Mumbai
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 6:17 pm
Formerly Bombay, Mumbai is built on a small island, joined to the mainland by an artificial causeway. It is a fast moving international city, with high rise hotels and modern buildings alongside crowded bazaars and hectic street life. It is supposed to be India's most cosmopolitan cities and the pandemonium of its sights and sounds dazzle the senses. The approach to the city by sea is a delight. The impressive harbour - seven miles wide at the base and tapering as it goes north - is studded with mountainous islands, to one side the imposing buildings of the city and to the other the palm fringed mainland slowly rising to the peaks of the western Ghats.
Mumbai Harbour is the largest in India in respect of passenger traffic. Calcutta also has a large port, however Mumbai (Bombay) handles by far the major portion of the passenger traffic and a substantial part of India's import-export trade. With its vast and growing industrial hinterland, Mumbai is ideally situated to be the "Gateway of India' for all sea traffic from the West. The monument is Mumbai's main landmark and was hastily erected in 1911 to mark the occasion of the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, the arch was properly built in 1927 to commemorate the occasion as it was the first time a reigning monarch had visited India.
I have to say that yesterday I nearly lost the will to live when queuing up to see immigration as they had only put 2 men on the ship for the entire passenger load. We had to go even if we didn't want to get off the ship and after nearly a wait of 2 hours we were told we would have to do it all again before Cochin. I left the ship at 9.30pm as i wanted to wait until most of the tours had left and what a ho-ha to get in, I had to saw my documents 3 times and when I finally got to the outer gates of the terminal I had to go through another turnstile and show them again.
I made a deal with a taxi driver to take me to Crawford Market, a place the restaurant manager had recommended. We agreed two American dollars each way but he really should have paid me. I should have taken out extra insurance as cars drive anywhere and people walk anywhere, we hit two cars, a regular occurrence it would seem. I was extremely grateful to get out of the car but as soon as i left it, I felt very vulnerable. There were just thousands of people, most going to work, some setting up their market stalls and other pulling massive loads down the middle of the streets. I bought myself a sari for India Gala night but have since forgotten how to wrap it around me!!! I also bought some awesome shoes, which would probably have cost 150 pounds in Russell & Bromley, instead of the twelve I paid and of course I had to buy my gorgeous son a silk shirt.
I also passed the local laundry, which was a sight in itself. There were hundreds of stone basins o the ground filled with water and adult men barefooted in with the water and clothes, stamping their feet, hitting the articles with what looked like big sticks. This was for a large hotel chain, which incidentally charged one of my cruise colleagues 30 pounds for two pints of beer. Mind you it served him right for going to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel .
Very pleased to be back on board as it was 30 degrees at 9.00am this morning and the heat assaulted every pore on my body and so did the smells. The sail-away party tonight was Bollywood meets P&O and all the Indian staff came up to Deck 9 and danced for all our pleasure pulling unsuspecting passengers up on the deck for a boogie. Great fun to watch.
Still haven't got my score from Leon - hope that isn't a bad sign as I still haven't been given a second talk date. Absolutely cream crackered tonight, just had cheese and biscuits in my cabin and after writing this am going to pass out. A day at sea tomorrow to prepare us for Cochin on Wednesday. There is a small video snippet on www.facebook.co.uk/michelemonro
Until next time 'Namaste'. That is goodbye in Mumbai.
Mumbai Harbour is the largest in India in respect of passenger traffic. Calcutta also has a large port, however Mumbai (Bombay) handles by far the major portion of the passenger traffic and a substantial part of India's import-export trade. With its vast and growing industrial hinterland, Mumbai is ideally situated to be the "Gateway of India' for all sea traffic from the West. The monument is Mumbai's main landmark and was hastily erected in 1911 to mark the occasion of the visit of King George V and Queen Mary, the arch was properly built in 1927 to commemorate the occasion as it was the first time a reigning monarch had visited India.
I have to say that yesterday I nearly lost the will to live when queuing up to see immigration as they had only put 2 men on the ship for the entire passenger load. We had to go even if we didn't want to get off the ship and after nearly a wait of 2 hours we were told we would have to do it all again before Cochin. I left the ship at 9.30pm as i wanted to wait until most of the tours had left and what a ho-ha to get in, I had to saw my documents 3 times and when I finally got to the outer gates of the terminal I had to go through another turnstile and show them again.
I made a deal with a taxi driver to take me to Crawford Market, a place the restaurant manager had recommended. We agreed two American dollars each way but he really should have paid me. I should have taken out extra insurance as cars drive anywhere and people walk anywhere, we hit two cars, a regular occurrence it would seem. I was extremely grateful to get out of the car but as soon as i left it, I felt very vulnerable. There were just thousands of people, most going to work, some setting up their market stalls and other pulling massive loads down the middle of the streets. I bought myself a sari for India Gala night but have since forgotten how to wrap it around me!!! I also bought some awesome shoes, which would probably have cost 150 pounds in Russell & Bromley, instead of the twelve I paid and of course I had to buy my gorgeous son a silk shirt.
I also passed the local laundry, which was a sight in itself. There were hundreds of stone basins o the ground filled with water and adult men barefooted in with the water and clothes, stamping their feet, hitting the articles with what looked like big sticks. This was for a large hotel chain, which incidentally charged one of my cruise colleagues 30 pounds for two pints of beer. Mind you it served him right for going to the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel .
Very pleased to be back on board as it was 30 degrees at 9.00am this morning and the heat assaulted every pore on my body and so did the smells. The sail-away party tonight was Bollywood meets P&O and all the Indian staff came up to Deck 9 and danced for all our pleasure pulling unsuspecting passengers up on the deck for a boogie. Great fun to watch.
Still haven't got my score from Leon - hope that isn't a bad sign as I still haven't been given a second talk date. Absolutely cream crackered tonight, just had cheese and biscuits in my cabin and after writing this am going to pass out. A day at sea tomorrow to prepare us for Cochin on Wednesday. There is a small video snippet on www.facebook.co.uk/michelemonro
Until next time 'Namaste'. That is goodbye in Mumbai.
