We find ourselves back in India in less than two years, this time for a joyful family occasion: the wedding of Christabel’s niece, Lisanne, her brother’s youngest daughter. Although the celebrations would take place in Bengaluru, we chose to begin our journey in Mumbai, arriving a few days early to visit family and friends. After our time in Mumbai, we traveled to Goa, where we spent four peaceful days at the Nazareth ancestral home—a place where Albert spent his childhood. From Goa, we continued on to Bengaluru, our final destination in India, where we joined family for the wedding celebrations.
Mumbai Moments: A Festive Return to the City – December 23-27, 2025
Our journey to Mumbai began with a smooth Newark–Zurich–Mumbai flight, made especially memorable when we were unexpectedly upgraded to First Class on the final leg. Adding to the uniqueness of the trip, the steward on the Swiss Air flight was convinced he had met Albert before. After a bit of conversation, we discovered why: he had been a neighbor in Bandra, knew Albert’s niece Reena, and had even visited their ancestral home in Goa many years ago—explaining why Albert looked so familiar to him. After settling into the familiar comfort of the ITC Grand Central in Parel, we eased into a full and engaging few days in the city. We revisited the Gateway of India, met our friends Farooq and Mubina for a Mediterranean-inspired vegetarian lunch at Knead—one of the newest offerings from the highly regarded restaurateur Moshe Shek—and later headed to Bandra to visit Christabel’s 103-year-old aunt. A cozy coffee break at Shelter, just off Carter Road, with her classmates Smita and Anisha, brought a warm end to the day. Christmas added its own touch of nostalgia. After attending Mass at Gloria Church, we enjoyed a festive brunch at Taj Land’s End in Bandra with Christabel’s brother and his family, followed by a relaxed afternoon at their home in Santa Cruz. The next day, we took a guided trip to the Elephanta Caves, retracing our 2010 visit as we ferried across Mumbai Harbor to Elephanta Island—so named by the Portuguese after the gigantic stone elephant sculpture that once stood there. We then took a train, climbed the familiar stone steps past mischievous monkeys and persistent souvenir vendors to reach the caves. Once again, we admired the extraordinary 5th-7th century rock-cut Lord Shiva sculptures, including the iconic Trimurti, of Cave 1, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are several other caves, but they are either simple or incomplete. Our final day was spent at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (formerly the Prince of Wales Museum), exploring the India and the World exhibition—a fascinating showcase of India’s artistic and cultural links across continents. Afterward, we returned to the hotel to pack for our onward journey to Goa before heading to Bandra for dinner with family.
Return Journey Through Goa – December 28-31, 2025
An early morning flight brought us to Goa, where our neighbor Deepak picked us up at MOPA, Goa’s newest airport, and drove us to the Nazareth ancestral home in Assagaõ. After a relaxed first day and dinner at Vinayak’s, a popular local spot known for its fresh Goan seafood and vegetarian dishes, we began exploring the cultural side of Goa. We visited the All About Alcohol Museum in Candolim, a one-of-a-kind showcase of the history and tradition of feni, Goa’s iconic spirit. Led by Armando, we learned about the evolution of cashew and coconut distillation, viewed antique tools and rare glassware, and wrapped up with a tasting of inventive feni-based cocktails and their signature brand of feni named Cajini. From there, we headed to the Fort Aguada Jail and Museum, housed in a restored 17th-century Portuguese-era complex, where exhibits traced Goa’s colonial past and included the impressive A Treasury of Life exhibition featuring nearly 200 Indian Company paintings from DAG (Delhi Art Gallery) depicting art, architecture, customs, and trades. The next day took us on an unexpectedly long and overhyped journey to Dudhsagar Falls, a site famed for its “Sea of Milk” cascade but one that required hours of queuing, a rough forest jeep ride, a challenging walk over boulders, and even mandatory lifejackets whether or not you went near the water—ultimately leaving us feeling the experience did not live up to its reputation. We ended the month on a quiet note, with Christabel under the weather and Albert spending the day visiting cousins before returning home in the late afternoon to pack for our trip to Bengaluru the next day.
Bengaluru: From Wedding Festivities to City Sights – January 1-5, 2026
Today was largely a travel day: we left for Dabolim Airport in the morning for our early afternoon flight to Bengaluru, landed smoothly at the city’s modern new airport, and took an Uber to our hotel in a metropolis widely known as India’s “Silicon Valley” for its booming tech industry and global companies. The next morning, Albert visited the impressive neo-Dravidian Vidhana Soudha, Karnataka’s iconic seat of government, before we joined the Night Before festivities at The Grand Magrath Hotel, where family and friends gathered to kick off the wedding celebrations. The next day was the big occasion—Lisanne and Warren’s wedding at the serene and historic St. Patrick’s Church—followed by an afternoon break and an elegant evening of cocktails at the JW Marriott and a joyful reception in the Grand Ballroom. The following day unfolded at a gentler pace, ending with a lavish Mangalorean dinner and conversation at Warren’s parents’ home. Since we were spending an extra day in Bengaluru, we took a guided tour of the city, beginning at the 18th-century Lalbagh Botanical Garden and continuing to the Bull Temple, Bengaluru Fort, and the bustling KR Market where the major attraction was the fresh-flower garlands; we also viewed the Tudor-style Bengaluru Palace from the outside, drove past the majestic Vidhana Soudha once more, and passed through the leafy expanse of Cubbon Park before ending at the graceful colonial-era Holy Trinity Church where Winston Churchill used to workship during his 22-month posting in India—an engaging overview of the city’s history, culture, and daily life. The next day, we left for Sri Lanka to begin another adventure.
Thank you for sharing – this all looks so wonderful!