Mumbai, India

The sign on the cruise terminal in Mumbai read “Incredible India” Truer words could not be spoken. Mumbai is the largest and most cosmopolitan city in India. After Chennai, Mumbai offered so much more for India to be proud of and gave us a much better feeling about the country. Some of things about India seem to be consistent from city to city though. In Mumbai as in Chennai, there was LOTS of traffic with no obvious method for control. Cars, tuk tuks, trucks, humans and animal powered vehicles all compete for the right of way. It’s every man for himself driving with lots of honking but I saw no one get angry or yell at the other driver. It’s just the way things are and the Indian people deal with it. In Mumbai, we saw colorful shrines and temples all over the city just as in Chennai, but we saw many beggars, hawkers and signs of extreme poverty also. We only went to the tourist places in the main part of the city so what we saw was only a small part of a large and interesting city. The sights we did see included the main hub for their important railway system called Victoria Terminus, one of India’s most elegant buildings. We visited the Prince of Wales Museum and viewed Indian artifacts and artwork from many great artists and periods. We found some wonderful hand painted drawings in the Museum gift shop which we are bringing home. At the waterfront we visited the Gateway to India monument. This large brick arch structure welcomes all to India and has been standing since about 1926. It was being repaired when we visited but still impressive. Across from the arch we visited the famous Taj Hotel which is part of a 5 star Indian hotel chain. The bell captains wear long robes and turbins and there is a marble arcade full of designer stores. It is an elegant oasis amid the chaos of traffic, tourists and souvenir vendors around the arch. Fortunately, we didn’t see snake charmers but they were there also somewhere we were told. The most unique sight we visited was Dobi Ghat. The Dobi Ghat is a relic from the past culture and tradition in Mumbai but it continues today. It’s an outdoors laundry service that at one time supported the entire city. There are huge cement basins near a waterway and each basin is leased to a dobi whose lifelong job is to hand wash the clothes of his customers. The laundry is picked up and delivered in huge sacks carried on a cart throughout the city by the dobi’s assistant. The wash water looks murky and the clothes hang outside on clotheslines in a slum-like area of the city but our guide said the clothes come back spotless and clean. She said even though more people have washers and dryers in their homes, many people still use the Dobi Ghat purely because of tradition. The Dobis are usually illiterate and from the lowest class but they are able to make sure their clients always receive every article of clothing on time to the right household. It’s this type of rich culture and tradition that makes India so unique. It truly was an incredible experience.