Mumbai Days 2, 3 and 4

So yesterday we decided to move hotels simply to get more central to the things we wanted to do. If I'm honest I preferred our first hotel but the location of where we are now is probably better.

Our journey to this side of town took approximately 2 hours, the hottest 2 of the day in a Bedford rascal "Suzuki maruti super carry here" which had no aircon other than wind down Windows.

We dropped our bags at the hotel and went to see the Gate of India, Taj Mahal Hotel and the Prince of Wales museum on foot. These obviously are interesting places to see and feel their respective atmospheres. The Gate has many many tourists and many more "entrepreneurs" including the very friendly chap and his friend who kindly advised me of having something in my ear and even offered to take it out for me! I am sure that there was no hidden agenda!! The Taj hotel is quite opulent and even the star bucks had armed guards and an airport style metal detector, presumably no reflection on the clientele.
The museum was full of information about many different things forming part of Mumbai 's history rather unceremoniously curtailed when a guard blew a whistle and turned off the lights meaning the museum is now closed, leave immediately.

Having done all this, the search for food began! This took a brisk 80 mins and helped us to enjoy the Indian/Chinese/English meal with whole restaurant to ourselves. On the bright side no disturbing toilet related consequences thank God.

The hotel we're currently in describes itself as follows " The Corporate Budget hotel - quality and service is our motto" which based on this would upgrade Fawlty Towers to top class establishment! Our "double deluxe room" is "intimate" (I.e not enough room to swing one of the many malnourished cats that reside about the building) and made even more so by the addition of an extra bed/couch cushion which must be "disassembled" before opening the door. We were even treated to a wonderful sonorous soundtrack of a kango hammer which appeared on the road outside to begin work at 10pm, I for one gave a standing ovation once the performance eventually concluded some time after 2:2:30am

It was hot today and just to out this into context........................ I have been uncomfortably hot in cooler saunas!

Having said all of this we did see some wonderful sights enroute to Elefanta Island which took an hour long ferry. On arrival on the island we gratefully purchased some freshly cut watermelon and water. As I was not willing to give these items to a very assertive monkey a somewhat short stand-off ensued! I WON! I would have been willing to share however as he attempted to absconde with the entire plate there could be only one winner! The island was however quite beautiful with huge ornate caves carved into the mountains as well as spectacular views following the exhaustive climb to the top all in all worth the visit.

For those that haven't already guessed this update has been written by Shane.....day 3 to be continued.....

The three of us leaving Malad for central Mumbai

The Prince if Wales Museum

Elephanta Caves

Outside the Elephanta caves

The stairs leading to our 4th floor hotel

Our Mumbai adventure continued with a walk to the main train station in Mumbai which lead us through a street market which in fairness if you couldn't find what you were looking for, you did not require any earthly object in any case. The train station is magnificent on the outside with architecture any city should be proud of however inside left you feeling like part of a national geographic documentary on the internals of an ant hill! People of London, take note, no train or tube station at rush hour could match the bustle of this place, seriously.

The nightly temperature seemed to increase drastically and was not conducive to sleep as your options were hot and sweaty or cold and addled by the noisy albeit melodious compared to the damned kango air con!

The next days priority was to find a dentist as Geri needed to get this tooth sorted out. Incredibly brave (or insane in my opinion at least) we found a dentist. She did speak English at least as the receptionist did not! 20 mins later all sorted. I notoriously can't handle dentists when there is no possibility of mis-interpretation.

Having now covered Mumbai we decided it was time to scram. Plane booked to Jaipur and off we go again in a very hot miniature taxi, bags "tied" to the roof nice and "secure". The ride as before was a symphony of beeping and sheer luck. I obviously caught the eye of the airport police man who although pleasant was intimidating enough to make you realise this is NOT Ireland or England. Mumbai 's budget airline could certainly teach Mr O'Leary and "robair" a lesson in how it's meant to be done which was a welcome surprise.