Guess what?! I'm still alive!!!!

Day One: I arrived in Mumbai at around lunchtime, having already met up with a girl from Jersey who was on my flight. We were taken to our hotel which proved to be in the middle of nowhere. We met up with two Aussies, a Norweigan and another Brit before heading out for a wonder around. Needless to say a group of girls wondering the streets of northern Mumbai is clearly not common place and we attracted a great deal of attention, especially us girls with blonde hair. We decided to take a tuk tuk to a more built up area and couldn't believe the price. After over 20 minutes of driving the cost was only 150 rupees (about 2 pounds!). We went to eat in a small restaurant, attracting yet more attention and were made to feel quite unwelcome by both staff and customers! Although we didn't get to see much of Mumbai, I was left with the impression it was a completely crazy place to be!

Day Two: The whole group convened for breakfast. This group was pretty much all girls besides two American boys (don't worry Amy neither have potenial...) and a couple in the fifties. It soon became clear that the briefing that was supposed to occur was not going to happen as we were left to wonder about details on our own. This has proved to be a recurrent theme with Indians, giving any kind of information is not their strong point!! We then proceeded to have the most crazy mini bus ride out of Mumbai. I seriously thought we were not gonna make it and were gonna have to push it up the hill! Once we had arrived at the Ashram we went into the markets of Lonalava, where we experienced more staring and lots of beggers.

Day Three: The long anticipated trek!!!!! Words can't really describe the emotions I went through trekking up mountains in 30 deg heat. Health and safety clearly don't matter much as we were wondering on the edge of cliffs and I slipped over so many times! We slept in a massive shed without fans, on the floor. So uncomfortable! Nobody was well rested for the second day, although we were all delighted to have cold toast and cold eggs for breakfast! No food seems to be served hot in India and I will actually cry if I see another plate of rice, dal, and chapattis!!! We returned to the ashram at about 7pm, desperate for a shower.

Things I have learnt so far:

Hats are not a fetching look on me

English rose complexion is dreadful in India (full on red face)

I am not a trekking kinda girl

The amazing sense of achievement at actually doing something you never thought was possible!

Until next time, love you all xxxxxxxx