Mission Bombay

Farah and I wrapped up Dehradun w/a bang...as always. The day bfr we left we started off our day lazing at Coffee Day. But that just wasn't stimulating enough for us and we headed off to Sahastradhara---supposedly one of the must see's of Dehradun. We took a Vikram (group rickshaw---mad cheap) to Astley Hall and from there found a city bus going to Sahastradhara---I promise u if there was any method of transportation that had been left untouched we made sure it was touched upon by us. So we arrive at Sahas after an interesting ride (Farah and I were the most foreign creatures that had ever boarded that bus) and follow the crowd that unloaded w/us because they clearly seemed to know where to go!!! So we walk and walk and walk and by God what do we come across??? Yes-a little water stream thing w/tons and tons of ppl bathing...uncles w/minimal clothes...yuck. So after a good hike we realized how worthy the trip to Sahas indeed is and headed back to the bus depot and headed back to Dehradun. The ride to Astely---Rs. 6...the ride to Sahas and back---Rs. 32...the ride home---free as we walked home...so for under a dollar total we explored and adventured for three-hours!!! Farahmeister and Sej never fail to entertain!!!

Public Health Aside: Public Bathing-I am not sure what obsession people have w/that!!! The water is anything but clean and it doesn't help that people enter w/minimal clothes...not sure what exactly must be excreted from their body during the time they spend in the water. I don't like to sound so cynical but having seen it firsthand I cannot help but think that way. Furthermore---it amazed Farah as well as me to notice that at both locations (at Kempty as well as here in Sahas) there was trash strewn all over the place (literally ALL over the place)---however it didn't seem to bother anyone...they just casually went ahead bathing and making merry. At a deeper level that said so much:

-How in America we are conditioned to expect a high level of cleanliness.
-How in general people here have resigned to the fact that throwing trash anywhere is
just an acceptable norm.
-How it doesn't take long for one ice cream wrapper or Lays bag on the ground to turn
into a hundred or even a thousand (when I say thousand I am NOT exaggerating).
-How there are people here who are forced into making a living digging out
trash---contrary to the $15.00/hourly made by Waste Management personnel in the US.

***Clearly what Farah and I define as worth seeing varies from what the public in general seems to like here. We walked back to the opposite side from the bus depot and found very few people and a just a peaceful serene atmosphere which should be the real highlight---atleast in our opinion!!! We took it in for a few minutes before heading off to catch the bus---which I must add was a semi-pleasant experience...as soon as the TC noticed it was two women travelling he had room made for us to sit...very considerate.

Thursday (yesterday) we left Dehradun in the evening on the Shatabdi Express after spending some people-watching time at the Dehradun station. What a train ride...it was definitely living the hi-life...they feed u and feed u and feed u (throughout the 5 and a 1/2 hours)...and all w/a smile on their face. We arrived late in Delhi around 11 and took a rickshaw back to Chandrika aunty's house...this morning we flew out of Delhi to Bombay which was another pleasant experience for more then one reasons. The saying 'you get what you pay for' is indeed very true---I had stressed through all my trip abt how I had far too much luggage to fly domestic...at Kingfisher Check-In I was exempt for the extra weight (thank you SO much lady whose name I do not know) and then we flew in total style on board. Jet Airways has some serious competition cuz the beer moghul Vijay Mallaya clearly works in style and it is apparent through his airline.

We are now settled in at Renu aunty's house---where it is beyond pleasant :):):) Sorry I realize this post has nothing substantive...but what can I say-when is anything I ever say substantive?