BUT FIRST A TASTE OF MUMBAI....
Pack up- movem out...fly down to Mumbai and connect with another plane to Cochin, Keral.
We had some time between flights so a mini tour to see the commuter train experience, local veggie market and lunch at The Orchid Hotel before reboarding.
MUMBAI COMMUTER TRAINS
What's a little garbage on the steps....if you can survive the train you can just about do anything!
7.24 million folks ride the commuter trains-DAILY! This system has the highest passenger density of any urban railway system in the world.
Here she comes, over 4000 passengers are packed into a 9 car train with a capacity rated to carry 1700. Hey are those people hanging out the doors?
Yes siree Bob- we are talking SUPER LOAD CRUSH DENSITY. 3000 die annually on the trains, again making another world record holding position. I guess you say- surprised it's not more. Hello automatic doors coming in 2016. Those pics you see on U tube and the Internet are true! The 6 policemen who monitor the station asked why I was taking pictures and this was not allowed and I had to erase my pictures. Ok, let me get this right-your people die out there everyday and you are worried about Boca taking photos? Yeah sure, keep that dream alive Bubala, I'll get on that right away.
Next peek the Vegie Market next to the train....equally death defying.... to walk down the street.
Colorful vegies and fruits. The diverse agro-climatic zones make it possible to grow a lot- and actually India is the 2nd largest producer of vegies in the world (China 1st of course) and grows 15% of world wide vegie produce.
Greens, Greens and more Greens.... Vegetables are an integral part of the food the Indian consumption. For Vegetarians India is a heaven. India has innumerable variety's of tasty vegie dishes and they like their curries real hot n spicy. Hence a little belly aches for those of us not used to them???
Loved the red carrots.
Hey Farmer Bubbs what are those prickly cucumbers??? Out of 370 million tons of fruit produced in the world, India produces 30 million tons in a highly decentralized fashion.
The vendors are very proud of their displays of produce. They buy from the farmers, wash/scrub them clean and display like artwork to sell each day.
Oh no said Buddha Bubs just what Bocahita needs- MORE GARLIC. Please dear God don't let her see mounds of this stuff. Bad enough she hooked up with our new German friends-GG and Lutz -for an every evening garlic fest.
Hey lady can I interest you in some green round whatevers? As long as you can make it hot! Annie is hot about anything tasty and hot hot hot. Anybody seen a Vampire?
KOCHI (used to be Cochin), KERALA
See Cochi on the map? That little green strip (like Chili) at the southern tip of the country. Kerala is tucked in between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea loaded with rice paddies, coconut groves, wide beaches, hills, rainforest's and a labyrinth of backwaters. It's hot and sticky just like South Florida.
And tons of mosquito's to make me feel at home. And can you believe Buddha Bubbs who has cases of DEET (bug spray) forgot a bottle for ol'Bocahita? Can you see her scratching now?
We arrive to a strike? Yup, while this southern area is the most literate and affluent state in the country it is also prone to strikes. Wonderful. Don't worry Mrs. Collins, it is scheduled to last only 24 hrs. 24 hrs? Yes then all back to work. The streets were empty and it was rather eery....where in the heck where all the people hiding???
Weird, huh? Per the Hindu times the next day "THE COUNTRYWIDE 24 hr strike called by trade unions on Tuesday was total and by large peaceful in Kerla. The strike, called mainly to press for enforcement of labour laws and to contract employment, and steps to bring down prices created an atmosphere of a bandh throughout the day". What in the heck is a BANDH?
Boca, peaceful?
Missing that road sight craziness...
Public transportation and all shops closed down.
Just a two wheeler or two on the road....
AND YES, WHERE IN THE HECK DID THEY ALL GO? THEY ARE HIDING FROM BOCAHITA!!! What were they thinking? No shopping for the Hita??? Bubbs let out a sigh of relief- less tschokes to wrap his underwear around.
TAJ MALABAR HOTEL
Uh oh....here comes that Delhi Belly back for Bubbs. He is down for the rest of day and night.
In the meantime Bocahita checks out the Taj.
View from our room...well Bubbs can glance at the water between running to the john.
Bocahita watched the yard man work....cleaning leaves off the lawn by hand- no Indian Rake?
Nice breeze.
No OBEROI but quite lovely.
Hey Bocahita- it's cocktail time! Where's BOOBA?
Apparently Bocahita stayed too long at cocktail hour because this is what she saw at dinner....is that a boat on my table serving my appetizers? is it smoking? Yes, just for you Bocahita. We thought this would take your Grey Goose to another experience. Indeed!
Pack up- movem out...fly down to Mumbai and connect with another plane to Cochin, Keral.
We had some time between flights so a mini tour to see the commuter train experience, local veggie market and lunch at The Orchid Hotel before reboarding.
MUMBAI COMMUTER TRAINS
What's a little garbage on the steps....if you can survive the train you can just about do anything!
7.24 million folks ride the commuter trains-DAILY! This system has the highest passenger density of any urban railway system in the world.
Yes siree Bob- we are talking SUPER LOAD CRUSH DENSITY. 3000 die annually on the trains, again making another world record holding position. I guess you say- surprised it's not more. Hello automatic doors coming in 2016. Those pics you see on U tube and the Internet are true! The 6 policemen who monitor the station asked why I was taking pictures and this was not allowed and I had to erase my pictures. Ok, let me get this right-your people die out there everyday and you are worried about Boca taking photos? Yeah sure, keep that dream alive Bubala, I'll get on that right away.
Next peek the Vegie Market next to the train....equally death defying.... to walk down the street.
Colorful vegies and fruits. The diverse agro-climatic zones make it possible to grow a lot- and actually India is the 2nd largest producer of vegies in the world (China 1st of course) and grows 15% of world wide vegie produce.
KOCHI (used to be Cochin), KERALA
We arrive to a strike? Yup, while this southern area is the most literate and affluent state in the country it is also prone to strikes. Wonderful. Don't worry Mrs. Collins, it is scheduled to last only 24 hrs. 24 hrs? Yes then all back to work. The streets were empty and it was rather eery....where in the heck where all the people hiding???
Boca, peaceful?
Public transportation and all shops closed down.
AND YES, WHERE IN THE HECK DID THEY ALL GO? THEY ARE HIDING FROM BOCAHITA!!! What were they thinking? No shopping for the Hita??? Bubbs let out a sigh of relief- less tschokes to wrap his underwear around.
TAJ MALABAR HOTEL
Uh oh....here comes that Delhi Belly back for Bubbs. He is down for the rest of day and night.
In the meantime Bocahita checks out the Taj.
View from our room...well Bubbs can glance at the water between running to the john.
No OBEROI but quite lovely.
