Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Dan&LJ RTW
Hello, Hello from the wonderful land of India
After all the planning, all the setbacks, all the talking, we've arrived, the trip of a lifetime has begun.
We've been in Mumbai (bombay) for 4 days now & are starting to find our way around the city & the culture.
Any doubts that we had landed in India we're immediately dispelled with the taxi journey from the airport to the suburbs (where we would be staying with our wonderful host Padma). Until you've actually experienced driving in Mumbai, it's difficult to describe. Basically, there are no traffic lanes here, it's a question of cramming your car, bus, truck, rickshaw, cow, goat, horse into the smallest possible space & beeping your horn. Traffic lights are ignored, people wander between the cars, it's manic, but ultimately, enjoyable.
Our host has been wonderful, we have an airconditioned room, a toilet/shower ensuite & her staff (yes staff) will bring us anything we request! We were treated on our first day to a fantastic Indian lunch (around 12 dishes) & a wonderful family meal with Padma's husband & daughter. It really has made the transition here much easier.
On our second day we decided to go out on our own into the very centre of Mumbai to check out the town. We were told that a bus journey would be the best way of covering the hour long journey to the centre. This, filled us with a little aprehension, firstly because of things we'd read about Indian buses & secondly because of the taxi ride the previous day! All fears we're ultimately unfounded & the bus journey was terrific. We could both sit & watch life go by all day, honestly, the streets here are constantly a hive of activity, but the noise & the flavours are more satisfying than annoying. Some of the living & working conditions we have seen seem unbareable, but the locals just get on with life & always have a "hello" for you (when they've finished staring!).
It's basically been non stop since landing. We've covered most of the mumbai attractions & even been to a national wildlife park, 2 sets of ancient caves, a boat journey in the Arabian sea & a midnight mango market! Most of all we have eaten more food than I thought was possible in the space of 4 days, & everything is still working normally stomach wise (you know what I mean).
On the whole, Mumbai has been terrific & has only made us more excited to see more of this vast country.....Goa awaits us tomorrow.
we'll update again soon
lots of love
LJ & Dan
PS Cheers for the Leeds result boys!
PPS we've so far spotted 5 scum shirts in Mumbai, incredible.
- comments