Southern India Trip Completion

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The trip is over but the memories are many. I spent the last few hours on the subcontinent in Mumbai with my guide, Amin. Anyone vaguely interested in Mumbai (Bombay) should check out this novel http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/reviews/2004-11-17-shantaram_x.htm and also use the services of Amin who loves the city to take you on a memorable tour -- check Amin out at: www.snehatravels.in . Heres some pictures of the travellers, the faces and inanimates that will stay in the memory bank for a long time.

Here is an excerpt from Jan's diary re: the trip (I could not be as eloquent):

"India is more than just a foreign country with different customs. It's an ancient land. People talk about its timeless quality. That's more than poetic description. I could not have experienced a greater range of contrasts on my last day, going from amazing stone structures
hundreds of years old, surrounded by the descendants of its builders,
to the ceaseless honking of the traffic crunch heading into Chennai,
and then the clinically clean glass and metal of " the major airports with their "boutique shops and spotless restaurants full of
weary travellers from everywhere in the world. Coming back to the
West is always a shock. People look pale and cranky, and as cordial
or even friendly as they might be, there's a distance or
non-engagement. Can't think of an adequate way to say it. I will go
back to India, when I can. I just hope I'll be able to do it with
companions as compatible and fun as the ones I had this time."

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Photos

Conclusion -- the Travellers
Keith introducing some locals to a digital camera

Conclusion -- the Travellers
Will on a train. Indian trains are an adventure all on their own.

Conclusion -- the Travellers
Hugh taking a pic of an abandoned plastic bottle. Plastic bottles seem to be stewn all over India -- a real eyesore.

Conclusion -- the Travellers
Jan exchanging addresses. Indians love to have their picture taken and presumably love to have the pic arrive in the mail.

Conclusion -- the Travellers
Bone with Amin at the world famous Leopold Cafe made famous by the novel Shantaram -- where people from the 4 corners of the world cross paths. Mumbai would be a big ugly city if it werent for Amin -- he just loves the city.

Conclusion -- Other Travellers
Vi from Barcelona. We met Vi in the backwaters and travelled to Kochi. We'll never forget her.

Conclusion -- Other Travellers
Abe from Israel. How many times we said goodbye only to hear several days later "Hey Hambone".

Conclusion -- Other Travellers
Elaine from San Francisco and Matias from Heidelberg met in a train station. We partied with them in several locales.

Conclusion -- Elephant
The majestic symbol of the subcontinent.

Conclusion -- Backwaters
The National Geographics pick for one of the 50 places in the world everyone should visit during their lifetime. I gotta agree with that.

Conclusion -- The Indian Railways
Those crowded trains. Travel 100km costs about $1 -- it allows the ordinary citizen to see his/her country and DO they ever take advantage of it.

Conclusion -- The Ambassador
The famous Indian car built by Hindustan Motors Limited designed from the old Morris Oxford started production in 1948. Built like a tank for the Indian highways. They stopped building them 10 years ago and replaced them with the Tata which just doesnt have the same flair. Read all about it -- www.hmambassador.com/

Conclusion -- The Rickshaw
A crowded rickshaw. There are millions of them in India. Used only in cities -- the first mile costs about 50 cents. Built on a 2-stroke motor cycle frame, noisy, stinky, flimsy, but what a ride. Check out all the info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auto_rickshaw

Conclusion -- Royal Enfield
This bike costs about $1500 -- the Harley of India. Just another reason why we cant compete with the low cost of labour in India.

Conclusion -- Royal Enfield
The famous Indian cycle.

Conclusion -- The working woman
Women seem to do most of the manual work in India. Here the daily ritual of going to the local water faucet and filling up the family buckets.

Conclusion -- The working woman
Woman hauling a fishing net.

Conclusion -- Indian Faces
Indians are about the friendliest people in the world. A Muslim.

Conclusion -- Indian Faces
Indians are about the friendliest people in the world. A youngster on a train.

Conclusion -- Indian Faces
Indians are about the friendliest people in the world. A couple.

Conclusion -- Indian Faces
Indians are about the friendliest people in the world. Guys on a bike.

Conclusion -- Indian Faces
Kids whooping it up.

Conclusion -- Indian Faces
Boy and scooter.

Conclusion -- The Masses
Crowded Juhu Beach in Mumbai on a Sunday evening.

Conclusion -- Its All Over Now Baby Blue
Sunset on Juhu Beach.