Before I get into today's non events here's a few things that I've just not put anywhere else or forgot about or are just general observations. I did mention the difference between Mumbai and other cities is the number of people. And here's the thing about all these people--NOBODY IS WEARING BLACK. The city has color everywhere. It is the most spectacular thing to see. It was so blah walking in all those supposedly glamourous places in Europe and see nothing but black and shades of black on all the people and in all the store windows and that was even during Christmas! Come on, fashion world, get over it all ready! Colors are cool, fun, natural and just darn purty.
Uh, excuse me while I step down off my soap box.
A month or so before I came here to India, there was an incident that caused me a bit of hesitation about this leg of my journey. After some research and discussion, I decided to leave my itinerary as it was and now here I am. I don't know if the number of uniformed people was at this level prior to that incident or not but I gotta say, considering the number of security folks in evidence, I feel quite safe here. The biggest threat to me is me and my inability to bargain. There are security people in the pedestrian subways, outside the movie theaters and all the hotels. OK, they look like doormen but even the little place I'm staying out has folks outside the lobby and that place, if it upgraded a little bit could be a Motel 6.
Speaking of movie theaters. I went to the movies late yesterday afternoon. It cost 400 rupees. That's about 8 bucks. About what I's pay at home for the evening show. But wait, there's more. That particular showing of Australia was 150 Rupees more than the evening show because the showing I went to was in the lounge. You start out in a small but well appointed bar where you have your choice of beverages and, for lack of a better term, tapas. Then you are shown to your assigned seat which is a barkalounger with electric footrest and recliner adjustments and a blanket. I made the mistake of getting all settled down and snug in my big comfy chair after the hostess took my drink order (a Big Orange). Just as the lights went down everyone stood up. I followed suit. (My herding instinct makes sheep look like independent thinkers). The Indian national anthem played. I was moved. The anthem ended, we took out seats, the movie started, our drinks were delivered and I snuggled back in to my seat. Towards what I thought was the end of the movie, it appeared the film broke. The lights came up and a few people got up and went out. I figured someone was going to tell management. Nope. It was intermission. More drink orders were taken and then the lights went down and the film resumed. I gotta say, they do good cinema here.
Today I was out and about with a tour guide because I wasn't really seeing much on my own and really didn't see that much to day but did arrange a tour for tomorrow to some caves. Today, I visited the Gateway of India which isn't as impressive as I hoped but that's because like a lot of things I saw in Europe, it is surrounded by scaffolding and draped for repairs and security reasons. We did visit some buildings from the British Time which is pretty much most of the buildings.
This time on my own in Mumbai, I'm just more or less existing in the city because starting on Sunday it's going to get a bit more intense as we begin a 36 day journey across the subcontinent. During that time, I'll be getting the culture classes and history lessons and so on. Tomorrow's visit to the caves is just recreational.
You've noticed that I haven't mentioned the food other than the McD's. I've been taking most of my meals at the hotel which has really inexpensive room service and it's local fare, too. I'm sticking to the chicken dishes and so far haven't encountered anything that I haven't seen before. There's an Indian place at home that I've gone to a couple of times and the food here is just like that for the most part. I haven't yet tried any of the street vendors but that may be and option as the tour begins. Oh, one thing I kept forgetting to mention during my time in Europe was a warning to those of you who enjoy Mt. Dew. If you travel to Europe, bring your own. I never saw it anywhere. Pepsi's there, but no Dew. Mumbai has the Dew! Yes, I've traveled 1/2 way around the world and I'm talking about a soft drink. I just think it's funny sometimes to see something so familiar in such non familiar settings because those things are always tucked in with the local bottles and cans.
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