Hi, it is Beth and Azim here, going to try and write an entry together. We figure this shouldn't be too hard since we spend every waking hour together and are still talking (and nicely too) to each other. Actually, between trying to edit the kids' entries and get the pictures on and get time for ourselves on the computer, we really only have time to do this together. Okay, let's start by saying that Azim didn't want to come to Mumbai, I had to talk him into it. Can you really come to India and not see Bollywood? To be [View Full Entry]

---

---

Samir's article. Ok, so I lied. Twice. One, I'm writing before Rajistan and two, we're not going there by train, but by plane! Thank you for such a thing as sold out! We went on a Victorian horse and carriage ride the other night, and all these people wanted us to ride in their carriage, but mom was being really picky, but it was really a blessing in disguise. When she finally picked the one she liked, everyone else got really upset, and started yelling at our driver. When we got away, I swear I heard one of the other men [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well, this is Mumbai, busy, popular and- some what smelly Mumbai. A beach called "cow patty", the house of the most famous man of India, street vendors galore, I have to say, Mumbai is full of exciting things. We arivved after a 12 hour train ride ( they keep getting longer and longer) at night, and stayed at the first hotel we could find. The next morning we changed hotels and after lunch, took a taxi to the Gateway of India. When the British were in control of India, they built the gate [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hello it's me Jamil . The name Mumbai and Bombay are the same place but the name changed. Don't ask why. The traffic here is insane. Come here and try crossing the road. If you're not experienced you will get hit and I'm serious. And about one block away there is a MCDONALDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! . Yeah. But there is a sign that says no beef is served in India. Now that is a problem. In India they do not kill cows because cows are holy. Yesterday we went to Chowpatty beach and people were selling peanuts and corn. There also was a [View Full Entry]

---

---

Samir's article. Way back when, back when we were in Hampi, we went to the ruins that lay behind the city with the same tour guide as before. We saw the Queen's bath, temple ruins, palace ruins and an underground temple. The underground temple had a small lake in the middle, water snakes and thousands of hanging bats. Though we saw no water snakes, we did see the bats coming and going through the windows. We also saw ENORMOUS statues of gods with lion heads and elephant heads. A night or two later, all of us kids were really sick, as [View Full Entry]

---

---

Tips and What-not 1. There are no sides of the road -- but most people just stick to the left 2. People only honk their horns when they're driving so they don't feel badif they hit you 3. Supply your own toilet paper 4. Don't ride the night bus 5. The world just isn't made for a group of five 6. Ignore the smells (or at least try) 7. Avoid the grape juice, or just ask for it without a litre of foam 8. Fancy restaurants aren't known for their good service 9. When selecting your horse drawn carriage, pick a [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hi everone it's me, Alia. Well, we've been in Hampi for about 4 days now, and we all are enjoying it. The bus ride to get here wasn't so enjoyable, because what was supposed to be luxurious, was bumpy, cramped, not to mention overnight. Yet, out of some miracle we made it all in one piece. But, it was worth it. We arrived at 7:00 am, and had to carry all 9 of our bags to our hotel room. We found a hotel with a wonderful veiw of the rice paddies, rock formations and the river. Hampi is mostly ruins, [View Full Entry]

---

---

Samir's article. Alright, let's start with the bus. Now I wouldn't say luxiorious, and I wouldn't say 4 wheels and a piece of cardboard, so we'll skip that part. All I can do is write this When we got to Hampi, we had to take all 9 of our bags down a couple dozen steps and on to a small motorboat, to get across the river,and then up another couple dozen steps. By the time we got up, we were so tired we grabbed the first hotel that we could. Sadly, our room was a meter wide and long, so we [View Full Entry]

---

---

Samir's article. Just yesterday, when we were supposed to rent the bikes, the rentee cancelled on us, so we spent the day at our aunt and uncle's 5+ star hotel. It had a golf course, air conditioned rooms and most importantly, it had a pool. The pool had a mini bridge, stone statues and a bar, which you could swim over to and order yourself a pepsi, martini or a juice box (depending on your age). After swimming in the salt-free water, we walked down the beach that the resort was located on, and found a small boat that would take [View Full Entry]

---

---

Hi, It is Beth once again. I gave Azim a hard time for not having written anything yet, and he said he was the manager. Which I guess is true-that along with being our travel agent. It will be interesting once we are out of India to see if anybody else (me I guess) takes it upon themselves to make travel decisions-now we just figure Azim knows what he is doing and my main job is to pack up every few days and make sure he leaves nothing behind on trains or in restaurants (as in, that has already happened a [View Full Entry]

---

---