Mumbai: Taste of India

Ep. 25

BOM – Mumbai, India.

13^th-15^th December 2011.

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” — Jawaharal Nehru.

Me and Mumbai Police barrier

Indian port has been scheduled for me in the middle of December. It was famous as the hardest and worst flight that no one can stand it. Nobody likes it. So I was playing inside my mind, wishing that it would be another story, hoping that would be a very special case flight, that the lucky factor in me could do something to make this flight better. Moreover, this was my last flight together with my flying buddy, Elvis (at least both of us will encounter the same flight experience). I dragged myself to the company to do this flight. I was once made India one of the top destinations that I would love to visit (thanks to Eat Pray Love movie), and seeing Taj Mahal is what I’m truly looking forward. But Bombay or Mumbai is far from Taj Mahal, so I’d be better plan another thing. The only thing that I was looking forward to is the warm weather in Bombay.

meet the team of 7.

In fact, I lost my spirit to search and look for a destination. I let all the prejudices about the flight affects my mood. My plan was just go with the flow and see what kind of city tour I could join in the hotel later. I was really stupid to think it that way. The almost-6-hour flight was unexpectedly fun, in the term, when you got a great set of crews, the flight would be so much more easier than it would be. On contrary, having a nasty set would just turn an easy flight like a super ultra long haul. As usual, the whisky was super popular as popular as water and peanuts. But after the meal service, we even can sit and chatted (5 of us: 1 purser, 4 BC – 2 males and 2 females). My pursers occurred to be an Indian flight lover, and he loves curry, so that he said he knows where to go and he asked us whether we’re interested in joining him for lunch and shopping in the market tomorrow. Lucky, right? 2 other BC were also agreed to come and join us. We arrived in the hotel nearly midnight due to the flight delayed. We exchanged our room number and agreed to meet at the lobby the next morning at 10 am. 

our Indian festive

The next morning, I came earlier to the lobby to use the complimentary computer at the business center. I chatted with my bf and telling him my day and blablabla. And finally 7 of us met each other at the lobby. As one taxi would not be enough, my purser, like a tour guide, took care of all the communication with the concierge and said that we would be divided into two cars. The hotel provides the cars for free, but as a courtesy we should collect some rupee as the driver’s tips. We went to downtown Bombay, passing the most luxurious house in the world, which is according to the driver’s information, were lived by a family of 5 (mom, dad, a child, and parents in law) and it holds 600 servants. The building was pretty much like an office tower, but it was more unique with many curves and cubes. Well that’s new information for my brain!

bargainers part.1

bargainers part.2

We stopped in the middle of market (I swear it looks like Yogyakarta’s Malioboro back in Indonesia). All the street stalls and hawkers and all the shops just on the side of the pavement. The clerks were shouted and keep promoting their item with competitive prices. We stopped for a lunch in a café called Leopold Café. As my purser is the only one that familiar with the menu, he ordered on our behalf, while we’re busying ourselves taking pictures (typical). We ate all of those curry, tika masala, naan bread, masoor dhal and our sweet mango lassi in less than 1 hour, I guess. We shared the bill by divided them all at the flat rate at about INR 700 per person. With a full stomach, we started our shopping in Bombay. I bought myself some souvenirs t-shirt and magnets (INR 250), sandals (INR 200), purse (INR 250), and the funny thing is whenever one of us interested in something, the others will help to bargain. Unity is the best way to do it! We even called the shop keeper handsome in order to make him gave up on the price we barge. We went to this pashmina and shawl shop and we bargain like crazy, until we get the good deal out of fit. I bought 3 pashminas for INR 70 each. Next! We walked to the beach nearby, and along the way, I could see what the housing look like in India. 

the Taj Mahal Hotel

We walked along the beach, which were close due to one and other things. Actually, along the road we could see the Mumbai Police barriers (assume something important was happening). My purser told us that we will ride on another shuttle taxi from the sister hotel of the one that we stayed and this sister hotel in one of the best hotel in the world. Taj Mahal Hotel. Getting near to the hotel, the more crowd we see, it appeared before my eyes the Gateway of India, a monument in Mumbai Located on the waterfront in Apollo Bunder area in South Mumbai, the gateway is a basalt arch 26 metres (85 feet) high. It lies at the end of Shivaji marg. It was a crude jetty used by fisher folks and was later renovated and used as a landing place for British governors and other distinguished personages. In earlier times, the gateway was the monument that visitors arriving by boat would have first seen in the city of Bombay. The gateway has also been referred to as the Taj Mahal of Mumbai and has also lent its name to the city of Mumbai.   

unimportant road.

It would be nice if I can get a little bit nearer to the Gateway of India, but it seems all the police barrier were set for the sake of an event (coz I could see the stage and rows of chairs) that was going to be held there. Due to the crowd, we’re just took few pictures and we entered the hotel. While we’re waiting at the lobby, my purser, once again, was arranging the tour (you go Ar-Goh!). By the time we arrived at the hotel it was already 5-6 pm and all I got to do was took a nice few hour nap and get ready to operate back to HK that very midnight.

Gateway of India

It was a very unique experience in India. The flight was not as horrible as I thought and I felt so stupid to have those kind of prejudices without any reasonable basic of information. Even thought it was just a very short stay in Mumbai, it was a memorable one and worth to be treasured in my heart. The most important point is, all of them were HK crew and I am the only one Indonesian, but they treat me nicely. It would be a lot more easier for them to speak in their mother tongue one to another, the did so, but either Elvis or one of them will translate it to me to keep me update about what are they talking about at that moment. If just all Indian flight would be as nice as this one (I wish upon a star).

“Expect less, than you’ll appreciate more for everything you got.” – Me.