:: Mumbai ::

Recently been to Bombay, or "Mumbai" as the present calls it. Some says its dangerous, some says they don't even bother hanging out. But given such rare opportunity to explore the world(and i really mean WORLD), why waste such chances of getting to know a very different society in another part of the world? Wouldn't it widen your knowledge? You are able to step into countries & see for yourself while some have to see from their television set, so......why waste it?

Oh well, for sure, i explored a little...since i didn't read up much before the flight.
Before i went out, i crashed for a few hours.... was still feeling goggy when i woke up but i forced myself to change and head out. Found out from the conceirge about the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Gateway of India. And so...i decided to explore that area before landing myself in Linking Road which is none other than the Bazaar, or the "Masar Malam" as we called it. Booked a taxi for the entire trip and it cost about S$20-30...the driver fetch me around and waited for me to finish my "business" before heading to the next station. Nice.

Right outside of the Inter-Con hotel, there are slums. Can you imagine that drastic contrast? Can you imagine..as you are having your lunch or buffet in the hotel & thought of discarding the leftovers, these people are struggling to find food for the family?? Can u imagine as you sleep on the comfy bed with air-con and TV, these people right outside might not even have a bed...and worse still, they have to squeeze so many in one tiny pathetic space. They bathed, they do everything there? I wondered. Can you imagine them...having to see us so-called "rich people" crossing their paths everyday...? Watching their days passed slowly like that. I was told that if you are born in a slum, you will most probably stay in the slum for the rest of your life and your next generation...all coz of their caste system...which is still very much practised in India. You can never dream of rising. How sad!! The poor will never rise????? Is that how it is suppose to be!?!?!? Check out this story ---> http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0306/feature1/
Don't you realise just how bloody lucky we are?? How bloody fortunate lots we are? Still wanna complain some more? :)

Here are the photos of some of the slums:

At the Gateway of India, it was so crowded!! I realised that's because there was a shooting going on there. Shooting as in filming lah!! It was packed!! of coz...i was too short and can't even see who and what were they filming...oh well, i won't know any stars even if i see one. Heehee. Then i saw a woman with her son sitting by the street. Poor thing i thought. I secretly took a picture. The woman saw me and told me to feel free to take pictures. I felt bad. So..I wanted to give them some money but she rejected me! Instead, she asked if I could buy milk powder for his son. I was touched. You bet I bought a big can.

Gateway of India
Taj Mahal Hotel
The woman & her son.
I went to Linking Road to get a taste of their pasar malam. Wah seh!! The prices they quoted for each item was incredibly ridiculously high!!! But as i bargained...I was amazed by the discount they gave each time I threatened to leave. At the end of the "arguement", it could be like 70% - 80% cheaper. FOR PETE'S SAKE! How much would they bloody earn if one stupidly agreed to a 50% discount?!!? Suckers!!

Anyway, and so i ended the day with......erm.....buffet dinner at the hotel. Ooops!! And it was superb! Heehee!
Me and the driver!