Badlapur Hike

Who knew that there was such gorgeous, open air scenery just hours from Bombay! I spent the day today on trek with about 20 others, mostly native Mumbaikers. It was a gorgeous, intense hike through field, forest and falls (water that is...) Everything was lush and green, alivened by the monsoon rains that are due to end any time now. It was a wonderful escape from the frantic pace of Mumbai and a great way to connect with some other like-minded people. The trek itself reminded me of others I've taken in Venezuela, Guatemala, Turkey and Macedonia.

Bandra at Night...

It's a big festival in my suburb of Bandra. Thousands and thousands of Christians come to see the Mary on the Mount and seek help. Along with these pilgrims come vendors, rides and street celebrations. This is all happening on Chapel road, which connects to the street I live on. (I've both enjoyed and been annoyed by the 80s/90s mix of American music blaring from 9 am-12 am every day for the last week. Personal favorites: "We Built this City," "I had the time of my life," "Knock three times.." You get the idea.) It was quite fun to wander around and see the many vendors selling everything from wax figures shaped like body parts (to be offered to Mary for help with ailments) to party hats, sweets and the like.

What festival would be complete without questionable, rickety fast rides with children and adults alike screaming in either fear or delight. These too were fun to check out....not to ride though! ("US teacher dies on Fair ride death trap..." Not the way I want to go.)

I also through in some footage here of the Bandra train station at night, where I met a friend. This station is part of the Mumbai rail network, which has the highest ridership (perhaps second behind Tokyo) in the world. Quite a spectacle!

More time in South Bombay...

My first blog video! I arrived at Chowpatty Beach before dusk. Already families were cheerfully marching to the Arabian Sea to immerse their Ganesh statues. As part of Ganesh Chaturthi, families give offerings to Ganesh statues and ask for the wisdom that Ganesh is known for. After paying homage to the idol for somewhere between 1-11 days, depending on individual family's preferences, they carry their Ganesh to the sea while chanting, dancing, beating drums and other signs of merriment. It is quite a spectacle. I was flattered when invited to participate in the singing and chanting: "Ganapathi Bappa Morya, Purchya Varshi Laukar ya" (O father Ganesha, come again early next year). It is really an exciting and fascinating time to by in Mumbai.

Sunday in South Bombay

Here are some photos from a trip downtown this Sunday. There was a political rally for Democrats abroad. (I don't mean to make the blog partisan...) The elephant structure is of Ganesh. Ganesh is a very common worshiped God in Bombay. Next weekend there is a massive festival, where Hindus submerge their Ganesh. For the next week plus, they will hold pujas and give offerings. (I have a lot to learn about this festival yet, but I'm excited to do so.)