Namaste again

If you're wondering what I've been eating, take a wild guess. If you guessed curry, give yourself a high five or something. We went to a place that served all sorts of delicious food in small portions. The name of the restaurant eludes me right now, but I'm sure it'll come to my mind when im fiending for grub. I should also mention that I have been beef and pork free for a month now. Although im jonesing for a steak, I'm sure my body would go apeshit if I actually did consume it.

I have acutally been consuming lots and lots of fresh vegetables. Much like the ones sold on the street, literally. The food itself isn't tainted, it's the water that they rinse them with. After a little bit of time in the rice cooker (yes, I cook food inside my rice cooker), or on the frying pan they are good to eat.

So a jew, a chinaman, a Hindu and nigerian walk into a Muslism mosque... Ingredients for a bad joke? No, quite the opposite. We took a trip to Haji Ali mosque.

Haji Ali mosque is built on a tiny islet about 500 yards from the coast, in the middle of Worli Bay, in the vicinity of Worli. The islet is linked to Mahalakshmi by a narrow jetty. This jetty doesn't have railings or anything, and it gets bashed with dirty water from the Arabian sea. Therefore, the mosque is accessible only during low tide. Being really anxious, we make the trek during high tide! It was nuts. The water was crashing in from both sides. I don't mind getting wet, but the water was dirrrrty. Imagine the Delawere river, but exponentially dirtier. The walkway was filled with people going to and coming from the mosque, beggers (children and adults), people with no limbs peddling their wares, people who have been severely burned, and various other people. They mostly laid on the ground, wit hthe water violently splashing them, with their limbs perched for a handout.. I didn't dare snap a picture.

Legend has it that Haji Ali died on his way to Mecca and his body, in a casket, floated back to Mumbai. However, some believe that Haji Ali drowned at the place where the mosque stands today. About 40,000 pilgrims visit the shrine on Thursdays and Fridays. People from all faiths visit & pray at the "dargah"

Me and some of the IMBA guys at Haji Ali

You're in India

I began my last post with a simple question, where am I? After much research, I have discovered that I'm in Mumbai India. I guess that explains all the quirks and characteristics that my atmosphere posseses. With classes waning down for the term, I finally got to explore the city. This is city is certainly busling. As I have mentioned before, traffic is non-stop. Rush hour is damn near 24/7. It doesn't help that the infrastructure here is underdeveloped for the most part. Roads are poorly upkept, traffic lights/signs are almost non existant, and there are millions of people in the road! Driving in Mumbai is a free for all. The main street outside my hostel sportsan Interstate 676-esque motif to it. In order to get across it, we have to take our chances because there are no traffic lights or signals. In all fairness, there actually is but no one obeys it. Many times have I seen trucks and motor bikes zip by on a pedestrian's green. I no longer question this, as I always come up with the same answer: You're in India.

Having some free time we took a trip to a Jain temple. Jainism is an independent and ancient religion of India. We happen to be staying in their area of Mumbai as well. Here is a picture of me outside one of their temples. In order to gain entry, you have to remove your shoes. After walking in, you have to make sure you don't disturb any of the people praying by taking pictures or other touristy acts. It's worth noting that the temple are very well upkept and are made mostly of marble. The religious figures inside resemble those of some Asian cultures. I took some pictures from inside.

The women are getting ready to stay their prayers to a Jain god.

A picture of a Jain god figurine.

The roof of the temple...notice the detail!

This is an archway of one of the doors...

An offering to the gods.

After the temple, we trekked to where Ghandi stayed when he visited Bombay/Mumbai. Walking through the house was very interesting. There were actual letters written to president Teddy Roosevelt, as well as Hitler, from Ghandi.

Placard outside the residence.

Ghandi's actual room. He had very little posessions.

Ghandi library

Sculpture of the man himself.

Much more pictures and commentary to follow...