some pics

A window seat with a view






taxi driver, take thee to dosa diner!







let sleeping dogs...sleep. (just one of many doggies snoozing the afternoon away at the train station)








a colorful crowd at Gateway of India








hanging out with the locals at Chowpatty Beach


More pics to come. But first, lunch.

more on mumbai

Not everything faces the streets; sometimes you have to step into little pockets of alleys to enter a cafe or store. The streets teem with taxis; silvery intricately-etched, horse-drawn carriages; motorbikes; sleeping dogs; women walking while balancing large baskets on their heads; men pushing wagons loaded with pipes or bulky packages; bicyclists; food stalls and clothing vendors spilling over sidewalks. And of course, lots and lots of people. Most folks don't use the sidewalks; instead they walk alongside the traffic. Bombay seems to have this sort of scrim over it, a combination of smoke from heavenly-smelling food stalls, incense burning in every stall, exhaust from the taxis and motorbikes, and dust and dirt rising from the roads.

I initially wanted to spend just a few days in Bombay. I wanted to avoid large cities and try to spend more time in the dessert or hill stations. But I have to say, I'm rather drawn to Bombay--the energy and crazy rhythm.

And, well, it's difficult to leave after having staked out my favorite cafes. I mean really, the food here kicks ass. The best part is you can eat like a little piggie for less than $3! Scandalous.

greetings from mumbai

Still gathering my thoughts, but I can share a few tidbits about Bombay thus far:

Taxi drivers have two modes: driving with right arm slung around the wheel with left hand permanently affixed to the horn; and parked.

I will never eat another chicken kebab as tasty as the one consumed at Leopold's cafe in Colaba. And crazily enough, I've had the loveliest scoop of Italian ice cream here in Mumbai--kiwi, with real bits of kiwi and seeds, which added a nice texture. The girls behind the counter all giggled shyly when they heard my accent. When I asked for directions (to this internet cafe, in fact), the store's manager offered to walk me there, as it was on her way to the bank. She was impressed with my being American--even more impressed that I live in New York. She said she loved her job ("Obviously! All the ice cream I can eat!"), even more than her last job working at a call center for Travelocity. She said her favorite American accent was her boss's, who is from L.A.

Mumbai is HOT. That's all there is to be said about that.

The biggest culture shock about Bombay so far is the poverty. It's everywhere, intermingled with the stunning buildings and shiny Western hotels and cafes. It's heartbreaking to see these tiny woman-like girls (can't be any older than 9? 10?) carrying around their baby siblings like satchels of flour, smiling, hands extended, "Hello, money? Rupees, please? Pretty lady!"

last minute To Do list

- buy new toothbrush
- steal roll of toilet paper from work (i actually prefer the cheaper paper)
- refresh music on iPod
- last load of laundry so I will return to fresh pile of clothes
- throw away food in fridge
- stop picking at ginormous zit on my chin
- return Netflix movies (the same ones I've had since Jan.)
- stop counting the hours 'til take-off

can't quantify nor categorize

There are some things I didn't list in my "To Pack" list that I will still be bringing with me to India. Even though I can't quantify or categorize it, these still deserve to make the list, and will no doubt prove to be invaluable. (List is alphabetized, of course)

Chris = sense of humor and absurdity
Gowoon = The Flaming Lips and looking out for the cutest toys
Jeff = the belief, the spirit and everything else needed
Jodi = when life hands you lemons, make margaritas!
Kyong = sense of discovery, wonderment and excitement
Liz = sense and sensibility
Matt = take the time to sit and enjoy
Ric = put all stereotypes and negativity aside
Shin = endless, loving patience
Tom, Melissa, mom, dad, Alex, Kira, Benjamin = one can never be alone or feel lonely

The Container Store, and the 3-1-1 for carry ons

I stopped by Duane Reade last night and made my first few purchases for my trip, mainly travel-sized items like toothpaste, shampoo, lotion. And I realized I already had almost everything; I just needed to get some small containers for them.

And here is where my FAVORITE-STORE-IN-THE-WHOLE-WIDE-WORLD comes to the rescue. Behold:


This store is amazing. If it has a clasp, zipper, lid or screwtop, The Container Store has it. I stumbled upon it by accident a few years ago. I couldn’t find what I needed at Bed, Bath and Beyond (obviously, “Beyond” has its limitations). I can’t remember what I was looking for, but that’s besides the point. So I skipped across the street to The Container Store. From its boring window displays, it looked like a dull and basic retail store that one could find dull, basic trashcans or dull, basic plastic containers.

But no. The Container Store was neither dull nor basic. It was sublime. It's the motherload of all things that contain. Cute bags, cool office supplies, containers in all shapes, colors, materials, oh my! How could I not have heard about this place before? I could hardly *contain* myself!

Okay, so this morning, I’m at work and I’m quite bored. So I check out The Container Store’s website, you know, to gear me up for when I can physically get to the store. Oooh. Turns out they have a TRAVEL SALE. Oh happiness and light!

So as I’m noting essential travel items such as these luggage tags,
I check out their selection of plastic bottles and jars. And I discover the wonderful world of Nalgene and their travel kits. On their website, they have a note about how the Transportation Security Administration modified its ban on liquids. Oh crap. I forgot about the ban. So I check out tsa.org to get the down low on the rules. I find out that while liquids are allowed, they must be in three-ounce or smaller containers.

I dunno, that seems like such a random number to me. But I must trust their reasoning, because as stated on their website, "Please keep in mind that these rules were developed after extensive research and understanding of current threats." Well now. That explains everything.

for you listy listers

Here’s what I’m packin' (!)
*things left to buy

*neck pouch
day bag
backpack

toothbrush
floss
*travel towel
contacts & solution
ear plugs
glasses
shampoo
soap
lotion
razor
bandaids
hair pins, hairbands
meds & aspirin
lipstick ;)

2 prs cotton pants
2 long-sleeved shirts
3 t-shirts
1 skirt
1 thin sweater
flip flops
socks and unmentionables
belt
sandals

passport (duh)
plane ticket (double duh)
ATM card, credit card, Traveler’s cheque card, ID
copies of important documents

journal and favorite pen(s)
calendar & address book
guidebook
small mag-lite
USB flash drive
cell phone with SIM card/alarm clock
sunglasses
padlock
multi-plug thingy

camera/battery charger
camcorder/charger
*1GB memory card for camera
*card reader
20 or so DV tapes
iPod and charger

Seeing it all listed out, it seems like a lot of crap. But I’ve pared it down as much as possible, or so I think. If you see something I won’t need, or should add, tell me!

The most annoying thing I’ll have to haul around are all those heavy chargers and electronics. I’m so very tempted to buy something small and cute, like this lil' number:
It'd shave off, like, 5 pounds from my pack. But, a) I don't need any more new toys. b) I'd spend just as much on the camera as I would on a week's worth of food & accommodations in certain parts of India. and c) I gather from the comments on Amazon, the image quality is crap.

But it’s so little and cute!

No…must…have…restraint…

Sigh.

The cool thing about the cell phone I’m bringing (my old T-mobile phone) is I can buy a SIM card in India with prepaid minutes, and make local calls there with my cell! It will also double-up as my alarm clock. Cool. I also like the ringtones better than the one on my current Verizon phone.

8 days left

= 190 hours
= 11,400 minutes
= 684,000 seconds

but who's counting...?

"Are you ready for your Mumbai 5/24/2007 trip?"

Orbitz sent me an email entitled, "Are you ready for your Mumbai 5/24/2007 trip?". Ack, no! Not really!

My mind should be filled with images of jaw-dropping temples and ochre-hued Delhi dust storms. Instead, it’s been highjacked by “#$%!~@ Final Cut!” and [command] [z]. I'm in the midst of finals.

But I’ve at least managed to firm up my packing list. Lucky for you, I won't bore you with the details--which, by the way, is down to minutiae of items like "fingernail clippers.” I did notice a difference from my India packing list to the list I made when I went to Europe for a year almost 9 years ago. The main difference? Less books, more electronics with USB ports.