Mar 28, 2012 - Mumbai, India

Courtney is “under the weather” today so Deb goes alone on the shore excursion to see the marvels of Mumbai. Formerly known as Bombay, the tour guide explains that the name was officially changed from Bombay to Mumbai in 1995 in an effort to erase signs of British influence on the city. Our first stop is outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus). It is one of India’s most elegant Imperial buildings with an extraordinary conglomeration of domes, spires, Corinthian columns and minarets. The first train left from this...

Mar 14, 2012 - India

People that live in India are very religious and family is very important to them. When they get a house they use it for rituals and other things that have to do with their religion. Urban families most of the time live in apartments and nicer homes with smaller families. They usually have running water and electricity. Rural families usually build their own homes and live with extended family. They usually have to go get their own water and do not have electricity. There is a lot of poverty in India. They are big into agricultural and...

Mar 2, 2012 - Mumbai, accidentally

This is a continuation from where the last entry left off: Upon watching “our” train depart the station from the confines of the platform, we headed back inside to the ticket window, plopped ourselves down on the floor, took out the Lonely Planet guidebook, and began concocting schemes. At first we were dead set on leaving that night, and began looking at other trains heading north to Udaipur (our original destination) or other locations in the area. We also explored trains to other destinations we hadn’t initially considered, just based on...

Mar 1, 2012 - Panvel

Up at 5.30 am ready for the next leg of our trip down to Cochi down the south west coast of India. No breakfast as it was too early so I did have a coffee using my mini boiler to heat the water. We had arranged the night before for two of the local rickshaw boys to be at the hotel at 6.30 to take us down to the station. We could have walked the half mile or so but the bags are quite heavy and we wanted to sample as many modes of transport as possible on this trip. Surprise, surprise the two men were waiting for us at the hotel gate so we...

Feb 29, 2012 - Matheran - Day 2

Breakfast turned out to very light as well with a couple of thin pancakes each and a small dish of jam. The tea, as nearly all tea in India, was hot and sweet with plenty of milk. Vishval, as he did at all our meals, hovered around chatting and answering any questions we came up with. I did get a second helping of pancakes. Vishval told us that he doesn't use eggs in his pancake mix. After breakfast it was back to the room to take advantage of the bucket of hot water that we were promised. I had a nice splash shower and used my super...

Feb 28, 2012 - Matheran -Day 1

I did get off to sleep nicely but woke about 1.30am with a thickly sensation on my face. As it had been warm when we went to bed we had left the fan running to cool things down a bit so I thought it must be the air tickling my face. It was annoying me and I kept rubbing my face which just kept me awake. I began to imagine then that it might be insects or ants running over my face and started trying hit whatever it was without really knowing what it was and not wanting to disturb Roger I didn't like to put the light on to check. I don't...

Feb 28, 2012 - Ganeshpuri

Towards the end of our stay in Goa we began planning our next move. We stressed over how to try and tackle the mega-city of Mumbai, and we were having trouble booking our train tickets to get there. Eventually we realized, we didn’t really want to go to Mumbai. We were enjoying the slower simpler life so much more, and feared the fast pace, filth, and crowds that Indian cities are famous for. We figured we get enough of that back home and should use our time in India to see the other side of things. Happy with our realization, we decided...

Feb 27, 2012 - Mumbai

At least I got a reasonable few hours of sleep after the lights went out and the curtains across the ends of the bunks were closed. We did experience a steady chorus of snoring from across the corridor but I did get to test the efficiency of the ear plugs that I had brought along. At 7.30am everyone started stirring and life returned to the carriage, people trooping off to the toilets and generally ensuring that further sleep was impossible. Our lower bunks were taken over by the two women and their husbands so we did a swop and moved...

Jan 21, 2012 - Sights of Mumbai

There is no good time or bad time to be in India. Its architectural and cultural wonders, but also its dismaying poverty and pollution, are always present. The assault on your senses begins the moment you set foot on Indian soil. The deafening noise, the colourful clothing, and the smells - often aromatic, but many times vile. Then there is the constant movement of people. People are everywhere. You can never be truly alone in India. Not with a population of 1.2 billion. But after a long and tiring flight, Joan and John's arrival in Mumbai...

Jan 10, 2012 - First impression

Before I left Sweden I had read that Nagpur has a tropical wet and dry climate with extremely hot summers lasting from March to June, with maximum temperatures occurring in May. The minute I stepped out from the airplane I could feel the heat even though it's only January! Coming directly from the Swedish winter, however, temperatures around 28 degrees are quite pleasant, I mean that's like the Swedish summer at its best! Well after almost 9 hours on the plane it felt nice to step into an auto rickshaw and head towards my hotel. An auto...

Jan 8, 2012 - HOPPER: Stopping in Mumbai/Bombay on our way to Mangalore

We're here in booming Bombay for a couple days and then on another flight to Mangalore. The internet cafes here are terrible, there's barely a square meter of space per person but at least the prices are ok. The wedding already came and went and it was really great. The night before the wedding there was Jago which is basically a dance through the streets banging on the gates to awake the neighbors who emerge onto their balconies to watch. There was lots of dancing the night before and the day of the wedding. Their we and Zephyr and I both...

Dec 11, 2011 - Mahablaleshwar 2008

Mahabhaleshwar is a fun place to be. Its a must visit. I enjoyed a lot. We were there in December for a few days with Devu, Chirag Uncle, Deepali Aunty, their daughter Zia, Yezdi Uncle and Kamal Aunty before the Shirnathji and Champaran Vacation. Yash did Paragliding but I couldn't. I wasn't heavy enough.