Monday we could have done with sleeping in, but once again we were off, up and ready by half nine to catch a ride into town. Vs uncle works for the government and the day couldn’t have gone better.
Firstly there is a quick road, for government workers, it cuts the journey into Mumbai by an hour (I guess its there to make sure they get to meetings on time). We discovered there were other perks too, like those associated with the car don’t pay parking. That does seem reasonable too. I mean, what’s the point of getting a pay check if you just give it straight back to you employers through parking?
It was great, the driver knew all the places, so after dropping us at the Gateway of India, where we also visited the world famous Taj hotel, he then brought us on a little tour around South Mumbai, starting at Colaba Market. Here V showed off her haggling skills and managed to bag me some really cute harem pants for Rs100 – amazing!! Then we got driven to Nariman point. Which was lovely, it is so breezy there and there were lots of people just chilling by the waters edge.
Then we stopped at the beach, Girgaugan Chowpapty. After visiting it I completely understood why no one sunbathes there. It was rather dirty, between the sea and the main beach was a layer of debris (I think I have a picture). It was so strange. It felt like being at the seaside, that’s probably because it was, yet at the same time it was not like being at the seaside at all. To the left, starting from the road there were small drinks shacks and places to buy things. I’m not quite sure they were typical ‘beach’ things. One guy was selling sand mats to lie on, but no one was lying at all. They were all sitting on the sand, just up from the pile of debris eating, sitting and chatting. On the beach there were also small rides for kids and a corn vendor, selling grilled corn. Further to the left were shanties, which had probably been set up by the fishermen. I really felt for them, the sea was so choppy I would not have wanted to go out at all. The rains really affect their catch, so this is the hardest time of year of fishermen.
The Hanging gardens were out next stop. This was pretty cool, despite the huge downpour and the fact that the paths were like mud-pits. Actually we decided to be rebellious and walk on the grass, as it looked particularily less muddy than the actual path. Later when we saw a snake in the shrubbery we were glad to no longer be in the grass. These gardens were famous for their shrubs in the shape of animals. It was really pretty, although most of the sculptures had a lot of growing to do. V found her inner flower photographer in these gardens.
We crossed the road to Kamlanehru Park, here they had more flowers, the path was a little more permanent and they had a HUGE boot, it was like the one from the nursery rhyme, ‘The Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe”. There were no plaques to read about why it was there but it was not for over 12s.
Our last stop was the Trident hotel as we had to wait for Vs uncle to finish his meeting and we did not want to be in the car. An air-conditioned hotel seemed like a much better idea. In the same building at the hotel was the only Gucci store in Mumbai.
Although we left before one of Vs friends we actually arrived back in New Mumbai an hour after them, it seemed that on the way back the quick road was not so quick after all. V and I jumped into her car, on return, and bombed it to the tailors. On the way V said "I think I have road rage". I thought to myself, 'In India it's not road rage, it's considered normal driving, with all the honking. If you drove in England perhaps.' (As we are in India I think it's ok :-) )
Firstly there is a quick road, for government workers, it cuts the journey into Mumbai by an hour (I guess its there to make sure they get to meetings on time). We discovered there were other perks too, like those associated with the car don’t pay parking. That does seem reasonable too. I mean, what’s the point of getting a pay check if you just give it straight back to you employers through parking?
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| Really touristic photos! |
Then we stopped at the beach, Girgaugan Chowpapty. After visiting it I completely understood why no one sunbathes there. It was rather dirty, between the sea and the main beach was a layer of debris (I think I have a picture). It was so strange. It felt like being at the seaside, that’s probably because it was, yet at the same time it was not like being at the seaside at all. To the left, starting from the road there were small drinks shacks and places to buy things. I’m not quite sure they were typical ‘beach’ things. One guy was selling sand mats to lie on, but no one was lying at all. They were all sitting on the sand, just up from the pile of debris eating, sitting and chatting. On the beach there were also small rides for kids and a corn vendor, selling grilled corn. Further to the left were shanties, which had probably been set up by the fishermen. I really felt for them, the sea was so choppy I would not have wanted to go out at all. The rains really affect their catch, so this is the hardest time of year of fishermen.
 |
| The shoe. |
The Hanging gardens were out next stop. This was pretty cool, despite the huge downpour and the fact that the paths were like mud-pits. Actually we decided to be rebellious and walk on the grass, as it looked particularily less muddy than the actual path. Later when we saw a snake in the shrubbery we were glad to no longer be in the grass. These gardens were famous for their shrubs in the shape of animals. It was really pretty, although most of the sculptures had a lot of growing to do. V found her inner flower photographer in these gardens.
We crossed the road to Kamlanehru Park, here they had more flowers, the path was a little more permanent and they had a HUGE boot, it was like the one from the nursery rhyme, ‘The Little Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe”. There were no plaques to read about why it was there but it was not for over 12s.
Our last stop was the Trident hotel as we had to wait for Vs uncle to finish his meeting and we did not want to be in the car. An air-conditioned hotel seemed like a much better idea. In the same building at the hotel was the only Gucci store in Mumbai.
Although we left before one of Vs friends we actually arrived back in New Mumbai an hour after them, it seemed that on the way back the quick road was not so quick after all. V and I jumped into her car, on return, and bombed it to the tailors. On the way V said "I think I have road rage". I thought to myself, 'In India it's not road rage, it's considered normal driving, with all the honking. If you drove in England perhaps.' (As we are in India I think it's ok :-) )
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