays tribute to those who lost their lives.
But not everything in Mumbai was modern. We also visited the world’s largest outdoor laundry (which uses the same hand washing methodology from ages past.)
And we visited Elephanta Island, with caves from mid-5th to 6th century AD. The stone carvings in the temples in the caves were well preserved and intricate.
We also took a walking tour of the Dharavi slum, which was founded in 1884. Our guide was a resident of the slum, and our tour fees supported education and training for children of the slum.
Photos are not allowed on these tours (to protect the privacy and dignity of the residents), but the tour company provided a link to a few images.
So, thank you India! We had a fabulous month – so much variety and interesting sights to see. We especially enjoyed getting to know the people and culture. Even though there are 1.4 billion people here, we were not overwhelmed by crowds of humanity. Instead, we found peace and quiet and warm hospitality. We’re grateful for the opportunity to visit this fascinating place!