MUMBAI (BOMBAY), INDIA (day 91) continued
MUMBAI, the former BOMBAY is world unto itself its culture reflects both the affluence and humbling poverty of more than 20 million people. 70% of the people are HINDU, 25% are MUSLIM, and the other 5% are a mix of other religions. Over 40% of the land is reclaimed from the sea and there is about 1 acre for about every 1 & 1/2 thousand people. It would be a euphemism to say that MUMBAI is overcrowded. We were told that in MUMBAI you cannot judge people by the way that they look in that some very affluent people may look like they live in the slums or Shanty Towns, and vice verse.
MUMBAI is a city of extremes where slum-dwellers make dollars a day while BOLLYWOOD stars live a life of luxuries. Beautiful fountains fill the winding often dirty streets and alleys lined with small shops and office buildings.
A BEAUTIFUL CITY OF SILVER TOWERS
JUHU'S BEACHES AREN'T CLEAN ENOUGH FOR SWIMMING AND THEY CAN BE KIND OF SCRUFFY BUT FAMILIES ENJOY TAKING WALKS ON THE BEACH AND ON THE WATERFRONT PROMENADE AS WELL AS JUST SPENDING TIME TOGETHER HERE
At night the beach turns into a carnival of food hawkers.
MUMBAI IS DISTURBINGLY EYE OPENING
IT IS A CITY OF DRAMS FOR INDIANS THAT, AT THAT SAME TIME AFFORDS SO FEW ANY MEASURE OF COMFORT
INDIAN LIFE BENEATH THE SHADOW OF INDIA'S SKYLINE
ONE OF MANEY, MANEY, MANEY SHANTY TOWNS
You will notice all of the Direct T.V. Dishes on the corrugated tin roofs.
Apparently there is a Slum Renewal Program in existence, but it seems as though there is a great deal of corruption in the project as there is in many of the other governmental projects.
SUNSET, PEOPLE ON THEIR WAY HOME FROM WORK.
The streets are seemingly lawless. Drivers run red lights or are just as likely drive on the wrong side of the road. The honking horns, the women knocking on the windows to sell flowers, and the beggars begging change almost cause a sensory overload.
MUBAI IS A WORLD ON TO ITSELF
THE CITY OF AGARA FROM THE AIR
AFTER TAKING AN HOUR BUS RIDE TO THE AIRPORT WE BOARDED A CHARTERED PLANE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF TRIP TO AGARA
As beautiful as your trip has been, it is depressing to know the extreme poverty in the world you have seen first hand. Suffering on the pages of a book or newspaper is not the same as a friend explaining what she has experienced.
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