From the moment we first decided on a trip to India the prospect of a weekend in Mumbai was going to be both unmissable and unforgettable. And even though our sickly bodies chose not to comply with an ambitious social schedule nevertheless this monster of a city did not disappoint. Our experience may have been different however, had it not been for the very kind hospitality from my friend Vijesh and his lovely girlfriend Himarsha. Having worked together in London for five years before he moved out to India, it was so exciting for us to catch up and V was quick to clear his schedule. He pulled out all the stops to give us a great taste of the Mumbai highlife and waved a magic wand to whisk us out on set to see Himarsha starring in the next Bollywood blockbuster!
Following a torrid last day for Jo in Udaipur, thankfully she felt semi human again as we checked out early at 5am on Friday morning and said our final fond farewells to Rajasthan. With her 'corked up at both
ROARends' she put on such a brave face as we headed to the airport, thankfully no overnight trains to endure this time.
From the skies we got our first view of this monstrous metropolis - an abundance of huge high-rise skyscrapers tipped in a cloud of polluted fog above and immediately surrounded by the multi coloured tin roof slums below. With a population bursting at the seams at 16 million, where nearly 50% live in slums with no toilet, I don't think we will ever see such a visible contrast between the rich and poor anywhere else on our trip. Even as we landed, our plane almost skimmed the corrugated shanty rooftops of the great Dharavi slum. As India's biggest, sprawling over 500 acres and home to over a million people, its situated right next door to the terminal.
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