Its been a very sureal 24hours.

All started off in the airport. I met three real nice people...two in their twenties - one from California who was off to Goa for a yoga retreat and one from Canada who was off to the south of India to stay with her family. The other woman was in her 40's, she was off to Goa to teach. We spent so much time talking waiting for the flight and on the plane. Neither of us had been to India before so we spent our time discussing how we were feeling, what we thought we'd expect and just our general lives. It just a shame we weren't all in the same place, maybe being in Mumbai alone won't seem as bad!

Beside the three girls I met, there was this little old Indian woman sat next to me on the planes. In her mid 80's. She didnt speak a work of english or read english...but we still managed to communicate...to an extent! Bless her...she couldn't fasten her seat belt or open her food, so I ended up baby sitting! She asked me to fill in her entry form...but trying to get answers out of her that weren't english was a real nightmare. Eventually the woman sat next to the little old lady did some translating for us! I learn how to become fluent in smiling and nodding!!!

Getting of the the plane...omg!! The heat and smell! And its still the same now! Customs in Indian is such a nightmare...ten thousand people wanna see your passport! I had transport arranged with the hotel to pick me up from the airport. What a pain! I spent about 45mins hanging around outside waiting, and while I was waiting there were Indian man after Idian man asking if I needed a lift or taxi! Eventually I saw a white man. I casually started talking to him as you do. Turns out he was in India for a while moving around following cricket n backpacking in free. Unfortunately, he is only in Mumbai for the night but our accommodation is quite close together! So tomorrow were gunna do a bit of sightseeing seen as we know no other none aliens!

Finally my transport turned! Although I think I'd have walked! Driving in Mumbai is crazy!!! I have never held on as much in my life...didn't actually see mumbai at this point as my eyes were shut! The driver was rather nosey too...'you married?' 'You got a boyfriend?' No and No and I ain't after no one thankyou!

Hotel Cosmo is my home for the next few days...very nice! Shame about the area...slums, slums and more slums. Taking a walk about this afternoon tho, I can say I am the only white woman in the village! How I didn't get ran over today, ill never know...its a matter of close your eyes and walk! Within a few seconds of walking out the door to explore...a woman not showing her face, had a baby, started begging! For about ten mins she followed me begging until a local told her to get lost. Walking around the streets were daunting...I felt like an alien, everyone starting.

Tomorrow I am going to venture out of this town and head to Apollo Bunder, where the gate way to India is and marine drive.

So far its safe to say I miss home...more than what I thought I would. I am in limbo at the min, like the first day at school! Things can only get better!

xxx