Bombastic Bombay

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day 106-ish

We bid a tearful farewell to Janey at 5am, and left her at a very empty station, close to

her (yet another) beachside destination.

12 hours later, we arrived in Mumbai (Bombay). We headed eagerly for Chowpatty beach (Dan's

eyes wide), where the nighttime food stalls served up a variety of interesting eats. In

between 'courses' we opted for a head massage, which were being offered (randomly) on the

beach. Dan loved his, but Soph's felt more like a head 'itch'. Soph then did her best at

munching her way through as many kulfi (icecream-esque dessert) flavours as possible (

there's always room for icecream), but got stumped at #3. Maybe there isn't always room for

icecream, or maybe because the 3rd flavour was 'natural' buffalo milk? Later we wandered

back along the seafront (very Rio de Janeiro) to a backdrop of twinkly lights and

advertisments - which switched off one by one after 11pm!

Our jam-packed sightseeing schedule for the following day was thwarted early on: the Modern

Art Museum was shut, as was the Synagogue; and Elephanta island was deemed too far away.

However, we did make it to the fish market on Sassoon Dock, though it was a bit full-on for

the senses early in the morning. The place was piled high with pink shrimps and the ground

awash with pink water (flipflops were a mistake - the guy with the white wellies had the

right idea). We also past India Gate - Arc de Triumph-by-the-sea (built in honour of King

George V & Queen Mary's visit in 1911), and hit the enlightening Ghandi ('Father of India')

museum.

There were plenty of plush apartment blocks in the areas we traipsed around (a world away

from the fish market), which oozed wealth. It was easy to tell this is India's wealthiest

city (producing 40% of the nation's GDP, so we've been told).

Nighttime: More eating at a Mongolian-BBQ-in Wagamamas-setting and then drinks at the

poshest hotel in town. This Taj was built by a local after he was refused entry to the then

best hotel in Bombay, when the Brits were in town. It is stunning, but the drinks cost as

much as the dinner had..

36hrs in Mumbai was short and sweet, and left a good taste in our mouths.

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Photos

hoopla on chowpatty beach
The prizes were bars of soap, which we were in desparate need of. Sadly, neither of us had the skills.

dan by gateway of india
no george V, but pretty handsome anyway...

Comments

[henry]

head
Dan has a king size head.

[michael summers]

Mumbai sounds better that I thought
You make Mumbai sound positively pleasant. I was put off spending a day of tourism there by a colleague of mine who is a regular. That is why I shot through the airport in transit on the last trip. Looking forward to seeing you both next week. It's been an amazing adventure and I expect you are sad that it is coming to an end. M/D