Goa Beaches

What can I say about Goa! It was breathtaking the beaches were lined with restaurants and the cows roamed freely. Goa was such a contrast to the hustle of Mumbai and there was a more relaxed feel during the day. I  felt like I was on a Caribbean island not in southern India. The night life was bustling as there were many restaurants and clubs that lined the main strip. You did not really see the elements of the Indian Cast system in Goa, with the exception of a few beggars near the hotel everyone seemed to be on equal footing. The area draws the European crowd and I spoke with a Russian couple who were so enamored with Goa that they came back year after year.

Bollywood Studio Tour in Mumbai

Today we had the opportunity to visit a Bollywood television show set. The set was in a compound deep in the city. On the ride there we were introduced to the Bollywood culture by two hosts that work in the industry.  One of the hosts (Hamesh) discussed the scandal of the movie Slum Dog Millionaire. I have seen this movie twice and was quite impressed with they portrayal of the characterization of the slums. Our host explained that the Indian culture had evolved over the years and the portrayal in the movie was one that had long since changed. He further explained that the slums still exist but that multi million dollar businesses are run there. 
We were allowed to tour the rooms and meet several of the cast members. We watched as they taped a scene that would be aired he next day. The costumes worn by the characters were very elaborate.The director was very gracious and took the time to meet with us and discussed the show.

Mumbai Day Two

In the morning we walked around the city looking in various stores and art galleries. We spoke with one of the artists who had a beautiful collection on Kali, the Hindu Goddess of Empowerment. The artist was originally from India but had lived in the U.S. for ten years. I found it very interesting that he considered the U.S. his home. In the afternoon we took a bus tour around the city and went to The Hanging Gardens, Victoria Terminal, The Gandhi Museum  and The Laundry.  The Gandhi Museum was very inspiring. I particularly liked reading the letter that Gandhi wrote to Hitler urging him to not go to war.

Mumbai Day One

What an amazing first day in Mumbai. We went to The Elephanta Cave. We saw beautiful sculptures carved out of stone. Our guide was very informative in explaining all the various sculptures of the god Shiva. My favorite was the story of how Shiva assisted The Ganges River in dropping from Heaven to Earth. We then spent some time exploring the streets of Munbai. We saw a vast array of people from the beggars to the seemingly affluent. I am amazed at what an incredibly diverse city Mumbai is.