Friday, November 21, 2008

Livin' Like Bollers


Hello, hello, good morning, good evening, good afternoon, how are you?

We've escaped the bustling city of Ahmedabad to take refuge in the Western sanctuary of Mumbai. This place is expensive. Apparently the average wage here is three times the typical amount earned in the rest of India, and the typical prices around here confirm it.

However, when we're not so concerned with our budget, we're likely to be found enjoying delicious pastries and fresh Italian Lavazza coffee in a swanky café around town. We spent the start of the day doing just that.

After arriving from a sleeper train at 8 am or so, we checked into an overpriced "budget" hotel then wandered the streets. They have quite the western feel to them. It's been a while since we've been surrounded by tall buildings, traffic (with no autorickshaws in sight), high-end fashion stores and stylish restaurants. It's kind of nice.

So we've gone to a couple of art galleries and watched the movie Quantum of Solace (with tasty popcorn!). Perhaps tomorrow we'll take a cruise to Elephanta Island and do whatever there is to do around there. We're not quite prepared to be in this big city, since we haven't thoroughly read the sights and activities that are available to us, but we'll get there. We're just coasting along looking for the next place to eat when our stomach demands it, which is great fun.

Speaking of which, that time has come again. Lunch! A late lunch, at 4pm, but a lunch nonetheless. We're being harassed much less here than in Ahmedabad and Diu, which is a real treat. In a couple of days we'll be heading out of here though, towards Aurangabad on a train, which should prove to be completely different than this blooming metropolis. Calmer, to say the least.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

... pastries and sweets and Italian coffee - sounds like the good life.

Anonymous said...

I'm not too anxious to reveal how out of touch I am, but what the heck are Bollers? ... The part of some plants that produces the seeds I think is called a "boll" (as in "boll-weevle", the beetle that farmers fight because they attack the boll.) But I don't think that's what you have in mind.

p.s. --- Did you see my comments about Bhopal a couple of postings ago?

S said...

According to Urban Dictionary, a "baller" is : A thug that has "made it" to the big time. Originally refered to [basket]ball players that made it out of the streets to make millions as pro ball players, but now is used to describe any thug that is living large.

"Baller" and "Ballin'" (one who balls/is a baller) are words that seem to have percolated Pete's vocabulary. So the other day when we arrived in Mumbai, home of Bollywood, and were seeing all these grand buildings and cars, I made a pun. "We're really bollin' now, eh?"

By the way, we've been offered twice to be extras in a a Bollywood shooting. The first was for a music video, which didn't sound too appealing. I think we're going to be leaving the city tomorrow morning though. Oh and the pay was Rs 500 for 10 hours. (a little over $1 an hour!)

S said...

But yours is a perfectly logical deduction, dad.

Unknown said...

is it just me or did quantum of solace suck

Anonymous said...

Please write and tell us you've safely moved on from Mumbai.
Love, Dad

Tom said...

Are you guys all right? I've heard the news about Mumbai...

mbesh said...

yea hopefully you guys arent JJ'd but this post says you would have left Mumbai a few days ago... so gl hf dd!

mbesh said...

I just read a news report saying there were no Canadian casualties, so close call brethren. Stay safe and enjoy yourselves! Build static defense if need be.

AP article:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jollXisjWfC33V2JaBs_W4VRyxGA

Kathy said...

Peter -- hope you guys are ok. You can call this number from India for any assistance if you need -- Canadian tourists in India are urged to call the department for assistance at 1-800-387-3124.

mom

Kathy said...

Register online at www.voyage.gc.ca and let them know your itinerary. I have spoken to the dept of foreign affairs and given them your name, dob and Steph's info as well. I have also provided them with your email address so that they can contact you with any important info. Love you both lots,
Mom