Totally stuffed (well, Ed and I are at least—I think a couple of the guys could have continued eating they liked it so much!), we all headed back to the van to continue on to Dhobi Ghat, one of the largest open air laundries. On the way we pass the typical street scenes, the craziness, the cars, the buses, and horseback riders? Yep, there were three of them just riding down the street – I managed to get a quick picture of the last guy….
Then it was onto Dhobi Ghat. We were so late in the day that no one was working any longer, they were mostly lounging in the shade…
…but you can only imagine how it must be earlier in the day. The idea that hundreds of people work here in this heat everyday washing clothes in these huge vast pools of water, beating them on the side of the concrete abutments to get the water out, then drying them on the ingenious laundry lines that are all twisted ropes - no pins of hooks to hold them up - sort of boggles the mind. And that they also live here above these pools in the slums perched around and on top of the surrounding buildings makes you really appreciate the luxuries we enjoy and take for granted day in and day out.
We are all humbled as we leave Dhobi Ghat, and re-board our air conditioned van to continue on our tour.
The last stop we have planned is at the Taj Mahal hotel and the Gateway of India. We do a quick little tour of the lobby of this over the top sumptuous hotel, snapping pictures of the water sculpture treatments….
…then head out and across the street to the Gateway of India. Built in 1924 to commemorate King George the 5th and Queen Mary’s 1911 visit to Mumbai. This is the huge monument, built in the Hindu and Muslim architectural style is also supposed to be the entry way to India for sailors and traders –and it was through this arch that the last British troops marched as they left India and ended British rule of the colony. I’ve been looking forward to this all day – and it doesn’t disappoint. As we are walking around the perimeter, our guide tells us to politely say no to people who want to take our pictures, because if we say yes, we’ll never get away. Ok.
Once through security (security is everywhere, btw, every hotel has bag screening and walkthrough scanners – and to get into the courtyard around the Gateway, your bags are checked as well), we walk out in front of the grand monument. It is huge and ornate and just an amazing feat of architecture.
Our guide takes our group shot in front of the Gateway….
…then he has us swing around to get the shot in front of the hotel…
He also takes some good shots of the two of us in the same settings.
As we walk around the plaza, there are tons of photographers asking to take our picture for $1 – which we all decline. I’m thinking these guys are who our guide was referring to about the pictures. But no- not the photographers for pay. He’s talking about regular, every day Indians walking around the monument. They are picture crazy and they just won’t let go. It is hysterical. First they grab Tom, and he ends up standing there for about 6 pictures (he was being nice and thought it was for one guy, but suddenly 4 more guys jump in the picture), then another couple gets him, then they get me. At this point, Ed just walked away. Hey….gotta go fellas.
Successfully escaping our photo sessions, Tom and I rejoin our group at the back of the gateway, and now carefully take pictures without people in them!
Great way to end our day here in Mumbai—and in India.
We head on back to the ship, thanking Michaela and Tony profusely for letting us join them today. We had a fantastic time, they are wonderful tour partners, and this tour – btw for only $32 each – was the best on this trip so far. So good in fact, it has definitely made us rethink our self-imposed travel ban on India. We really enjoyed the country, the people, the culture and of course the food. Its worth exploring a repeat visit one day in the future.
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