Mumbai.....and I am humbled

If I look but do not see, then I have the eyes of the blind.  If I decide but do not think, then I have the mind of the simple.  So as I come into Mumbai, I tried not to carry over my shortsightedness of Cochin.  In doing this I am happy to say that I was humbled.   There are very few days that go by that I do not learn something from my better half.  My 51%.  She has kindness and compassion down to her own art form.  Everyone who knows her knows that too.  If I would just keep that in mind a little more often then I would be much better off.  I have to accept things that might not be normal for me and while I might not like or agree with what I see, that does not mean that it is bad for everyone.    There is poverty here.  No doubt about it.  In fact, Mumbai has the largest slum area in India and I think I heard the third largest slum area in the world.   In that slum area, called Dharavi, there is a whole culture and business world of their own. It is estimated that inside the Dharavi slum area, a billion dollars worth of commerce takes place each year.   I will leave it at that.  The people make it work, and no one is without work.  They know that if they don't work then they don't eat.  Who am I to say that this should change?

Mumbai.   Home to over 22,000,000 people.   Think about that.  The state of Tennessee, where Vi and I live, has a population of 6,700,000.  So 3 times the total population of TN lives here in this city.  New York City has about 8.2 million.  Staggering, when you think about it.  Mumbai used to be a group of 7 different islands close together and they have been joined together or reclaimed over the years.  The Portuguese and the British had several battles over control of the trade in Mumbai dating back to the mid 1550's.  But interestingly enough, rather than lose complete control of the city, the Portuguese gave Mumbai to the British rule as a dowry gift to King Charles II when he wed Princess Catherine de Braganza of Portugal.  Nice wedding gift!!  As you know, Britain continued to rule in India until 1947 when India was given her independence.  So while India has been around for a very long time, the India we know is only about 70 years old.  India is predominately Hindu at 70%.  Islam makes up about 12% .   I know you didn't come here for a history lesson but it is always interesting to know and learn about the history and how the culture has evolved when you come into a new area.

We took a tour to see the Elephanta Caves on Elephanta Island in the Mumbai harbor,  This involved a short bus ride to the place we got on our boat.   This area is home to the grand Gateway to India.   A beautiful huge archway built in 1924 to commemorate the arrival of King George and Queen Mary and to display the grandeur of the British Raj in India.  Today it is a tourist attraction drawing in tourists and locals alike with its many markets and shops.  The famous Taj Majal Hotel, built in 1903, sits next to the Gateway where they say you must go and have a gin and tonic.  Also nearby is the Bombay Yacht Club, one of the very few remaining places that still uses the name Bombay.  The Bombay Yacht Club was established in 1846 and is still a very exclusive gentlemen's sailing club which exercises discreet membership practices.

Not everything is foreign here!

Elephanta Island

Welcome to Elephanta Caves!

So our group boarded the small ferry boat and it took us out into the harbor for a 45 minute boat ride to Elephanta Island.   There we landed and we then boarded an ancient small scale "train" for a five minute ride to the entrance to the Caves.  The caves are actually at the top of the island and it required us to climb up a series of steps and inclines to get there.   This was a tough climb as the steps are large and very steep and it was very hot and humid.   They actually have men there that, for a small charge, will carry you up the steps in a chair with poles.  Four men, two on each pole like that of the Prince of Egypt or something.   It costs about 3,000 rupees or $25 or so.  Before you ask,  No, Vialula and I walked.  On both sides of the steps small vendors hawked their goods.   You dare not look at anything or stop or they would pounce.   They are not really rude but they personify persistence.   No thank you means try harder to them.  The lesson learned is never take anything into your hand to look at it because they won't take it back.   It almost becomes a game with me to see how far they will go.   Bargaining is expected and normal.  Whatever they say they want you cut in half.  They act as if you have cut off their arm but if you remain strong or start to walk away or put your wallet up, they cave and say ok.  Most times you can get it for half.

Atop the boat with our own private vendor, Miland

So you get to the top and enter the cave.   It is called a cave but it does not go down into the ground nor do you go into the darkness like a cave.   Hand cut out of solid rock back in the 5th to 7th century, the Elephanta Caves were a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.  Several cut rock panels display Shiva in different forms and each one depicts Shiva performing various functions that the god performed in godlike fashion.  Our guide was very informative of the nature of what each panel described, but I couldn't begin to tell you the stories.  The cave and the statues of Shiva are over 20 feet tall and the depth of the cave is about 128 feet.  All are rock and all cut out by hand.  How in the world could it be done?  It was all very impressive, and it is a UNESCO  World Heritage site. The name came from the Portuguese when they found a large statue of an elephant on the island.  When the British took over they attempted to move the elephant.  The statue broke and was reassembled and now stands at the Jijimata Udyaan Museum in India.  Take a look at the pictures and remember that what you see was all rock, cut out by hand, about 1500 years ago.

Just a reminder, we are in India.  It is evident when you see cows just walking along the paths with us.   They walk right along with you like you are part of their herd.   Also everywhere near the temple were the every present monkeys.  These were not the monkeys of Bali that would rob you of anything they could grab.  These monkeys were not really interested in our phones or our glasses or our hats or whatever was hanging or dangling from you.  The monkeys here just sat around eating or doing whatever monkeys do.   The only thing they might want from you, short of food, is a water bottle which they were adapt at using.  It is always fun to watch the monkeys ... not something we see everyday in the states.

I don't know how many of you are familiar with the term Bollywood.   This is India's version of our Hollywood.   Movie making here is a huge industry and they say that 14 million Indians go to the movies every day.  Movie making here is not quite at the standard of Hollywood but they produce thousands of movies each year.   Posters in languages I cannot speak are plastered everywhere with very cheesy depictions of actors and actresses.   Soap Opera style is the closest I can describe but each movies breaks out into a song and dance at some point.   It comes down to a dance-off and the boy gets the girl each time.  It is funny.  We also heard that with the immigration nightmare that is entrance to India, many of the Bollywood movies are now made off-shore in order to make it easier and less expensive.

Re-make of the Notebook ... Bollywood style!

Bollywood dancers on the Main Stage

So, our trip continues as we say our goodbyes to India.   Is it on my bucket list to have to go back? No, but if I were on another world cruise and we have a stop there, I won't dread it any.   Did you get my hint about another cruise?   Never know.  Tom, a host on board is on his 37th world cruise.  But anyway, on we go toward Oman.  We received an interesting letter from the Captain today.  It tell us about heading into what they call possible dangerous waterways.   Security has been stepped up on board and they actually drilled the crew and passengers today.   24 hour a day guards are now posted to look for suspicious boats.  Naval gunships know and track our position.   Water cannons and sound cannons are now at the ready.   All of this for naught most likely.   Precautions are made for this which is sound and prudent, but this type of activity is most definitely on the decline.   When was the last time you heard of an attempted overtaking?   The movie, Captain Phillips, probably did not do the cruising industry any favors.   I hope I get to talk with you all again soon, barring a Somali upstart with a crude boat out here chasing us down.   I joke but we hope you are all well and take care of those who are yours.

Vialula and LeRoy