Amber sums up nicely how we feel in the heat this week...testing out our new Ikea furniture)
My mind is on travel, I was flipping through some vintage holiday snaps of India. These pics are from 20+ years ago in Goa and Bombay - now Mumbai - one of my favourite holidays ever ... my interest was in the people, their expressions, what they were doing etc., we liked going off the beaten track and explored the markets, all taken with a very crappy camera, but what shines through is undoubtedly - colour!
On my bucket list is a return to Mumbai and I have started a savings fund for it. It felt special, vibrant, imaginative, resourceful and industrious. I loved having an ice lolly made from ice ground by a converted bicycle in the market - I treated a few of the hoard of small children that appeared from nowhere in a swarm. I loved drinking freshly squeezed orange juice from a street vendor and tasting handerchief bread made fresh in the arab quarters - in those days you didn't worry too much about health and hygiene, you just got stuck in and enjoyed it - if it was fresh it was likely safe - I hope it's all still there, unchanged, and that I can do it all again.
Here's a 'before' of me on the beach at Goa - if I make it there again I promise to do an 'after' in the same pose!!!
Digging out this little bit of nostalgia was prompted by my new purchase (EBay £3) of this fabulous Tricia Guild book ...
and all this was prompted by an urge to paint and a need for colour ,......
Footnote: thanks for your comments - I just want to make sure nobody thinks the beach photo is the me of today, as gravity has taken it's toll since those days you know! - it was taken pre-children many years ago - I just put it in for fun!
My mind is on travel, I was flipping through some vintage holiday snaps of India. These pics are from 20+ years ago in Goa and Bombay - now Mumbai - one of my favourite holidays ever ... my interest was in the people, their expressions, what they were doing etc., we liked going off the beaten track and explored the markets, all taken with a very crappy camera, but what shines through is undoubtedly - colour!
On my bucket list is a return to Mumbai and I have started a savings fund for it. It felt special, vibrant, imaginative, resourceful and industrious. I loved having an ice lolly made from ice ground by a converted bicycle in the market - I treated a few of the hoard of small children that appeared from nowhere in a swarm. I loved drinking freshly squeezed orange juice from a street vendor and tasting handerchief bread made fresh in the arab quarters - in those days you didn't worry too much about health and hygiene, you just got stuck in and enjoyed it - if it was fresh it was likely safe - I hope it's all still there, unchanged, and that I can do it all again.
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| Good old Singer machine |
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| The laundry |
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| Snake charmer - the snake mimics the movement of the flute (intending to pounce) - this ltitle chap set up as soon as he saw us - outskirts of scrap metal market, Bombay |
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| making 'handerchief (thin) flat bread in the Arab quarters of Bombay |
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| Snake charmers - they just set up and a crowd draws immediately - Bombay market |
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| Street vendors, Bombay |
Here's a 'before' of me on the beach at Goa - if I make it there again I promise to do an 'after' in the same pose!!!
Digging out this little bit of nostalgia was prompted by my new purchase (EBay £3) of this fabulous Tricia Guild book ...
and all this was prompted by an urge to paint and a need for colour ,......
Footnote: thanks for your comments - I just want to make sure nobody thinks the beach photo is the me of today, as gravity has taken it's toll since those days you know! - it was taken pre-children many years ago - I just put it in for fun!
Oh, I say Madam, what long legs you do have! Bet the 'after' pic hasn't changed at all! Lovely, vibrant and colourful post Betty. So appropriate for the tropical temps we're having. Have a great weekend. x
ReplyDeleteha ha, the after pic would be very different! It's scorching outside today.
DeleteWow, Betty! You certainly look lovely there on that beach! I wish that was my after picture! What a time you had there and I think you should read some of Rumer Godden's work because her descriptions of India are so lovely.
ReplyDeleteWish it was my 'after' picture too! I must look out some Rumer Godden.
DeleteI have never heard of Mumbai. Is it safe to go there now? So many places are dangerous, especially for Americans. You were a lovely swimsuit clad lady!
ReplyDeleteIndia I think is still a safe place although the world is constantly changing and nothing is every certain.
DeleteOh Betty I would just like to be Ambercat right about now :-) I am tired & in need of a rest just stretched out like that :-)
ReplyDeleteYour India photos are amazing & I must say .... your figure on the beach was to die for !!!!! Happy weekend to you
Julie I would love to stretch out too, but not in that fur coat!
DeleteI've so enjoyed reading your stories and seeing your pics of Mumbai. I hope you get to go back soon. X
ReplyDeleteThanks Maggie, I so hope to go back and just thinking about a holiday like that and planning and saving is almost half the fun!
DeleteGreat memories of a wonderful holiday. We so hope you get to go again. Love all the vibrant colours.You look stunning on the beach Betty.
ReplyDeleteHave a super Saturday.
Best wishes Molly
Thanks Molly
DeleteA fun post. India has always seemed so exotic to me. Colorful, yes! Can't believe they make snow cones from ground ice and that you did not have after effects. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYes Nancy, I thinkI was very lucky not to be ill at the time, the ice is crushed by the bicycle man and packed in to a metal mould, then a stick is put in and a huge squirt of fruit syrup then it's compacted a bit with hands included! it tasted delicious but I gave it up to a little girl watching me as I couldn't eat it all without feeling guilty! I don't know if they still resort to such laborious methods to make a lolly, more likely have them in freezers in commercialised packaging just like the rest of the world these days I would think!
DeleteMumbai is still my favourite city in the world, so vibrant and exciting. I can spend hours watching life in Crawford Market and Victoria Terminus. Your photos make me very happy.
ReplyDeleteWe still eat loads of street food - as long as the stalls are busy with locals you can trust it, they wouldn't go back if the food/drink was bad.
You look gorgeous in your bikini. What beach is that? I thought I knew most Goan beaches but I don't recognise that big hotel in the background. xxx
lol Vix I will have to get hubby to check my pics which are just rolling around in carrier bags! - we are going back probably 25 years here so not sure about hotel - it's possible I have mixed up the beach photo from Malaysia or somewhere else as we did a lot of travelling at that time!!! I would so love to get back to Mumbai and see that market again. Betty :)
DeleteLovely post Betty! Its always fun to get a little peak into the history of my blogging friends, something that many do not share. I was just thinking yesterday that next year my husband and I will celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary, and how much we've changed. We are both very nearly 2x the weight we were back then, in our early 20's! When I look at photos of myself I can hardly believe that was me! Oh, well, more to love - right?!!! And I LOVE color, too, Betty - that book looks yummy!
ReplyDelete