India was a wonderful, colorful, once in a lifetime experience. It was such a long flight, longest I've taken thus far in my life. I traveled comfortably though and went to visit for work/a wedding. I thought it was interesting that older local folks I met referred to the city as Bombay even though the city was renamed many years ago. With the current Covid-19 Pandemic I wonder if people in the future will shake stranger's hands or if we will move to a customary Hindu greeting of Namaste.
I love Indian clothing and any excuse to wear it! So if you know anyone getting married or having a baby naming ceremony include me in on the fun! The details and colors are spectacular. For the wedding, I loved learning more about the customs and garments that are worn during the many ceremonies. I liked wearing tunics the best, sari not sari (bad puns for days). Even though it was hot during my visit in February, the lightweight garment made it much more manageable to wear conservative clothing and it was a nice bonus that material was guaranteed to not wrinkle.
I can't take the heat well when it comes to spice but I have expanded my palate since my visit and appreciated how colorful the food is. I did cave partway through the trip and ordered a milkshake. During one of the wedding ceremonies, I was able to get a handmade bangle made for myself and henna, so pretty! It was hard to sit and not smudge the henna while it was being drawn on my hands.
Highlights from my trip-
-The Taj Mahal Palace- It was interesting to visit the hotel and remember that the 2008 Mumbai attacks were not that long ago. Nonetheless, it was a beautifully decorated hotel with fresh flowers and amazing customer service and food options. It truly is a palace, fit for any traveler desiring luxury.
-Gateway of India A tourist destination for all. It felt similar to the Statue of Liberty for citizens of the U.S.A. and located across from The Taj Mahal Palace. It was interesting we were approached a few times for photos, I thought they wanted us to take their photo, and turns out they wanted a photo of us? The only reasoning I could get when we asked others about it is that some locals hadn't seen or know foreigners.
-Dhobi Ghat Some people had laundry machines in their buildings/homes while others used a public system to clean their clothes in an area that seemed like a city for laundry.
-Temples Each temple was beautifully decorated. Taking off your shoes was something I didn't necessarily enjoy or get used to but out of respect, of course, you follow the crowd. I'd recommend bringing a pair of socks with you like I did if you are someone who doesn't like germs or walking barefoot in unfamiliar places.
-Hanging Gardens I love being out in nature and this garden had some beautiful flowers and also childhood nostalgia...since the garden is on a hill near the water they provide nice sunset views over the Arabian sea. There was a boot house you could climb up as well as The Jungle Book images around the garden/park.
-The St. Regis Mumbai One of the most amazing rooftop pools I've ever experienced. You can see what seems like the entire city while you relax and take a dip in the water and tan. They had a delicious buffet and great staff to make your stay enjoyable. I wonder now that Coronavirus pandemic has happened if self-serving buffet meals will exist after we can stop social-distancing.
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