Short Trip to India

I stayed in Bombay for 2 days, Indore for 4 days (work conference), and Delhi overnight. Bombay was very busy and crowded with heavy traffic. I liked the Ghandi museum in Bombay. Mani Bhavan is the building where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his frequent visits to Mumbai. It was the home of Revashankar Jhavei, a diamond merchant, and a supporter of the Indian National Congress. It has been converted into a museum that houses the library of Gandhian literature as well as Gandhi's personal library. Gandhiji's room remains untouched and the rest of the museum is devoted to photographic exhibits. The exclusive VIP roads in New Delhi were cool. Our travel agent had a special pass that allowed her to use these reserved streets. I was totally fascinated throughout the whole trip by the Indian head nod/waggle. I noticed the waggle more in Bombay and Indore. It was not prominent in Delhi—perhaps they are more sophisticated there?

Quick Tips:

British Airways (like Virgin Atlantic) gives you free socks, toothbrush, and an eye mask. The flight to India was about 5 1/2  hours to Heathrow (London), and then about 9 hours from London to Mumbai. On the leg to Mumbai, they sprayed insect repellant in the cabins—I tried to hold my breath for as long as I could! We arrived at the Mumbai (formerly and more commonly known as Bombay) airport at around midnight. As soon as you step off the plane, you begin to feel the craziness of large Indian cities. The throngs of people swarming are amazing. Men trying desperately to help push our luggage cart at the prospect of a generous American tip, but wait—who are you? Are you going to try to run off with my bags? Thank goodness that my colleague is Indian and helped us deal with the initial shock. I still don’t know how to tip appropriately in India because she handled everything throughout the trip. On the drive to the hotel, we saw people walking kilometers to the temple for worship.

Best Way To Get Around:

We had a driver that drove us around Bombay, which was arranged by our travel agent. I took an auto rickshaw in Indore (what the Thais call tuk tuk) and thankfully got back to the hotel in one piece.

The Meghdoot Garden is next to the Fortune Landmark Hotel, where our group stayed in Indore. It is located on a major street in Indore. A sign in front of the garden reads: "#12: Please do'nt tease garden's animals & buirds & do'nt feed thom." There is an entrance fee of 10 rupees per person. I'm not sure about the garden's hours, but it does get locked at night. There is a rocket-ship slide for children. It was difficult to tell how old the garden was, as it looked quite new. The grounds are very well kept and clean.

My friend and I were the only foreigners in the entire garden, which was not uncommon in Indore. We got some stares from curious locals, which we were used to by our fourth day there. We were surprised, however, when we were approached by an Indian man who wanted to take our picture. We cheerfully complied with his amusing request. After the photo opportunity, I rode on a camel for a small fee. I held on very tightly, as the driver kept on trying to get the camel to go faster. I had a flight to catch immediately after the camel ride, so I really didn't want to fall off. My friend and I spent a total of 30 minutes at the garden, which was enough time for us to sample the Meghdoot Garden’s offerings. It’s a great place for families with children.

I had my first taste of India when I went to get my visa at the consulate in New York City. I was in a small room overfilled with 100 plus bodies. They run a disordered, but somewhat mysteriously efficient system. I took a number and waited around for my number to be called. Towards the tail end of my time there, I broke down, found a relatively empty corner, and sat on the floor with no shame.

After 2 hours, my number was finally called and I went to the teller's booth and submitted my visa application with picture and passport. After submitting my documents, I returned in 3.5 hours to receive my passport with a sparkly, new Indian visa.

Despite the numerous hours you spend there and amidst all of the confusion, you somehow end up with your visa at the end of the day.

The address is 3 East 64th Street (between Madison and 5th avenue), New York, NY 10021 if you're up for the challenge. Ask the security guard if you have any questions. When I was there, they did not have any signs that described the lengthy process.

Even though the travel agent booked us at The Oberoi hotel, it still took the reception at least 30 minutes to check us in even though we arrived after 2am. I was later told by the travel agent that that is the normal course of business in India. The lobby of the Oberoi is very nice, but the design is more modern and sleek, so don't expect a traditional Indian look. The pool was outdoors and didn't look that nice. It was a bit cold to go for a dip. I didn't use the spa facilities; the massages were pricey (especially for India) since it was a nice hotel. My hotel room was great. I had a view of the Queen's necklace (see pictures).

My group traveled to Indore via plane and van from Bombay/Mumbai for an industry work conference. The sidewalks in Indore weren't paved; we mostly walked on dirt roads. As I walked down the street, I often got stared down by motorists and bicyclists, since they had probably never seen an Asian person before (by Asian, I mean non-South Asian, since Indians are "Asian" too). I just waved to them; they probably thought I was a crazy tourist. There were cows and (what looked like) wart hogs roaming around in the streets. I saw an elephant with an advertisement draped down his side.

In the "downtown" area, we experienced the colors and bustle of a small Indian outdoor market. We visited a traditional Hindu temple and entered Kanch Mandir, a Jain temple that is completely inlaid with glass. It looks like you are surrounded by a mosaic of colorful mirrors swirled in beautiful patterns. We also ventured into an old palace, but I don't recall the name. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit Indore, but it is most definitely off the beaten path!