First day in Mumbai. What a day.
First impression - what a lot of people! South Africa is dense - especially in the center of Cape Town during lunch time - but that is what is like everywhere in Mumbai, all day!
Life starts early, and only dies down around midnight. Where in SA dusk usually signals the end of the working day, people in Mumbai seems to be oblivious to the sun's activities.
What struck me today is that the food in India is soooo amazing, that Indian restaurants in Cape Town (which were my favourites) simply will never live up to this. Kristen and I have enjoyed purely vegetarian food today, and we have come the world's biggest fan of paneer. (For those who are not familiar, Paneer is a cheese, made by boiling milk, adding vinegar to curdle to milk, then drying and compacting the curdle and cooling it.) Paneer Palak, Paneer Masala Dosa, naan bread, cipatas, sweet lassies, thumbs up (aka Coke)... the list goes on. Kristen, you're going to have to come live with me in India - permanently.
We spent the evening patrolling the "long street" of Mumbai, the tourist hot spot. A street of market stalls and food, clubs and bars. We even bumped into Leopold's cafe (from Shantaram)... pssst - its not really what my mind conjured up so no need to flock to Mumbai for that experience!
The smells of the air is hot and humid with a hint of India. Following the smell will lead you to the markets... where the spices reveal themselves - spice's, fruits, vegetables... most of which I've never seen or even smelt of. Now I understand the Dutch!
Couchsurfing is wonderful. A lovely family - Anu (mum), Raja (dad), and Yanik (11) - who travel whenever they can. They just got back from a 6 month trip of 6+ countries in South America, just 2 months ago. They've gone on to host 4 couples since! They are movie producers, and are really hospitable. "Thumbs up" for couch-surfing! Kristen and I are staying in a fold-out couch bed (so the name does apply), in a separate room. Well its the living room that becomes separated with slide-out doors (Japanese style)... pretty cool. 2 dogs, and lovely cool stone floors.
Lastly, the driving really struck me. How the cars and cabs don't strike each other. Joseph told me that as South African's are shocked by Kenyan driving, Kenyan's are equally shocked in India. Its true! While there are no hop-on-hop-off "mini buses" driving set routes, pay as you go "metered" taxis rule the roads. Hooting makes South Africa sound quiet. While in SA taxis hoot for fares, taxis here only hoot when they drive. A hoot simply means: "I know this 2-lane road shouldn't be holding 5 cars side-by-side, but here I am, coming up fast, behind you, and I will try be the 6th!"
So that's all for now, pictures to follow (not many were taken, but if you link into my mind telepathically, I'll give you a 5 minute slide show for R10). Miss you all terribly, and although I don't wish to be back, we wish you were all with us!
First impression - what a lot of people! South Africa is dense - especially in the center of Cape Town during lunch time - but that is what is like everywhere in Mumbai, all day!
Life starts early, and only dies down around midnight. Where in SA dusk usually signals the end of the working day, people in Mumbai seems to be oblivious to the sun's activities.
What struck me today is that the food in India is soooo amazing, that Indian restaurants in Cape Town (which were my favourites) simply will never live up to this. Kristen and I have enjoyed purely vegetarian food today, and we have come the world's biggest fan of paneer. (For those who are not familiar, Paneer is a cheese, made by boiling milk, adding vinegar to curdle to milk, then drying and compacting the curdle and cooling it.) Paneer Palak, Paneer Masala Dosa, naan bread, cipatas, sweet lassies, thumbs up (aka Coke)... the list goes on. Kristen, you're going to have to come live with me in India - permanently.
We spent the evening patrolling the "long street" of Mumbai, the tourist hot spot. A street of market stalls and food, clubs and bars. We even bumped into Leopold's cafe (from Shantaram)... pssst - its not really what my mind conjured up so no need to flock to Mumbai for that experience!
The smells of the air is hot and humid with a hint of India. Following the smell will lead you to the markets... where the spices reveal themselves - spice's, fruits, vegetables... most of which I've never seen or even smelt of. Now I understand the Dutch!
Couchsurfing is wonderful. A lovely family - Anu (mum), Raja (dad), and Yanik (11) - who travel whenever they can. They just got back from a 6 month trip of 6+ countries in South America, just 2 months ago. They've gone on to host 4 couples since! They are movie producers, and are really hospitable. "Thumbs up" for couch-surfing! Kristen and I are staying in a fold-out couch bed (so the name does apply), in a separate room. Well its the living room that becomes separated with slide-out doors (Japanese style)... pretty cool. 2 dogs, and lovely cool stone floors.
Lastly, the driving really struck me. How the cars and cabs don't strike each other. Joseph told me that as South African's are shocked by Kenyan driving, Kenyan's are equally shocked in India. Its true! While there are no hop-on-hop-off "mini buses" driving set routes, pay as you go "metered" taxis rule the roads. Hooting makes South Africa sound quiet. While in SA taxis hoot for fares, taxis here only hoot when they drive. A hoot simply means: "I know this 2-lane road shouldn't be holding 5 cars side-by-side, but here I am, coming up fast, behind you, and I will try be the 6th!"
So that's all for now, pictures to follow (not many were taken, but if you link into my mind telepathically, I'll give you a 5 minute slide show for R10). Miss you all terribly, and although I don't wish to be back, we wish you were all with us!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteawesome post. gives a vivid sense of what you've been up to. all the best for the next stop. keep us posted.
ReplyDeletethat was vini btw
ReplyDeleteNice detailed description... I can feel the vibe... I guess 'eating out' is less expensive than in Long Street, Cape Town? Paps
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great time.
ReplyDelete