Bombay

Mumbai is completely crazy with the traffic, tons of people, noise, smells, and colors but it's also very fun. I toured around Elephant Island on Friday and met a sweet British couple traveling for 6 weeks for their honeymoon. That night I hopped on another boat for a dinner and dance party with Kiran and her husband and friend. The food was delish, and it was fun to watch everyone try to balance themselves on the boat and dance at the same time.

The next day I joined a friend of a friend of a friend of a friend, Phil, for some more site-seeing. I probably would have suggested walking around the city and a museum but he suggested seeing some caves and hiking to a fort in a small town 2 hours outside Mumbai. We went with that. It was definitely adventure, and I'd say we were more the attraction than anything else. There were groups of kids on field trips at the caves. They all wanted to take pictures with us. It was really cute. The caves were cool too. I can't tell you how the fort was because we never made it. Phil used to lead outdoor expeditions, so we opted for making our own trail up to the fort rather than following the road. Although it was a blast trailblazing up the mountain, we had to turn around to catch the last train back to Mumbai, well what the book said was the last train back to Mumbai.

Then Sunday was a day of extremes. First Phil and I went on a tour of a slum. It was tough but so interesting. The people who live there are such hardworkers. They recycle plastic, sew clothes, make laptop bags, make pottery, and bake bread for minimal wages (a dollar or two a day). A family may make $1200 a year. We saw their homes and went through the windy, crowded alley ways between houses. We visited one home for at least 5 people. It was about 6 feet by 20 feet. There was only room for a counter to cook, a dresser and some floor space to sleep, but it was so colorful, tidy and inviting. The money we paid for the tour went to support a center for children that teaches English. They have 50 students enrolled and 80 on the waiting list.

After the Reality Tour, I went to the see-and-be-seen Indian Dirby, like the Kentucky Dirby of India. I went with friends of friends from the states who are living in Bombay. I had a blast and it was so fun to have a peek in to the expat life. I only saw two sun hats but people were decked out. The weather was perfect which actually allowed for a good view of the city. Tomorrow I'm off to Goa, I think!