SHAKA-LAKA BABY

How can I describe my feelings for India in one little travel blog amongst blogs? Easy....PEACE-OUT-INDIA ! I don't mean to sound insensitive or mundane or ungrateful for that, but from a former Walt Disney World tea party afficianado, India is just not my cup of tea. I already blogged from my first port, Cochin. You read about my adventurous day with my wonderful tuk tuk driver. Since then, we have visited Goa...in which the only term that comes to mind is, "I want to GOA far, far away from here", and today, Mumbai (Bombay).

I was informed that Goa is an old hippie destination that has great beaches, surfing, and some nice hotels. So, I head over to the beach. Ummm, no. That's really all I have to say about the beaches in Goa. They were just fine. If you like people coming up to you every two minutes asking you to buy something that smells like it came to life, then died 6 times. Sure, the water was very blue, the waves were big, and the sand was white....but something about the "Do not feed the wild, rabid dogs" takes away from the relaxation of this "tranquil" destination. So we find a "five star resort" (I believe the Bagdali Beach Resort) and lay out by the pool there. All of a sudden, the humidity hits like a ton of bricks. My hair is not having it. It could have been the "Jackson Six" with my afro. So, cool, how about some water? Nope. Don't drink the water in India. FUNNNNNNNN! It was fine. Just fine. I just don't see why ANYONE would choose to vacation in Goa....but to each his own. I left with two hideous skirts that I needed for my trip the following day to the Taj Mahal. Oh! I also bought a really cute pair of silver flip flops...I forgot about those. So, silver flip flops were the best thing to come from Goa.

So we get back to the ship and I am super excited because we are supposed to do an overnight trip to the Taj Mahal the next day! The Taj is an hour plane ride away from the ship, and you have to stay overnight at a hotel. Of course I was excited to see one of the wonders of the world, and to get off the ship for a night and stay at a hotel. The whole cast was signed up to go, and as we're packing the night before, we get a notice slipped under our door saying the trip has been canceled. WHHHHHHAT??? The letter said that there were some problems with the runway at the airport and they had to use a smaller plane that only had enough room for the passengers, not the crew. I personally think that is a bunch of B.S., and more passengers decided to sign up for the trip and Regent didn't want to turn down the money. So the passengers all got on, and the crew got the boot. We were all really bummed and ended up having to do a show just an hour later. So it was on with the show...

No Taj Mahal blew. So then we arrive in glorious Mumbai, (Bombay) India. And by glorious, I mean if "glory" actually meant "garbage" and "ious" represented the amount in Mumbai. Trash. Everywhere. And random goats and cows are wandering aimlessly through the streets picking through garbage as traffic is speeding through. So that was my first impression. Mike and I got off the ship and we figured if we couldn't go to the Taj Mahal, we would go to the Taj Mahal. Hotel that is. The Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai is one of the leading hotels of the world and amidst all the smelly-ness, there it was, and it was actually very beautiful. The lobby was stunning, but I think the pool area had to be my favorite. After a 10 minute breeze through, we managed to do what we do in every third world country, "When in doubt, find a market." And there it was, a market in the street just one block away from the hotel. Vendors were mostly selling pashminas, jewelry, flip flops, and random handicrafts. I bought a few pashminas, but had to leave as this was one of the WORST markets I have ever been to. Not as far as goods, but the people were just ALL OVER YOU. Beggars were following me for 10 minutes at a time. People are lying on the sidewalk and I am supposed to step over them and continue looking at pashminas? No thanks.

Just when I thought India was all over, I get back to the ship and get a knock on my door from Ryan and some of the band guys. They are going out to the Hard Rock Cafe and ask if I want to join. I would have said no, but I was starving from not eating anything all day, and some Hard Rock American food sounded good right about then. So we head out to the Hard Rock, only to find more poverty in the streets, this time, passing a route of "housing" where hundreds and hundreds of people are actually living in cardboard boxes. It was awful. I couldn't believe that after all the poverty we have seen so far in the world (Papua New Guinea, Belize, Colombia, Myanmar) that this place was hands down, the worst.

We finally arrive at the Hard Rock to find a sign out front that says "Closed for private event." The boys are ready to try something else, but I hop out of the cab, march to the bouncer, and sure enough finagle my way inside for me and all the guys...and the best part, free drinks and free food all night for some fashion show event that is going on, SHWING! So, whatdya know? We end up having a great night out in Mumbai afterall. After the Hard Rock, we walk right next door to a club called Shiro, which was totally empty, but BEAUTIFUL inside, with tons of candles, big buddhas, ponds, stone walls, WHO KNEW?!? And so, India DID come through there right at the end.


Anyway, I have been so busy as we are sailing out of Dubai right now and it took me like 3 days to get around to finishing this entry! I know you're all anxious to hear about Dubai, but that needs an entry of its own, and I'll work on it tonight! Overall, Dubai was a pretty amazing city and I have a few great stories coming up...stay tuned....

ABF xoxoxoxo

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