Mumbai and homeward bound

Having a uniquely wonderful time here in the huge city of Mumbai. over 20 million live here, I understand. Staying in a very modest hotel near the airport. Arrived yesterday and have been relaxing and showering and having breakfast in my room ... generally unwinding. Took a car ride for $37.00 for 8 hours with a cheery and helpful hindi driver who turned out to be caring and truly delightful.

We drove south sight seeing en route along the 'string of pearls' beach line, stopping at Mani Bhavan where Mahatma Gandhi had his first lessons in carding and learned spinning and where he wrote and fasted to restore peace during the visit of the Prince of Wales in 1921. He was arrested upstairs on the terrace for civil disobediance in 1932. They say that here Gandhiji "moulded the nation in the image of his cherished ideals of Truth and Non-violence and inspired ....." The photos of Gandhi, his letters, his life are placed on all the three or four floors of this big house. In several of the rooms there were real life school children on the floor or at desks drawing or colouring their own Gandhi image.

Ajax, my driver, told me that Gandhi is "Bapu" or "Daddy" to every single person living in India.

Such an auspicious visit for me as I was just leaving my three month service with Child Haven, one of several centers that loyally follows the Gandhian philosophy of equality and compassion.

After my visit to Mani Bhavan Ajax drove me further south Mumbai to see the Gateway of India. This 25 m high basalt stone archway was built at the edge of the Arabian sea to commemorate the visit of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. As I left Ajax the driver to take pictures and possibly take the ferry to see the Elephanta Caves I was caught up in yet another monsoon downpour. Clutching my camera I scuttled across the road into the Taj Mahal Palace hotel. Wow! what a sumptious place. I felt the British influence and pure good taste as I walked the length of this enormous hotel. The Canadian National chain of hotels have even more to learn by reviewing the management and style of the Taj Mahal hotel! I sipped on two cappuccinos as I sat at a table on the second floor, looking through the sheets of rain over to the commanding Gateway of India. I really felt at peace, happy and very content.

I later did a bit of shopping at a bazaar that Ajax brought me to and then returned to the hotel. A little later I went over to the Golden Cloud restaurant where I ate last evening and joined up with the same two gals who I ate with last evening. They are both taking a Yoga teacher training course nearby; I hope to join them for astanga yoga tomorrow at 5 pm. .

My time here has been suprisingly interesting, inspirational and, yeah, a great break.

I will leave on August 4th and I will arrive on August 4th!

I leave the city after midnight tomorrow and will be travelling for 24 hours. Arran will literally be picking me up at midday on August 4th.

Its fun to think that perhaps I am the first of the Lynch Family Clan to have travelled so far east!

Meantime ...

I look forward to landing on Canadian soil once again.

Yes, travelling does change one's perspective.

Until soon, hugs, Dyane