Monday, January 14, 2008

Mumbai is,

A dozen boys, wearing only raggity shorts, climbing up a tree, swinging from the branches

A girl of seven, with sun bleached brown hair, wild eyes, carrying a one year old on her hip, begging for money, throwing you the most pitful look at a signal light…yet as the signal turns, she laughs and smiles, as if she hasn’t a care in the world

Giant prawns doused with spices that make your tongue tingle at the thought…

Butter Garlic Nans…enough said

A walk along Carter Road at night, watching lovers, covet a space in the rocks, guarded by the darkness of night…..drinking spiced tea that a little boy sells from a flask

Dancing at Club 9, to music that you only hear at parties entitled “old school”

Sitting with friends at four in the morning, eating sandwiches, at sun in sands….

Buying booze from Jantas at 3 am, having the eleven year old mix the rum and coke in the plastic bottle, while you patiently watch from a rickshaw

Bumpy kisses in a Rickshaw

Aunties so old they’ve shrunk, who remember every family story there is…..who fill your mind with characters from the past, and scandals that make you laugh till you pee just a little..

A magical boat ride from the gate way of India, jumping over four boats to get to your intended boat, holding onto a hand that promises you, you won’t fall over….

A luxury day spent at the a salon, including a gold dust facial, manicures, pedicures, and the works!

The smell of burning paper as your drive by slums trying to heat themselves for the night

Navigating through the crazy surfaces called roads in Bandra, trying your darndest not to twist your ankle

The sound of a crow, followed by the Bhaji walla (Vegetable seller) followed by the Milk walla, followed by the Egg Walla….needless to say sleeping in, is not an option….

Happy New Year to you all Btw....

16 comments:

Jdid said...

happy new year

Dee said...

hey
welcome back
The Wallah comes to you? How convenient.

Christie said...

That sounds wonderful. Welcome back and Happy New Year!

bitchdoctrine said...

this sounds so cool. take me with yooooou!

bitsandgiggles said...

Gold dust facials? Sign me up!

dalia said...

i'm with 'lene. next time, you take me. welcome back! : )

SimplEnigma said...

Whoo-hoo, sounds fun..Glad you're back safe and sound.

Bush is in Dubai...they made it a national holiday for his visit.

The walla reminds me of the woman who used to sell callaloo door to door in Portmore in the morning. And the peanut vendor with the roasting cart..

Don't think I missed the "bumpy kisses in the rickshaw" part. To be continued, I hope?

Unknown said...

Sounds like you had a great time and an unforgettable experience!

Unknown said...

Great description. I can tell that you did quite a bit of exploring. Happy New Year to you too.

Abeni said...

Happy New Year

Good to see ya

Radmila said...

I love snapshots of experience.

Jay said...

You forgot all about the amoebic dysentery!

Adrian said...

yeah you were gone for quite a bit.. where are the pics?!

Jumbie said...

Sounds like you had a great time.

Welcome back.

gishungwa said...

sounds lovely... Happy new year.

IrieDiva said...

stops at "pee a little" makes me go eewww lol

:D