Mumbai

Essay, sorry..! for anyone with little time, this is only a handful of our current experience, it's been a good test and a great experience. For those with more time, read on!

Very little in the way of photos to share right now, mostly due to the sheer amount going on. And it's a lot going on.

Currently midnight on the 15th of January here, Diana didn't sleep particularly well but I've somehow accrued around 12 hours last night. Here's hoping tonight is as successful.

Don't get me wrong, it's midnight, but it's only slightly less busy. Perhaps around 80db outside instead of the expected 110db of talking, screeching tyres, general movement, goats squealing, cats wailing, calls to prayer, shouting Hindi in corridors at each other, and of course, primarily, car horns. One literally just went off outside the window and I physically jumped it was so loud.

The hotel is exactly what you'd expect for the small amount were paying for a relatively expensive part of India. No taxi driver knows where it is (although that's fairly common of most places, I feel The Knowledge hasn't quite made it this far. However, the motorcycles have number plates on the front as well as the back, so they have some rules we don't. Helmets compulsory but seemingly optional, though). Finally found it up what seemed to be an alley just wide enough for a car and a shockingly pregnant goat, who we decided may have eaten another goat in a similar way snakes eat their prey, it's that disproportionate.

The entrance consists of a tiny door with the street name and number above it, and stairs leading upward to reception. From reception we were led into a lift just slightly larger than us and our bags, with manual doors and the ability to stick our hands out should we wish to lose a limb. However it was fast and it works, so that's positive. Can't fault the hotel itself now we've been here a couple of days, but on entry we wondered what we got ourselves into. Pictures below show it's perfectly repaired condition and wonderful views from the windows provided. Oh, and the pillows aren't made of finest memory foam, but instead what feels like lead lined brick. Fortunately we brought travel pillows.

Our first test was finding an atm, an easy task in Reigate high street but not so easy in down town Mumbai where mostly everything's a market stall, so thanks Jo and Terry for the rupee starter kit...! We eventually found one, but it wouldn't accept MasterCard, so I paid a stupid exchange rate to get some out on my debit card and Diana somehow managed get hers blocked even though she informed the bank. Tremendous start of leaving the hotel.

Have attempted to sort out an Indian SIM card, and after two journeys, a copy of my passport, two photos, my address, our hotels address, my signature 4 times and a small vial of my DNA in blood form, we might have a Vodafone SIM activated some time tomorrow possibly. Fortunately Diana has spoken to an Indian local she knows who will hopefully purchase us a second one, without having to run a small marathon to earn it.

Don't get me wrong though, none of this had detracted from the experience. This IS the experience, exactly what we expected, and after the first day of being incredibly tired and slightly daunted, we're now in the swing of things and trying to establish our plan from here.

The food is amazing (order something and it arrives within 3 minutes, which us both great and terrifying) and better than any Indian takeaway (even the one in Reigate mum, I know right?) And I'm almost entirely confident they have the same stringent food standards as at home, if you ignore all the boring hygiene stuff.

People are incredibly helpful and friendly. Ask anyone a question and 6 locals gather round with their collective knowledge to assist.

All in all a great experience, but you need to have a fairly extensive comfort zone...!

Two days until we leave for Madgao by train, third class, no ac... COULD be a test of the exact range of said comfort zone, but bring it on.

We have also since found an atm accepting MasterCard, so we're both much more relieved.

Limited to internet until we get a working SIM, as in, sat in the hotel lobby hoping for a slither of internet, so won't be able to update or check very often, but we're having a great time.

Love to all at home with your comfortable bedding...

Jonno