Well, it took me awhile to write about India - and I 
am still not sure I have the words yet - but I will try. India was an amazing experience. Mumbai is a very bustling city that is full of people, animals, sights, sounds, and smells....and oh the colors! The air is very polluted because the city is surrounded by factories - you can see their smoke stacks glowing at night.
Anywhere you go - you can hear the sound of horns honking. They are not being rude drivers, mind you. It is expected to honk - it is how they keep order in a system of travel that appears chaotic. Most of the roads are 4 lanes - with 7 lanes of taxis, rickshaws, motorized rickshaws, animals, pedestrians, cars, and trucks are bustling about. From what I could tell, traffic lights are mere suggestions. However I have to say, that I NEVER saw a major accident in all the time I was there. What appears to be chaos seems to be not as deadly as our roadways here in
America! I do not want to drive there, but I became quite comfortable that I would be safe while traveling the roadways of Mumbai.
There were scores of colors - beautiful sari's abound - it was so lovely to see the rainbow of colors. On the way to the airport to leave for home, we passed about 20 children in school uniforms sitting on the sidewalk - backs to the street - facing a chalkboard that was propped up against the wall! Impromptu school. I also saw a group of women - young and old - sitting by the side of the road - each in a colorful sari or other typical Indian outfit - waiting to be picked up as a day laborer- amazing. Quite different from what we see outside a
ny Home Depot here.
Slums abound - with the backdrop of the elite.
Quite the city of contrast. We were blessed to see a premier opening of the new spa my sister will be working with. It was a high society event and paparazzi everywhere. It took place on a lovely roof-top garden in Mumbai.
As for the people of India - very gracious and generous. I believe if you spend enough time there - and get to know the people - you will fall in love.
We left Mumbai after a few intense days of shopping and we were off to
Goa.
We were arriving just in time for the wedding festivities of Adam Bedi and Nisha Harale to begin.
Goa is full of beautiful beaches and laid back people. Much slower pace in Goa. It was nice to refresh after the hustle and bustle of everyday life in Mumbai. Hippies abound in Goa! It appears that many have come to Goa on holiday and just never left. I don't blame them. One can live comfortably - in a beach town - for very little money.
Then there is the Arabian Sea...my husband and I could not get over the fact that we were swimming in the Arabian Sea! Lovely!
Nisha and Adams wedding was unlike anything I had ever seen. So
full of love. There were large floating luminarias, dancers from Cirque du Soleil Canada, Mehndi, a colorful Hindi ceremony that really blesses the union of two families - not just two people, then a Christian ceremony - all in white - on the beach at sunset - there are not words to describe it sufficiently. The night ended with food, dancing, fireworks, amazing music and performances, family, friends, and love.
Thank you Nisha and Adam for giving us the opportunity to have a once-in-a-lifetime trip that we will never forget!
I am including some pictures that highlight the experience. Next time I return to India, I will also see the Taj Mahal.
am still not sure I have the words yet - but I will try. India was an amazing experience. Mumbai is a very bustling city that is full of people, animals, sights, sounds, and smells....and oh the colors! The air is very polluted because the city is surrounded by factories - you can see their smoke stacks glowing at night. Anywhere you go - you can hear the sound of horns honking. They are not being rude drivers, mind you. It is expected to honk - it is how they keep order in a system of travel that appears chaotic. Most of the roads are 4 lanes - with 7 lanes of taxis, rickshaws, motorized rickshaws, animals, pedestrians, cars, and trucks are bustling about. From what I could tell, traffic lights are mere suggestions. However I have to say, that I NEVER saw a major accident in all the time I was there. What appears to be chaos seems to be not as deadly as our roadways here in
America! I do not want to drive there, but I became quite comfortable that I would be safe while traveling the roadways of Mumbai.There were scores of colors - beautiful sari's abound - it was so lovely to see the rainbow of colors. On the way to the airport to leave for home, we passed about 20 children in school uniforms sitting on the sidewalk - backs to the street - facing a chalkboard that was propped up against the wall! Impromptu school. I also saw a group of women - young and old - sitting by the side of the road - each in a colorful sari or other typical Indian outfit - waiting to be picked up as a day laborer- amazing. Quite different from what we see outside a
ny Home Depot here.Slums abound - with the backdrop of the elite.
Quite the city of contrast. We were blessed to see a premier opening of the new spa my sister will be working with. It was a high society event and paparazzi everywhere. It took place on a lovely roof-top garden in Mumbai.
As for the people of India - very gracious and generous. I believe if you spend enough time there - and get to know the people - you will fall in love.
We left Mumbai after a few intense days of shopping and we were off to
Goa.We were arriving just in time for the wedding festivities of Adam Bedi and Nisha Harale to begin.
Goa is full of beautiful beaches and laid back people. Much slower pace in Goa. It was nice to refresh after the hustle and bustle of everyday life in Mumbai. Hippies abound in Goa! It appears that many have come to Goa on holiday and just never left. I don't blame them. One can live comfortably - in a beach town - for very little money.
Then there is the Arabian Sea...my husband and I could not get over the fact that we were swimming in the Arabian Sea! Lovely!
Nisha and Adams wedding was unlike anything I had ever seen. So
full of love. There were large floating luminarias, dancers from Cirque du Soleil Canada, Mehndi, a colorful Hindi ceremony that really blesses the union of two families - not just two people, then a Christian ceremony - all in white - on the beach at sunset - there are not words to describe it sufficiently. The night ended with food, dancing, fireworks, amazing music and performances, family, friends, and love.Thank you Nisha and Adam for giving us the opportunity to have a once-in-a-lifetime trip that we will never forget!
I am including some pictures that highlight the experience. Next time I return to India, I will also see the Taj Mahal.
