Welcome to Bombay

  Mumbai (Bombay), India
Thursday, February 28, 2008

We had a leisurely morning and got to the airport around noon for our trip to Bombay.  The flight was painless but I can't say the same about the traffic in Bombay!  After what seemed like 2 hours in the car we arrived at the hotel and were just in time to go for a short walk to dinner.    At the recommendation of a friend, we hit up a seafood spot called Trishna.  Between our drive and pre and post dinner walks (apparently the walks are called constitutionals???), we got a decent sense as to what Mumbai (Mumbai, Bombay and Bumbai will all be used interchangeably) looked like.  Generally it was run down.  The streets were in better shape than the rest of the country, but the wealth I had presumed would be more apparent just wasn't there. 

I fell asleep thinking about what it will be like when I'm back on my own tomorrow night!  Good news is that my friends Lauren and Adi (who are very good friends themselves) are planning to visit me for the second half of my Thailand leg, so I'm sure it will be nice to have some familiar faces around for a bit.  In the mean time, I'm sad to have my Mom leave as she's been an amazing travel partner!