It has been just over 24 hours in Mumbai but Karen Lynch, wife of the deputy prime minister of Canada, has already done a city tour “discovering the city the way I like to, and it’s been really enjoyable,” she says.
“The modernity here amazes me — it’s such a different picture of the city than the one we have in the West. Mumbai is also a very warm place, in both the senses you know, since it’s quite cold back home,” Karen continues in good humour. She goes on to add, “Just two days here unfortunately and then we’re off to Goa.”
For someone who must have a wealth of globetrotting experiences behind her, this trip to Mumbai is definitely different. “This time Kevin (her husband) is the one who’s here on business and I’m just his tourist partner, so I can have all the fun,” laughs the educationist and retired school principal. Films and food are a large part of the itinerary. There’s a trip to a movie studio that she’s keenly awaiting. “I’ve heard so much about Hindi films and now I can’t wait for an insider look,” she smiles. And, a good cook herself, Karen admits she has enjoyed a lovely Indian dinner with Kevin. “We’ve just discovered the dosa; it’s delicious! I love all the flavours here and I’m going to take some spices back with me. I can cook biryani and curry well, you know,” Karen smiles, seated at the Princess Room at the Taj Mahal.
A special guest of life coach Chhaya Momaya who held a lunch in her honour, the occasion also marks the first event to be held at the Princess Room since last November.
The table is set for a Maharashtrian fare, a well-planned repast by Chhaya with everything from thalipeet and varan bhat to pani puri shots, sugarcane sorbet and aamras.
The venue is decorated with fountains that have lotus flowers that were flown down from Kashmir by the hostess earlier that morning, details that obviously entailed much planning. “I wanted to be an ambassador for Maharashtra,” explains Chhaya. “It’s such
a pleasure to offer our hospitality, warmth and creativity.”
And with Mumbai’s power ladies in attendance, Karen aptly signs off, “Power women can have fun too!”
