The Oberoi, Mumbai Mumbai (Bombay)

... an old cage slated for destruction! Several lagerstroemia speciosa trees were enjoying a second season of flowering.

Let the photos speak!

... some handy phrases which I have really enjoyed using today including: come with me/lets go, go away, i'm not buying, yeah/ok, and thank you. Oh and the left over "my name is Megan" from when the 3M Indian guys were visiting the U.S. Its too late to write a full detail about yesterday but the summary is that I had a tour of Delhi and I ended up making friends (I think) with my tour guide and driver. We left at about 8:30 AM and were together all ...

... to give their occupants a view of "the necklace"-the string of lights of Mumbai around the sweeping bay. Naturally, all buildings are gated and guarded. After the hanging gardens, we took an unpleasant stroll down hot, humid, fume-filled streets back to Chowpatty, and then a taxi back to the train station where we finalized our forward travel plans. The following day we headed down to Colaba and the Gateway of India, built to commemorate the ...

... in a derelict temple/hut on a cliff overlooking the moonlit bay. Next day...one of our FAVOURITES yet! Mums (and aunty Lesley!) may wish to avert their eyes at this point; We hired scooters. We had noooo driving experience of scooters, or any idea how to turn them on but apparently the only instruction required was "this is the brake and this is the accelerator". It cost $1.50 for the whole day! Was so so much fun and a wicked way to get to explore the entire ...

... I knew I broke all the rules for a woman traveling alone in India! Lesson learned. And there's the first realization about this trip...every day - or many times a day - I am learning: what to do / what not to do / how to get along / how to relax. No wonder they say that India changes you! So, Lisa arrives as planned, bright eyed and bushy tailed as usual. And our exploration of Mumbai, with retreats to the swanky business hotel, begins.

... some land on the top of the ridge where a 'tree house' machan has been erected and some horticultural work is in progress. We stopped here and made enquiries with a pleasant young man Kuriakose, who invited us to visit his small plantation Valley View Gardens [91 9446926833] right next door - also with its own tree house machan. Valley View Gardens is simple compared to fancier plantations, but with an unparalleled view. Kuriakose took us ...

Still in Mumbai, but I got my onward ticket, an overnight, to Ahmedabad in three days. Can't stay here forever, after all. Besides, Salvation Army Hostel is where I've been hanging my hat and... you know... bedbugs. Stomach seems much improved after starting antibiotics. Looking forward to eating normal stuff in... oh... a week. Anyways, here are some pics!

First day in Mumbai. We started with an awesome breakfast buffet I didn't know where to start. There were so many choices that looked very yummy. I got my fill. Then it was off to meet with the owners of "My US Dollar" a retail change that they started he that imports good in from the United States. It was very interesting look at product that we call cheap be in a ...