Hotel information desk at the domestic Airport
by georeiser
There is a hotel information desk at Santacruz domestic airport, just in case you don't have a hotel. They booked a hotelroom with free transport to the city for a lower price than the hotel claimed for ad-hock guest. So I guess they have a very good agreement with the hotels.
(Hotel Four Seasons in Juhu Beach was 5000 rupies for a dbl.room, the reception claimed 8000 rupies for extra days).
See the Victoria Terminus...
by Ramonq
See the Victoria Terminus train station. This station is very ornate in the Victorian era style. It just seem very English and it is at odds with the locale. The red double deck buses passing by can fool you thinking that you're in London. It's only the cows and saree dressed women that brings you back to reality. Strolling down the Marine Drive and Chowpatty Beach. The beach itself is filthy, but if you like observing people and soaking up the atmosphere, this is the place to be.
The Iceman Cometh
by cochinjew
Mr Bimal Irani is a member of the Parsi community and has a house along with many other Parsis in their community enclave off Colaba Causeway. He saw us walking and staring inside the enclave and extended his hand offered us hearty welcome. He explained to us about his community. Surprising to note that many of the Parsis do speak Farsi the language of Iran and have relatives in Iran. They are a successful community and are well known for their generosity
He then offered to drive us around and showed us first the community and then took us to our destination. A gentleman and a friend he has become. I will keep in touch with hi, He had a very large ice factory during its heydey and now is retired and has left the daily handlings of the businesses to his children. His son who studied in the USA came back, proudly announcing that for a parsi the best place to stay is Bombay
GESTURES
by Amitu
Tourists quickly realize that the head wobble so common here means "yes" and not "no". Similarly, some Western gestures can be misinterpreted. The Western gesture for come here palm face up and moving as if you are throwing salt over your shoulder would be considered rude in India. The comparable Indian gesture is with the palm facing down and moving like you're doing the 'dog paddle'.
BEING ALONE: (especially in a train)
At times, most travelers in India feel a bit like Greta Garbo and just "want to be alone". It is hard to do, sometimes, especially when you are moving around. Solitude is not a common desire for many except monks. Indians are social, gregarious people, as a rule, and train cars are often buzzing with conversations among passengers who are relative strangers to each other. Inevitably a traveling foreigner gets approached, and it is often the same old questions. "Where are you from?" "How do you like India?" It is hard not to get snippy sometimes. Try and be polite, and, if possible, turn the conversation towards something that does interest you. Often a few questions will satisfy the inquiring party and if not, you may be able to minimize conversation by excusing yourself to read or stare out of the window
BANDRA FORT
by sudo2008
Castella de Aquada(“Fort of the waterpoint”) is also known as the Bandra fort. It is located at Land’s End in Bandra and was built by the Portuguese in 1640 as a watchtower
Overlooking Mahim Bay,the Arabian Sea and the souther island of Mahim.
The strategic value of the fort was enhanced in 1661 after the Portuguese ceded the seven islands of Bombay to the British. It has been featured in several Hindi films, like Dil Chahta Hai and Budha Mil gaya.