india: day 6: train to mumbai & my first day in mumbai

so many cute kids on the train!

my travel buddies. they read my english/hindi phrase book and we talked most of the way. by the end of the trip i shared this compartment with about 15 people.

biffed it really hard getting on the train. the thing about india is that everybody stares at foreignors so i had no shortage of help as they pulled me back up to the platform from below the train. sucked.

this scene happened about once every 15 minutes.

the most unbelievable array of foods, drinks, toys and crafts passed by in a steady stream the entire trip.

people sitting everywhere….

the friendly kitchen staff.

some passengers ride for free: orphans, vendors, beggars and thieves.

sitting between cars is a good way to avoid buying a ticket.

this guy is just trying to sweep the floor for everybody. nobody makes his job easy.

sleeper class is definitely the way to travel in india. by far the best decision i have made in india.

mumbai central

pooja to the linga

the people here are amazing.

holy bath in the ganga tank.

symbolic drinking of ganga water.

the ganga tank. as the story goes, rama was thirsty so he shot an arrow into the earth. from the hole came the underground ganga water. it is one of the holiest places in mumbai. the arrow remains in the center of the tank in the form of a giant pole of wood.

kids love to climb the arrow and jump off! looked like a lot fun.

the buildings surrounding the tank are part of the same village. it is amazing to see the ancient culture holding on tight in a city undergoing such rapid modernization.

the people use the ganga water for everything from bathing to drinking to cooking to playing.

mumbai is directly on the ocean. the waves crash directly below people homes. the ocean is also a very popular spot to “pop a squat”.

this man had painted his face with grease so dark it looked blue.

my trusty guide. kishore kharre. he is very dedicated to showing me the best and worst of mumbai. he is a character in gregory david roberts’s book shantaram. his brother was prabaker.

crazy rain! it doesn’t stop anybody from getting where they’re going.

a determined old man.

a very common sight driving through mumbai.

kishore’s noble steed.

beef chili fry might be my new favorite thing to eat.

outside the internet business center.

sweet paan. a sweet leaf acts as a pallette for a variety of sweet fillings. then you shove it in your mouth and chew. so good!

~ by jacobbmurphy on September 10, 2010.