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Mumbai airport was pretty large and we were put through quite quickly to our ever hopeful arrival of our luggage. The temperature was in it's high 20's and it was 0100, quite a climate change from rainy Jo'berg.
We were thankfully picked up from the airport and taken through many back alleys until we made it to our accommodation. We were asked to take off our shoes and fill out a huge form stating our details, purpose of visit, passport details, visa details, accommodation details, foreseeable plans just all sorts!
Accommodation was clean and air conditioned which helped me sleep very well indeed.
I woke around 1100 Indian time, and finally caught up with our final late night in Cape Town and loss of 3.5 hours due to time difference.
We met a Portuguese girl called Sarah in the communal living area who kindly offered to show us how to get into central Mumbai and give us our bearings a little.
We started by finding the main road which was a bit of a maze the first time, then all 3 of us jumped in a rickshaw (a three wheeled taxi) that took us to the closest train station. They drive like lunatics here, and we were close to colliding with a bus at one point and almost were sandwiched between two trucks as well!!! Eventually made it to the train station and paid 16 rupees for a return ticket to Mumbai central. (45mins)
We jumped on the closest carriage that turned up and it was quite like a basic english train, not as busy as the queues would lead on... Then a ticket man came and apparently had jumped on the wrong carriage, 1st class... Oooos! As a result we were thrown off and had to catch the next train in the only other class, second. It reminded me of stuffing a sleeping bag, people were cramming into a carriage until the train was up to running pace and the mass of people even over spilled out of the moving train those who were clinging on to the open doors either side, and this train was over 700m long!!!!
There is also a ladies carriage, a disabled carriage and the 1st class which we accidentally came across.
As a result we were very almost fined since it turns out you can be charged over 1000 rupees (£15)even if it's a genuine accident!!
We separated from Sarah who had met a lady from Deli who was visiting and we arranged to meet up later to catch the train back.
Tom and I found the gateway to India, built for the arrival of a British King at the time, and even had a go at fishing/foul hooking at the harbour. We saw some cricket games and had a good explore around. I was desperate to try my first curry and we found a very popular local restaurant that offered a great priced meal (£1) for more amazing curry than I could possibly eat!
We ended the day catching the train back to our accommodation and after a much needed shower and rest we headed out for food a little more local that evening.
I was shocked by the pure number of people here in Mumbai, but I feel I haven't seen anywhere near the true numbers that live in this city.
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