2015 has served me well with discovering new places, building new and wonderful friendships and adapting to life in this absurd but addictive country of India. Although I couldn’t be around my family this year it was decided to spend the Christmas period in vibrantly happening Mumbai or Bombay whichever you choose to call it and live it up for a few days in a 5 star hotel which may I add, only cost a fraction of what it would in the Western world. The sightseeing and restaurant scene in Mumbai is amazing so there’s never a dull moment.
Mumbai is on the Western coast of India and is a vibrant hub mix of business/ life and leisure as well as the usual Indian poverty of slums dotted around the sprawling city. It’s traffic is horrific at peak times of the day with the multitude of cars, two wheelers, busses and trucks all fighting, weaving and competing to be infront of each other regardless of their individual size. Your vehicles’ driver is madly honking and weaving between traffic as is every other vehicles driver on the road, causing an orchestra of high and low pitched musical bedlam with the odd siren thrown in when a cool young Indian guy sporting his new two wheeler scooter whizzes past with his police siren blaring…. And no….he’s not a policeman, he just thinks it’s pretty cool to have a siren on his scooter.
On arrival at Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport you’ll notice that it is a very modern facility but along with its usual Indian hustle-bustle and crazy ‘nothing makes sense’ logic however you’ll be filtered through and eventually find your baggage carousel even though carousel number 2 has your flight number and origin on it and it is moving around slowly with not a bag in sight on it. Then you discover, after observing others also looking confused that your flights’ yet unclaimed baggage is merrily circling around up at carousel 6 with two other newly landed flights from polar origins so from here the fun begins with a 15-20 person deep edge around every available centimetre of the carousel pushing and shoving to get a glimpse of what they hope is their luggage. Metal luggage push trolleys crammed toward the carousel move with a mind of their own scraping and prodding the backs of your heels and legs as people scramble and stretch to lift their suitcases/ prams/ large photographic lenses and whatever other absurd articles grace the belt above the heads of everyone crowded around.
Once you’ve been reunited with your luggage you are filtered into a bottle neck of the arrival exit with what feels like 3000 people and bags around you, then whoosh….. your out! It’s best to book a prepaid cab at the designated booths which are readily available at the exit of the arrival hall and very cheap. You will be shown where to catch your cab by a casual wave of a finger and quickly whisked away once you present the prepaid receipt to the cab organiser. If you have arranged a private transfer you will see a myriad of Indian faces smiling happily in this same area, all holding signs with ‘possibly’ your name on it….. But don’t worry if your transfer is not there…”they will be here in 5 minutes Madam” (which they never are). My advice is to go book a prepaid cab if this happens to you… Don’t wait for false hope.
I opted for the prepaid cab….it’s easy, cheap and reliable. I was taken directly to my hotel with no fuss.
Christmas Day was spent very simply sipping cocktails around the pool and relaxing by visiting the hotel restaurant for delicious Indian fare then enjoying complimentary champagne and canapés at dusk overlooking the smoggy skyline of Mumbai dotted with its glistening lights of this fast paced city and watching the magnificent golden full moon rise in the Northern Hemisphere.
Mumbai has many attractions to excite and delight. From the infamous ill fated Gateway of India and the Taj Palace Hotel, Dhobi Ghat (the largest outdoor laundry in India),to the British influenced architecture of churches and railway stations sequenced throughout the city offering stunning photographic opportunities…..there is never enough time to explore all of what Mumbai has to offer.
Many Western tourists overlook one particular archeological attraction to visit, an Island rich in culture and history……perhaps it’s due to time limitations or maybe just the unknown risk of traveling across the Arabian Sea on an old wooden rickety double story boat packed with locals. At times the occupants gather to one side to see something interesting, leaving the vessel high in the water on one side and almost submerging the other. The attraction I speak of is Elephanta Island. For only 180 rupee (about AU$4), jump onboard one of these brightly coloured overcrowded vessels and slow motor to the island in around one hour passing anchored naval aircraft carriers and oil tankers. Once docked, you may like to catch the little train to the mainland along the pier or just walk taking in the scenery and chatting to the locals.
Surprisingly enough there are western toilets on the island which I was most happy about and plenty of food and drink vendors so lugging bottles of water is unnecessary from the mainland.
The islands main purpose of attraction is the ancient sandstone caves perched high up in the mountains of the island. The walking track is paved the whole way with many stairs. Whilst this is great for able bodied people, there is option (for a negotiated price) to be carried up the mountain in a wooden chair called a litter, by four men. On the trek up the mountain, vendors sell wares of all sorts including inexpensive souvenirs, food and drinks.
Once at the cave level, you may enter the caves at your leisure taking in the awe of the dug out ancient caves with their decaying carved sculptures of Hindu Gods dating back to the inconceivably imaginable 3rd Century BC. There are a number of caves to explore all with amazing sculptured artwork. The natural lighting reflects off the sculptures giving the figures a lifelike perception.
On the return trek down the mountain you will find a bar and cafe serving the coldest Indian beer for a very reasonable cost. Pull up a chair and sit to take in the views and watch the monkeys frolic in the trees nearby avoiding the sling shot ammunition the staff from the bar threaten them with if they come too close and annoy the patrons.
A very differently spent Christmas for 2015 but a most enjoyable one in Incredible India….May you all have a Vibrantly Happy New Year!!!
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