Bombay, one of the greatest cities on earth

My previous boss once wrote on Facebook after a visit that he found India fascinating, that he loved it and would be back but still felt very good about leaving... I think it was well put and I completely agree. India is a fascinating place. It's extremely dirty, incredibly crowded but I love it.

There is nowhere that I have been where contrasts are as stark as in India. We stayed at the Taj, seen below with Gateway of India to its right, and got to experience the better part with majestic outsides...

...and luxurious insides.

Other people are not as fortunate. After taking this family's picture I bought them some rice and oil. 

Some people say there are up to 25 million people living in Bombay. The official figures are much lower but certain is that there are people everywhere. Public transport is strained and trains are always full...

...and cars and motorcycles are always fully loaded.

A couple of things are hard getting used to. Firstly, people sleep at the most curious places. The man below is sleeping in the gutter of one of the main streets in Colaba, or south Bombay - the most central parts of the city and home of the financial industry. 

Secondly, it never seizes to amaze how many wants to have their picture taken with you. My friend looks very exotic to them and was asked countless times!

After a week it was time to go back to Europe. It felt good going home. But I will be back. For sure... 

A few days in exotic Goa

After finishing Shantaram, one of the best books I've ever read, I felt an urge to go back to Bombay - so I bought a ticket for a week. I also wanted to go somewhere else as well though and I decided on Goa. I got two friends to go with and we decided to meet up in India. Once on the ground I ran into some problems. I only had the ticket for the connection flight electronically, which has never before been a problem. All I met now was 'no ticket, no flight'. Couldn't believe my ears but there was only one solution - to buy a new ticket... Finally I arrived in the very small but exotic state - Goa.

The Indian Ocean is hot (around 27 degrees) and the beaches are very very nice. We stayed at a little resort right on the beach.

As it should be, there was plenty of people around exercising yoga and meditation.

We didn't spend all the time on the beach but made several excursions. Below is a little village right outside a spice plantation. 

They also offered elephant rides. 

One day we also took a boat tour in the swamps. There were plenty of crocodiles. Some were easy to see... 

...but quite a few were not... 

After some relaxing days in Goa we got back on the plane to go back to one of the craziest and busiest cities in the world. Bombay...