Killing time in India
Trip Start
Jan 03, 2004
1
13
26
Trip End
Dec 2004
Bombay,
India
Monday, May 24, 2004
The answer involves more travel and visa logistics than you care to read in this travelogue. The nitty gritty is we had ten days to kill in India before our scheduled flight to Rome. We know India has a rich culture and history with countless places of interest to tourists. However, due to our tight schedule, we only had a chance to visit two locales and the heat kept us sweating and sedentary most of the time. India was also our last stop in Asia after traveling for more than four months, and we were feeling a bit burnt out.
We spent two days in Mumbai, mainly in the tourist district of Colaba. Here's another free travel tip: If you have a date in Bombay, she'll be waiting in Mumbai. (The city changed its name in 1996 as part of an effort to rid itself of reminders of British colonial rule.)
Despite being India's most prosperous and Westernized city, one can still see the effects of crushing overpopulation and poverty in Mumbai. Our guidebook suggested the most rewarding way to spend time in Mumbai was to "simply wander the city's atmospheric streets." We didn't find stepping over homeless families, being hassled by tourist hawkers and sweating profusely too rewarding during our time in the city.
Gateway of India in Mumbai
The highlight of our Mumbai experience was a one-hour evening tour of the city atop a double-decker bus. We could barely understand the guide's thick Indian accent, but that didn't matter. Above and away from the crowded and dirty streets, we could enjoy views of the city's colonial architecture, most notably Victoria Terminus train station. The tour began and ended at the Gateway of India, Mumbai's most famous landmark. The tall Arc de Triumph-esque monument was built in 1924 to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911.From the moment we arrived in Mumbai, we felt the need to escape. After two days, we hopped on a 12-hour overnight train to Goa, a former Portuguese colony located on India's southwest coast. Goa was probably the best possible choice. The state is considerably less crowded and more laid-back than the rest of India. Goa also has cheap accomodation, great beaches and delicious seafood. The monsoon rains had also arrived early, bringing the temperature down to a bearable hot. Since May is low tourist season, the beaches and restaurants were nearly deserted. We stayed six nights on Benaulim Beach mostly taking walks and playing in the murky but warm water. One day we visited some Baroque churches in Old Goa and a spice farm. The drive through the hinterland gave us a glimpse of the splendor of Goa in its colonial heyday. We saw mansions and plantations set in lush farmland.
We were underwhelmed by the friendliness of India's tourism industry. We were given apathetic head bobbles (we'll have to demonstrate in person for the full effect) to many of our questions leaving us to fend for ourselves most of the time. As a result, we were relieved to enjoy the company of two friendly Goan couples on our train rides. On the way down to Goa, one woman shared the photo she carried of her 28-year-old unmarried daughter. She keeps the photo handy in case she runs into any eligible bachelors since finding her daughter a husband is her sole worry in life. (Her words, not ours.)
Overall, our experience in India was okay in spite of the hot weather and other inconveniences. We definitely won't be going back in May, even if we just have time to kill. When it was time to leave, Jill had never been so excited to board a 4 a.m. plane.
Comments
EXPERIENCE
after reading your article the way u've expressed india shows that u only see negative things in life rather than looking towards the positive things...Im in london since last 3 years and every weekend bump into BNP (BRITISH NATIONAL PARTY) who are always ready for a fight and the real face of the Britishers who hate coloured people.The way Indians been treated in UK i think u were far better treated than that in india.Teenage girls and old ladies nicking food from the local store.Beautiful young girls from university begging for 30 pence to make a phone call in trafalgar square or if not ' do you have a spare cigarette' is the most common dialogue heard in london from british girls and what a style of begging (spare cigarette) or some school kids standing in local fish and chips shops and lookin for some one to buy them some chips.....Girls shagging their boyfriend in the night club with 100 people staring at them seems like as if i was somewhere in midst of jungle where guys trying to get girls from the back like animals....disgusting.
Because of 24 hr drinking its very common to see a drunk person with a can of beer in his hand and swearing at people and youngsters getting into a fight.The worst night to goto a nightclub is friday.
And it always happens when a person looks different people stare at them it even happend to me in china ,russia,and even in london where the place is completely dominated with whites/blondes its obvious everyone is gonna stare at a dark hair and dark eyed person.(SO YOU SEE I CAN EVEN MAKE A NICE CITY LOOK LIKE A RACIST OR MUGGERS CAMP)
\anyways i'll end my letter here but if u dont like India dont ever visit it cause nobody forced you too.