Farewell to India

Mon night 1/25 we walked to a seaside restaurant to enjoy calamari, red snapper and the sunset. It was a lovely night with cool breezes. On our walk back to the hotel, we walked along the side of the road; there really weren't sidewalks. Anne was in front, using her flash light, advising me of any obstacles along the way. I looked up at one point and called Anne's name. She was about four feet from walking straight into a cow coming right at us. On Tues 1/26, Ganesh's birthday and Republic Day, Maria took us for a walk through the Latin Quarter. I had to keep reminding myself we were in India, not Spain or Portugal, with all the colorful buildings, iron work, and street names. Later we flew to Mumbai. Leaving Goa Anne saw miles and miles of beautiful sandy beaches with no high rises! Then we saw big mountains, then high rises and slums as we approached Mumbai. The airport is new and easy to get around in. The temperature was around 88 degrees. We were met by an OAT rep, drove along the sea and saw lots of people walking the promenade and watching the sunset. Akesh pointed out several outdoor wedding venues we passed. They were in the middle of a block, fancy drapes and lights and things that sparkle light the entrance. Then inside there are tables and chairs, more fancy things, more lights. My photographer didn't get a good picture of any of them but it looked exciting. (But she did get a photo of an Audi decorated for a wedding) We then had a vegetarian dinner of talih (I am not sure of the spelling). We had a tasty clear soup with fresh-grated veggies in it. A round tray with maybe six little bowls were set before us. They were filled with different chutneys, sauces, vegetables. Then the waiters brought potatoes, cauliflower, rice, lentils, all kinds of veggies and two sweets, strawberries with sweet yogurt and a very sweet grated pistachios and coconut - Anne liked those two sweets. And about four different breads We've tried just about everything, and I definitely don't like lime pickles. Because of the national holiday, no alcohol was served. This morning we met our local guide, Malti, a local Indian woman wearing punjabi and a red powder in the part of her hair to indicate she's a married woman. Malti received a blessing from Mother Theresa years ago. (Throughout India, a woman's marital status may be indicated by bangles on her arms, different colored bindis, nose rings; Malti can tell what part of India women come from by their saris and how they wrap them differently.) She is another very proud, patriotic Indian, not only a tour guide but a social worker, working with seniors, women and children in the slums. She told us Mumbai is India's business capital. Again, plenty of westerners here. Today there is smog, but I have had no breathing trouble (thank you, Dr. Tess). The bus dropped us off at the Gateway of India, a structure built to commemorate King George V's visit with his new bride, right on the coast. Impressive. Next to the gateway is the Taj Mahal hotel, the site of the terrorist attack almost ten years ago, where about 130 people were killed. Also as part of that attack, a rabbi and maybe five others were killed at a synagogue here. We hopped on a ferry and took a 45-minute ride to the Elephanta Caves. Leaving the port, our boat was accompanied by a gazillion seagulls. Apparently the birds know that the tourists on the boats will feed them, so they come along for about ten minutes of the ride, circling all around. I swear a couple of them looked me right in the eye as they flew by. Actually getting to the caves wasn't quite that easy. We had to walk up 60+/- steps. Doesn't sound too bad. But in addition to the steps, we walked flat areas that were also inclined. This site was used perhaps 1000 years ago as a religious site. Figures were carved from hewned rocks, so you see Shiva and many of the other deities. The sad part is that the Portuguese used these carvings for rifle shooting practice. The walk down was a challenge. If you took a tumble, you could probably bounce on every step and landing before you hit the water. We saw monkeys, goats, a donkey and many dogs. After a late lunch, we said goodbye to Malti and the rest of our tour group. We are leaving the hotel at 7:15 Thurs morning to get to the airport for our flight to Paris. I have loved my adventures here, and I have been touched so deeply by the kindness of the Indian people. It has been sad to see humans not well fed, without homes, so poor. Very hard for me is to see so many dogs and animals malnourished and uncared for. Yes, there is that trash issue, corruption in government, cruelty and crime against women and the lower castes. Every day we should appreciate all that we have and the opportunities given to us. Don't waste food. Remember all the great things we've shared with you, and don't let anyone bad mouth this country. Send good wishes to India, come visit when you have a chance, leave a little bit of your heart here where we have. Here is a statement from a book Anne is reading about India that is an excellent summary of the India experience: From the book, "Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure"
"India. is beyond statement, for anything you say, the opposite is also true. It’s rich and poor, spiritual and material, cruel and kind, angry but peaceful, ugly and beautiful, and smart but stupid. It’s all the extremes. India defies understanding, and once, for me....."

Street in Panaji, Goa - reminiscent of Portugal and Spain