Advertisement
Published: February 11th 2014
Edit Blog Post
Peter and I flew from Bhubaneshwar to Mumbai on Sunday morning and were met by Parakram, the middle son. So lovely to see him again and, like his brothers, looked after me so very well. We stayed at his company's flat in an suburb called Khar West in Mumbai and were looked after there by two lovely chaps who cooked and cleaned and made great tea for us!
We hit the floor running and immediately travelled down to the area of Colaba, the main touristy and sightseeing district on the waterfront where the Gateway to India and the Taj Palace Hotel are to be found. Two incredibly beautiful Victorian buildings. We hopped on the ferry to go over to Elephanta Island, and hours trip each way, a World Heritage site famous for its sacred caves and carvings. Quite an experience with crowds of people, 127 steps, monkeys, cows and lots of stalls selling all sorts of 'stuff'. The caves and the carvings were incredible and it's was an amazing place. The ferry back as the sun set was wonderful and the view coming into the Gateway of India harbour was fantastic. We rewarded ourselves with light refreshments at the Taj
Palace hotel - gorgeous - then a taxi ride back to our suburb and to a restaurant called Barbecue Nation with our own BBQ on the table and so much food, it was a great experience.
The next day we visited the Museum. It was terrific and really interesting (and nice and cool away from the heat of the day). Then an Art and Craft Fayre which had items from all over India, lots of fair trade stuff too. Fabulous. Then on to the cinema in the afternoon to see my first Bollywood movie.... the action movie just released 'Jai Ho!'. Didn't understand a word but it was awesome. Full of action and fight scenes and yet, still had comedy, romance, singing and dancing!! Bizarre!! Then on to a night market and a little shopping and a KFC (a great treat for Peter and Parakram!).
We had been using taxis and auto rickshaws for our journeys, and pretty scary the driving is in Mumbai too. Although there are more road rules than Cuttack, the volume of traffic and congestion is immense. The rest of the trip we had a car and driver and Gopal used his local knowledge
to show us all sorts of places and famous peoples houses as we travelled about the city. Closed windows and air con were a blessing and a welcome relief from the open windows and dust of the taxis. It takes a long long time to go anywhere in Mumbai but that suits me as I love to look at the sights and sounds and see how other peoples lives work.
A visit to the two art galleries the next day was great with a break in a wonderful veggie cafe in between. Then a slow drive up Marine Drive and a look at Chowpatty Beach and the amazing wedding reception venues being set up. The flower arrangements were just incredible. Sue C, you would have loved to see and smell them! We then visited friends who are both artists and musicians. It was a lovely evening of innocent songs and laughter and a lovely meal.
Our final day took us to the quiet of Juhu Beach in the morning as it prepared for the onslaught of folks in the evening. And then we had the honour of being taken into Film City, the home of Bollywood, where predominantly
Views from my room
Local life in Mumbai across the road the soap operas are made. I'd seen several of these whilst at Violas bedside so actually recognised some of the actors and settings! Film City is a mountainside basically with indoor shooting studios and lots and lots of outdoor sets spread all across the hills. There are lots and lots of people everywhere plus many monkeys! Security is very tight and it had been arranged for us to go in with Solomon, a film producer, as our guide. We drove all over and stopped and watched various shoots. Terrific, it's all so dramatic! Then at the top of the mountain there were the most incredible panoramic views of Mumbai. It was a great experience and we were so pleased to go. No tours are allowed of Film City, you can only get in if you know someone!! Brilliant, we were so lucky.
We had a last shopping fling in the Oberoi Mall and I introduced the boys to Starbucks! We thanked Solomon and headed back to the apartment for a meal and my final, final packing session! Gopal drove us via Juhu beach to the airport. It was bright, lively, crowded and very colourful. We spent a short time
there savouring the carnival atmosphere before hitting the chaos and nightmare that was Mumbai Airport.
The old terminal is about to close, there was chaos and tight security on the roadways and pavement and just hundreds of people battling to get into the terminal where no visitors are allowed! Crazy, hot and pretty stressful I have to say. I said a sad farewell to Peter and Parakram and fought my way through the security in to the terminal, stripped bare ready for the move in two days time to the new swanky terminal!! Grrrrrr! This was my 14th and final flight of my trip. Virgin Atlantic were wonderful, especially when I felt a little unwell on the flight. It didn't seem possible that this was my final 'take off' of the the trip.
I arrived at Heathrow to be welcomed by the wonderful Ruth and joined then by dear friend Michael. We had a lovely breakfast together and it was good to be back on British soil, albeit it wet and cold! Ruth chauffered me home and helped to settle me in, handed over the two boxes I'd sent her of extra 'stuff' - one from the USA
and one from Australia! Well, I'm allowed, been away a long time!
It's now a few days later and I'm fighting jet lag and reality!! Unpacking is a mamouth task and the washing machine has not stopped! It lovely to start catching up with fiends and it was tremendous to spend Sunday with Ally, Alice and Alfie in Dereham and be fed the most amazing roast dinner and see all the wonderful decorating they have been doing in their new home! I start work again next week and look forward to seeing everyone again at Aldeburgh Music. Yes, I feel completely adrift and spaced out and very flat but I knew to expect this! Soon I'll be up and running and back in the swing of things.
Thank you thank you and huge thank you's to EVERYONE who has made this trip so incredibly awesome for me. To name everyone would be too much and dangerous in case I left anyone out, but you all know who you are! Thank you for hosting me, giving me beds to sleep in, food to eat, taking me on trips and out for meals and to see wonderful sights and great
Victoria Railway Station
Beautiful old Victorian building, now called something else very long winded! experiences. Thank you for great and scary and wonderful and magical experiences. Thank you for becoming new friends and sharing your lives with me. Thank you for being such wonderful company, great comrades and companions and thank you for being such tremendous, special and wonderful friends and relatives. This has been a trip of a lifetime for me and it's been made possible by you all. THANK YOU.
Finally, thank you for following my blog and sharing my trip with me. It has been just wonderful to get all your comments and messages, I've really appreciated hearing from you and it's been great to know I've not been alone but travelling in good company!!Thank you.
Over and out :-) x
Advertisement
Tot: 0.056s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 7; qc: 25; dbt: 0.0335s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 2;
; mem: 1.1mb
Hassina
non-member comment
Welcome home
Hope to see you soon - coffee in Woodbridge? Give me a ring and we'll catch up. xx