Rubbing elbows with self-proclaimed Bollywood star Sanjay Gupta
From India in Mumbai, India on Nov 15 '06
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We spent the night in the Delhi airport which actually wasn't half the nightmare we anticipated. We had read some pessimistic reviews on "sleepinginairports.com"!
We arrived at "INDIA guesthouse" after a LONG taxi ride (1.5hrs - at night takes 20mins) and caught some much needed ZZZZZZ's.
That evening we saw the Gateway to India where we were hassled to buy giant phallic balloons and blessed by a holy man who gave us our first bindhis (and then asked for money... apparently good luck costs at least 10 rupees).
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The next day we started at the Gandhi museum, which is in his old house. We were able to see his old room and the site where his tent used to be outside. The museum highlight was a series of dioramas depicting the stages of his life (when was the last time you saw a diorama??? Circa grade 3).
We walked through Malabar Hill to the hanging gardens and were able to see lots of old British colonial architecture and also parts of the slums.
We headed to Malmaxi temple which was beautiful but didn't stand out compared to Hali Adji's mosque. This is a huge white wash mosque on an island with a boardwalk attaching to the mainland. The crowds of people and peddlers on the boardwalk made for some beautiful pictures. Behind the mosque there are tons of people bathing in the ocean and families enjoying the sun on the rocks.
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Chowpatty beach for the sunset - made friends with some 10yr old Indian boys who were enthralled by the pictures on Jen's digital cam (until the tourist police yelled at them). We were slightly disappointed that the man powered midway wasn't fully up and running - there was only a four person ferris wheel being pushed by a man. Grabbed some dinner and headed home.
The next day we were asked to play extras in the Bollywood film "Welcome" - we were even paid 500 rupees! Jen got to play a nurse and Meagan a doctor! We met some great new friends from Australia, France and Spain. There was plenty of time for bonding while clinging to each other on the VERY public train and bus!
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Took a boat out to Elephanta island which is a beautiful temple build into the side of a mountain. Beautiful but I think we are a bit templed out!
Dobhi ghat in the afternoon where we watched thousands of men in the open air laundromat. All the different colored clothes hanging from hundreds of lines made great pictures! On the way home we tempted to do some shopping but couldn't shake the mobs of beggars so called it an early night!
Woke up at 6:24 am - which is lovely unless your train to Goa leaves at 6:55am - threw our clothes in our bags and brushed our teeth in the back of a cab on the way there... made it just in time!
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