Buzzing Around The World With Fellette & Doug

Are we in India yet?...

When my sister Maureen first went to Africa with us she continually said "Are we in Africa yet?" This was her way of stating that her expectations of Africa were not what she was experiencing.

This is only our second day in India and the same situations exists with us. Our experiences in India two years ago do not qualify us an experienced Indian traveller by any means. I am a little bewildered trying to figure out what has changed, India or us? We have had two wonderful days in the cities of Cochin and now Bombay.

I was up very early, early enough to see the lights of fish boats miles out of the entrance to Bombay. I coaxed Fellette out of bed around 4:00 am to see the full moon and the lights of the boats about a mile off. Who knows when we next get to experience this stuff? The ship was moored by 7:00 at the same dock as we were at two years ago. I sort of knew where we were.

Jim and I went ashore to do a quick look-see of the facilities. There was a tourist info desk with two well spoken people who filled us in completely about anything we asked with maps etc. Next to them was a money changing facility. In the next building there were shops being set up and already open for business. Many people who for a variety of reasons choose not to go outside of the terminal will be very happy with the facilities. There is a Internet centre, $2.00 per hour, and telephones to North America for 50c a minute, somewhat less than the special rate of $2.50 on board.

Back to the ship and get together with the girls for a quick conference. The decision is to postpone the trip to Elephanta Caves until the second day because of today being a holiday, called Holi. Holi is like a celebration of spring, I don't know if it has any religious connections, I think not. What happens on Holi is that, if so inclined, you throw, apply or otherwise apply the most vibrant dry colour powders to you and your friends!



Armed with this information we walked out the port gates and into Bombay! At first we were hounded by cabbies and guides wanting to take us to the usual places. We persevered and eventually stumbled upon a fruit and vegetable market that kept getting more interesting the further we went into the narrow streets. There were skads of happy young people and their parents enjoying this once a year celebration of spring. We took numerous photos, after which the people often "thanked" us. Showing them the pictures is an experience that melts any barriers between us and them. Usually a wide grin and more often than not a great laugh.

We made our way by cab after browsing the streets for some time. We sensed that the ladies could do with, what else a cup of tea, at, where else but at the Taj Hotel,


The Hotel in Bombay, sort of The Raffles of Bombay. It is a sanctuary right across from the Gateway to India, which was built in 1911 to commemorate the visit of George V and Queen Mary.

Symbolically, the last British troops marched out of India in 1947 through those arches onto ships homeward bound. We were greeted by the rather impressive door attendants at the hotel, who are as impressive as they look.


A bit of the Empire still seems to linger in The Taj.

We later got pelted by the locals who wished us ''Happy Holi" as they walked by you after slathering this powder on, hopefully your face. After you were coloured you were then subjected to the smiles of every passer-by, who more often than not would give you a Happy Holi greeting.

If you were not into the spirit of it it could be a bit frightening.

We made a few buys, some from the sidewalk stalls, and some from the stores.

All the dealings were very proper and without hassle. [Are we in India yet?] We did periodically meet a few beggars with outstretched hands, often preceded by a very gentle tap on your arm or hip. There was one woman and her small baby outside the Taj that lingers in my mind. The baby could not have been more a few days or weeks old, its head was the size of a large orange and seemed more a prop for a beggar woman than one of Gods creations. Sad. [We are in India now.] The woman followed us until we walked into the hotel property at which point there appears to be some invisible line which they dare not cross. Two years ago we sought sanctuary there from a turbaned man with a cobra in a sack!

More browsing and taking in the sights and then Gail spotted the ideal Indian restaurant to enjoy a noon day lunch while in one of the most exotic cities in the world, MacDonalds! No hamburger meat here folks, chicken or veggie burgers. Great, and the first milkshake this year!

Back to the streets again to buy some silk scarves, 10 of them for table mate Nan, who is not going ashore here.

Next a cab back to the ship. Inflation has struck and we paid twice the fare it took us to get to the hotel, $2.00. Showers, laundry duty and rest before dinner where the girls put on their purchases for the North Indian dinner in the dining room, new Saris. Fellette's, cotton, $3.75 and Gail's silk $5.00.

A great day, and by the end of it, we knew we were in India.

posted by Doug and Fellette @ 6:04 PM