The rest of our train to Mumbai was fairly uneventful. Early start as our neighbours had an early start ~ consideration for others isn't a high priority here. Arrived in Mumbai, tired but grateful to be out of the north. Or so we thought before we experienced the perils of the Indian local train. We thought we'd seen it all in cattle class but it was nothing on this local train. We waited until after rush hour but you wouldn't have guessed from the amount of people crammed into that tiny space. People hanging off the doors just to get on and the short amount of time the train stopped for meant many moving entry and exits. No one else seemed fazed by the danger through. Had a kip in the hostel to recharge. Ventured out for dinner, As far as the restaurant downstairs... and then went for a stroll up and down Colaba Causeway and Sean bought a real genuine India cricket shirt, before turning in for the night.

Tuesday:

Went for a wander around Colaba and Fort where we are staying ~another excellent guided tour from Laura again. The map reading is definitely improving!! Saw some sights of the area, including Mumbai University~ we both still prefer Sheffield ~ and went to the train station because we always have fun at train stations... Again took us a little while to find the tourist desk, only one detour to some dodgy tourist information gaff this time though, short drinks break and eventually we found the counter, however staff were hard to come by... More interested in serving every other local that seemed to drop by it took us about an hour to book our trains, so we booked up the next few just to avoid the hassle again for a little while again.

Thank Guru for Mr. T who came to our rescue outside and we were spirited away by a guide from the A Team to show us some highlights of Mumbai. In discussing this entry we realised we were calling him Mr T for very different reasons. I thought he looked like Mr. T and Sean just called him that as short for Mr. Turban. No prizes for guessing what he was wearing. Either way; a very nice guy and we spent the afternoon with him and then his dad ~ Papa T ~and saw some amazing things. We went to Mahatma Ghandi's house, hugely interesting and no surprise he is a legend all over India. Everyone has something good to say about him. Then to the dhobi ghat, he biggest washing compound you've ever seen. It looks like such a hard job and in such small spaces. Truly awe inspiring. Then we saw some Indian cross dressers, very unnerving, men in saris begging on the streets by day and ladies of the night by night. Also Mumbai prison, though thankfully we only saw the outside!! Papa T showed us all round the largest slum; 1 million of Mumbai's population lives here, 60% of the city live in slums across the city. Again, an incredible and moving sight. By nightfall we went to a Jain Temple, women at their time of the month are not allowed to enter, very odd, then the hanging gardens, as far as we could see nothing hanging all was growing from the ground but pretty and serene. Past the Silent Tower where the Parsi house their dead to be picked clean by vultures, s they regard earth fire and water as holy so don't bury or cremate, and we were dropped off at home. Spend the evening at a Sports Bar ~ much to Sean's delight. Watched the tennis and football scores with a few Kingfishers and some tasty bar snacks. All in all one great day in India.

Wednesday

Early start then to the Gateway of India to catch the boat to Elephanta Island. After speaking to a man that told us the boats don't start for two hours so we should go on his city tour first, we told him he was a liar and bought our tickets for the next boat which left in a matter of minutes. It was a very beautiful island. The 300 stairs in baking heat made me look like i'd had a bucket of water thrown over my head. We saw lots of ancient temples and carvings whilst getting a good tan! Made some friends they were student at Pune University and we discussed the differences between our cultures and they kept asking me how I had such a good body. I was a bit worried especially when Laura cracked a joke saying the reason the boat was tilting to my side was because I was sat there one of them jumped to my rescue. We don't think they understand sarcasm. We then ventured to the fabled Golden Arches. McDonalds. So much nicer then UK but no beef. And then went for a chill in cafe coffee day and enjoyed a cheeky ice cream. We then went on a 4mile walk to Chowpatty Beach and along the coast, ducking under nearby trees to shelter from the rain. We then revisited Macs for cheap meals and a few hours later revisited me...instant regret. Johnny Cash song comes to mind. All is okay now though. Chill day today in Leopold's cafe now on the train to Aurangabad for some spiritual history and another expensive night apparently.

Will update you soon. Still having fun. Laura is winning on the mosquito bites score 8~0 touch wood but she is also winning amount of paparazzi Indian moments. Still a bit surreal but Mumbai is the highlight of the trip so far apart from the Taj.

x