Mumby: My Lover

SUSAN:

Holla Holla!

I gots to say all ya’ll comments warm our hearts. Keep em coming.

I want to talk more about Mumby (aka Mumbai), my new lover, because really I cannot say enough about that city. Wow.

So, early jetlagged risers that we are, we set off for our first taste of India by daylight at 6am. The streets outside our hotel were a mix of crumbling grand colonial style apartments and giant tropical trees with hanging vines from which all kinds birds were making the most amazingly loud noises.

There was this little park next to our hotel, where local people of all ages were out doing their morning exercises, which mostly consisted of walking briskly around a small dirt circle at the centre of the garden, performing interesting old-school calisthenics, and meditating. Dave and I quickly joined the circle-walk, and followed with a meditation session beneath a banyan tree. I think we are fitting in.

The travel book suggested that we visit Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the first train station in India. So, after breakfast, off we went. When we got there we realized it is also the BUSIEST train station in all of Asia! Ah! But now I know I am absolutely in love with massive hoards of people. So much life! Later, we went to this place called Banganga Tank, which is this large rectangular basin of water surrounded by steps, dilapidated ancient apartments, and 16(!) small temples. In the center of the tank is a long wooden pole which is considered to be the center of the universe! Behind where we were sitting, pilgrims were gathered around a white-robed leader chanting in Sanscrit. Women in colorful Sari’s were bathing and washing clothes, while white geese glided in the water before us. Ahhhh….

There are stray dogs all over the city. Lonely Planet says to stay away as they carry rabies and worms, but although I know not to touch them, I feel a special affinity for these scraggly creatures, sprawled on the sidewalks, digging through trash heaps, panting dejectedly in the heat. Often they limp around, maimed or wounded, but none ever look mean. One night we didn’t finish our meal (due to an unfortunate miscommunication with the waiter that resulted in oyster-chicken), and so excitedly, we set out on a mission to find the lucky street dog that would do it for us. We even emptied the contents of our plastic bags into the paper bag they gave us, thinking that the hypothetical dog, in its blind hunger, might devour the plastic with the food. Finally, we found a lone dog sleeping close to our hotel. It got excited when we called to it and got up immediately, but when we tore open the bag and lay it down, it seemed totally unphased, and didn’t even sniff at its delicious free meal. It kept looking up at us, as though expecting something else. “Look at the food!” we pointed. “Maybe it’s a vegetarian”, Dave said. Later, we agreed that maybe it just wanted some affection.

To tell the truth, I was starting to feel a bit like the dog myself. Being the polite Canadians that we are, all hand-holding, touching, and general PDA-ing has been refrained from as it is, apparently, culturally inapproapriate. Incredulous, I searched Mumbai for some, ANY signs of man-woman PDA. Nothing. Woman-woman PDA: very nice. Man-man PDA: even better. In fact, they do it all the time. Men walk down the street holding hands, touching eachother’s shoulders, and showing all kinds of brotherly love. Once I saw a traditional older married couple holding hands and became almost delirious with joy until they reached the other side of the busy street they were crossing and she quickly retracted her hand. Damn it!

Ok…what else did we do in Mumbai? Elephanta Island, the Museum? Well, just look at the pictures and you can see it all for yourself!

Love, Suzie Poozie

RANDOM SHOUTOUT:

Littonious! Pampampampam. Littonious! Pampampampam. Youuuuuu knoooooooww.

RELATIONSHIP SCALE:

9/10: Nothing unites a couple like a good communal bout of Delhi Belly. Yes, Davoo is on the verge now after consuming a questionable strawberry lassi. Let’s pray for him.