Hi from Mumbai!!!

After a seemingly endless flight from Heathrow to Mumbai (got on the plane 9.15pm English time and finally got off at 1.15pm Indian time), Bombay airport was surprisingly calm - unlike the rest of the city.....

no sooner had we been met by our taxi driver, we were thrust into what can only be described as the sheer chaos of driving Mumbai-style. We have never seen anything like it! - no matter how much people say that the driving is crazy, you can't truly appreciate it until you've been in the back of a taxi. All manner of cara, trucks, buses, lorries, bikes and tuck-tucks weaving in and out of each other, pedestrians with a death-wish trying to cross the road - all to the constant backdrop of the honking of horns, which signal; speed up, get out of the way, move over etc.

Eau de Mumbai is very distinctive, with aromas of petrol fumes, sewage and a hint of hot rubber blended with the humidity and smog. Not exactly freshyl baked bread!!

Although it is often said that Mumbai and india as a whole is a land of contrasts - it has to be seen to be believed. The clash between high-rise, brand new office blocks right next door to the most ramshackle slums that you can't belive people can live in. And businessmen with briefcases and iPods walking down the street alongside children in rags. People washing clothes and themselves in the gutter, sleeping under flyovers righ by the side of the road. India is certainly eye-opening and a real culture shock for us.

Yesterday we met our tour guide Bikki (sometimes pronounced Picky by me!), and he took us to the main tourist spot in the city - the Gateway to India, before we had a meal with the tour group that had just finished. It was really good to hear about the tour we're about to begin, and to be with a group of people.

today we ventured on our own out into Kolbala (don't worry parents! ;-). We drank Darjeeling tea in the 5-star Taj hotel (so much for roughing it!). It was nice as we had a great view of the Gateway and the harbour leading out to the Arabian Sea, and we were able to just sit back and sip, taking in all of the goings on in air-conditioning!

We then wandered round by the gateway again, and embarked on some retail therapy - and began haggling! Emili says that I am now looking more like a native indian in grandad shirt and baggy trousers! Emili has also bought a pashmina and some Aladdin-style trousers to blend in.

Mumbai is an amazing city. We have never seen scenes like it - the poverty, the slums, the begging, but also incredible colours and fascinating sights. The weather is for us, very hot and humid - plus 30.

Tonight we've just had dinner with our group - they seem a really nice bunch - an Australian couple, an older Canadian couple, and 2 lads from London we found out were on our flight! the Oz couple are from Adelaide originally (Jo and Lilly, we've been hearing really good things about it!). I avoided the 'delicated brain' on the menu, although I was tempted!! Although so far the food has been really good.

Anyway, we've got to be up at 5.00am (so much for being on holiday) to catch the early train to Ahmedabad, so we'd better go and get packed.

we'll try and put some photos on next when we can.

Love to you all!

Tim and Emili xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx