Mumbai = Honky Tonky Bonkerlicious!!!
After all that TV Coverage I feel like I know the place even though I have just arrived.. after my late arrival (it all went so smoothly from plane to cab to hotel - Ilove it!) Ididn't actually get my head down until 3.30am ish.. and then when Iwoke at 10 - all sounding very normal except that I felt like I had been run over. The fact that I probably hadn't slept more than an hour at a go would account for that!!! So after loudly groaning (what will the neighbours think!) and mentally arguing with myself (1st sign of madness) I rolled back over until 2.. thats when i managed to get myself to the phone boxes and call one and all.. After that i just sort of walked about - and weirdly ended up at all those sights we got to know via the telly this past week.. the Taj hotel, the station and Leopolds... the latter two looking like butter wouldn't melt and business going on as usual ( I had a beer at Leopolds just as a two fingers to the terrorists - quickly reminding myself why I never drank in India - the beer is shite!! so I will ammend that to I had half a beer!) the Taj from afar looks pretty amazing and doesn't appear to have just housed a mini terrorist attack 
however on closer inspection you can see the boarded windows and smoke damage - the police have cornered the area off around it so you can just gaze from a flimsy barrier - with half of Mumbai!! The architecture is pretty amazing here
however on closer inspection you can see the boarded windows and smoke damage - the police have cornered the area off around it so you can just gaze from a flimsy barrier - with half of Mumbai!! The architecture is pretty amazing here 
and i popped on in to the modern art museum which amongst the madness of modern art had some little gems, well worth the visit...I attempted to join the peace march last night - being the only westerner didn't bother me too much but the "attack pakistan now before they fire nuclear weapons at us" banner and shouts sort of put me off and sent me scuttling to my room!
Today I took myself off to Elephanta island - proudly I can say I made it to breakfast at the hostel - well ....just......!! I called at 10.15 they end at 1030 - good news is its tea and toast to your room - can you believe it!!!!!!
Elephanta island is in the bay of Mumbai 
and has some cool caves carved into the rocks - they reminded me of egyptian temples carved into the rocks but they were indian - if you see what i mean (ie: shiva not ramses)!!! 
Well worth the trip if only to to get away from the city madness (still trying to work out why the honking of the horn is mandatory at all times!!!) 
and has some cool caves carved into the rocks - they reminded me of egyptian temples carved into the rocks but they were indian - if you see what i mean (ie: shiva not ramses)!!! Well worth the trip if only to to get away from the city madness (still trying to work out why the honking of the horn is mandatory at all times!!!) The plan was to then go to all the bazzars but it is sweltering today so I figured that, that would be a good fresh morning trip (tomorrows little birthday present to myself, a day of shopping :0) ) so i headed directly to the motorbike shop... have researched my trusty stead, staked my claim and made it clear I drive a hard bargain (pah!) - no need for drivers license haha and judging by the traffic here I will be driving out at 3 am when everyone is sleeping!!!!!! I hope to come and collect a bike in about a week and a halfs time... I popped on down to Chowpatty beach 
and just checked out all the represed courting couples along with a nice sunset.. toxic waters and pretty much forbidden sands!! all fun and games....the little snackettes Ihave been devouring are amazing - india really does rock with food.. tikka rolls, dossa's, dahl puri and some weird concoction on the beach that had all the waiter boys staring at me as I chomped on... god only knows what it was!!!! one of those moments its best not to ask... vegetarian is the only way forward!!! so I have my bday tomorrow I plan to hit the markets hopefully also get my lense and compact camera and then head up to some chilled out "hanging gardens" up on the posh hill.. lets see how it goes I have my eye on a nice restaurant to treat myself tomorrow night but I am pretty flexible I reckon a glass of bubbles wouldn't hurt!!.. Lindsey is hoping to meet me saturday and maybe celebrate the ole 31 with me then too!!! and even her wedding!!! which she still hasn't had!!!I think I'll stay until monday and then I feel I am done here for the mo - its ever so hot and dusty - I plan to head over to the hills sort of east of mumbai and check out Matheran and Pune (pronounced poona) for a week... then come back to mumbai pick up the ole bike - or not if i have chickened out - and then head off to beach zone Konkan and then Goa... thats my story and i'm sticking to it - at least until tomorrow!!!.....
and just checked out all the represed courting couples along with a nice sunset.. toxic waters and pretty much forbidden sands!! all fun and games....the little snackettes Ihave been devouring are amazing - india really does rock with food.. tikka rolls, dossa's, dahl puri and some weird concoction on the beach that had all the waiter boys staring at me as I chomped on... god only knows what it was!!!! one of those moments its best not to ask... vegetarian is the only way forward!!! so I have my bday tomorrow I plan to hit the markets hopefully also get my lense and compact camera and then head up to some chilled out "hanging gardens" up on the posh hill.. lets see how it goes I have my eye on a nice restaurant to treat myself tomorrow night but I am pretty flexible I reckon a glass of bubbles wouldn't hurt!!.. Lindsey is hoping to meet me saturday and maybe celebrate the ole 31 with me then too!!! and even her wedding!!! which she still hasn't had!!!I think I'll stay until monday and then I feel I am done here for the mo - its ever so hot and dusty - I plan to head over to the hills sort of east of mumbai and check out Matheran and Pune (pronounced poona) for a week... then come back to mumbai pick up the ole bike - or not if i have chickened out - and then head off to beach zone Konkan and then Goa... thats my story and i'm sticking to it - at least until tomorrow!!!..... As I yell "Bang! to the beat of the drum! Bang!Bang!" at all the honky tonk horns i bid you a wiggly headed adios and leave you with some wise words from Mumbai's infamous hanging gardens 
