Hotel charge included breakfast, I had it in my room. Breakfast was bread and egg with coffee, it's good. I chose a good hotel for this price with breakfast.
Mumbai City.....The largest city in India.
Sep/28/2000
Hotel charge included breakfast, I had it in my room. Breakfast
was bread and egg with coffee, it's good. I chose a good hotel
for this price with breakfast.
Afer breakfast, I went to MTDC office by a taxi and tried to
apply for half-day tour. But no other tourist that day. It was
off-season, very few tourists. A guide at a tour operator company
offered 10US$ to ivite half-day tour for me. I waited for any
other tourist, but no one showed. So I gave up for waiting and
paid 10US$ for a guide. First he took me to Jain Temple and
Hanging Garden.
What I was most impressed in Mumbai is Mani Bhavan, Gandi's
old home. Inside is Gandi Memorial Museum, many dioramas and
newspaper displaies to understand what his life was. Many big
tourist coaches come to this point though this house is in quite
residential area.
(Large
picture here)
About 13:00 "my own" Mumbai tour finished and then I
walked around Gate of India. Here I underwent an India travel
baptism! That day it seemed to be a festival, a passer-by painted
a red small mark in my brows and tied colurful braid. I said
"No, thank you" many times, he only said it was a
festival so I accepted. When I parted from him, he requested a
donation. I tried to ignore him, but he was so persistent that I
gave up, I handed Singapore coin.
Gate of India is a huge building. Around here Taj Mahar Hotel is
built. A monkey showboy came to me and seemed to tell me to give
him money. So I said to him I'd send a photo if I could take
photo with a monkey without money. He agreed to my offer.
(Large
picture here)
(Large picture here)
In the evening I went Croford Market, I could see local people
life. This area divided by what a store deals. This street has
only electronic goods only, another street has only dishes.
Anyway here was crowded with people.
(Large
picture here)
(Large picture here)
As I walked in the market, a man called me to stop. He said he
was spice dealer here. He invited me to see his store even if I
didn't buy. It was small shop, however, many packaged spice were
sold. A spice can be souvenir, I bought tea leaf. It was clear
package, he said "No addition"eagerly. Price was Rs400
fro 2 packs with discount.
(Large
picture here)
Main purpose of this travel was to meet Indian friends living
Mumbai, however I couldn't get contract with one of them. As I
came back to the hotel, a receptionist told me I had a call from
my friend. After short rest in my room, I went out again. I read
e-mail at a internet cafe near the hotel. And then I had supper
at a South Indian food restaurant. That day I returned to the
hotel early. I had a phone call from my friend. I could talked to
him, but It was too late evening to meet, so we decided to meet
in Trivandrum the next day. (He was going to Trivandrum, too.)
