Sunset Chowpatty

Sunset Chowpatty
Originally uploaded by Christiane B

Air India treated us well. The same families we saw check in with four bags a person, rolling nine wide, were delighted to find out that in an empty plane they could spread out and unaccustomed to the space, were sharing their delight and suspense (of the Bollywood movie showing on the monitors) by yelling and shouting delightfully across the isles. That is except the old guy in front of us. He just discovered headphones. He may or may not have been aware that his high notes (singing the lead female parts?) were, unlike the music on his headphones, very well inaudible to all around. We were the only non-Indians on the plane and as such treated with excessive booze and numerous bags of spicy crackers that made my throat scream and my eyes water. On that note: As a bonus I may already have picked up my first disease from the pillows: stye

Since our arrival we have been asked to pose for numerous pictures, been recruited for bollywood movies (as extras), walked to Chowpatty beach, where the locals watch the sunset and to my great joy found the bar featured in my favorite book ever, Shantaram, called Leopold’s. I will spare you the details of what great things happen at Leopold’s in the book, but will only say that the veggie kurma is a hell of a lot spicier than on Brick Lane.

Off to Elephant Island and then some Sari Shopping. I am suffering from sari envy. In this million degree weather I am not exactly dying to put myself into an outfit with long sleeves, but it is probably is the way to go and oh so pretty and glittery.