Mumbai.
Also time to say goodbye to our wonderful driver for the past six days -
thank him for keeping us safe on the crazy roads of India and for taking
such good care of us. He dropped us off at the airport and we wished him a
safe trip back home to spend some time with his family.
We arrived in Mumbai on schedule and headed into the city to visit the
Dharavi Slums. I had managed to avoid this type of tour on previous visits
here, so I was a little apprehensive. We first visited the commercial
section where they recycle anything and everything. Saw tanneries, textile
and assembly units. Next we visited one of the residential sections. One
goes through a labyrinth of hallways with one room homes that have no
running water or plumbing. We were asked not to take pictures and it was
easy for me to comply, as it was, I felt like a peeping tom just walking
through this area.
Would I do this again - no. However, I came away feeling better about the
conditions here. The families seem happy, the children no longer work, the
government provides free education and school uniforms and supplies, so
things are changing for the better. Our guide was raised in these slums when
children still worked. He is now in college and he and his brother want
someday to move themselves and their parents out of here, but, he says he
had a happy childhood and if one works hard and studies it is now possible
to hope for a better life.
I also noticed as we drove around the city that it is much cleaner than on
my last visit and that the facades of many of the buildings were also
cleaner.
Before going back to the ship our guide drove us around the city and then
introduced us to the Dabbawala (one who carries the box). These men pick up
hot lunches from homes and deliver them to offices, and then go back again,
retrieve the empty lunch boxes and return them to the homes so they will be
ready to fill again the next day. Heaven forbid that the men would carry
their own lunch to work, or bring the empty lunch box home themselves - who
thinks these things up?
A big shout out to Ajay Sethi and Distant India Journeys
(distantindiajourneys@gmail.com) for all of their hard work arranging such
a memorable trip.
The next day I went out into Mumbai with my friends from Denver, Allan and
Sandra, did some shoe shopping (a girl can never have enough shoes) and had
the best Indian lunch I have ever had at Trishna (they also have a location
in London).
All and all, a great time exploring India but good to be back on the ship.
