Blogs from Maharashtra, India, Asia - page 140

Hello We took a 5 AM train into Mumbai and arrived in the early afternoon. We took taxis down to the India Gate and then just did the lonely planet walking tour. We saw Victoria station, The Prince of Wales museum, the town hall, and lots more. The city looks really European, much more than any other place I have seen in India. The buildings all remind me of London, but then there are all the things that make you know you are still in India. We went out for drinks to some bar and they actually had Bacardi Breezers, I was not sure where I was for a second. Then the lounge singer started and we made a hasty exit, haha. It was Saturday night in Mumbai so we decided to try a club that ... read more

I was really looking forward to leaving Bombay, i really liked it but was ready for something new. The overnight train was definately an experience! I really dont want to do it again but will be tomorrow :) GREAT! Its not that bad its just i cant sleep, nose becomes blocked with dirt, all indian men staring at me waiting for my shawl to slip just a little bit so they can see me and people coughing up their guts every few minutes. Lovely. Got to Aurangabad at 5 in the morning, so still feel like we havent recovered from the jet lag. Hotel is the pits, looks like something out of resident evil, BUT the area is really nice and alot less hassel than in bombay. Wondered round yesterday and saw the town, not much ... read more

Well, the good news is we are still well and having a good time. Classic Claire and Marc we got the wrong day to catch our coach to Bombay from Goa so we got a bonus day at Benaulim beach which turned out to be fantastic. Also it meant we got more Goan bus riding - an ace experience. So now we are in Bomaby, finding it a lot easier than before....seasoned travellers! well trying to be. A 37 hr train ride to calcutta awaits us now, but will be a welcome break from the sunshine for those of us who get toasted in the shade! All in all unforgetable experiences all round. Bring it on!... read more

So Mom and Dad reported complaints on my lack of updates recently, so I hope you all are ready for a lot, cause I’ve been busy. Last night I landed on (I’d say sunk into, but my mattress is far from being so soft) my bed here in Mumbai for the first time in over two weeks, but before I can tell you about my relief to be home, perhaps I should fill you in on my past two weeks. A lot happened, so I broke it all up into several different blogs. If you plan on reading them all now (best of luck) now is a good time to stop, grab some popcorn or a drink or find a more comfortable chair to sit in before continuing to read. It’s ok, I’ll wait. …………………………. Ready ... read more

On the streets and the sidewalks, at the beach and in the markets, train stations and private homes, there was one constant in India. The cow. They wander with leisurely freedom where and when they like. For Indians, this is normal; they are part of the scenery, the natural environment. For us, this was a great source of amusement, and the novelty never wore off. Instead, our curiosity and fascination with the status of this animal grew. We sought a better understanding of the Holy Cow. Clearly we could not explain to most Indians the Canadian attitude toward the cow. Our tendency to see this animal in terms of its eventual fate (juicy steak) would be impossible to describe, and probably quite disturbing for the majority of Indians. As long time vegetarians, Lindsay and I felt ... read more