18:35 Mumbai is described as an exhausting city – possibly because of the chaos or pollution (see pictures). We could smell the bad air as we left yesterday.
A swift tour enabled us to view the architecture left from the Raj. The Gateway of India is very English except for the Gujarati domes on top. It was through here that the last British troops left in1948. The famous Taj Mahal hotel where 31 people were killed by Islamic terrorists in 2008 is impressive and well guarded.
The attitude of the Indian security forces is over the top; we were checked at least 8 times from the airport back to the ship. What they are scared of we don’t know. The terrorists after all arrived from Pakistan in a small fishing boat!
The attitude of the Indian security forces is over the top; we were checked at least 8 times from the airport back to the ship. What they are scared of we don’t know. The terrorists after all arrived from Pakistan in a small fishing boat!
The once splendid Marine Drive borders the Chowpatty Beach – not now used for swimming and sunbathing because of the pollution. The Victoria station is clearly based on St Pancras.
Finally, a view of the open-air laundry provided us all with astonishment at how clothes are washed and hung out to dry without any mix-up. And of course there are the slums.
Ashley sorted out the loss/theft and cards have been cancelled and reports written. He has also joined the choir. We both went to a talk by Kate Adey today – pretty good.
Thank you Karina for all the Christmas goodies which have proved very useful on our travels. Thanks too from Jane for the birthday wishes on what proved to be a most memorable day. Tea and birthday cake on balcony in 30C heat. Cochin tomorrow – estimated 34C.
30 degrees, nice. We are sitting in front of the wood burner and it's -1C outside! (in fact -1 inside as well at the moment. Hopefully it will go up to 0C in a bit...)
ReplyDelete