I think India is starting to take it’s toll on me… I am becoming tired of consistently fending off guys, “Namaste, hallo, what is your name? Can I take a picture with you?….” It is crazy that on any given street there is about 50 guys for one woman. Where are all the women? Likely at home, but I am beginning to think India has a shortage of women. No wonder guys are so eager to hook up with their new white girlfriend and flee to the west. Ok so maybe I am painting a cynical portrait of social life in the urban centers, but it is overwhelming. I keep reminding myself that it is better that they are xenophiles and not xenophobes.
So I am currently in Mumbai, hiding in an internet cafe. Yesterday was an INSANE travel day cause the train we were suppose to take was sold out. We left the serene Rankepur by private mini bus back to Udaipur (2 hours) and then transferred to a local bus for a 6 hr journey to some city. The bus reminded me of the night bus from Harry Potter cause it has cabins with beds. About a hundred ppl get cramped in there and locals even sit on the floor in the aisles to maximize space. Thankfully it was a cool day otherwise the smells would have been something. After the long ride we stop in what seems to be the middle of a highway cause there were cars and ppl screaming around everywhere. We transferred onto rickshaws for a 30 min ride to the train station, our driver was crazy and did NOT break for pedestrians. By this point it’s 8PM, at about 8:30 we boarded the train. We had AC 3 tier tickets… which is like first class (again using an Indian measuring stick). Claudia, it was nothing like our swiss-spain train. Nevertheless it had a fairly reasonable level of cleanliness and I got some zzzz’s. We arrived in Mumbai at 5:30AM and luckily got checked into our hotel right away. Had an ‘orientation’ walk to the Gateway of India (?) and then left on our own. Most of the group was going to Elephanta island and then wanted to tour the slums. I was not in the mood for yet another temple nor did I feel like seeing a slum. Saw one in Nicaragua and that was enough for me. So I bailed from the group and was planning to check out the art galleries for some different sightseeing. In the process I visited Mumbai University and stopped at the Science Institute, wanted to see if Raj was there (I know I know, he is from Delhi, but maybe his parents sent him to study in Mumbai lol). The problem is that today is India Day so everything is closed. I got in one gallery, but the important ones were closed. I also wanted to have high tea at the Taj Hotel but couldn’t find the entrance… so yeah just a weird crappy day overall. Tonight we are having supper at Leopolds one of the early sites of gunshots during the 2008 terrorist attacks. Apparently there are still the bullet holes in the wall… Tomorrow we leave for Goa for some much needed R&R, I am sitting my ass on the beach and not moving for the next 3 days.
Some other news, I bought a carpet… hand woven, wall, 2×3 feet. Will post a photo when I get back….

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