Blogs from Maharashtra, India, Asia - page 124

Thanks for tuning back in to the crazy, zainy, mumbai madness tour. After an epic nap yesterday afternoon, I started the day off at around sunset.........magic time. The street was absolutely packed with homeless people, merchants, and gangs of well-dressed teenagers out having a swell time. We dashed over to the FOOD PLAZA and again had a most excellent 4 dollar meal. This time the order consisted of some excellent chicken tikka masala and chicken kadai (sweet and spicey pulled chicken with tons of spice!), cheese naan, and a couple of giant waters! Too cool for school. We then made the first of two excellent trips to a local bakery/chocolateir, where we filled up on hazelnut chocolate cake and caramel bars..............sweeeet dawggie. The next morning we ate here for breakfast after a long stroll and almost ... read more

Well this is it. My first ever trip to India, my first time doing anything quite like this and I've never seen anything quite like Mumbai. When I arrived at the airport a small desk showed Hotel Information. I got directions to a Hotel I found in my Lonely Planet guide book. Outside the airport the weather is a cool 31 degrees Celsius with hazy sunshine. Smog seems to loom permanently over the city - quite handy if you don't want to get too burnt. I ignored the local begging for money and trying to convince me that the bus in fact stopped over the road when it had arrived right in front of me. He probably had some scheme in mind had I missed the bus. A prepaid taxi to Colaba, the busy center of ... read more

I love Mumbai. I've been reading the paper for job postings because I could possibly live here. After being in the north of India, Mumbai has proven to be a welcome change in culture and surroundings. We've been staying in the touristy region, but the street vendors aren't quite as pushy and the beggars don't follow you for blocks on end (just one block). Mumbai is quite modern compared to the other cities we've been in and while it still feels like India it's western enough that I could live here. It's been a week and reflecting on it I'm not sure I've done a whole lot, but I've really enjoyed my time here. Food Like Home We've become quite fond of the variety of food here, notably the western food. Other cities it was a ... read more

well, i have finally rocked up in india and have had a few days to get used to it as best i can, although im still walking arond pretty dazed......am sitting in an internet room in a big block of dorms we have booked into for a couple of nights, full of hippy travellers(you have no idea how good it is to spk to westerners as there is a real language barrier here) and its so cheap only 1.50 per night! and not one cockroach in sight unlike the first hotel we stayed in, we screamed for about half an hour then killed it.....brings back memories of china all over again!! I feel like i have seen so much already, india is a massive culture shock and there are just so many people and cars and ... read more

I arrived in Pune yesterday and spent most of the day resting. Today is the Hindi New Year and the offices are closed. I spend most of the day getting to learn my new digs for the next three months. Shrikant met me at the airport and getting into customs in India was a dream compared to Peru. I walked down the streets of Pune and felt very safe, there were plenty of women in Saris walking alone. Unfortunately most of the stores are closed but I did find out the fitness center and made myself work out. I am also by a McDonald's they mostly have a vegetarian fare but fish and chicken also. Sorry Texas, no beef. The room is comfortable. Please go to the gallary and look at the pictures for the day. ... read more