We took a cab from Palolem (in the South) to Vagator in the North, in hopes of a bit more night life and a visit to the famed Anjunta Market. The ride proved extraordinarily long and hot, and the roads incredibly, and dangerously, narrow. With a bit of trouble we found the hotel and grabbed our first American style meal.
At the beach, the locals quite enjoyed my atire, or lack thereof, and I was frequently caught off guard by up to twenty or so Indian men staring and taking pictures of me. They disappeared almost immediately after I put on a sarong. I began to ask for rupees, which also discouraged their pictures.
Mumbai with Swarthrahit kids:
After two days in Vagator, we took a bus to Mumbai. The woman with whom I shared a bunk was quite cuddly, and she and I spooned for most of the night. After checking into our hotel, I called up some friends I had met several years earlier on the Swarthrahit trip through Andover. They took us out for lunch and coffee, and then taught Nick and Chris how to play cricket.
That night we ate out at a high end noodle bar in the city and tried out a club called Polyesther. It was comically American, complete with a light up floor and wrestling on the television…
The next two days were spent exploring Colaba, famous for its craft markets, visiting the Taj and Gateway, and eating at Leopolds Café and Bar (an important site in Shantaram, which is one of my favorite books!). We headed out Sunday night for Ahmedabad by train.
Day XI: Arrive in Ahmedabad
Monday morning we meet Catherine at her hotel in Ahmedabad, and then began negotiations of our new home. We are by no means roughing it, but the convenience of its location, and luxery of private rooms and big areas for dancing are much appreciated. It also has a great balcony overlooking the city…
The negotiations with the landlord and real estate agent took roughly six hours. People had described Indian business procedures in this way, highly personal and filled with anecdotal discussion, but I hadn’t quite anticipated this. We discussed the details of every part of the renting process, as well as his various health recommendations (most memorably describing how he only drinks soy milk… as in, he does not eat solid food)...
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