Flying from JFK direct to Mumbai (bombay) India was an experience in it's self. Leaving the very organized, well understood, non confusing (english speaking) world that i live in and landing directly in one of the stranger places i have been was pretty awesome, to say the least.
Mumbai is exactly what you may expect in a extremely populated Indian City, millions of people, thousands of motorcycles and scooters, and hundreds of different smells, some good, and many bad. The sad reality of the level of poverty is apparent even as you step out of the airport into the HOT sticky humidity. From the Airport to the Hotel a good 45min. ride I saw high rise apartment buildings, slums and ghettos, people sleeping on the street or anywhere they could lay their head, as well as every other kind of accommodation in between.
The experience of Mumbai was good for me though. I managed to Cook in two different people’s homes. One lady named Deepa who runs an Indian tour web sight www.mumbaimagic.com, and the other named Tejal whom is starting the same type of business (vintejsuvsha@yahoo.com). Both were lovely people but Tejal’s class was absolutely wonderful, held in her small home about an hour from Colaba (where I was staying). Her husband was amazing and after cooking, Chicken Tikka, Butter Chicken, and some other Indian delights, sipping on locally made palm, ginger, and rice wine was not a bad thing either. Having organized activities like cooking and meeting people who could give you advice and genuinely enjoy inviting you into their home was something I will always remember. I highly recommend cooking with Tejal if, ever in Mumbai (around 2500rs which is around $60usd).
Besides cooking I was fortunate enough to have a friend with me who decided to partake in cooking, sight seeing, and exploring the city. Cristia was definitely a “light” in a very confusing “dark” place, having someone with you to watch your back and share costs in India is NOT a bad thing, I was fortunate to have such an amazing travel partner to share the experience with me. Touring the city, cooking, and exploring on our own was a good way to soak in the culture. Luckily for the two of us it was the time of the Genish (Hindu god) Festival and the streets were very festive and there was tons of culture to be absorbed.
RECOMENDATIONS: Although i probably wont return to Mumbai it did how ever have some VERY interesting things to see. When arriving in the airport my best advise it to get the pre-paid yellow cab to your hotel, There are multiple pre-pay counters that will charge you MORE than you should be charged, be sure to get the yellow cab. I stayed in Colaba area which is the farthest south you can go in Mumbai. Traditionally it is a tourist area although i saw very few tourists there. The few restaurants i frequented did cater to the tourist crowd. the hotel that i stayed in was called Bentley's Hotel and cost around 1050 Rupees a night which is roughly $26usd. Kind of expensive when you are thinking in terms of back packing and although there were much cheaper options, bed bugs, dingy hotels, with stinky rooms was something i kind of wanted to stay away from. I Landed in Mumbai on the evening of September 4th and departed on the 9th. I would say that 2 full days is ALL you would ever need in Mumbai.
Lastly India is a crazy, LOUD place to visit, be selective in what you eat and where you eat, don’t be surprised to see things that you have never seen before or that you never expected to be possible (grown man sleeping on the median of a highway during mid day traffic… I hope he was sleeping). Expect crazy drivers, crazy roads, more horn honking that you can even begin to imagine, and if you can’t handle some foul smells (along with many pleasant ones) than the immensely huge industrial city for Mumbai is NOT for you
Mumbai is exactly what you may expect in a extremely populated Indian City, millions of people, thousands of motorcycles and scooters, and hundreds of different smells, some good, and many bad. The sad reality of the level of poverty is apparent even as you step out of the airport into the HOT sticky humidity. From the Airport to the Hotel a good 45min. ride I saw high rise apartment buildings, slums and ghettos, people sleeping on the street or anywhere they could lay their head, as well as every other kind of accommodation in between.
The experience of Mumbai was good for me though. I managed to Cook in two different people’s homes. One lady named Deepa who runs an Indian tour web sight www.mumbaimagic.com, and the other named Tejal whom is starting the same type of business (vintejsuvsha@yahoo.com). Both were lovely people but Tejal’s class was absolutely wonderful, held in her small home about an hour from Colaba (where I was staying). Her husband was amazing and after cooking, Chicken Tikka, Butter Chicken, and some other Indian delights, sipping on locally made palm, ginger, and rice wine was not a bad thing either. Having organized activities like cooking and meeting people who could give you advice and genuinely enjoy inviting you into their home was something I will always remember. I highly recommend cooking with Tejal if, ever in Mumbai (around 2500rs which is around $60usd).
Besides cooking I was fortunate enough to have a friend with me who decided to partake in cooking, sight seeing, and exploring the city. Cristia was definitely a “light” in a very confusing “dark” place, having someone with you to watch your back and share costs in India is NOT a bad thing, I was fortunate to have such an amazing travel partner to share the experience with me. Touring the city, cooking, and exploring on our own was a good way to soak in the culture. Luckily for the two of us it was the time of the Genish (Hindu god) Festival and the streets were very festive and there was tons of culture to be absorbed.
RECOMENDATIONS: Although i probably wont return to Mumbai it did how ever have some VERY interesting things to see. When arriving in the airport my best advise it to get the pre-paid yellow cab to your hotel, There are multiple pre-pay counters that will charge you MORE than you should be charged, be sure to get the yellow cab. I stayed in Colaba area which is the farthest south you can go in Mumbai. Traditionally it is a tourist area although i saw very few tourists there. The few restaurants i frequented did cater to the tourist crowd. the hotel that i stayed in was called Bentley's Hotel and cost around 1050 Rupees a night which is roughly $26usd. Kind of expensive when you are thinking in terms of back packing and although there were much cheaper options, bed bugs, dingy hotels, with stinky rooms was something i kind of wanted to stay away from. I Landed in Mumbai on the evening of September 4th and departed on the 9th. I would say that 2 full days is ALL you would ever need in Mumbai.
Lastly India is a crazy, LOUD place to visit, be selective in what you eat and where you eat, don’t be surprised to see things that you have never seen before or that you never expected to be possible (grown man sleeping on the median of a highway during mid day traffic… I hope he was sleeping). Expect crazy drivers, crazy roads, more horn honking that you can even begin to imagine, and if you can’t handle some foul smells (along with many pleasant ones) than the immensely huge industrial city for Mumbai is NOT for you
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