Yo everyone. Writing to you dear readers from Bombay or Mumbai. Quite confused as to which one to use actually. Something of an identity crisis. At least London has the decency to call itself London! Quite pleased to hear that the name thing isn't a relic of our colonial plundering past and I'd previously assumed Bombay was an Englishism. Actually Bom bai is the name the Portugeezers gave it (in the 16th Century I think) whilst Mumbai refers to some fisher folk who were here long before. I quite like both and have started accidentally merging the two!

Anyway, as regards the actual City. I love it. Maybe it's because I'm amongst the hubbub, since I was fairly bored in Diu although did enjoy the odd Kingfisher (at a mere 40 Rupees each) that it had to offer. Diu was quaint with it's appealing Portugese architecture though sadly I couldn't find any of the blighters since they seemed to have been scared off after Indian reclaimed the place in 1961. Quite weird really, as if some village on the Algarve (I don't know anywhere else in Portugal) had been told to clear out it's residents and let some other type of people move in. Didn't seem right really but that's probably just my colonial instincts talking! Talking of the Algarve, I should also give special mention to the Discoboat doing the circuit around the island with some crazy 'Dad at a wedding' style dancing on board. Quite remarkable. Seems that Diu is something of a place where Gujurati's (it's a dry state) can let off some steam. All in all the place reminded me of a cross between Ibiza and Canvey Island with some nice Mediterranean Churches thrown in. Bizarre! Still liked it though.

Back to Bombay/Mumbai since this is turning out to be all about Diu again! I arrived after a mammoth 22 hr bus journey which consisted of sitting in a chair the whole way since sleeper was unavailable. Still, it beats work I guess! As Bryce correctly predicts I've settled here in the Coloba region until my train to Goa (yey) on Saturday. I'm trying not to follow the guidebook too closely though and have done some really cool places already - Crawford Market, watched Cricket on the Maidans (grassy areas) and seen some impressive colonial architecture - which free's up some time over the next few days for watching some more cricket and maybe catching a bollywood film. Off now before this computer crashes. Hope you're all well. Will try and post a more in depth Bombay blog soon. Love Dan x x x