29Mar Mumbai, India

Greg and I started our second day in Mumbai leisurely about 11am.
Temperature is soaring already 33C.
We were almost kidnapped by one taxi driver who would charge only for $1 to the Taj Mahal hotel.
He introduced himself as Raj originally from Punjab.
We were so impressed with Raj with his excellent English and manner for 5 star standards.
Unfortunately, we only wanted to go to the hotel despite of his attempt to change our mind.
He tried hard but nicely to convince us to take a city tour with him or visit souvenir shops he was going to take us to.
We wished we could!
Maybe, next time, Raj!

We have noticed barricaders and check points around the Gateway of India just in front of the hotel.
It probably keeps beggars away from both national and international tourists.
After taking some photos of the hotel and the Gateway of India that was built in 1911 for the visit of King George V, we went to Colaba market again.
I bought a small elephant statue decorated in shiny glass mosaic as a souvenir.
Greg was happy to find a shirt that fits him.
I went back to the same internet café for half an hour for an internet and rang my mother in Sydney to say hello.
All for a dollar!

We decided to check out some of Mumbai’s grandeur architects that we only have seen from taxis in previous visit.
Modern Art Gallery at the huge round-about was the first.
Unfortunately, we could not get the entry as it only accepts Indian rupees.
Credit cards and US dollar bills were the only ones we had here and we usually get away with it.
Mumbai university buildings and High Court building were magnificent as we walked alongside the big sports parks.
It was awesome to face the Victoria Terminus, the railway station.
It is massive and beautiful building!
According to James Cameron, it is St. Pancras mixed of Italian, Oriental, Saracenic, Baroque, Victorian and Gothic.
Going inside the building was even more overwhelmed.
There are so many people in and out of trains over countless platforms.
There are half million people passing through this huge train terminal on a daily basis.
It was as if a group of youngsters would dance on a platform with the song Jay Ho from the movie Slum dog Millionaire.
Aren’t we in Mumbai the epicenter of Bollywood?
It was strange feeling that Greg and I were the only foreign people in this big crowd but nobody seemed to care much about it.
What an experience!
India is truly incredible!

Taj Mahal Hotel

Gateway of India

Muslim Indian lunch at Delhi Darbar restaurant behind the hotel was the best Indian dish so far.

Legal Indian drug people chew and spit out. It is made of beetle nut rolled in sweet tree leave with other herbs and red color. A person who is chewing this would give impression of Dracula with fresh blood around mouth.

Mumbai university building with clock tower

Statue of Queen Victoria on top of the building Victoria Terminus, railway station.

Greg on a platform inside the Victoria terminus.

We were lured by the taxi driver first and got shocked when we saw the vehicle about 10 meters away from the station.
The taxi we returned to the ship with was an absolute bomb.
We were too tired and exhausted by the heat to say no.
It was hilarious that this one is falling apart everywhere without even door handles but actually had a floor to rest our feet.

Local dance group got on board to perform traditional Indian show.

28Mar. Mumbai, India

Black and yellow taxi is pretty small for 4 passengers but three of us packed into tiny space of back seat with two of us leaning forward.
Not so comfortable!
But, it will be less than 10 minutes ride anyway.
We went out with Rene and Renee here in Mumbai.
There were desperate looking taxi drivers waiting for a big fare of day tour at the cruise terminal.
These taxis somewhat came inside the pier through the security gate.
They are usually more expensive than the taxis we get from outside of the security gate.
And we all knew it from our previous experience.
It only takes about 5 minute walk to the gate for us but it could be challenge for some elderly passengers with canes and walkers in heat of Mumbai.
Our first destination is the Taj Mahal Hotel and so is for many other cruise passengers who are not on ship’s tours.
It is usually for a shopping or dinning as well as short break with cool A/C of the hotel lobby.
We attracted lots of street venders selling huge balloons, fans made out of peacock feathers and post cards when we got off the taxi.
Greg wanted to pamper himself in hotel spa and two ladies wanted to go for shopping in Colaba market behind the hotel.
Meanwhile, I decided to update my Facebook and blog.
It is hard to find any place for Wi-Fi so I had to settle with small dodgy internet café in the market.
We all met again at the hotel lobby after few hours.
Greg was so refreshed with services he got for the last few hours as well as two ladies with their shoes.
Fellow foodie passenger has been raving about this restaurant for great crab dish where we wanted to try for lunch.
It is called Trishna and it is very close to our favorite restaurant the Khyber.
We found few other fellow passengers in the Trishna already.
It is rather small and casual place with over staff.
Chili crab, prawn masala, lamb saag and prawn biryani were all good but we must have ordered too much.
We decided to check out the biggest local market in Mumbai, the Crawford market.
Taxi driver was running late to returning to the ship yesterday in Goa and we all screamed out the way he drove like lunatic.
But we soon realized that the way of Mumbai taxi drivers maneuvering their tiny match box size taxi is absolutely insane and miraculous.
There are no road rules and lines in this mega city.
There were horns blowing constantly from every corners but nobody seemed to listen.
It is absolutely miracle that we have not witnessed any road accident.
All, four of us were screaming, laughing and giggling like we were out of our mind whenever we were pushed aside or found ourselves in opposite lane facing big buses and trucks.
As we got off the taxi at one of entrances of the market, we were soon surrounded by swarm of local street venders who were persistent.
It was hard to walk through the crowd on the busy street alone.
We were also mesmerized and overwhelmed by the scene in front of us.
The market was full of shops, street venders and local shoppers in different Indian outfits, apart from their traditional saree, women in burqa, Catholic nuns, Buddhist monks…
People were pulling overloaded carts, carrying huge baskets on their heads, loud horns from taxis and cars, donkeys, scooters, push bikes, stray dogs…
We were all looking at each other and shouted the same with big smile “we love this crazy place!’’
At no time, we spotted one of the market alley with full of wholesale Indian jewelry shops.
Two ladies just could not resist the unbelievable prices and its designs!
They were so excited like kids in a candy shop and surely enjoyed the real bargain.
We were taking lots of photos in other section of the market for Indian spices, tropical fruits, vegetable and pets include birds.
What an incredible place!
We were all exhausted after so many giggles and fun we had today from both taxis and shopping.
It was about 4 pm when we got back to the ship for a quick change.
Our usual table mates were going to join the dinner at the Khyber.
I have sent an e mail to the restaurant for reservation and did not get the reply until this morning.
I had to drop by at the Khyber to confirm the dinner booking when we finished lunch at the Trishna.
Our table mates needed to be advised for the details before dinner time.
We all seated in the restaurant that reminds us caves.
It was cozy and nice with candle lights.
Nine of us tried to let the waiter to recommend and ordered dishes for us.
With bit of success of our try, we managed to order 11 dishes includes garlic naan, cheese naan, papadum, samosa, two biryani rice, Khyber lamb, mutton masala, prawn curry, chicken Tikka, chicken skewer and some yoghurt dips.
They were all nice as expected.
There were so much of foods even for 9 adults.
Some of us are not so familiar with spicy food and tried only a little.
While some of us ended up having more than two portions of dish and enjoyed them. ^^

I have noticed this wall is newly painted since last visit 2 years ago

We always start of a day from Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai

Recommended by fellow passengers, we visited Indian Restaurant Trishna for lunch.

Papadum, yumy!

Trishna is specialized in crab dish. We ordered crab, fish curry, prawn saag, garlic naan, cheese naan and bryani rice. Not bad at all! ^^

We were joined by two fabulous Renee and Rene

Greg in front of Jewish synagogue

Crawford market is awesome and so unreal. Lots of bargain and fun place.


Bird market
Enjoying forty winks in the middle of market. zzz

Victoria railway station. One of the most beautiful architects in Mumbai.

Dinner time already? hhh
We were waiting for our table mates to arrive.
Our usual table mates decided to join four of us, too.
Nine of us at the table.
Which restaurant?
Of course the Khyber restaurant again. ^^

Cave like interior. Cozy.


Assorted Naan breads were so fresh and yumm!

Chicken Tika Masala, Khyber Lamb, Mutton curry, prawn, samosa, naan breads almost everything except beef!
All of these are so delicious!!!
9.5 out of 10!
Another happy ending with my palates in this unbelievable and marvelous city.