Day 3: Still in Mumbai

I keep loosing track of what day it is. Once again only got 2-3 hours of sleep, if that, as I was up all night sweating and researching where to go next.

I went down for breakfast at a simple restaurant next door to my hostel and decided to start up a conversation with a fellow who looked like he had been traveling for a while. Turns out his name is Matthew, from the UK, and he is just finishing his time in India after six months. He was more than happy to share his experiences both good and bad with me. He has traveled to every populated continent and said India has been, by far, the most difficult place he's stayed. He told me about his first week, trusting those he shouldn't have, loosing all his money, breaking down and wanting to give up then finding a way to turn it into his favorite most exciting trip yet.

It was exactly what I needed. During my first few days in India I have experienced some major break downs mixed in with some of the most wonderful moments. India seems to be a land of contrast, always switching back from one extreme to the other in every way possible. Last night I wondered why I was even in India and if I should just go somewhere else, or back home. After talking with Mathew I was re-energized, he said the best way to cope with the chaos is to simply "let it all go and just go with the flow".

I had to run some errands on my own today, the most exciting was booking a ticket at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (prevously known as the Victoria Trainstation). The trainstation is a World Heritage site, of UNESCO, as well as the busiest in the world with more than 2 million people passing through it each day!

Week almost 3 weeks of not shaving

All of Mumbai is a maze of sorts, but being a foreign tourist has its benefits. Whenever I am lost someone will ask me where I'm looking for, if they don't know where it is they will find someone who does. Always taken with a grain of salt, but so far 95% of the locals are very friendly (with the other 5% being on the contrasting side).

No pictures today as I left my camera in my room, so instead i"ll throw in one with an update on my beard. (See picture to the right)

I have a train booked for mid(ish) next week.. hmm.. I really need to keep track of dates better. Until then I'll keep exploring the urban jungle that is Mumbai.

Day 2: Mumbai gets better

I only slept for 2-3 hours last-night. Finally got out of bed after laying there for hours and tried to get into the shower. After waiting for what seemed like forever I finally got in, I hate common bathrooms. Not only do I have to squat on for the toilets, but I also have to squat to fit in the shower.

Gateway of India

After getting that out of the way I took a taxi with Nathan to the Gateway of India, I hailed it right in-front of the traffic cops so he would have to use the meter. A note to those traveling to this area, the men 'selling postcards' by the Gateway of India are actually drug dealers, which get very annoying. We boarded a boat for Elephanta Islands which cost 160rs($3.50) return plus 250rs($5.50) to enter. It started to pour rain as we got off the boat but stopped just as we arrived at the entrance. After buying some roasted corn-on-the-cob and a cheap drink we headed in.

We where than confronted with a monkey. He grabbed for my corn but I was hungry so I avoided his attack and he went for Nathan's instead. I ended up loosing mine a couple minutes later when confronted with several more hungry monkey thieves. Lesson learned I thought, don't eat around monkeys. A little ways up in the boiling humid heat I pull out my drink, not a second later a monkey flys through the air and grabs it! He then proceeded to unscrew the top and drink my earlier purchase.


After arriving back from the island we wondered around the tourist area and came upon a McDonalds, sorry but there food is intense and I needed a break. On the way out I stopped to talk with two others who looked slightly out of place. They were 22 year old female backpackers from the Netherlands, after our short chat they decided to join us on our search for a game of cricket. We didn't find cricket, but they turned out to be great company. We spend the evening on Mumbai's watershore. The sound of the waves and friendly conversation were almost enough to drown out the non-stop taxi honking and general noise that is Mumbai.

My fellow travelers!

It's about time I move on to another city. I payed for an additional night at my hostel, 775rs($17) to figure out where I am going and to get some train tickets tomorrow.

I will miss those who I've met and experienced Mumbai with over the past couple days, but with new places comes new friendships.

Day 1: Hello Mumbai

I woke up around 5pm, not hungry even though it's been a while since I've ate, but thirsty. The thick Mumbai air sits on me like an unwanted blanket as I laid in my bed sweating profoundly. I had bought four 1L bottles of water the night before, for 15rs($0.30) each. I turned on my tv and then an odd music grew louder. At first i thought it was one of my neighbors playing music, but then with a loud BANG it became evident. There was a festival out on the street! I have arrived in Mumbai during their biggest 11 day festival, for the goddess Ganesh.

Pretty sure that's shaving cream. But they, whatever works.

I ran out of my room to the common balcony area . This is were I ran into Nathan, he is from the UK(studying in Seattle) and was on my plane from Amsterdam to Mumbai the night before!  We decided to go down to the street and getting a better view. It was my first experience crossing a busy street in Mumbai. Traffic weaved in and out swiftly, as did we, while crossing. We made it!

A Mumbai street, they are ALL busy..

On of the many groups I danced with!

We followed those celebrating for a block then wondered off on our own down the crowed market streets. Several hours, and many memories later, i arrive back in my hostel. I will try to post pictures because there was so much more done today than i can explain in words. The locals are very friendly for the most part. I danced with several groups of indians who where eager to teach my their dancing on the streets.

After arriving back at the hostel I went for supper next door with Nathan. We ordered 'veg' dishes in an attempt to stop sickness, as i write this is has been a couple hours since I ate and i'm still feeling good.

Sorry for the lack of editing, but my netbook is about to die and I don't have an adapter to plug it in yet. Wait.. how will i set an alarm for tomorrow? Gah, so many things I took for granted back home.

Fireworks are everywhere, how is Mumbai not burnt down yet?

I have no idea what tomorrow will bring but i look forward to finding out.

Hope all is well back home.

Day 0: Arriving in Mumbai

The journey to India was a long one, but atleast it was filled with some interesting people and moments. I met a couple in their 80's who were traveling from Minneapolis to Venice (Italy) where they first met. On the way to Amsterdam I sat beside a fellow who works for Porsche, we shared many interesting conversations during that 8 hour flight. Once I arrived in Amsterdam i was exhausted. I had barley slept the night before I left but didn't want to sleep now, that had to wait till Mumbai. Within a couple hours after my arrival in Amsterdam my flight to Mumbai started boarding.. I was the only western in slight. Before letting me on the plane they pulled me aside and started questioning me. Why was i traveling alone? where was I staying? Why was i sweating? For that last one I simply told him I was Canadian and found it oddly warm there. He then proceeded to take all my debit and creditcards then went off to consult with his coworker. They would talk, stop, then look over their shoulders at me before asking me more questions. They finally proceeded to let me though, after a full 360 degree ex-ray scan. (also, I have been physically searched at every airport including Saskatoons, what up with that?)

My flight to Mumbai was my first culture shock. Luckily I was seated with an Indian women, my age, who was very helpful in walking me through how to eat all the ethnic food they served during the flight.

Basic room @ Hotel New Bengal, 775rs.($18/night)

I arrive in Mumbai with the notion that everyone is going to scam me in some way. I got a prepaid taxi to my hotel, the actual ride will have to be saved for another time. The hotel was somewhat disappointing at first. Clean, by Indian standards, but very basic. There are no bugs, but my walls are made of plywood. (and as i am typing this there goes the power.. again..)

Umm, caging at the top for ventilation? 

At the time of writing 'day-0' in my paper-form journal I was disappointed by Mumbai. As much as I first questioned why I would come to India i'm glad to know that has changed by the first 'real' day. (more on that next post)

Departing for India!

I am leaving for the airport in a couple of minutes, my flight departs at 5:50am.

It will be a full day of travel, with 4-6 hour layovers in both Minneapolis then Amsterdam before finally arriving in Mumbai at 11pm Wednesday night. It may be a couple of days until my next update just to get my bearings sorted out.

Last minute packing frenzy!

I have been running around all day trying to get my last minute errands done while also meeting friends over coffee and eating as much beef as possible.

I'm still not packed, but it's getting closer. I won't be posting an exact list of what I'm taking right now as I still have so much to do and time is in limited supply.

Here is a picture of my current progress:

Cutting down and reorganizing my gear.

10 hours till departure!

Gathering Gear: Netbook

Over the summer I have been prowling on the local online classified ads trying to find a cheap netbook that I could take with me to India. After a couple of months of looking I ran upon an ad for a Hannspree 10" netbook. The owner had bought both a Mac Book Air and this netbook at the same time. He seemed to have quite a bit of money and just wanted to get rid of the netbook, it was exactly what I had been waiting for.

It's fast and was in mint condition so I bought it for $120. I will be hauling this around India with me to keep in touch with others and keep the blog up-to-date (with updates every 1-2 days while abroad).

I'm keeping it short today as I have a ton of packing and other things to do before I go!

It's now less than two days until I leave for India.