Day 9
We had a good breakfast in the main dining room, followed by rock climbing (JP rang the bell three times), followed by swimming. We went back to the room and showered up for lunch before our tour of the Caves of Elephanta starting at 12.45. After showering, Sandy and the kids got a table at the Windjammer while I double checked the time on our tour. Good thing I did, because our tour was leaving an hour early, which meant now. I ran up to the restaurant and told Sandy. We had no time to waste, so we quickly packed some sandwiches and got to the meeting point. We got there just in time.
We took a bus from the Port to another port where we saw the Gateway to India. This is where the British entered India and finally left India after their occupation.
On the bus tour, the guide noted that the King of Portugal wanted his daughter to marry the Prince of England. However, the Princess of Portugal was not so pretty. Therefore, the City of Mumbai was offered as a dowry to the Prince of England.
The boat ride to Elephant Island was about an hour. The Island is named as such because when the Portuguese arrived on the island, they saw a large elephant statue on the beach. There are no elephants on the island.
The Island is famous for the man made caves sculpted out of volcanic rock. Once we got off the ship, we walked to a little train station to transport us to the entrance to the park. The train ride is only about 5 minutes, so many people walk it as well. Once through the gates of the park, a long stairway leads up to the caves, with vendors along each side of the stair case.
The main cave is fronted by a verandah, at each end of which is a pillar carved in one of the various manifestations of Shiva. Shiva is the god that has 8 arms. There are about 10 sculptures of Shiva in the caves and most show Shiva in this form with various other characters and in various situations. From these situations, the Hindus derive lessons about life.
There is one depiction of Shiva as a phallic symbol (symbolizing creation), a couple of statues of Shiva with his wife, one statue of Brahma as half man half female, Shiva bringing the Ganges river down to earth, Shiva as fountain of Yoga, Shiva as fountain of dance, and the main attraction is a huge burst of the Trimurti – the Hindu trinity of creator, preserver and destroyer.
After visiting the caves, we checked out the wares of the various vendors along stairway leading up to the caves. We ended up picking up some traditional shirts, wooden elephants, and some other trinkets. We traveled back to the ship the same way we came. We did not get back until about 7.00. We were very late for dinner, but our waiters were able to take us anyway, despite their 8.30 seating – they just got through very fast.
Day 10
This was our second day in Mumbai. We booked a panorama tour of Mumbai. After breakfast in the dining room, we headed to the meeting point to start our tour. It was a bus tour with a lot of tidbits of info that I wrote down faithfully on my blackberry:
• More than 1000 movies made each year. Mumbai is known as the city of dreams.
• More than 80% of women are working in Mumbai unlike the rest of India. Very modern in its thinking.
• 20 million living in Mumbai. 200 families come to Mumbai every day. Half of the population lives in the slums.
• Early in its history, Mumbai consisted of 7 islands. Causeways were built and it is now one land mass.
• Mumbai is an old name - named after mother of fishermen. Portuguese changed name to Bombay.
• Most buildings constructed during British time.
• Country of paradoxes – great disparity between rich and poor.
• Around 50,000 taxis running daily.
• Until the 17th century, India was the wealthiest country in the world.
• India has never invaded another country.
• In the 16th century, the Portuguese brought Christianity and the spice trade to India.
On our tour we pass by a couple of landmarks:
• Flora Fountain – which is the main traffic hub.
• Gateway of India. In 1911 the British came to India for the first time and entered through this gate which was built to commemorate the visit of George the 5th.
We made a stop at the Taj Mahal Hotel, which is one of the most famous hotels in India. It was built by Jamsetji N. Tata a famous industrialist of the 20th century. He was denied entry to what was then the best hotel in town, the “whites only” Watson’s. So he decided to build a hotel that would treat everyone equally. His revenge was sweet and long lasting – while Watsons has long since disappeared, the Taj is Mumbai’s grand hotel, her gray and white sandstone façade and red domed roof dominating the harbor from just behind the great Gateway.
• We pass by Mumbai university and Mumbai high court.
• We pass by several fields and cricket is played on every one.
• We pass Victoria terminus station.
• We pass by the Tower of Silence, which is an interesting story: the Parsis, who originated in Iran, arrived in India almost 900 years ago. Since then they have been an integral part of the Indian society. The Zoroastrian Tower of silence in Mumbai was built by Seth Modi Hirji in accordance with the Parsi beliefs in 1672. According to the Parsis, the dead should be exposed to the flesh easting birds within the confines of the Towers of Silence to venerate the earth, fire and water. Thus, In Mumbai, the Tower of Silence serves the purpose of offering the last rites to the dead. Despite the open exposure to dead, the place has a feeling of calm and peace, owning in part to the beautiful architecture and green surroundings. However, the actual area where the dead are exposed is strictly off limits for all. Mumbai's tower of silence have come under controversy, due to the disappearance of vultures and the consequent crisis faced by the Parsis about leaving the dead for a long time in the towers. Despite this, tourists are known to take a sneak peak at the towers during their trip in Mumbai.
After the tour, we do a little shopping in the port terminal. Everything is really expensive, so we do not bother to buy anything. JP is tired so he takes up a seat on a couch and strikes up a conversation with some locals. We get back on board and have a late lunch in the Windjammer.
After lunch, we carry out our regular ritual of hitting the slide in the kiddie pool, followed by dinner and the evenings entertainment.
