Mumbai

Hello Everyone! Just wanted to let you know that we love Mumbai and are not coming back!

Come visit.

Just kidding, we are enjoying Mumbai very much and have lots of stories to tell. On our first day, Azam hung out at the pool and worked out and I went shopping, which is what I do best. By now, I feel comfortable leaping through rickshaws and finding my way around. We then went out on the town to local lounges and saw how the locals hang out. It was fun! The next day was our city tour and boy did we see a lot. We saw Gandhi's residence and his old room and library, we took a boat ride to the Elephanta Island and saw a cave from the 8th century which contained huge statues carved into the stone walls. the panels were all carvings of Shiva and Parvati (Hindu Gods) and it was very artistic and amazing to see how they accomplished that 13 hundred years ago. Azam had a funny incident where a group of monkeys were hanging out on a tree near where we were resting and one bold monkey darted out towards us and scared us. Apparently he wanted Azam's sunglasses. When we bolted, the monkey starting playing with them. A local guy threw a rock at the monkey and we got the glasses back. It was really funny and i got a a picture.

We then went to the Taj Palace hotel for lunch. This was the 6 star hotel that was bombed in 2008 and has been restored/ restoring. The staff are still really shaken up by the incident. We had a nice view of the harbour where we had lunch. It is a beautiful and classy hotel. Hoity Toity! The inside reminds us of the interior of the Burg al Arab in Dubai.

We saw the Gateaway to India (which is what the picture is of). This is a very famous Mumbai monument and was where the British King and Queen entered from. We went to Kolabar Causeway, and Nargis Aunty, we stopped at the Ismaili guy's store and got purses. Your directions were perfect. Thank you.

Yesterday, we went shopping in Elco Center as referenced to us by Azmina Aunty and we had pani puri. I can't stop raving about this pani puri. It was awesome! They give you a little plastic dish and keep refilling it with fresh pani puri as you eat them. The outside of it is lined with stools and there are no tables. Great experience and very yummy. That evening, we went to Bandra JK for chandraat. Wow, what an experience! Guys on one floor and ladies on another. The local Ismailis are quite modern and stylish. The JK is also surrounded by an Ismaili colony. We have spent a lot of time at our hotel (Taj Lands End) which is a regular hangout for bollywood stars. Our parosi is Shah Rukh Khan. His residence (called Mannat) is down the street. We ran into Anushka Sharma (Rab ne Bana Di Jodi) in the lobby and spotted Anil Kapoor (Slumdog Millionaire etc) as we were having drinks and tapas in the lobbey lounge. We also just missed Jackie Shroff and Sunjay Dutt. It's nice rolling with the glamorous..hahhahah!


Anyways, today is our last day and are planning to go to Santa Cruz to pick up a Handee and Karai for dad and then Juhu Beach (Amitabh's neighbourhood). We will be flying out late tonight and may not be able to update till we are back home.

Shahal, if you are reading this, we will be in Sunday AM. Let us know if you need details. Also our phone disconnects shortly. So love to all and see you soon!
Love Saima and Azam